Gunsmoke | Ep479 | "Doc's Visitor"

[@MN-pu6qx]

What a great episode that highlights the wonderful work of country doctors and their wonderful contributions to remote communities!!! 9 Sep 2024

[@thewrestlingprofessor7536]

Marian Clark was a writer with a deep understanding of the human condition. She made great contributions to Gunsmoke. R.I.P.

[@howardoller443]

A kind of unusual episode of Gunsmoke.

[@vincentsartain3061]

Yes, unusual because of perhaps two reasons: 1.) Matt, Chester, and Kitty aren't featured at all in this episode; the episode stars Howard McNear as Doc Adams. 2.) According to an early episode that aired at least twice during the nine year run of the Gunsmoke radio series, Doc's true name was Calvin Moore, which many years previous to Doc's life in Dodge City he was forced to change to Dr. Charles Adams after killing his opponent in a duel pistols duel, though winning fairly, yet being labeled a murderer by wealthy and influential family of the man Moore had slain in the duel. But in this special episode highlighting Doc, Doc meets a mutual friend of a recently deceased man who had once been a med school chrony and medical practice partner of Doc's -- with no mention of Doc's former life as Calvin Moore! I might also add that this was the next to last episode of the Gunsmoke radio program; the following and final episode was a repeat of an earlier episode.

[@jeffdixon5853]

@@vincentsartain3061 he must not have known that was going to be his last episode, if he had he probably would have taken the job at the clinic. Ends up he had to take a job as a barber to make ends meet.

[@vincentsartain3061]

@@jeffdixon5853 Now that you mention Doc's new life in Mayberry as Floyd the barber: the barber profession started out as being wedded to the medical profession, wouldn't you know!

[@dontaylor7315]

​@@vincentsartain3061 Indeed, the red-and-white striped pole represents blood and bandages (as I'm sure you already knew). Barbers were surgeons until the medical and tonsorial professions parted ways.

[@TowGunner]

Regardless, it was a great “send off” episode.