Noah's Ark (1956 TV series)
Encyclopedia
Noah's Ark is a 24-episode half-hour drama
television series which aired on NBC
in the 1956
-1957
season. It stars Paul Burke
(1926–2009) in the title role of the young veterinarian
Dr. Noah McCann, partner with the older Dr. Sam Rinehart, played by Victor Rodman
(1892–1965), who in the series uses a wheelchair. May Wynn
(born 1930) plays the young receptionist, Liz Clark.
Another similarly titled series, Second Noah
, a family drama with Daniel Hugh Kelly
in the title role of author Noah Beckett and Betsy Brantley
as his veterinarian-wife, was televised on ABC
from 1996-1997.
through his Mark VII Limited
and filmed at Revue Studios. Its pilot episode on September 18, 1956, is titled "Jack Webb Presents." At the time, Webb and Ben Alexander co-starred on NBC's popular police drama Dragnet
. In the October 2 episode of Noah's Ark titled "The Petition", a dispute develops over a rezoning request for the veterinary clinic. When Noah tries to reason with recalcitrant neighbors, violence results.
s on a performing monkey, which is losing its teeth, in an effort to save the animal's career. In "The Mascot" on October 23, Marine Sergeant Mike Baker, played by Stacy Harris
, refuses to allow the veterinarians to euthanize
his aging Irish setter
, which once saved the officer's life. In "The Friendly Lion" on October 30, Noah becomes more interested in a young blonde woman than her circus lion which needs treatment. In "The Displaced Deer" on November 13, Liz and the veterinarians try to nurse a fawn back to health. A hunter brought the animal to the clinic to be destroyed after it was struck by a richocheting bullet.
In "The Cure-All" on November 27, Noah and Sam treat a little girl's puppy but discover that the child is herself being neglected by her wealthy father. In "A Girl's Best Friend" on December 11, Noah becomes more interested in a pretty blonde model, Barbara Windsor, played by Joi Lansing
, than her allergic poodle, which he is treating.
In the Christmas Day episode, 1956, "The Reluctant Reindeer," Noah finds an injured reindeer
in a field on Christmas Eve, but the animal will not let the veterinarian get close enough to be treated. On New Years Day, 1957, in the episode "Out to Pasture", Dr. Sam becomes despondent because he believes at sixty-four he has outlived his usefulness. Then the owner of an aging horse brings his animal to the clinic for a diagnosis.
Paul Brinegar
, later cast as the chuckwagon
cook known as Wishbone on CBS
's Rawhide
, appears in the January 8 episode entitled "The Guide," the guide being a man's ill seeing eye dog
. On January 15, in "The Talking Ostrich", a man telephones the veterinarians to inform them that he has an ostrich that can talk.
In the series finale entitled "The Intruder" on February 26, the veterinarians question why a burglar keeps breaking into the clinic and steals pet food. Meanwhile, a mysterious stranger does gardening about the clinic at night.
Noah's Ark aired at 8:30 p.m. EST on Tuesdays, opposite The Brothers (with Gale Gordon
, Bob Sweeney and Barbara Billingsley
) on CBS and Hugh O'Brian
's The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
on ABC. Noah's Ark followed the quiz show
The Big Surprise
and preceded the anthology series, The Jane Wyman Show, or Fireside Theater, on NBC. Along with Richard Boone
's Medic
, Noah's Ark was one of the early medical shows on American television. It was also an early program to be aired in color at a time when most selections were in black and white.
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
television series which aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in the 1956
1956 in television
The year 1956 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1956.-Events:*January 28 – Elvis Presley makes his national television debut on CBS on Stage Show, the first of six appearances on the series....
-1957
1957 in television
The year 1957 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1957.-Events:*January 6 – Elvis Presley makes final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show....
season. It stars Paul Burke
Paul Burke (actor)
Paul Burke was an American actor best known for his lead roles in two 1960s ABC television series, Naked City and Twelve O'Clock High...
