"Emergency!" (1972) TV series 1972-1979

Creators:

Harold Jack Bloom
Robert A. Cinader
Jack Webb
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

22 January 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Adventure | Action

Plot:

The crew of Los Angeles County Fire Dept. Station 51, particularly the paramedic team, and Rampart Hospital respond to emergencies in their operating area.

Plot Keywords:

Paramedic | Medical | Los Angeles | Hospital | Rescue

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Randolph Mantooth	...	Paramedic Johnny Gage / ... (133 episodes, 1972-1979)
Kevin Tighe	...	Paramedic Roy DeSoto / ... (133 episodes, 1972-1979)
Julie London	...	Nurse Dixie McCall / ... (131 episodes, 1972-1979)
Bobby Troup	...	Dr. Joe Early / ... (131 episodes, 1972-1979)
Robert Fuller	...	Dr. Kelly Brackett (130 episodes, 1972-1979)
Tim Donnelly	...	Firefighter Chester 'Chet' Kelly / ... (125 episodes, 1972-1978)
Marco López	...	Marco Lopez / ... (124 episodes, 1972-1978)
Mike Stoker	...	Engineer Mike Stoker / ... (124 episodes, 1972-1978)
Michael Norell	...	Captain Hank Stanley (108 episodes, 1972-1978)
Harold 'Hal' Frizzell	...	Ambulance Attendant / ... (68 episodes, 1972-1978)

Series Directed by
Georg Fenady		(33 episodes, 1972-1979)
Christian I. Nyby II		(31 episodes, 1972-1979)
Dennis Donnelly		(18 episodes, 1972-1977)
Christian Nyby		(7 episodes, 1972-1973)
Joseph Pevney		(7 episodes, 1974-1976)
Lawrence Dobkin		(6 episodes, 1972)
Jack Webb		(4 episodes, 1972-1976)
Kevin Tighe		(4 episodes, 1974-1976)
Alan Crosland		(3 episodes, 1973)
Randolph Mantooth		(3 episodes, 1976-1978)
Sam Freedle		(2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Herschel Daugherty		(2 episodes, 1972)
Joel Oliansky		(2 episodes, 1973-1975)
Richard C. Bennett		(2 episodes, 1974-1976)
Don Richardson		(2 episodes, 1974)
Wesley J. McAfee		(2 episodes, 1975)
Cliff Bole		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Alan Crosland Jr.		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Harold Jack Bloom		(134 episodes, 1972-1979)
Robert A. Cinader		(134 episodes, 1972-1979)
Preston Wood		(25 episodes, 1972-1978)
John Groves		(15 episodes, 1973-1977)
Michael Donovan		(13 episodes, 1972-1979)
Robert Hamilton		(7 episodes, 1974-1978)
Daryl Henry		(6 episodes, 1972-1973)
Hannah Louise Shearer		(6 episodes, 1976-1979)
Kenneth Dorward		(4 episodes, 1972-1973)
Michael Norell		(4 episodes, 1974-1977)
Edwin Self		(4 episodes, 1975-1978)
Christian I. Nyby II		(4 episodes, 1976-1978)
Jim Page		(3 episodes, 1972-1973)
Dee Murphey		(2 episodes, 1973-1977)
Robert Hamner		(2 episodes, 1973-1975)
Arnold Somkin		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Brian Taggert		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Arthur Weiss		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Bob Bralver		(2 episodes, 1974-1977)
Charlene Bralver		(2 episodes, 1974-1977)
Roland Wolpert		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Rick Mittleman		(2 episodes, 1974)
Claire Whitaker		(2 episodes, 1975)
James G. Richardson		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Edward Robak		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Bruce Shelly		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Mort Thaw		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Timothy Burns		(2 episodes, 1976)
Buddy Atkinson		(unknown episodes)
Dirk Wayne Summers		(unknown episodes)
Jack Webb		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Robert A. Cinader	....	executive producer / producer (78 episodes, 1972-1979)
Edwin Self	....	producer (67 episodes, 1973-1976)
Gino Grimaldi	....	associate producer / producer (60 episodes, 1973-1979)
William Stark	....	associate producer (34 episodes, 1972-1973)
Hannah Louise Shearer	....	associate producer / producer / ... (32 episodes, 1976-1979)
Jack Webb	....	executive producer (12 episodes, 1972)
Albert J.J. Zúñiga	....	associate producer (8 episodes, 1977-1979)
Carol Vitale	....	producer (unknown episodes, 1979)

