''79 Park Avenue'', also known as ''Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue'', is an American

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

television miniseries developed and co-written by Richard De Roy, based on the 1955 novel of the same name by Harold Robbins. The miniseries stars Lesley Ann Warren as Marja Fludjicki, a poor but beautiful girl who is forced into

prostitution Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, no ...

despite sincere efforts to make a living and ultimately becomes

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

's most famous

madam Madam (), or madame ( or ), is a polite and formal form of address for Woman, women in the English language, often contracted to ma'am (pronounced in American English and this way but also in British English). The term derives from the French la ...

. It also stars Marc Singer and David Dukes. Directed and produced by Paul Wendkos, the miniseries premiered on NBC on October 16, 1977, and concluded on October 18, 1977. Warren received critical acclaim and a

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...

for her performance.

Cast

;Starring ;Guest stars ;Co-starring

Production

It stars Lesley Ann Warren as a

prostitute Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-pe ...

and Marc Singer as a

gangster A gangster (informally gangsta) is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from ''Organized crime, mob'' and the suffix ''wikt:-ster, -st ...

struggling to survive in the 1930s. David Dukes, Barbara Barrie, Raymond Burr, and

Polly Bergen Polly Bergen (born Nellie Paulina Burgin; July 14, 1930 – September 20, 2014) was an American actress, singer, television host, writer, and entrepreneur. She won an Emmy Award in 1958 for her performance as Helen Morgan (singer), Helen ...

co-starred.Buck, Jerry (14 October 1977)
'79 Park Avenue' Book Needed Careful Editing For TV
''Santa Cruz Sentinel'' (

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...

story)Beck, Marilyn (28 September 1977)
Warren is happy with hooker role
''San Bernardino Sun'' (Gannett New Service story)Sharbutt, Jay (5 October 1977)
Only One Lesley Ann Warren
''Santa Cruz Sentinel'' (

content)(16 October 1977)
Cinderella on Park Avenue
''

The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...

'' The teleplay was split among three writers, with Richard DeRoy doing the first part, Jack Guss the second, and Lionel E. Siegel the third.(9 September 1977)
79 Park Avenue New Mini-Series
''Dixon Evening Telegraph''

Reception

The show was a ratings success. Part I (which debuted on Sunday October 16, 1977) was the 10th most watched show in the United States for the week (22.3 rating, 16.3 million homes)(21 October 1977)
World Series Big Hit
''Santa Cruz Sentinel'' (

story) and the ratings momentum jumped for the last two installments. Part II (Monday, October 17, 1977) was the second-most watched primetime show for the following week (29.9 rating, 21.8 million homes), and Part III (Tuesday October 18) was third. (27.7 rating, 20.2 million homes).(27 October 1977)
ABC Tops in Television Ratings
''Desert Sun'' (

content) The critical reviews of the series were not positive, but not overly vicious, recognizing the series for what it was and no more. Tom Shales of ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...

'' called the series a "laughable tawdry throwback to movie eyebrow raisers of the '50s, though without any of their appealingly cheap panache. Television loves to raise the subject of sex and then avoid it like the plague."(15 October 1977)
Imitating Life on 'Park Avenue'
''

'' Joan Hanauer of

UPI United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th ce ...

described the series as "what is usually called a 'woman's show'", meaning, "the romance is unrealistically sentimental and the moral tone is high, which in no way interferes with depicting the sleaziest kind of sex." She found the second installment to be strongest of the three.Hanauer, Joan (15 October 1977)
Unhappy Hooker at '79 Park'
''Galesburg Register Mail'' (

content) And although he credited the performances of the lead actors, John J. O'Connor of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' was also underwhelmed by the series, calling it an "already tired story ... manufactured for mass consumption with all of the artistic concern afforded a can of baked beans." O'Connor, John J. (23 October 1977)
Pretenses Aside, It's Titillation As Usual
''

'' O'Connor's year end review of 1977 television referred to ''79 Park Avenue'' and ''

Aspen Aspen is a common name for certain tree species in the Populus sect. Populus, of the ''Populus'' (poplar) genus. Species These species are called aspens: * ''Populus adenopoda'' – Chinese aspen (China, south of ''P. tremula'') * ''Populus da ...

'' as "dumb pot-boilers" which "tarnished considerably" the "promising concept of mini-series." O'Connor, John J. (31 December 1977)
Picking television's best -- and worst -- of 1977
''San Bernardino Sun'' (

news service) That the series might be somewhat controversial due to the sexual nature of the story was known from the beginning. Executive Producer George Eckstein admitted "broadcasting standards people got very apprehensive when it was announced that this property was going to be on TV."Henninger, Paul (12 October 1977)
Robbins' potboiler gets stirred by NBC
''San Bernardino Sun'' (Gannett News Service story), p. C-6. And when Fred Silverman took over at NBC in June 1978, he promised to stop lurid programming like ''79 Park Avenue''. Silverman stopped plans for a sequel to the miniseriesMaurice, Dick (21 November 1978)
No more beer in store for TV's Archie Bunker
''Desert Sun'' and also halted a planned rerun in 1979.(25 July 1979)
Brokerage firm is enamored by films
''San Bernardino Sun''

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* {{Paul Wendkos 1977 American television series debuts 1977 American television series endings 1970s American drama television series 1970s American television miniseries 1970s romantic drama television series American romantic drama television series American English-language television shows Television series by Universal Television Television series set in the 1930s Television shows based on American novels Television shows set in New York City Television shows about rape American television shows about prostitution Films directed by Paul Wendkos NBC television dramas