[Quirky Quokka]

Hi everyone

A trip down memory lane this fortnight for those of you who remember the Dr Kildare TV show. A newspaper strip, a comic book and a radio show.


Dr Kildare Comic Strip - 1962

I found this under ‘Single and Small Run’ and it’s a complete story from the newspaper comic strip, based on the TV show. Unfortunately, it appears to be the only complete strip we have on CB+. I think you’ll like the art by Ken Bald and it’s not a bad story.



https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=60940


Dr Kildare #7 - Dell - 1963

This comic book is also based on the TV show starring Richard Chamberlain.  The story ‘Trial by Fire’ takes up most of the book, with a few other features.



https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=34275


Radio Show – Episode #50 – Eddie Lazetti Kidnaps Nurse - 1951

CB+ also has 60 episodes of the Dr Kildare radio show from 1950-1951, featuring Lew Ayres as Dr Kildare and Lionel Barrymore as Dr Gillespie. I’ve picked out this episode for a little drama.



https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=44089


I’ll look forward to your comments.

Quirky Quokka

[The Australian Panther]

Re the Dell Comic Book;-
GCD has -

Publication Dates:
July-September 1962 - April-June 1965
Number of Issues Published:
8 (#2 - #9)   

So what about #1?

Continues from Four Color (Dell, 1942 series) #1337 - Dr. Kildare (April-June 1962).

So, on CB+ we are missing #8 and #9 .
Both are indexed at GCD, so both are available.

[Robb_K]

Re the Dell Comic Book;-
GCD has -

Publication Dates:
July-September 1962 - April-June 1965
Number of Issues Published:
8 (#2 - #9)   

So what about #1?

Continues from Four Color (Dell, 1942 series) #1337 - Dr. Kildare (April-June 1962).

So, on CB+ we are missing #8 and #9 .
Both are indexed at GCD, so both are available.

I've got scans of both #8 and #9, as well as Dell 4 Color 1337.  I can send them to someone who has a PC to upload them.  I have trouble uploading because I use a MAC.

I see that we have The Dell 4 Color 1337 issue here on CB+ under Dell Comics, Four Color Comics 1942 (2nd) Series.

Please let me know if someone else wants to upload #s 8 & 9 for us, and I'll send zip files of the .jpg files to them.

[MarkWarner]

Sadly past #7 are not public domain. Late Dell and Four Color have been picked over  many times. So if a book is missing there is a big chance it is still in copyright

[Robb_K]

Sadly past #7 are not public domain. Late Dell and Four Color have been picked over  many times. So if a book is missing there is a big chance it is still in copyright

Thanks for letting us know that, Mark.  I wondered why we'd have all the early and middle issues, but not the later ones, which were easy to find.

[Quirky Quokka]

Thanks Panther, Robb and Mark for the extra info about those Dell issues. I didn't think to look further to see if we had the first issue, so it's good to know it's under Four Color. I was also pleasantly surprised to find a few more comics from the 60s popping up on the site. Looking forward to seeing more in years to come.

Here's the link to the first Dr Kildare issue under the Dell Four Color series that Panther mentioned:

https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=38012

Cheers

QQ

[SuperScrounge]

Dr. Kildare #7

Little Medics
Interesting. I wonder how accurate those medical actions would be considered these days? (I seriously doubt Terry could have tied the tourniquet fast enough to keep the venom 'contained', for instance, but at least they avoided the cliche of sucking out the venom.)


Trial By Fire
Alt. title: So Tired! 

It kind of reminded me of a TV cliche where the stars end up doing stuff that they wouldn't ordinarily do, although except for rushing into the building to save the girl the writer mostly restrained himself letting the firemen do the firemen stuff.


Lady Doctor
More like a synopsis for a longer story, but, eh, okay.


Dangerous Waters
Eh, okay.

I guess we'll just have to assume the doctor cured the girls' appendicitis as the story couldn't be bothered to tell us. 

[Quirky Quokka]

Dr. Kildare #7

Little Medics
Interesting. I wonder how accurate those medical actions would be considered these days? (I seriously doubt Terry could have tied the tourniquet fast enough to keep the venom 'contained', for instance, but at least they avoided the cliche of sucking out the venom.)
...

Lady Doctor
More like a synopsis for a longer story, but, eh, okay.

Yes, I wondered about the snake bite too. I don't think tourniquets have been recommended for a while, though I have no medical training apart from watching ER.

And they have lady doctors now? What will they think of next?

Speaking of ER and Lady Doctors, I saw Alex Kingston at a ComicCon-style event a couple of years ago, and she talked about her role as River Song on Dr Who and as a doc on ER. Some interesting anecdotes. She was a hoot!