Series Original Music by
Billy May		(111 episodes, 1972-1978)
Nelson Riddle		(16 episodes, 1972-1976)
Gerald Fried		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Thomas Talbert		(1 episode, 1978-1979)
Peter Matz		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Bud Thackery		(52 episodes, 1972-1977)
William Brown		(21 episodes, 1973-1974)
Ric Waite		(21 episodes, 1974-1975)
William Margulies		(19 episodes, 1972-1973)
Frank Thackery		(8 episodes, 1977-1979)
Gerald Perry Finnerman		(3 episodes, 1972)

Series Film Editing by
Howard Terrill		(27 episodes, 1972-1974)
Warren Adams		(23 episodes, 1972-1974)
Albert J.J. Zúñiga		(18 episodes, 1974-1978)
Bill Parker		(15 episodes, 1975-1977)
Howard Epstein		(13 episodes, 1972-1977)
Sam Vitale		(5 episodes, 1972)
Frederic Knudtson		(4 episodes, 1973-1974)
Bill Lewis		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Charles Montgomery		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Richard Belding		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Joe Reich		(124 episodes, 1972-1977)

Series Art Direction by
George Renne		(81 episodes, 1972-1979)
John J. Lloyd		(11 episodes, 1972)
Mickey S. Michaels		(unknown episodes)
Joe D. Mitchell		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Mickey S. Michaels		(52 episodes, 1972-1974)
Richard Friedman		(22 episodes, 1974-1975)
Sharon Thomas		(10 episodes, 1975-1977)
Joe D. Mitchell		(4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Sam Gross		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Costume Design by
Laurann Cordero		(unknown episodes)
Larry Harmell		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Michael Germain	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
James M. Walters Jr.	....	unit manager / unit production manager / ... (74 episodes, 1972-1977)
Gene Law	....	unit production manager / production manager / ... (12 episodes, 1976-1977)
Joseph E. Kenney	....	unit manager / unit production manager (5 episodes, 1972)
Daniel Franklin	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)
Ray E. Taylor	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Doran	....	assistant director (20 episodes, 1972-1974)
Donald White	....	assistant director / first assistant director (20 episodes, 1972-1974)
Gene Law	....	assistant director (18 episodes, 1974-1979)
Daniel Franklin	....	assistant director (12 episodes, 1976-1977)
David Dowell	....	assistant director (7 episodes, 1974-1976)
Phil Bowles	....	assistant director (6 episodes, 1972-1975)
Zane Radney	....	assistant director (5 episodes, 1977)
Georg Fenady	....	assistant director (4 episodes, 1972)
Joseph E. Kenney	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1972-1976)
Dennis Donnelly	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1972)
George J. Light	....	first assistant director / second assistant director (2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Burt Bluestein	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1978-1979)
Armando M. Huerta	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1978-1979)
Craig Huston	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes, 1973)
Lorin Bennett Salob	....	assistant director (unknown episodes, 1979)
Paul Donnelly	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)
Dick Erickson	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
James W. Gavin	....	second unit director (unknown episodes)
Kalai Strode	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Jerram A. Swartz	....	trainee assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Bill Davis	....	technical supervisor (unknown episodes)
Sal Vecchio	....	property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Earl Crain Jr.	....	sound (73 episodes, 1972-1977)
Wes Wolfe	....	sound effects editor (6 episodes, 1976-1979)
Norman Webster	....	sound (2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Special Effects by
Don Hathaway	....	special effects (28 episodes, 1976-1978)
Greg C. Jensen	....	special effects (28 episodes, 1976-1978)
Frank L. Pope	....	special effects (28 episodes, 1976-1978)
Paul Hickerson	....	special effects (4 episodes, 1977-1978)

