Dr. Simon Locke

*Dr. Simon Locke*
Dr. Simon Locke
Created by	Chester Krumholz and Wilton Schiller for Dorian-Bentwood Productions
Starring	Sam Groom as Dr. Simon Locke; Jack Albertson as Dr. Andrew Sellers (1971–1972); Larry D. Mann as Lt. Jack Gordon (1972–1974)
Country of origin	Canada
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	101
Production
Executive producers	Wilton Schiller; Murray Chercover for CTV
Producer	Chester Krumholz
Running time	30 minutes
Production companies	The ValJon Production Company (Dr. Simon Locke); Viacom Enterprises (Dr. Simon Locke); CTV Television Network (Police Surgeon); Sterno Productions Limited (Police Surgeon)
Original release
Network	Syndication (1971–1974); CTV (1972–1974)
Release	1971 –; 1975

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

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".^[1]

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.

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.^[2] 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

^ 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.
^ "Police Surgeon". Retrieved 5 September 2018 – via www.imdb.com.

The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows, by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh (Ballantine Books, 1988 edition)

External links

[1] 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.

[2] "Police Surgeon". Retrieved 5 September 2018 – via www.imdb.com.

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