laroche-3

"Police Surgeon" was in fact the second and third seasons of a syndicated half hour TV series that began life as "Dr. Simon Locke" in its' first season. Sam Groom, a likable enough actor, played as Dr. Simon Locke, a young doctor who, in the "Police Surgeon" incarnation of the series, moves from the Dixon Mills small-town physician of the first season to a surgeon with the medical unit of a big-city police department (Toronto?) for the second and third seasons. Larry Mann was also featured during the last two seasons as Lieutenant Jack Gordon of the police department. As seemed to be the norm in all hospital/doctor series of the time, Dr. Locke seemed to spend more time playing detective each week than did Lt. Gordon who would seem to show up close to the end of each weekly episode to "wrap-up" the case and take the criminal (pursued and apprehended by Dr. Locke) to jail.

Both "Dr. Simon Locke" and "Police Surgeon" were cheap, by the numbers, first run syndication TV series that ran from 1971-1974 but were watchable none the less.

"Manhunt" was a half hour TV series that appeared in first run syndication during the 1959-1961 TV seasons. Unlike most detective series of the time which were set in either New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, "Manhunt" was set in San Diego and may well have been the first TV detective series to be set there (others have subsequently followed).

Veteran character actor Victor Jory starred as Lieutenant Howard Finucane of the San Diego Police Department and Patrick McVey (who had appeared the previous season in the western series "Boots and Saddles")appeared as police reporter Ben Andrews. Victor Jory was a tall, thin, craggy actor who always appeared to be much older than he probably actually was and generally played detestable "heavies" throughout most of his long, illustrious career. "Manhunt" was a welcome change and his Howard Finucane character was a "no-nonsense", tough, leathery character much like Jory's appearance on screen. Jory's presence and portrayal lent this series a gritty, realistic feel that set it apart from the many other detective/cop shows of the time.

"Wanted-Dead or Alive" was a half hour western series appearing on CBS television for three seasons from 1958-1961. The series actually got its start as an episode of another popular TV series of the time, "Trackdown", during the second half of the '57-'58 TV season. "Wanted-Dead or Alive" starred Steve McQueen as bounty hunter Josh Randall in what was a very good start to an outstanding acting career in feature films. As played by McQueen, Josh Randall was the most laconic of a broad television landscape of would-be laconic western series heroes.

Josh Randall carried a sawed-off 44/40 Winchester carbine (his "Mare's Leg", as he called it) on his hip instead of the traditional Colt 45 pistol. This of course played into the TV "cool factor" as his weapon made a much louder, more devastating sound when fired and of course had much more "stopping power" upon impact with the intended victim. Cool! Although "Wanted-Dead or Alive" was truly nothing out of the ordinary in terms of content or quality compared to other like fare of the period but Steve McQueen as Josh Randall and his unique weapon made this a "must watch" series. Only Paladin was better and "cooler" than Josh.