Dr. Simon Locke
Also known asPolice Surgeon
Created byChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller for Dorian-Bentwood Productions
StarringSam Groom as Dr. Simon Locke
Jack Albertson as Dr. Andrew Sellers (1971–1972)
Larry D. Mann as Lt. Jack Gordon (1972–1974)
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes104
Production
Executive producersWilton Schiller
Murray Chercover for CTV
ProducerChester Krumholz
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesThe ValJon Production Company (Dr. Simon Locke)
Four Star International (Dr. Simon Locke/Police Surgeon)
Viacom Enterprises (Dr. Simon Locke)
CTV Television Network (Police Surgeon)
Sterno Productions Limited (Police Surgeon)
Original release
NetworkSyndication (1971–1974)
CTV (1972–1974)
Release1971 (1971) –
1975 (1975)

Dr. Simon Locke (on-screen title is Doctor Simon Locke) is a Canadian medical drama that was syndicated to television stations in the United States from 1971 to 1974 through the sponsorship of Colgate-Palmolive.[1]

Plot

The series was initially a medical drama that originated from the fictional rural town of Dixon Mills, where a young physician, Dr. Simon Locke (played by soap star Sam Groom), arrived in town to assist veteran physician Dr. Andrew Sellers (played by veteran actor Jack Albertson). The plot lines were more fitting for a big city medical drama, including a typhoid epidemic, child abuse, and even a murder. The series co-starred Len Birman as Sheriff Dan Palmer and Nuala Fitzgerald as Nurse Louise Wynn.

In 1972, Albertson left the series, and the series was renamed Police Surgeon, where Dr. Locke moved back to the city and worked for the police department's emergency unit, where he assists the cops in solving crimes that require medical research. The reworked series also starred Larry D. Mann as Locke's superior, Lieutenant Jack Gordon, with Len Birman returning in his role, now as Lieutenant Dan Palmer. Nerene Virgin played Ellie the Dispatcher in over thirty episodes of the reworked series, best known for her "3-M-D-9" radio call. The series also featured guest stars such as William Shatner, Leslie Nielsen, Donald Pleasence, and Keenan Wynn. Additionally, a then-unknown John Candy made his TV debut in the 1975 episode "Web of Guilt".[2]

Series overview

Season Episodes Premiered: Ended: On-screen title
1 26 13 September 1971 (1971-09-13) 6 March 1972 (1972-03-06) Doctor Simon Locke
2 26 11 September 1972 (1972-09-11) 12 March 1973 (1973-03-12) Police Surgeon
3 26 10 September 1973 (1973-09-10) 11 March 1974 (1974-03-11)
4 26 5 September 1974 (1974-09-05) 6 March 1975 (1975-03-06)

