ABSTRACT
The first half of the 1960s represents a defining period in the history of televi
sion’s prim e-tim e medical drama both because of the genre’s successes and its
failures. Descended from magazine stories, novels, radio shows, and movies of
the 1930s and 1940s, the medical drama made a shaky start on television in
1952 with two short-lived series, City Hospital and The Doctor. Two years later, a
series called Medic enjoyed m oderate success. King’s Row, another medical
drama, failed quickly in 1955. In the fall of 1961, however, the form catapulted
to genuine hit status when Ben Casey and Dr. Kildare appeared. Centering on
the experiences of young physicians in big-city hospitals, the two programs
and their stars became a phenomena that spilled over to newspapers, maga
zines, and even toys and records. The faddish success led network executives
to believe that the two programs were establishing a form ula that subsequent
televised efforts about medicine should follow.
