''Dr. Christian'' is a radio series with

Jean Hersholt Jean Pierre Carl Buron (12 July 1886 – 2 June 1956), known professionally as Jean Hersholt, was a Danish-American actor. He is best known for starring on the radio series '' Dr. Christian'' (1937–1954) and in the film '' Heidi'' (1937).Obitu ...

in the title role. It aired on

CBS Radio CBS Radio was a radio broadcasting company and radio network operator owned by CBS Corporation and founded in 1928, with consolidated radio station groups owned by CBS and Westinghouse Broadcasting/Group W since the 1920s, and Infinity Broad ...

from November 7, 1937 to January 6, 1954. In 1956, the series was adapted for television where it aired in

syndication Syndication may refer to: * Broadcast syndication, where individual stations buy programs outside the network system * Print syndication, where individual newspapers or magazines license news articles, columns, or comic strips * Web syndication, ...

until 1957. Hersholt had portrayed the character Dr. John Luke, based on Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, the obstetrician who delivered and cared for the

Dionne Quintuplets The Dionne quintuplets (; born May 28, 1934) are the first quintuplets known to have survived their infancy. The identical girls were born just outside Callander, Ontario, near the village of Corbeil. All five survived to adulthood. The Di ...

, 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 Hans Christian Andersen ( , ; 2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, he is best remembered for his literary fairy tales. Andersen's fairy tales, consist ...

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''. Dr. Christian practiced in the Midwest town of River's End with the assistance of Nurse Judy Price (

Rosemary DeCamp Rosemary Shirley DeCamp (November 14, 1910 – February 20, 2001) was an American radio, film, and television actress. Life and career Early life Rosemary Shirley DeCamp was born in Prescott, Yavapai, Arizona on November 14, 1910 to William ...

Lurene Tuttle Lurene Tuttle (August 29, 1907 – May 28, 1986) was an American actress and acting coach, who made the transition from vaudeville to radio, and later films and television. Her most enduring impact was as one of network radio's more versatile a ...

, Kathleen Fitz,

Helen Claire Helen Claire (October 18, 1911January 12, 1974)DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 54. was an actress on Broadway and in old-time ...

). 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 Vaseline ()Also pronounced with the main stress on the last syllable . is an American brand of petroleum jelly-based products owned by transnational company Unilever. Products include plain petroleum jelly and a selection of skin creams, soa ...

. 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" ; among the later winners were

Rod Serling Rodman Edward Serling (December 25, 1924 – June 28, 1975) was an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and narrator/on-screen host, best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his anthology television series ...

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. 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 ''Meet Dr. Christian'' is a 1939 American film directed by Bernard Vorhaus, the first of six films in the '' Dr. Christian'' series. Cast *Jean Hersholt as Dr. Paul Christian * Dorothy Lovett as Nurse Judy Price *Robert Baldwin as Roy Davis * ...

'' (1939) * ''

The Courageous Dr. Christian ''The Courageous Dr. Christian'' is a 1940 American film directed by Bernard Vorhaus. It was part of a film series about Dr. Christian. Plot summary Kindhearted Dr. Paul Christian is appalled by the harsh living conditions of homeless inhabit ...

'' (1940) * ''

Dr. Christian Meets the Women ''Dr. Christian Meets the Women'' is a 1940 American film directed by William C. McGann, one of the series of six Dr. Christian films featuring Jean Hersholt. Plot summary Professor Kenneth Parker, a God-fearing physical culturist, arrives to ...

'' (1940) * '' Remedy for Riches'' (1940) * ''

Melody for Three ''Melody for Three'' is a 1941 American film directed by Erle C. Kenton, one of the six films of the Dr. Christian series. Plot summary Dr. Christian takes an interest in a young boy, a violin prodigy, whose mother is a divorced music teacher ...

'' (1941) * ''

They Meet Again ''They Meet Again'' is a 1941 American film directed by Erle C. Kenton and starring Jean Hersholt, Dorothy Lovett, and Robert Baldwin (actor), Robert Baldwin. It is one of the six films in the Dr. Christian series. Plot Dr. Paul Christian is giv ...

'' (1941)

Television

In 1956, the Dr. Christian character made the transition to television in a 39-episode syndicated

Ziv Television Ziv Television Programs, Inc. was an American production company that specialized in productions for first-run television syndication in the 1950s. History The company was founded by Frederick Ziv in 1948 and was a subsidiary of his successful ...

series, scripted by

Gene Roddenberry Eugene Wesley Roddenberry Sr. (August 19, 1921 – October 24, 1991) was an American television screenwriter, producer, and creator of '' Star Trek: The Original Series'', its sequel spin-off series '' Star Trek: The Animated Series,'' and '' ...

, with

Macdonald Carey Edward Macdonald Carey (March 15, 1913 – March 21, 1994) was an American actor, best known for his role as the patriarch Dr. Tom Horton on NBC's soap opera ''Days of Our Lives''. For almost three decades, he was the show's central cast member. ...

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 Mason Alan Dinehart (born 1936) is an American business consultant and retired actor best known for his role as a youthful Bat Masterson in 34 episodes between 1955 and 1959 of the ABC/Desilu television series ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Ea ...

, 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 ''The Honeymooners'' is an American television sitcom which originally aired from 1955 to 1956, created by and starring Jackie Gleason, and based on a recurring comedy sketch of the same name that had been part of Gleason's variety show. It fo ...

'',

Ralph Kramden ''The Honeymooners'' is an American television sitcom which originally aired from 1955 to 1956, created by and starring Jackie Gleason, and based on a recurring comedy sketch of the same name that had been part of Gleason's variety show. It fo ...

sarcastically asks Trixie Norton, "Well, Dr. Christian, have you got any more suggestions?"The Honeymooners - Season Two, Episode One. https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B075SHTQG7/ref=atv_dp

Season 1 (1956-57)

Listen to

Free OTR: ''Dr. Christian'' (175 free episodes)

References

External links

at CVTA

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Doctor Christian 1930s American radio programs 1940s American radio programs 1950s American radio programs Radio programs adapted into films Radio programs adapted into television shows Television series based on radio series 1956 American television series debuts 1957 American television series endings 1950s American drama television series 1950s American medical television series Black-and-white American television shows English-language television shows First-run syndicated television programs in the United States CBS Radio programs Television series by Ziv Television Programs Television shows set in the Midwestern United States