The character of Dr. James Kildare has a rich and varied history, originating in the 1930s and evolving through various media before becoming a household name in the 1960s with the popular NBC television series. Created by author Max Brand, a pseudonym for Frederick Schiller Faust, Kildare first appeared in short stories, laying the groundwork for a character who would captivate audiences for decades. His journey from pulp fiction to the small screen
illustrates a significant cultural impact, influencing how medical dramas were conceived and presented to the American public.
Origins in Print and Early Film Adaptations
Dr. James Kildare first emerged in the March 1936 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine in a short story titled "Internes Can't Take Money." In these initial narratives, Kildare was portrayed as an aspiring surgeon who left his family farm to practice in a bustling big-city hospital, often encountering underworld criminals in his work. This early version of the character was the basis for the 1937 Paramount film, also titled *Internes Can't Take Money*.
However, the character underwent significant changes when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) acquired the rights in 1938. MGM, in collaboration with Faust, reshaped Kildare's specialty from surgery to diagnostics and introduced the pivotal character of Dr. Leonard Gillespie, Kildare's senior mentor. The criminal elements were de-emphasized, and the narrative was reset to Kildare's initial arrival at the city hospital. This new direction launched a successful MGM film series, beginning with *Young Dr. Kildare* in 1938. Faust continued to write original Kildare stories during this period, which were published in magazines and later in novel form, serving as source material for the films rather than movie tie-ins.
The Iconic 1960s Television Series
The most widely recognized iteration of Dr. Kildare arrived on television screens with the NBC medical drama series, which ran from September 28, 1961, to August 30, 1966. Produced by MGM Television, this series starred Richard Chamberlain in the title role and Raymond Massey as Dr. Leonard Gillespie. The show quickly achieved immense success, propelling Chamberlain to stardom and establishing him as a teen idol of the 1960s. The series initially followed young intern Dr. James Kildare at the fictional Blair General Hospital as he navigated his profession, dealt with patient issues, and sought to earn the respect of Dr. Gillespie.
The dynamic between the earnest Kildare and the experienced Gillespie was central to the show's appeal. In one notable exchange from the third episode, "Shining Image," Gillespie advises Kildare, "Our work is to keep people alive. We can't tell them how to live any more than how to die." Kildare's tendency to disregard this advice often provided the basis for the show's storylines, many of which incorporated elements of a soap opera. By the third season, Kildare was promoted to resident, and the focus of the episodes began to shift, concentrating less on his direct interactions with medical colleagues and more on the diverse stories of his patients.
Merchandising, Cultural Impact, and Later Adaptations
The popularity of the 1960s *Dr. Kildare* series extended beyond television. Its success led to a variety of merchandising tie-ins, including novels, comic books, toys, games, candy bars, and even records featuring Richard Chamberlain singing songs from the show. Chamberlain's hit single, "Theme from Dr. Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight)," which featured romantic lyrics set to the show's opening theme music, further cemented his celebrity. The show's influence was so profound that viewers would sometimes write to Chamberlain, seeking medical advice from "Dr. Kildare."
The series also inspired a daily comic strip, distributed by King Features Syndicate and drawn by Ken Bald, which premiered on October 15, 1962. Bald was required to base his depiction of Dr. Kildare on photos of Richard Chamberlain, while creating his own designs for other characters, including Dr. Gillespie. This comic strip proved remarkably enduring, running for over two decades until April 21, 1984, significantly outlasting the television series itself. A Sunday strip also ran from April 19, 1964, to April 3, 1983. The *Dr. Kildare* series, along with its contemporary *Ben Casey*, played a crucial role in inspiring or influencing many subsequent medical dramas on television, solidifying its place as a timeless icon in American popular culture.
