The Nurses (TV series)

The Nurses
Zina Bethune, Joseph Campanella and guest star Diana Hyland in a scene from the program, 1965.
Also known asThe Doctors and the Nurses
Starring
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes98
Production
Executive producerHerbert Brodkin
ProducersArthur Lewis (1962–1964)
Arthur Joel Katz (1964–1965)
EditorLyman Hallowell
Running time60 minutes
Production companyPlautus Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 27, 1962 (1962-09-27) –
May 11, 1965 (1965-05-11)

The Nurses is a serialized primetime medical drama that was broadcast in the United States on CBS from September 27, 1962, to May 11, 1965. For the third and final season, the title was expanded to The Doctors and the Nurses and it ran until 1965, when it was transformed into a half-hour daytime soap opera. The soap opera, also called The Nurses, ran on ABC from 1965 to 1967.[1]

Synopsis

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The series is set in Alden General Hospital (patterned after Roosevelt Hospital) in New York, and the primetime program starred Zina Bethune as Gail Lucas, the young nurse, and Shirl Conway as Liz Thorpe, her older nurse mentor.

Unlike most television dramas of the era, save for ABC's police drama Naked City (1958–1963) and the sitcom The Patty Duke Show (1963–1966), the series was filmed in New York and not Hollywood. The show was mainly filmed at the Filmways and Pathe Studios in Manhattan.

The program was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards.[2]

Cast

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Other performers who appeared in episodes were Billie Allen, Margaret Barker, John Beal, Lane Bradbury, Sandra Church, Michael Conrad, Ruby Dee, Ivan Dixon, Dana Elcar, Elizabeth Frazier, Robert Gerringer, Arlene Golonka American actress, George Grizzard, Vincent Guardino, Larry Haines, Barbara Harris, Joey Heatherton, William Hickey, Dustin Hoffman, Ellen Holly, Bernard Hughes, Kim Hunter, Diana Hyland, Albert Grant, Lee Grant, Judson Laire, John Lasell, Linda Lavin, Joeseph Leon, Vivica Lindfors, Clifton James, Lincoln Kilpatrick, Jan Miner, Kermit Murdock, Peg Murray, Susan Oliver, Estelle Parsons, Jane Rose, Polly Rowles, Diana Sands, Zackary Scott, Fran Sharon, William Shatner, Martin Sheen, Joe Silver, Hilda Simms, Paul Stevens, Inger Stevens, Elaine Stritch, Florence Stanley, Michael Strong, and Dolph Sweet.

