Dr. Christian
Dr. Christian is a radio series with Jean Hersholt in the title role. It aired on CBS Radio from November 7, 1937 to January 6, 1954.[1] In 1956, the series was adapted for television where it aired in syndication until 1957.
 Rosemary DeCamp as Judy Price and Jean Hersholt as Dr. Christian, 1953 | |
| Genre | medical drama |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Syndicates | CBS |
| TV adaptations | Dr. Christian |
| Starring | Jean Hersholt Rosemary DeCamp Lurene Tuttle Kathleen Fitz Helen Claire |
| Announcer | Art Gilmore Andre Baruch Perry King |
| Directed by | Neil Reagan John Wilkinson Florence Ortman |
| Produced by | Dorothy McCann Joan Cannon |
| Opening theme | Rainbow on the River |
| Sponsored by | Vaseline products |
Hersholt had portrayed the character Dr. John Luke, based on Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, the obstetrician who delivered and cared for the Dionne Quintuplets, in the 20th Century Fox movie The Country Doctor (1936) and its two sequels. He wanted to perform the same role on radio but could not get the rights. He decided to create his own doctor character for radio, and since he was a Hans Christian Andersen enthusiast, he borrowed that name for his character of philosophical Dr. Paul Christian.
Overview
The program debuted as The Vaseline Program: Dr. Christian of River's Bend.[2] Dr. Christian practiced in the Midwest town of River's End with the assistance of Nurse Judy Price (Rosemary DeCamp, Lurene Tuttle, Kathleen Fitz, Helen Claire). With the opening theme music of "Rainbow on the River," Dr. Christian was introduced on CBS November 7, 1937, on The Vaseline Program, aka Dr. Christian's Office and later Dr. Christian, sponsored by Chesebrough Manufacturing Company's Vaseline.
The small-town physician's good humor, innate common sense and scientific training helped drive off a series of villainous types who tried to interfere with the peaceful lifestyle of River's End, as well as dealing with personal problems among his many patients and the majority of those who lived in town. The program was also unique in that, by the mid-1940s, listeners contributed the majority of the scripts (some were "professionally polished" before they were used), and an annual script-writing competition introduced in 1942 was the highlight of every season- top prize: the $2,000 "Dr. Christian Award" {with several $500 "runner-up" prizes}; among the later winners were Rod Serling and Earl Hamner, Jr. Produced by Dorothy McCann, the radio series became a popular success, continuing on CBS until January 6, 1954.
Hersholt was so strongly identified with the role that he received mail asking for medical advice.[1]
There were various spin-offs; Hersholt co-wrote a Dr. Christian novel and made a series of six family films as Christian for RKO from 1939 to 1941.
Films
In release order:
- Meet Dr. Christian (1939)
- The Courageous Dr. Christian (1940)
- Dr. Christian Meets the Women (1940)
- Remedy for Riches (1940)
- Melody for Three (1941)
- They Meet Again (1941)
Television
In 1956, the Dr. Christian character made the transition to television in a 39-episode syndicated Ziv Television series, scripted by Gene Roddenberry, with Macdonald Carey as his nephew Dr. Mark Christian. Jean Hersholt appeared for the last time as Dr. Christian in the first episode, officially turning his medical practice over to his nephew. Shortly after filming the episode, Hersholt died on June 2, 1956.
Among the series' guest stars was Mason Alan Dinehart, who played Danny Martin in the 1957 episode entitled "Typhoid". Stacy Harris appeared in the same segment as Warren.