Cheers

QQ

[Morgus]

These were great choices, Q.Q.
The radio drama was cool because I put on some old Halloween radio programs this time of year when I’m setting up the decorations in the garage for outside. Ayers and Barrymore were almost as good as they were on the big screen. TCM plays the Kildare movies about once a year, and most of them were pretty good. Funny though. I’m more used to Chamberlain’s voice as Kildare so hearing Ayers without actually seeing him was jarring.

The comic strip was interesting, from beginning to end. Bald did a great job and it’s easy to see why it lasted longer than the TV series that it was based on. True confessions; I had never heard of either Bald or the strip until now. Like I say, I keep coming back here to learn more.

The Dell comic was pretty good. Sometimes they’d botch the drawings of the stars and you’d have to squint to see the resemblance but they had “Dick Chamberlain” down cold. The story held your interest. Hey, ‘Crash. You usually hip us to the scams in the ads...were the cars sold at the back just pictures mounted on a little stand?

[Quirky Quokka]

These were great choices, Q.Q.
The radio drama was cool because I put on some old Halloween radio programs this time of year when I’m setting up the decorations in the garage for outside. Ayers and Barrymore were almost as good as they were on the big screen. TCM plays the Kildare movies about once a year, and most of them were pretty good. Funny though. I’m more used to Chamberlain’s voice as Kildare so hearing Ayers without actually seeing him was jarring.

The comic strip was interesting, from beginning to end. Bald did a great job and it’s easy to see why it lasted longer than the TV series that it was based on. True confessions; I had never heard of either Bald or the strip until now. Like I say, I keep coming back here to learn more.

The Dell comic was pretty good. Sometimes they’d botch the drawings of the stars and you’d have to squint to see the resemblance but they had “Dick Chamberlain” down cold. The story held your interest. Hey, ‘Crash. You usually hip us to the scams in the ads...were the cars sold at the back just pictures mounted on a little stand?

Hi Morgus

I'm glad you liked them. I have a confession to make. I've never actually watched the Dr Kildare TV show. I think you and I are about the same age from what you've said previously, so we wouldn't have watched it first time round. But you must have had more reruns of it in Canada than we had here. So although I know Richard Chamberlain, mainly from 'The Thorn Birds', I didn't have his voice in my head when I listened to the radio show. I though Ayres and Barrymore did a great job, though Ayres sounded older than an intern. Maybe he just has that kind of voice. They could have probably done with a few more sound effects, but I thought the voice actors were really good.

And I thought it was a treat to find that comic strip. I'd never heard of Bald either, but I really like his art. There are a few more examples on CWD of other books he worked on, but I haven't checked them out yet.

Cheers

QQ

[The Australian Panther]

Here's Mr know-all again!
Here's A very young Richard Chamberlain in episode #!. You can see why he was a heart-throb.
You might recognize the guy under the crewcut, QQ! from the voice at least!
Dr. Kildare: Season 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpS-5821I0I&list=PLFXDJMPHRf1AjQjSnr3AdF5_O73mCaydZ

One of the most popular and influential medical series in television history makes its first house call in this long-awaited DVD collection. Starring Richard Chamberlain in the role that rocketed him to fame and made him a teen idol, Dr. Kildare follows the gifted young intern as he learns to practice medicine under the watchful eye of his mentor, Blair General Hospital’s chief of staff, Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Raymond Massey). Created by pulp writer Max Brand in a 1936 magazine story, James Kildare would find success in a series of MGM theatrical films, tie-in novels and a 1950s radio show before making his TV debut on September 28, 1961. Featuring 33 compelling episodes packed with human interest and drama, the first season of Doctor Kildare also includes appearances by Oscar winners Lee Marvin, Ellen Burstyn, Beatrice Straight and Dorothy Malone, screen legends Joseph Cotten, Mary Astor, Margaret O’Brien and more!   

I never watched Thornbirds. I also never watched DR Kildare. Never liked Hospital shows.
These two are what I most associate Chamberlain with.
The Count of Monte Cristo 1975 ( Richard Chamberlain)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUCk9jK-xsU
Unfortunately the whole movie of the next is not available but it was good.
King Solomon's Mines (1985) Part 01
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BvulXHmSJs

enjoy!