Episodes

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Season 1 (1962–63)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"Night Shift"David GreeneJohn VlahosSeptember 27, 1962 (1962-09-27)
22"The Walls Came Tumbling Down"Herbert HirschmanAndy LewisOctober 4, 1962 (1962-10-04)
33"Fly, Shadow"Herman HoffmanFranklin BartonOctober 11, 1962 (1962-10-11)
44"The Barbara Bowers Story"Herman HoffmanAl BrennerOctober 18, 1962 (1962-10-18)
55"Dr. Lillian"Don RichardsonLeon TokatyanOctober 25, 1962 (1962-10-25)
66"A Private Room"Don RichardsonIrving Gaynor NeimanNovember 1, 1962 (1962-11-01)
77"The Prisoner"Elliot SilversteinGeorge BellakNovember 8, 1962 (1962-11-08)
88"A Strange and Distant Place"Jose QuinteroAlvin BoretzNovember 15, 1962 (1962-11-15)
99"Two Black Candles"Jose QuinteroNorman LessingNovember 22, 1962 (1962-11-22)
1010"The Lady Made of Stone"Herman HoffmanAlvin BoretzNovember 29, 1962 (1962-11-29)
1111"Frieda"Lamont JohnsonAlbert RubenDecember 6, 1962 (1962-12-06)
1212"The Soft Touch"Paul StewartJohn HessDecember 13, 1962 (1962-12-13)
1313"Image of Angela"Elliot SilversteinFranklin Barton & Leon TokatyanDecember 27, 1962 (1962-12-27)
1414"A Difference of Years"Herman HoffmanAndy LewisJanuary 3, 1963 (1963-01-03)
1515"Root of Violence"John NewlandMel GoldbergJanuary 10, 1963 (1963-01-10)
1616"Many a Sullivan"Herman HoffmanEdward Adler & Albert RubenJanuary 17, 1963 (1963-01-17)
1717"Night Sounds"Don RichardsonLarry CohenJanuary 24, 1963 (1963-01-24)
1818"The Third Generation"Gerald MeyerStanley R. GreenbergFebruary 7, 1963 (1963-02-07)
1919"The Life"Don RichardsonAlvin SargentFebruary 14, 1963 (1963-02-14)
2020"Circle of Choice"Gerald MeyerGeorge BellakFebruary 21, 1963 (1963-02-21)
2121"The Perfect Nurse"John PeyserLeon TokatyanFebruary 28, 1963 (1963-02-28)
2222"The Thunder of Ernie Bass"Jose QuinteroAlbert RubenMarch 7, 1963 (1963-03-07)
2323"The Saturday Evening of Time"David GreeneAlvin SargentMarch 14, 1963 (1963-03-14)
2424"A Question of Mercy"Stuart RosenbergLeon TokatyanMarch 21, 1963 (1963-03-21)
2525"Party Girl"Robert Gist & Stuart RosenbergLarry CohenMarch 28, 1963 (1963-03-28)
2626"A Dark World"Don RichardsonGeorge BellakApril 11, 1963 (1963-04-11)
2727"You Could Die Laughing"Herman HoffmanGeorge BellakApril 18, 1963 (1963-04-18)
2828"Choice Among Wrongs"Paul BogartAndy LewisMay 2, 1963 (1963-05-02)
2929"Express Stop form Lenox Avenue"Stuart RosenbergAdrian SpiesMay 9, 1963 (1963-05-09)
3030"Bitter Pill"Herman HoffmanLeonard KanterMay 23, 1963 (1963-05-23)
3131"Field of Battle"Don RichardsonAlbert RubenMay 30, 1963 (1963-05-30)
3232"They Are as Lions"Alex MarchAlvin BoretzJune 6, 1963 (1963-06-06)