(1926–2009) in the title role of the young veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
Dr. Noah McCann, partner with the older Dr. Sam Rinehart, played by Victor Rodman
Victor Rodman
Victor Rodman was an American actor best known for his work on two Jack Webb NBC television programs, Dragnet and Noah's Ark. In the latter 1956-1957 series, he played an older veterinarian, Dr. Sam Rinehart, who uses a wheelchair. Paul Burke portrayed the younger colleague and title character,...
(1892–1965), who in the series uses a wheelchair. May Wynn
May Wynn
May Wynn is an American dancer, singer, and actress.She was born as Donna Lee Hickey, and began performing under that name at New York's Copacabana nightclub in 1947, when she was seventeen...
(born 1930) plays the young receptionist, Liz Clark.
Another similarly titled series, Second Noah
Second Noah
Second Noah is a television drama that was broadcast in the United States on ABC television from February 5, 1996 to June 8, 1997-Premise:...
, a family drama with Daniel Hugh Kelly
Daniel Hugh Kelly
Daniel Hugh Kelly is an American stage, film and television actor. He may be best known for his role on the 1980s ABC TV series Hardcastle and McCormick from 1983-1986 for which he also wrote and directed...
in the title role of author Noah Beckett and Betsy Brantley
Betsy Brantley
Betsy Brantley is an American actress.Brantley was born Rutherfordton, North Carolina. She is the older sister of producer/screenwriter Duncan Brantley, and formerly married to Simon Dutton and Steven Soderbergh....
as his veterinarian-wife, was televised on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
from 1996-1997.
Background
Noah's Ark was created, produced, and directed by Jack WebbJack Webb
John Randolph "Jack" Webb , also known by the pseudonym John Randolph, was an American actor, television producer, director and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet...
through his Mark VII Limited
Mark VII Limited
Mark VII Limited was the production company of actor, producer, and director Jack Webb, and was active from 1951 to 1982. Many of its series were produced in association with Universal Television; most of them aired on the NBC television network in the U.S....
and filmed at Revue Studios. Its pilot episode on September 18, 1956, is titled "Jack Webb Presents." At the time, Webb and Ben Alexander co-starred on NBC's popular police drama Dragnet
Dragnet (series)
Dragnet is a radio and television crime drama about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners...
. In the October 2 episode of Noah's Ark titled "The Petition", a dispute develops over a rezoning request for the veterinary clinic. When Noah tries to reason with recalcitrant neighbors, violence results.
Other selected episodes
In "The Toothless Monkey" on October 9, the veterinarians place dental implantDental implant
A dental implant is a "root" device, usually made of titanium, used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth to replace missing teeth....
s on a performing monkey, which is losing its teeth, in an effort to save the animal's career. In "The Mascot" on October 23, Marine Sergeant Mike Baker, played by Stacy Harris
Stacy Harris (actor)
Stacy Harris was an American actor with hundreds of film and television appearances.Harris was best known for his role as agent Jim Taylor on ABC Radio's This is Your FBI and, later, for playing varied characters, often villains, on shows produced by Jack Webb's Mark VII Limited, such as Dragnet,...
, refuses to allow the veterinarians to euthanize
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
his aging Irish setter
Irish Setter
The Irish Setter , is a setter, a breed of gundog and family dog. The term Irish Setter is commonly used to encompass the show-bred dog recognized by the American Kennel Club as well as the field-bred Red Setter recognised by the Field Dog Stud Book....
, which once saved the officer's life. In "The Friendly Lion" on October 30, Noah becomes more interested in a young blonde woman than her circus lion which needs treatment. In "The Displaced Deer" on November 13, Liz and the veterinarians try to nurse a fawn back to health. A hunter brought the animal to the clinic to be destroyed after it was struck by a richocheting bullet.
In "The Cure-All" on November 27, Noah and Sam treat a little girl's puppy but discover that the child is herself being neglected by her wealthy father. In "A Girl's Best Friend" on December 11, Noah becomes more interested in a pretty blonde model, Barbara Windsor, played by Joi Lansing
Joi Lansing
Joi Lansing was an American model, film and television actress, as well as a nightclub singer. She was most noted for her pin-up photos, and for her minor roles in B-movies...
, than her allergic poodle, which he is treating.