Episode list

Season 1: 1971–72

Nº Ep Title Director Writer Original air date
11"The Day Simon Locke Came to Dixon Mills"John Meredyth LucasChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller13 September 1971 (1971-09-13)
22"Gun Point"UnknownUnknown20 September 1971 (1971-09-20)
33"Max"George GormanStory by : Jeff Kantor
Teleplay by : Barry Oringer		27 September 1971 (1971-09-27)
44"Walden Lost"Richard GilbertHarry Kronman4 October 1971 (1971-10-04)
55"Death Is a Wanderer"Richard GilbertChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller11 October 1971 (1971-10-11)
66"Royal Treatment"George GormanChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller18 October 1971 (1971-10-18)
77"Death Holds the Scales"Richard GilbertChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller25 October 1971 (1971-10-25)
88"The Cage"John Meredyth LucasJohn Meredyth Lucas1 November 1971 (1971-11-01)
99"Bad Blood"John Meredyth LucasChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller8 November 1971 (1971-11-08)
1010"Where Are the Lucky Stars"Gerald MayerFred Freiberger15 November 1971 (1971-11-15)
1111"The Hero"Gerald MayerJim Carlson22 November 1971 (1971-11-22)
1212"Two Points of a Pitchfork: Part 1"Gerald MayerMort Forer, Marian Waldman, Chester Krumholz, and Wilton Schiller29 November 1971 (1971-11-29)
1313"Two Points of a Pitchfork: Part 2"Gerald MayerMort Forer, Marian Waldman, Chester Krumholz, and Wilton Schiller6 December 1971 (1971-12-06)
1414"The Healer"John Meredyth LucasStory by : Brad Radnitz
Teleplay by : Chester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller		13 December 1971 (1971-12-13)
1515"Crash"John Meredyth LucasHoward Dimsdale20 December 1971 (1971-12-20)
1616"The Perfect Specimen"Richard GilbertChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller27 December 1971 (1971-12-27)
1717"Coo-Coo in the Nest"Gerald MayerStory by : Helen French
Teleplay by : Helen French, Chester Krumholz, and Wilton Schiller		3 January 1972 (1972-01-03)
1818"The Man Who Hunted Hunters"George GormanStory by : S. Rodge Olenicoff
Teleplay by : Mort Forer and Marian Waldman		10 January 1972 (1972-01-10)
1919"Too Many Candles"Gerald MayerChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller17 January 1972 (1972-01-17)
2020"Child of Silence"Gerald MayerOliver Crawford24 January 1972 (1972-01-24)
2121"Dark Future"John Meredyth LucasJim Carlson31 January 1972 (1972-01-31)
2222"The Cortessa Rose"Gerald MayerJohn Meredyth Lucas7 February 1972 (1972-02-07)
2323"The Meddler"John Meredyth LucasChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller14 February 1972 (1972-02-14)
2424"Quiet Sunday"Gerald MayerChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller21 February 1972 (1972-02-21)
2525"Marooned"UnknownUnknown28 February 1972 (1972-02-28)
2626"The Wanderer"John Meredyth LucasChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller6 March 1972 (1972-03-06)

Season 2: 1972–73

Nº Ep Title Director Writer Original air date
271"The Text According to Gracie"John Meredyth LucasFred Freiberger11 September 1972 (1972-09-11)
282"Lady X"Gerald MayerOliver Crawford18 September 1972 (1972-09-18)
293"Ten Kilos to Nowhere"UnknownUnknown25 September 1972 (1972-09-25)
304"Confined Panic"UnknownUnknown2 October 1972 (1972-10-02)
315"The Caller"Gerald MayerArthur Weiss9 October 1972 (1972-10-09)
326"Blackmail"UnknownUnknown16 October 1972 (1972-10-16)
337"Summer Sunday"UnknownUnknown23 October 1972 (1972-10-23)
348"Crossfire"John Meredyth LucasMaureen Daly30 October 1972 (1972-10-30)
359"Time Out"UnknownUnknown6 November 1972 (1972-11-06)
3610"High Tension"UnknownUnknown13 November 1972 (1972-11-13)
3711"Night Watch"UnknownUnknown20 November 1972 (1972-11-20)
3812"No Place to Hide"UnknownUnknown27 November 1972 (1972-11-27)
3913"One Way to Heaven"UnknownUnknown4 December 1972 (1972-12-04)
4014"Bust Out"Eric TillMort Forer11 December 1972 (1972-12-11)
4115"Shadows"UnknownUnknown18 December 1972 (1972-12-18)
4216"Castle Queen"UnknownUnknown1 January 1973 (1973-01-01)
4317"Veil of Death"UnknownUnknown8 January 1973 (1973-01-08)
4418"Assassin"John Meredyth LucasJack Guss15 January 1973 (1973-01-15)
4519"A Deadly Favor"UnknownUnknown22 January 1973 (1973-01-22)
4620"Requiem for a Canary"John Meredyth Lucas and Brian WalkerChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller29 January 1973 (1973-01-29)
4721"4th and Cherry: Code Three"Gerald Mayer and Brian WalkerHoward Dimsdale5 February 1973 (1973-02-05)
4822"Death in the Last Row"UnknownSam Ross12 February 1973 (1973-02-12)
4923"Kill the Apple Tree"Gerald Mayer and Brian WalkerOliver Crawford19 February 1973 (1973-02-19)
5024"Ordeal"John Meredyth Lucas and Brian WalkerMaureen Daly26 February 1973 (1973-02-26)
5125"A Bullet for the General"Gerald MayerJonah Royston5 March 1973 (1973-03-05)
5226"Death Holds an Auction"John Meredyth Lucas and Brian WalkerMort Forer and Marian Waldman12 March 1973 (1973-03-12)

