The Doctor (1952 TV series)

{{Short description|American TV medical series (1952–1953)}}

{{italic title}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

The Doctor is a half-hour American medical anthology series that aired Sunday evenings on the NBC television network from August 24, 1952, until June 28, 1953,{{cite book|last1=McNeil|first1=Alex|title=Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present |date=1996|publisher=Penguin Books USA, Inc.|location=New York, New York|isbn=0-14-02-4916-8|page= 223|edition=4th}} with a total of 44 episodes.

The format had the viewer seeing patients "through the eyes of a general practitioner who makes house calls".{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010|date=2011|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|location=Jefferson, N.C.|isbn=978-0-7864-6477-7|page=268|edition=2nd}} Hosted by Warner Anderson, the program revolved around emotional problems. Actors who appeared included Anne Jackson, Ernest Truex, Mildred Natwick, and Lee Marvin.{{cite book|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present|year=2003|publisher=Ballantine Books|isbn=0-345-45542-8|pages=317}} Beulah Bondi and Charles Bronson guest-starred in the episode "The Guest" (1952).{{cite book |last1=Nissen |first1=Axel |title=Beulah Bondi: A Life on Stage and Screen |date=2021 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-8188-7 |page=192 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=doMwEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22The+Doctor%22+NBC+1952&pg=PA192 |access-date=March 23, 2022 |language=en}} One especially well-received 1953 episode, "Treasure Island" (about "a lonely little boy whose reading inspires fictional heroes, and what happens to him when he is faced with their real-life counterparts"), boasted "excellent acting" by Russell Hardie, John Marley, Peg Hillias, and, as the boy, Joey Fallon.Scheuer, Steven H. (March 15, 1953). [https://www.newspapers.com/image/53865754/?clipping_id=166160714 "TV Key"]. Brooklyn Eagle. p. 28. Retrieved February 19, 2025. "An affectionate cops and robbers story and one of the most appealing shows the Doctor's had in a great while. About a lonely little boy whose reading inspires fictional heroes, and what happens to him when he is faced with their real life counterparts. Some excellent acting by Russell Hardie, John Marley, Peg Hillias and Joey Fallon as the boy."

The Doctor replaced The Red Skelton Show on Sunday nights. Its competition included The Web on CBS.{{cite book |last1=Hyatt |first1=Wesley |title=A Critical History of Television's The Red Skelton Show, 1951-1971 |date=2004 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-1732-2 |page=27 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s_xUC9qpFRYC&dq=%22The+Doctor%22+NBC+1952&pg=PA27 |access-date=March 23, 2022 |language=en}} The program was produced on film{{cite news |title=All film show, The Doctor, hits basic problems |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100031291/the-doctor/ |access-date=April 19, 2022 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=September 7, 1952 |page=86|via = Newspapers.com}} by Marion Parsonnet. Some of the films were made in Hollywood, and others were made in New York.{{cite news |title=Film Report |url=https://archive.org/details/rossreportstele24ross/page/n144/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=May 15, 2022 |work=Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index |date=September 21, 1952 |page=4}} When it went into syndication, it was re-titled The Visitor.{{cite book |last1=Parisi |first1=Nicholas |title=Rod Serling: His Life, Work, and Imagination |date=2018 |publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi |isbn=9781496819437 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOZ3DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Bernadine+Hayes%22&pg=PT78 |accessdate=November 10, 2019 |language=en}} Robert Aldrich directed 17 episodes, three of which he also wrote.{{cite book |last1=Silver |first1=Alain |title=What Ever Happened to Robert Aldrich?: His Life and His Films |date=August 2004 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=978-1-61780-165-5 |page=323 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vNz_v91Wul4C&dq=%22The+Doctor%22+NBC+1952&pg=PA323 |access-date=March 23, 2022 |language=en}} Rod Serling wrote two episodes.

Camay soap sponsored the program.