September 26, 1958 (1958-09-26) – June 3, 1959 (1959-06-03)
Frontier Doctor is an American
Western television series starring
Rex Allen that aired in
syndication[1] from September 26, 1958, until June 20, 1959. The series was also known as Unarmed and Man of the West.[2]
Synopsis
Frontier Doctor follows the exploits of a physician, Dr. Bill Baxter,[1] who is based in Rising Springs in the
Arizona Territory during the early 20th century.[3] He rides in a buggy with his black bag and encounters more than his share of trouble as he aids many who cross his path. Baxter often finds difficulty with his patients, such as the outlaw
Butch Cassidy.
Stafford Repp occasionally appeared as Sheriff Brawley.
Outdoor action sequences for most episodes of Frontier Doctor were filmed on the Republic Pictures backlot in Studio City and on the
Iverson Movie Ranch in
Chatsworth, California, known for its huge
sandstone boulders and widely recognized as the most heavily filmed outdoor shooting location in the history of Hollywood.[citation needed]
Edward J. White was the producer, and William Witney was the director.[4]
Critical response
A review in the trade publication Variety said that the premiere episode seemed to include almost every Western film cliche and said that the show seemed better suited to children with the "promise of attracting little but the hardbitten Western fan" as far as adults were concerned. Allen was described as "capable and personable, if hardly inspired" in the lead.[4] The reviewer also noted that the Indians' headdresses and housing were not appropriate for Apaches.[4]
References
^
abMcNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 307.
ISBN0-14-02-4916-8.
^Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 370.
ISBN978-0-7864-6477-7.
^
abc"Frontier Doctor". Variety. March 13, 1957. p. 34. Retrieved June 18, 2023.