Season 3: 1973–74

Nº Ep Title Director Writer Original air date
531"Ticket to Nowhere"John Meredyth LucasWallace Bennett10 September 1973 (1973-09-10)
542"An Equal Right to Die"Gerald MayerChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller17 September 1973 (1973-09-17)
553"The Judas Goat of Ebony Street"Gerald MayerChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller24 September 1973 (1973-09-24)
564"Star Witness"John Meredyth LucasTheodore Apstein1 October 1973 (1973-10-01)
575"Killing Favors"Gerald MayerArthur Weiss8 October 1973 (1973-10-08)
586"Losers, Weepers"Gerald MayerKevin De Courcey15 October 1973 (1973-10-15)
597"Body Count"John Meredyth LucasChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller22 October 1973 (1973-10-22)
608"Deadly Exchange"John Meredyth LucasMaureen Daly29 October 1973 (1973-10-29)
619"A Very Quiet Street"John Meredyth LucasJim Carlson5 November 1973 (1973-11-05)
6210"Kiss and Kill"John Meredyth LucasOliver Crawford12 November 1973 (1973-11-12)
6311"Dark Pages"Gerald MayerChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller19 November 1973 (1973-11-19)
6412"For an Encore, Murder"John Meredyth LucasRandy Kreuger, Chester Krumholz, Wilton Schiller26 November 1973 (1973-11-26)
6513"Lies"UnknownUnknown3 December 1973 (1973-12-03)
6614"Vengeance"Gerald MayerChester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller10 December 1973 (1973-12-10)
6715"At the Stroke of Death"Gerald MayerChester Krumholz, Marjorie Priest, and Wilton Schiller17 December 1973 (1973-12-17)
6816"Dangerous Windfall"Gerald MayerCalvin Clements Jr.31 December 1973 (1973-12-31)
6917"Smash Up"John Meredyth LucasJohn Meredyth Lucas7 January 1974 (1974-01-07)
7018"A Taste of the Sun"John Meredyth LucasBryan Barney and Kaino Thomas14 January 1974 (1974-01-14)
7119"North Light"John Meredyth LucasStory by : Martin Leager
Teleplay by : Lew Lehman		21 January 1974 (1974-01-21)
7220"The Importer"John Meredyth LucasHelen French, Chester Krumholz, and Wilton Schiller28 January 1974 (1974-01-28)
7321"House Guest"Eric TillKaino Thomas4 February 1974 (1974-02-04)
7422"Portrait of Florenza"John Meredyth LucasGarard Banning and Mel Goldberg11 February 1974 (1974-02-11)
7523"Man Outside"Peter CarterMel Goldberg, Chester Krumholz, and Wilton Schiller18 February 1974 (1974-02-18)
7624"Borrowed Trouble"John Meredyth LucasSusanne K. Burnie, Chester Krumholz, and Wilton Schiller25 February 1974 (1974-02-25)
7725"A Bagfull of Dreams"Eric TillChester Krumholz, Lew Lehman, Jonah Royston, and Wilton Schiller4 March 1974 (1974-03-04)
7826"A Sound from Edward Sanchez"UnknownUnknown11 March 1974 (1974-03-11)