Season 2 (1963–64)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
331"No Score"Stuart RosenbergArnold PerlSeptember 26, 1963 (1963-09-26)
342"Show Just Cause Why You Should Weep"Lamont JohnsonAndy LewisOctober 3, 1963 (1963-10-03)
353"Escape Route"Stuart RosenbergRichard McCrackenOctober 10, 1963 (1963-10-10)
364"The Gift"Alex MarchLarry CohenOctober 17, 1963 (1963-10-17)
375"Strike"Elliot SilversteinAlbert RubenOctober 24, 1963 (1963-10-24)
386"The Horn of Plenty"Alex MarchTed ApsteinOctober 31, 1963 (1963-10-31)
397"The Helping Hand"Dick DonnerArt WallaceNovember 7, 1963 (1963-11-07)
408"Ordeal"Ralph SenenskyHarold GastNovember 14, 1963 (1963-11-14)
419"The Guilt of Molly Kane"Paul BogartAlvin SargentNovember 21, 1963 (1963-11-21)
4210"The Unwanted"Charles S. DubinStanley R. GreenbergNovember 28, 1963 (1963-11-28)
4311"Disaster Call"Gerald MeyerRichard McCrackenDecember 5, 1963 (1963-12-05)
4412"To Spend, to Give, to Want"Charles S. DubinAndy LewisDecember 12, 1963 (1963-12-12)
4513"The Witch of the East Wing"Gerald MeyerArchie L. TeglandDecember 19, 1963 (1963-12-19)
4614"Rally Round, My Comrades"Charles S. DubinAlvin BoretzDecember 26, 1963 (1963-12-26)
4715"The Seeing Heart"Gerald MeyerAlvin BoretzJanuary 2, 1964 (1964-01-02)
4816"Credo"Stuart RosenbergLeon TokatyanJanuary 9, 1964 (1964-01-09)
4917"The Rainbow Ride"Paul BogartLeon TokatyanJanuary 16, 1964 (1964-01-16)
5018"The Intern Syndrome"Ralph SenenskyHarold GastJanuary 23, 1964 (1964-01-23)
5119"Is There Room for Edward?"Buzz KulikAlvin SargentJanuary 30, 1964 (1964-01-30)
5220"The Roamer"Gerald MeyerHarold GastFebruary 6, 1964 (1964-02-06)
5321"Nurse is a Feminine Noun"Paul BogartRobert Van ScoykFebruary 13, 1964 (1964-02-13)
5422"The Imperfect Prodigy"James SheldonAlbert RubenFebruary 20, 1964 (1964-02-20)
5523"For the Mice and the Rabbits"David GreeneArt WallaceFebruary 27, 1964 (1964-02-27)
5624"Climb a Broken Ladder"Elliot SilversteinArt WallaceMarch 12, 1964 (1964-03-12)
5725"The Forever Child"Paul BogartAlvin BoretzMarch 19, 1964 (1964-03-19)
5826"A King of Loving"Alex SegalLeon TokatyanApril 2, 1964 (1964-04-02)
5927"The Leopard Killer"Tom GriesHarold GastApril 9, 1964 (1964-04-09)
6028"The Gismo on the EEG"Paul BogartAlbert RubenApril 16, 1964 (1964-04-16)
6129"The Human Transaction"Leonard HornAndy LewisApril 23, 1964 (1964-04-23)
6230"To All My Friends on Shore"Stuart RosenbergAllan SloaneMay 7, 1964 (1964-05-07)
6331"White on White"Paul BogartRobert Van ScoykMay 14, 1964 (1964-05-14)
6432"A Postcard from Yucatan"David GreeneAlvin SargentMay 21, 1964 (1964-05-21)
6533"The Bystanders"Marvin ChomskyArt WallaceMay 28, 1964 (1964-05-28)
6634"Where Park Runs into Vreeland"Lamont JohnsonAllan SloaneJune 11, 1964 (1964-06-11)
6735"The Warrior"Buzz KulikStanley R. GreenbergJune 18, 1964 (1964-06-18)
6836"The Love of a Smart Operator"Paul BogartHarold GastJune 25, 1964 (1964-06-25)