[Robb_K]

Here's Mr know-all again!
Here's A very young Richard Chamberlain in episode #!. You can see why he was a heart-throb.
You might recognize the guy under the crewcut, QQ! from the voice at least!
Dr. Kildare: Season 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpS-5821I0I&list=PLFXDJMPHRf1AjQjSnr3AdF5_O73mCaydZ

One of the most popular and influential medical series in television history makes its first house call in this long-awaited DVD collection. Starring Richard Chamberlain in the role that rocketed him to fame and made him a teen idol, Dr. Kildare follows the gifted young intern as he learns to practice medicine under the watchful eye of his mentor, Blair General Hospital’s chief of staff, Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Raymond Massey). Created by pulp writer Max Brand in a 1936 magazine story, James Kildare would find success in a series of MGM theatrical films, tie-in novels and a 1950s radio show before making his TV debut on September 28, 1961. Featuring 33 compelling episodes packed with human interest and drama, the first season of Doctor Kildare also includes appearances by Oscar winners Lee Marvin, Ellen Burstyn, Beatrice Straight and Dorothy Malone, screen legends Joseph Cotten, Mary Astor, Margaret O’Brien and more!   

I never watched Thornbirds. I also never watched DR Kildare. Never liked Hospital shows.
These two are what I most associate Chamberlain with.
The Count of Monte Cristo 1975 ( Richard Chamberlain)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUCk9jK-xsU
Unfortunately the whole movie of the next is not available but it was good.
King Solomon's Mines (1985) Part 01
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BvulXHmSJs

enjoy!

Wow!  Do I feel OLD!!  What I remember are only film versionds of those novels from a whole generation before - The Count of Monte Cridsto starring Robert Donat, from The 1940s, and King Solomon's Mines from the early 1950s, starring Stewart Granger.

[paw broon]

Apart from Emergency Ward 10 - TV and comics - the other great medical show was Ben Casey.
The newspaper strip by Neal Adams is really worth a look:-
https://13thdimension.com/13-great-neal-adams-ben-casey-strips-a-60th-anniversary-celebration/
Also 10 Dell issues, plus a photo comic, I think.

[Morgus]

Q.Q.; I actually DID get to watch Kildare in both re-runs and the last year or so of the TV show. Mom never missed an episode. And, like the Grays’ anatomy fans now who are nurses, she’d keep a running track on what was ‘real’ or not. (“That baby is too big to be a new born”. “For all the good pouring whiskey over a cut would do, they might as well drink it.”)
Reminds me; forgot about the snake bite page. It would be messy and probably give you an infection, but it WOULD work (sort of) and is better than nothing...or sucking it out...But man oh man, can’t you just SEE some little kid with the jack knife going to their little sister and saying;”Sally, you have a snake bite...HOLD STILL!”

“Panther, for me it was SHOGUN or BOURNE IDENTITY. (EVERYBODY forgets he was a there before Matt Damon). While you guys are at YouTube, check out his solo records. He had two or three. NOT bad. Sort of like Al Martino, Vic Damone, or other Vegas crooners. The Beatles probably stopped that revenue source dead in it’s tracks..

Wow, nice work on the Ben Casey strip, ‘Paw. Thanks for sharing. Robb, there have been SO many version of The Count and Quartermain that I tend to blend them all in together. Maybe somebody will put all the ‘good parts’ in one futrure script and have a sort of greatest hits.

[The Australian Panther]

Robb,

Wow!  Do I feel OLD!!  What I remember are only film versions of those novels from a whole generation before - The Count of Monte Cristo starring Robert Donat, from The 1940s, and King Solomon's Mines from the early 1950s, starring Stewart Granger. 

The Stuart Granger version was my introduction. And the 'Classics Illustrated' comics were my introduction to both narratives. You are not alone Robb. 
Note that Chamberlain's version was 1985. This was a time when there were a number of movies trying to cash in on the Indiana Jones hype. The movie is much better than that makes it sound, tho!
Paw,
You got in ahead of me on Ben Casey! And I think we have 'Emergency Ward 10' comics here too. [In the British section?]

[SuperScrounge]

Dr. Kildare Comic Strip

The underlying story wasn't bad, but the dialogue, especially early when we're being introduced to Jeff was very annoying. If it wasn't an 'assignment' I probably would have given up on this after a couple of strips.

The whole simplistic 'we're going to cure Parkinsons' attitude of Jeff and his father was kind of grating knowing that 73 years later there still isn't a cure for Parkinsons.

Artwise it was very nice. I did wonder if this was the comic a young Neal Adams worked on as an assistant.

[Quirky Quokka]

Dr. Kildare Comic Strip

The whole simplistic 'we're going to cure Parkinsons' attitude of Jeff and his father was kind of grating knowing that 73 years later there still isn't a cure for Parkinsons.

Artwise it was very nice. I did wonder if this was the comic a young Neal Adams worked on as an assistant.

Yes, I thought that too re the cure for Parkinson's. Just throw some money at it and we can find a cure in a week or so. Maybe they thought a cure was imminent back then.