Season 4: 1974–75

Nº Ep Title Director Writer Original air date
791"He Is Among Us"John Meredyth LucasPhyllis White and Robert White5 September 1974 (1974-09-05)
802"Man in the Middle"John Meredyth LucasPhyllis White and Robert White12 September 1974 (1974-09-12)
813"Secrets"John Meredyth LucasLou Shaw19 September 1974 (1974-09-19)
824"Target: Ms. Blue"Peter CarterMaureen Daly26 September 1974 (1974-09-26)
835"The Militant"Peter CarterFred Freiberger3 October 1974 (1974-10-03)
846"Bad Apple"John Meredyth LucasHoward Dimsdale, Chester Krumholz, and Wilton Schiller10 October 1974 (1974-10-10)
857"No More Brass Bands"Peter CarterSan Ross17 October 1974 (1974-10-17)
868"Final Approach"John Meredyth LucasDonald Jack24 October 1974 (1974-10-24)
879"Fatal Deception"Peter CarterWallace Bennett31 October 1974 (1974-10-31)
8810"The Killer"John Meredyth LucasChester Krumholz, Barry Pearson, Wilton Schiller, and Kaino Thomas7 November 1974 (1974-11-07)
8911"Lady Be Dead"Peter CarterKaino Thomas14 November 1974 (1974-11-14)
9012"The Loser"Peter CarterOliver Crawford21 November 1974 (1974-11-21)
9113"Stairwell"Peter CarterE. Jack Kaplan28 November 1974 (1974-11-28)
9214"Time Bomb"Peter CarterRobert Hamner5 December 1974 (1974-12-05)
9315"My Son, My Son"John Meredyth LucasGerard Banning and Mel Goldberg12 December 1974 (1974-12-12)
9416"Cry Murder"John Meredyth LucasGeorge Salverson19 December 1974 (1974-12-19)
9517"Requiem for an Animal"John Meredyth LucasRobert Hamner, Chester Krumholz, Wilton Schiller, and Kaino Thomas2 January 1975 (1975-01-02)
9618"Mannequin"Gerald MayerChester Krumholz, Wilton Schiller, and Lou Shaw9 January 1975 (1975-01-09)
9719"Insight to Murder"Peter CarterJim Carlson16 January 1975 (1975-01-16)
9820"Web of Guilt"Gerald MayerKaino Thomas23 January 1975 (1975-01-23)
9921"Vanished"John Meredyth LucasMort Forer30 January 1975 (1975-01-30)
10022"Angel of Mercy"John Meredyth LucasJohn Meredyth Lucas6 February 1975 (1975-02-06)
10123"Run Harry Run"John Meredyth LucasJonah Royston and Kaino Thomas13 February 1975 (1975-02-13)
10224"Pint of Friendship"John Meredyth LucasChester Krumholz, Martin Roth, and Wilton Schiller20 February 1975 (1975-02-20)
10325"Halfway House"Gerald MayerLew Lehman27 February 1975 (1975-02-27)
10426"Sing a Sad Song"Peter CarterJim Carlson6 March 1975 (1975-03-06)

Syndication/current airings

While this series appeared on some stations in Canada in syndication, CTV, which co-produced this series under network president Murray Chercover, did not offer this series to its affiliates until 1972, when the show became Police Surgeon.

In December 2014, it was announced that the Retro Television Network would begin broadcasting reruns of Police Surgeon.

As of December 2023, the series was dropped from their schedule. https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/retro-tv-network/14646/2023-12-30

Filming locations

Season one episodes were filmed in the village of Kleinburg, Ontario and the surrounding area, as well as at and around the Valley Halla Estate on the Toronto Zoo grounds. Season two was shot strictly in Toronto, Ontario.[citation needed] One episode from season 1 was shot at the old Markham, Ontario water tower in a story involving a mute boy who dangerously climbs the tower. Other season 1 scenes were shot at Highland Creek in Scarborough, Ontario, and at the old ski hill on Twyn Rivers Road in Pickering, Ontario.

References

  1. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (24 June 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  2. ^ Episode Guide – Police Surgeon (Series) (1971–1975)
    Jan 23, 1975 – "Web of Guilt" Dr Locke intervenes when a woman judge (Nancy Olson) endangers herself by becoming too protective of her brother who is accused of murder. Richie: John Candy. Bonnie: Helen Shaver. Scharfman: Don McGill.

External links

Colgate-Palmolive
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