Season 3: The Doctors and the Nurses (1964–65)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
691"Once Bitten"Paul BogartErnest KinoySeptember 22, 1964 (1964-09-22)
702"The Suspect: Part 1"Robert StevensArt WallaceSeptember 29, 1964 (1964-09-29)
713"The Suspect: Part 2"Robert StevensArt WallaceOctober 6, 1964 (1964-10-06)
724"Respect of One for Another"David GreeneAndy LewisOctober 13, 1964 (1964-10-13)
735"No Shadow Where There is No Sun"Paul SylbertAlvin BoretzOctober 20, 1964 (1964-10-20)
746"Hildie"Lamont JohnsonAlbert RubenOctober 27, 1964 (1964-10-27)
757"The Outpost"László BenedekAlvin BoretzNovember 10, 1964 (1964-11-10)
768"The Family Resemblance"Stuart RosenbergRobert SchlittNovember 17, 1964 (1964-11-17)
779"Time for You and Time for Me"Robert StevensLeon TokatyanNovember 24, 1964 (1964-11-24)
7810"So Some Girls Play the Cello"Stuart RosenbergAlvin SargentDecember 1, 1964 (1964-12-01)
7911"Rites of Spring"Robert StevensRobert CreanDecember 8, 1964 (1964-12-08)
8012"Next Stop, Valhalla"László BenedekSheldon StarkDecember 15, 1964 (1964-12-15)
8113"The Skill in These Hands"Vincent DonehueDoug TaylorDecember 22, 1964 (1964-12-22)
8214"A Messenger to Everyone"Marvin ChomskyAndy LewisDecember 29, 1964 (1964-12-29)
8315"Last Rites of a Rag Doll"Stuart RosenbergWaldo SaltJanuary 5, 1965 (1965-01-05)
8416"The Patient Nurse"Leonard HornRobert Van ScoykJanuary 12, 1965 (1965-01-12)
8517"A Couple of Dozen Tiny Pills"David GreeneEdward DeBlasioJanuary 19, 1965 (1965-01-19)
8618"A Question of Murder"Robert StevensLeon TokatyanJanuary 26, 1965 (1965-01-26)
8719"Night of the Witch"Paul BogartStanley R. GreenbergFebruary 2, 1965 (1965-02-02)
8820"Sixteen Hours to Chicago"Paul BogartDoug TaylorFebruary 9, 1965 (1965-02-09)
8921"Act of Violence: Part 1"Daniel PetrieAlbert RubenFebruary 16, 1965 (1965-02-16)
Crossover episode with For the People.[3]
9022"A Dangerous Silence"Gerald MeyerAlvin BoretzMarch 2, 1965 (1965-03-02)
9123"Where There's Smoke"Daniel PetrieRobert Van ScoykMarch 9, 1965 (1965-03-09)
9224"The Politicians"Leonard HornAlvin BoretzMarch 16, 1965 (1965-03-16)
9325"The April Thaw of Dr. Mai"Paul BogartRobert CreanMarch 30, 1965 (1965-03-30)
9426"Threshold"Leonard HornEdward DeBlasioApril 6, 1965 (1965-04-06)
9527"A39846"Michael PowellGeorge BellakApril 20, 1965 (1965-04-20)
9628"The Witnesses"Herschel DaughertyIrving Gaynor NeimanApril 27, 1965 (1965-04-27)
9729"The Heroine"David PresJames YaffeMay 4, 1965 (1965-05-04)
9830"An Unweeded Garden"Marvin ChomskyRobert SchlittMay 11, 1965 (1965-05-11)

ABC TV series

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The Nurses
StarringMary Fickett
Melinda Cordell
Nicholas Pryor
Paul Stevens
Lesley Woods
Lee Patterson
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes395[citation needed]
Production
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 27, 1965 (1965-09-27) –
March 31, 1967 (1967-03-31)

The Nurses is an American daytime soap opera that aired on ABC from September 27, 1965, to March 31, 1967. The show was a continuation of the CBS primetime drama.[4]

The setting was Alden General Hospital and the main characters included Mary Fickett as Liz Thorpe, R. N, and Melinda Cordell as the younger and less experienced Gail Lucas, R. N., along with Arthur Franz as Hugh McCloud, Valerie French as Helen Cox, Judson Laire as Jamie McCloud, Lee Patterson as Brad Kirnan, Nicholas Pryor as Ken Alexander, Polly Rowles as Miss Grassberg, Paul Stevens as Dr. Paul Fuller, and Lesley Woods as Vivian Gentry.

Production

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Richard Holland and Gordon Russell were the head writers. The executive producer was Doris Quinlan, who later produced One Life to Live, All My Children and The Doctors Several of the performers on this show were later on One Life to Live and All My Children. The music for the series was composed by Frank Lewin.

References

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  1. ^ Schemering, Christopher (1987). The Soap Opera Encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Ballantine Books. p. 166. ISBN 0-345-35344-7.
  2. ^ Primetime Emmy nominations 1963–1964
  3. ^ Newton, Dwight (February 12, 1965). "Short Notes and Quotes". San Francisco Examiner. p. 39. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  4. ^ Hyatt, Wesley (1997). The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television. Watson-Guptill Publications. p. 319. ISBN 978-0823083152. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
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