In the Christmas Day episode, 1956, "The Reluctant Reindeer," Noah finds an injured reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
in a field on Christmas Eve, but the animal will not let the veterinarian get close enough to be treated. On New Years Day, 1957, in the episode "Out to Pasture", Dr. Sam becomes despondent because he believes at sixty-four he has outlived his usefulness. Then the owner of an aging horse brings his animal to the clinic for a diagnosis.
Paul Brinegar
Paul Brinegar
Paul Brinegar was an American character actor.Brinegar made over 100 appearances between 1946 and 1994, appearing in many western films, and played the barman in Clint Eastwood's High Plains Drifter in 1973...
, later cast as the chuckwagon
Chuckwagon
A chuckwagon or chuck wagon is a type of wagon historically used to carry food and cooking equipment on the prairies of the United States and Canada. Such wagons would form part of a wagon train of settlers or feed traveling workers such as cowboys or loggers.In modern times, chuckwagons feature...
cook known as Wishbone on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's Rawhide
Rawhide (TV series)
Rawhide is an American Western series that aired for eight seasons on the CBS network on Friday nights, from January 9, 1959 to September 3, 1965, before moving to Tuesday nights from September 14, 1965 until January 4, 1966, with a total of 217 black-and-white episodes...
, appears in the January 8 episode entitled "The Guide," the guide being a man's ill seeing eye dog
Seeing Eye Dog
Seeing Eye Dog is the seventh studio album by Helmet, released on September 7, 2010 via Work Song, the label imprint shared by singer/songwriter Joe Henry and Helmet mainman Page Hamilton's manager...
. On January 15, in "The Talking Ostrich", a man telephones the veterinarians to inform them that he has an ostrich that can talk.
In the series finale entitled "The Intruder" on February 26, the veterinarians question why a burglar keeps breaking into the clinic and steals pet food. Meanwhile, a mysterious stranger does gardening about the clinic at night.
Scheduling
The 24th episode of the series with the title, "Irmgaard's Problem," never aired. Instead on March 5, 1957, the suspense series Panic made its debut to replace Noah's Ark. The theme song for Noah's Ark was performed by the Hi-Los.Noah's Ark aired at 8:30 p.m. EST on Tuesdays, opposite The Brothers (with Gale Gordon
Gale Gordon
Gale Gordon was an American character actor perhaps best remembered as Lucille Ball's longtime television foil—and particularly as cantankerously combustible, tightfisted bank executive Theodore J. Mooney, on Ball's second television situation comedy, The Lucy Show...
, Bob Sweeney and Barbara Billingsley
Barbara Billingsley
Barbara Billingsley was an American film, television, voice and stage actress. She gained prominence in the 1950s movie The Careless Years, acting opposite Natalie Trundy, followed by her best–known role, that of June Cleaver on the television series Leave It to Beaver and its sequel Still...
) on CBS and Hugh O'Brian
Hugh O'Brian
Hugh O'Brian is an American actor, known for his starring role in the ABC television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp .-Early years and career:...
's The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp is a Western television series loosely based on the adventures of frontier marshal Wyatt Earp. The half-hour black and white series ran on ABC-TV from 1955 to 1961 and featured Hugh O'Brian as Earp. An off-camera barbershop quartet sang the theme song and hummed...
on ABC. Noah's Ark followed the quiz show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
The Big Surprise
The Big Surprise
The Big Surprise is a television quiz show broadcast in the United States by NBC from October 8, 1955 to June 9, 1956 and from September 18, 1956 to April 2, 1957. It was hastily created by NBC in response to the overwhelming ratings success of The $64,000 Question, which had premiered on CBS in...
and preceded the anthology series, The Jane Wyman Show, or Fireside Theater, on NBC. Along with Richard Boone
Richard Boone
Richard Allen Boone was an American actor who starred in over 50 films and was notable for his roles in Westerns and for starring in the TV series Have Gun – Will Travel.-Early life:...
's Medic
Medic (TV series)
Medic is an American medical drama that aired on NBC beginning in 1954. Medic was television's first doctor drama to focus attention on medical procedures, establishing the style for later medical series.Created by its principal writer James E...
, Noah's Ark was one of the early medical shows on American television. It was also an early program to be aired in color at a time when most selections were in black and white.