Cheers

QQ

[paw broon]

Should have posted the Ben Casey section:-
https://comicbookplus.com/?cid=2524

[The Australian Panther]

Dr Kildare Comic Strip - 1962
https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=60940
First, the Art.
Ken Bald. Here is an interview.
Ken Bald, Master Artist of the Golden Age of Comics
https://gdrhodes.medium.com/ken-bald-master-artist-of-the-golden-age-of-comics-9b4ab7ba5e7
I'm struck by the difference in the Kildare work from most of what I associate him with in the actual comics.
Love the SunGirl cover. Either he improved seriously or he was a chameleon, very adaptable. The work on Kildare makes me wonder if he was influenced by Neal Adams or vice versa.
Here is what he says about Kildare;-

I was doing the Dr. Kildare strip, and the writer for it was Elliot Caplin, the brother of Al Capp [creator of Li’l Abner]. 

  I drew Dr. Kildare for over twenty years [from 1962 to 1984], and I was always trying to catch up with the script, always busy, when I wasn’t doing commercial art. That’s why I gave Dr. Kildare up. They got me for six months longer than I wanted and gave me a bonus.

I note that we have 178 posted strips here.
Since they are 4 panel posts and since many are of slight angles to each other, it seems that somebody cut and pasted the daily strips. Did a good job too!
So, to the story.
Interesting to find a story about Parkinson's Disease in 1962. I think it has been under the Radar for most of us until recently. I think Michael J. Fox's story gave the disease a lot of publicity.     
A lot of times when you see a strip that is top-heavy with dialogue, not much trouble is taken with the imagry. That's not the case here. The art is integral to the story.
Also, when an artist has to draw a living person, in many cases they take one or two photos and use and reuse those. That's also not the case here. Oh, Bald does reuse images of Kildare occasionally, but not so you'd notice.
Not the kind of story I go out of my way to read, but in my dotage, I appreciate this kind of narrative much more. I can understand why the strip lasted 22 years.
Thanks QQ for getting me to take a closer look at it.
That's one thing I love about having more than one reviewer for the Reading Group.         

[SuperScrounge]

Dr Kildare 50

Eddie Lazetti Kidnaps Nurse

Who didn't guess Lazetti would take advantage of the cop & Diana lifting him up to get the cop's gun? Not the most subtle set-up.

The title calls him Lazetti, but it sounds to me like the actors are saying Mazetti. I'm guessing the title was not based on the script, which probably doesn't exist anymore, and whomever titled the episode misheard the actors. (Or I misheard. *shrug*)

Nice little show.

[The Australian Panther]

Couple of links
robert donat count of monte cristo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAYd6kxu2ZE

Dr. Kildare's Strange Case - Full Movie 1940 - Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore, Laraine Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Zh_b00t4U

(One of several)

[Morgus]

With all the attention to BEN CASEY and DR. KILDARE, it brought back another pioneering medical show to my mind. MEDIC, with Richard Boone. Now there was a profile I would have liked Neal Adams to have done. The funny thing is that it was the MAD magazine parody of the show, MEDICAL, (issue 28 July 1956) drawn by Will Elder that got me interested. The prologue, where he holds up a ‘medical instrument’ to be used that episode still cracks me up, especially his expression when he figures out what it’s really for.

But I don’t know...Boone made a lot of movies, especially westerns, and for all I know, Neal might have drawn him for one of Dell’s movie adaptations. As it is, i put on Richard Boone just about every year for I BURY THE LIVING, the best TWILIGHT ZONE episode that isn’t a TWILIGHT ZONE episode.

By the way, it’s a sad fact that the idea of just throwing wealth at a disease for a cure is still a thing. I wish I had a burrito for every rich guy that gets fleeced by quacks into thinking their ’special cure’ will take out their cancer or whatever else. They figure if it costs a lot, it MUST work, right??? It’s even worse when it involves animals on the endangered species list who wind up getting killed for their gall bladders or horns, or whatever.

[SuperScrounge]

Wait, Morgus, are you saying that my paying thousands of dollars for ground up dragon horn pills won't cure my gulliblitis? 

[Morgus]

‘Super, that is a gnarly cool word. Gonna have to use it.

[Quirky Quokka]

Here's Mr know-all again!
Here's A very young Richard Chamberlain in episode #!. You can see why he was a heart-throb.
You might recognize the guy under the crewcut, QQ! from the voice at least!
Dr. Kildare: Season 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpS-5821I0I&list=PLFXDJMPHRf1AjQjSnr3AdF5_O73mCaydZ

Thanks for that film clip, Panther. I didn't realise it was William Shatner until I glanced down at the comments. Though once you know it's him, the voice is obvious. I guess I just didn't recognise him without his skivvy 

And one educational turn deserves another. Here's all you need to know of 'The Thorn Birds' condensed to 10 minutes 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxOwWEzkl20

Cheers

QQ