Series Stunts
Angelo De Meo	....	stunts (12 episodes, 1972-1978)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (4 episodes, 1972-1974)
Randolph Mantooth	....	stunts (4 episodes, 1973-1976)
Kevin Tighe	....	stunts (4 episodes, 1973-1976)
Scott Gourlay	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1972-1978)
Craig Chudy	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1973-1976)
George Sawaya	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1972-1973)
James W. Gavin	....	aerial stunts (2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Bob Bralver	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Rick Sawaya	....	stunt driver (unknown episodes)
Dick Warlock	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Reggie Newkirk	....	first assistant camera (1 episode, 1972)
Norman G. Langley	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Owen Marsh	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Bradley B. Six	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Frank Thackery	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Fuca	....	costume supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Richard Belding	....	editorial supervisor / editorial supervision (79 episodes, 1972-1976)

Series Music Department
Nelson Riddle	....	composer: title theme / composer: theme music (89 episodes, 1972-1977)
Hal Mooney	....	music supervisor / music supervision (78 episodes, 1972-1976)
Fred Prior	....	music editor (6 episodes, 1976-1977)
Robert Mayer	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	production driver / driver (3 episodes, 1976)
Frank Khoury	....	driver (2 episodes, 1977-1978)

Series Other crew
Jim Page	....	technical consultant: Los Angeles County Fire Department (55 episodes, 1972-1974)
Dana Winseman	....	production assistant (48 episodes, 1974-1977)
Carol Vitale	....	production associate (41 episodes, 1972-1974)
M.E. Hoffman	....	research assistant (40 episodes, 1973-1975)
Hannah Louise Shearer	....	production associate (4 episodes, 1975-1976)
J.B. Friend	....	technical advisor (unknown episodes)
James W. Gavin	....	aerial coordinator / helicopter pilot (unknown episodes)
Richard Houts	....	made in collaboration with (unknown episodes)
Mike Lewis	....	technical advisor (unknown episodes)
Cynnie Troup	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Emergency Productions
• Mark VII Ltd.
• Universal TV

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972-1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA/Universal Pictures
• Studios USA Television
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005-) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (season 4)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (season 5)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles

Also Known As:

Emergencia (USA: Spanish title)
Emergency One (USA) (syndication title)

Runtime:

60 min (124 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Emergency Productions

Trivia:

Engine 51 also appeared in a fire training film titled "Countdown to Disaster."

Goofs:

Continuity: There are a number of stock footage continuity errors. The major one is the differences in Squad 51, which was always a Dodge pickup, but several model years were used on the show. Most of the street scene footage that shows the Squad traveling was shot in Season 1, so an older model usually appears that doesn't always match the Squad that leaves the station or arrives at the scene. Another continuity issue is repetitive use of the same response footage episode to episode, so the same cars are always stopped at the same spot at a particular intersection.

Quotes:

Dr. Kelly Brackett: Start an IV, 51...D5W TKO!

Movie Connections:

Edited into "Matlock: The Arsonist (#5.16)" (1991)

Benchmark

My formative years occurred during the span of Emergency. It was a great show and an inspiration in many ways. I feel bad for my 3 boys that they will not now the innocent quality product that I viewed as a kid. Action, accidents but never pointless gore and suffering. I'd love to know how many of today's firefighters became firefighters after watching Emergency as a kid. Same goes for how many kids became cops after watching Adam-12.

Hopefully, Nick at Night or TVLand will keep these great shows around forever.

P.S. Ringers lactate and D5W - fluids given to help stabilize the body when in shock.