In the episode "The Sprained Thumb" of the 1950s TV show The Honeymooners, Ralph Kramden sarcastically asks Trixie Norton, "Well, Dr. Christian, have you got any more suggestions?"[3]
Season 1 (1956-57)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Thin Line" | Herbert L. Strock | Story by : Albert E. Lewin and Burt Styler Teleplay by : Jerry Adelman & Jack Laird | October 1, 1956 | |
| A noted citizen is seriously injured by an auto and the driver claims the man stepped in front of his car. His story is doubted and Dr. Christian tries to learn the truth. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Fighter" | Henry S. Kesler | Teleplay by : Leonard Freeman | October 8, 1956 | |
| An unscrupulous fight promoter advises Jackie, an arrogant young boxer, to believe his own publicity and Dr. Christian feels he must intervene for safety reasons. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Escaped Convict" | Herbert L. Strock | Teleplay by : Ellis Marcus | October 15, 1956 | |
| Dr. Christian deals with a man who may die at any time but still can handle a gun with threatening ease. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Homecoming" | Henry S. Kesler | Stuart Jerome | October 22, 1956 | |
| Dr. Christian helps a recovering mental patient return to his home and business and then finds the patient is totally unfamiliar with his past life. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Guardian" | Henry S. Kesler | Arthur Weiss | October 29, 1956 | |
| Dr. Christian promises a dying mother that he will look after her daughter and finds himself embroiled in a major family argument. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Michael Higgins" | Paul Guilfoyle | Lee Berg | November 5, 1956 | |
| Though injured, foreman Mike Higgins stubbornly refuses to stop working. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Insurance Policy" | Henry S. Kesler | Stuart Jerome | November 12, 1956 | |
| Walter Brandon takes out a large life insurance policy and dies shortly afterwards. His widow Betty has enormous feelings of guilt which sends her closer to a nervous breakdown unless Dr. Cristian can help. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Parolee" | Paul Guilfoyle | Teleplay by : Lee Berg | November 19, 1956 | |
| Dr. Christian thinks he can help a troubled young man by have his imprisoned brother paroled. But after the older sibling is released it doesn't take long for Christian to realize he's responsible for an enormous mistake. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Orphan" | Henry S. Kesler | Stuart Jerome | November 26, 1956 | |
| Dr. Christian tries to save an orphaned teen-ager from her scheming relatives. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Locked Memory" | James Sheldon | Jack Rock | December 3, 1956 | |
| A Korean War veteran is convinced he accidentally killed his buddy while on a night patrol. The event's trauma has caused him to lose his speech and Dr. Christian works with the man to overcome his past. | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Intern" | Paul Guilfoyle | Vincent Fotre | December 10, 1956 | |
| Dr. Christian steps in to heal a breach between a young intern and his father when the latter asks the boy to give up the study of medicine. | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Cameraman" | Henry S. Kesler | William R. Cox | December 17, 1956 | |
| 13 | 13 | "The Legacy" | James Sheldon | Stuart Jerome | December 24, 1956 | |
| Dr. Christian inherits an estate of a recently deceased patient, and has his hands full with the woman's squabbling relatives. | ||||||
| 14 | 14 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | December 31, 1956 | |
| A patient with a bad heart refuses doctor's orders about exerting himself. It's up to Dr. Christian to convince the man to take better care of himself. | ||||||
| 15 | 15 | "Truck Driver" | Lew Landers | Lou Huston | January 7, 1957 | |
| A man is fired after getting into a fight with his co-worker. Dr. Christian, with the assistance of his secretary Betty, tries to get the driver his job back at the trucking firm plus get at the reason for the altercation. | ||||||
| 16 | 16 | "Bullet Wound" | Henry S. Kesler | Gene Roddenberry | January 14, 1957 | |
| A criminal is wounded and his two brothers decide to get him medical attention. They kidnap Dr. Christian and force him to operate under adverse conditions. | ||||||
| 17 | 17 | "Revenge" | Henry S. Kesler | Lee Berg | January 21, 1957 | |
| Rufus Corning blames Christian for his wife's death in surgery and vows revenge. | ||||||
| 18 | 18 | "Company Control" | Paul Guilfoyle | Jack Rock | January 28, 1957 | |
| When the president of a chemical company has a heart attack, crooks move in and take over the business. | ||||||
| 19 | 19 | "The Farm Story" | Herbert L. Strock | Doris Hursley and Frank Hursley | February 4, 1957 | |
| A father takes his son on a camping trip not realizing that the boy has a rheumatic heart. | ||||||
| 20 | 20 | "Vaccine" | Henry S. Kesler | Leonard Heideman | February 11, 1957 | |
| The dread disease, "Bubonic Plague" gives Dr. Christian a bad time when he learns of its spread in an outlying community and that delivery of the Navy's supply of life-saving serum will be delayed. | ||||||
| 21 | 21 | "Mother's Boy" | Eddie Davis | Jack Laird | February 18, 1957 | |
| A struggle to patch up a broken home to save the health and happiness of a small boy faces Dr. Christian. | ||||||
| 22 | 22 | "Haunted House" | Henry S. Kesler | Stuart Jerome | February 25, 1957 | |
| Janis Sommers is convinced her husband is trying to kill her. Dr. Christian is called in to evaluate the wife to see is she's mentally competent or telling the truth. | ||||||
| 23 | 23 | "Hit and Run" | Herbert L. Strock | Vincent Fotre | March 4, 1957 | |
| Johnny Haven and his friends are accused of being involved in a tragic auto accident. When they convincingly protest their innocence Dr. Christian decides to conduct his own investigation. | ||||||
| 24 | 24 | "The Bite" | Paul Guilfoyle | Don Brinkley | March 11, 1957 | |
| Dr. Christian tries desperately to save the life of a little boy bitten by a black widow spider. | ||||||
| 25 | 25 | "Once a Cop" | Paul Guilfoyle | William R. Cox | March 18, 1957 | |
| A retired policeman tries to prevent a robbery in which his daughter's boyfriend is involved. | ||||||
| 26 | 26 | "The Alien" | Henry S. Kesler | Jack Laird | March 25, 1957 | |
| Dr. Christian comes to the assistance of a man who entered the United States illegally. | ||||||
| 27 | 27 | "The Payoff" | Henry S. Kesler | Stuart Jerome | April 1, 1957 | |
| An man has been unjustly imprisoned years for a robbery he didn't commit. Upon release he retrieves the loot after learning its location. Dr. Christian tries to convince him to turn over the stolen cash. | ||||||
| 28 | 28 | "Plane Crash" | Henry S. Kesler | Jack Rock | April 8, 1957 | |
| Judy is a patient of Christian's who is expecting her first baby. Husband Andy is a pilot and when he disappears after his plane crashes the doctor must endeavor to save Judy and her unborn infant's lives. | ||||||
| 29 | 29 | "Amnesia" | Felix E. Feist | Irving H. Cooper | April 15, 1957 | |
| Ruth Belford loses her memory after an auto accident rigged by her husband, and Dr. Christian is brought in to help her overcome the experience. | ||||||
| 30 | 30 | "Mark! Danger!" | Henry S. Kesler | Stuart Jerome & P.K. Palmer | April 22, 1957 | |
| A series of mysterious accidents threatens to halt work on a top-secret project. | ||||||
| 31 | 31 | "Fear" | Eddie Davis | Lee Berg | April 29, 1957 | |
| Dr. Christian is stranded in a mountain lodge with a murderer. | ||||||
| 32 | 32 | "Typhoid" | Paul Guilfoyle | Joel Rapp | May 6, 1957 | |
| Dr. Christian learns of a typhoid outbreak and the focus turns to youthful Danny Martin, who fears that he, like his mother, is a typhoid carrier. | ||||||
| 33 | 33 | "Poison Control" | Eddie Davis | George Callahan | May 13, 1957 | |
| A desperate secretary takes some poison and is admitted to the hospital. As Dr. Christian's patient he must figure out how to save her life as the toxin has no antidote. | ||||||
| 34 | 34 | "The Philanthropist" | Paul Guilfoyle | Gene Roddenberry & Stuart Jerome | May 20, 1957 | |
| Dr. Christian is left a large sum of money in someone's will. He is baffled as he has no recollection of the person as a former patient. | ||||||
| 35 | 35 | "The Secret" | Eddie Davis | Leonard Heideman & Stuart Jerome | May 27, 1957 | |
| A man with just one year left to live decides to do everything he's ever dreamed of doing. | ||||||
| 36 | 36 | "Champion" | Eddie Davis | Jack Laird | June 3, 1957 | |
| A boxer, after working hard for his big chance, is about to fight for a championship belt. Dr. Christian learns from an examination that the pugilist will likely go blind from a blow to the head. | ||||||
| 37 | 37 | "Blackmail" | Eddie Davis | Jack Laird | June 10, 1957 | |
| Dr. Christian trusts his nurse Betty implicitly and when she's accused of blackmailing patients he's outraged. Christian works diligently to clear Betty's name. | ||||||
| 38 | 38 | "Question Of Suicide" | Unknown | Unknown | June 17, 1957 | |
| Dr. Christian tells a man he is perfectly healthy and then faces a major problem when the man suddenly dies, is it murder or suicide? | ||||||
| 39 | 39 | "Rabies" | Lew Landers | Lee Berg | June 24, 1957 | |
| Dr. Christian invites controversy when one of his older patients is bitten by a rabid dog. The physician feels the man's weak heart will fail with given the shots and he proposes an alternative solution | ||||||
| 40 | 40 | "Old Man" | Henry S. Kesler | Jack Laird | 1957 | |
| Dr. Christian has a delicate task as an older man is having difficulty adjusting to moving in with one of his children. | ||||||
References
- Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. p. 202-203. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- Erickson, Hal (2014). From Radio to the Big Screen: Hollywood Films Featuring Broadcast Personalities and Programs. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-1558-5. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- The Honeymooners - Season Two, Episode One. https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B075SHTQG7/ref=atv_dp