Ben Casey (Season 1)

To the Pure (Episode 1)

Air date: 1961-10-02

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Dr. Ben Casey is at odds with the medical board, particularly Dr. Zorba and Dr. Jensen, because of his manner toward interns. Under a reprimand, Casey tries to persuade the board to approve neurosurgery on nine-year-old Pete Salazar. After the first of three operations on the boy, Casey is accidentally jabbed with a needle while administering a rabies test to a female patient. During his thirty-day wait for a life-or-death prognosis, he is given permission to resume the surgery.

But Linda Only Smiled (Episode 2)

Writer: William Bast

Air date: 1961-10-09

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Little Cathy Reed is brought to the hospital for emergency treatment after an auto accident. Casey prepares a blood transfusion, but her mother won't consent.

The Insolent Heart (Episode 3)

Air date: 1961-10-16

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Dr. Michael Waldman, a former professor of Casey's and a former colleague of Zorba's, comes to the hospital with a cardiovascular ailment diagnosed as fatal. Casey and Zorba want to try a new surgery on him, but the medical board is opposed.

I Remember a Lemon Tree (Episode 4)

Writer: Jack Laird

Air date: 1961-10-23

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Dr. Karl Anders is a brilliant surgeon, and Zorba wants to keep him on at the hospital. But Anders is concerned with illnesses of his own—he's addicted to morphine, and suffers from leukemia.

An Expensive Glass of Water (Episode 5)

Writer: Gilbert Ralston

Air date: 1961-10-30

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Casey has Walter Tyson for a patient, the president of a large corporation in difficulties, who makes treatment impossible by ordering him about. Zorba and Dr. Jensen try to dissuade him from withdrawing, because his patient is a big donor to the hospital.

The Sound of Laughter (Episode 6)

Writer: Gilbert Ralston

Air date: 1961-11-06

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Tony Romano, a struggling nightclub comic, suffers a cranial seizure. Dr. Casey operates, but Tony is left a paraplegic.

A Few Brief Lines for Dave (Episode 7)

Air date: 1961-11-13

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Dr. Dave Taylor returns to the hospital to do research, but Dr. Casey diagnoses him as a ""hospital bum"" afraid of competition, and also treats a woman's hypochondria.

Pavane for a Gentle Lady (Episode 8)

Air date: 1961-11-20

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: By degrees to the bare facts.

My Good Friend Krikor (Episode 9)

Air date: 1961-11-27

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Orderly Nick Kanavaris' good friend Krikor Dakopian is committed by his family to the psychiatric ward. Dr. Casey, however, thinks the ailment is likely to be responsive to neurosurgery.

The Sweet Kiss of Madness (Episode 10)

Air date: 1961-12-04

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Dr. Alan Reynolds' mental state is not improved by constant pressure from his wife to be a successful neurosurgeon. The strain increases when he treats an abused 10-year-old boy. Dr. Casey forestalls an unnecessary operation, and tries to persuade Dr. Reynolds to receive treatment.

A Certain Time, a Certain Darkness (Episode 11)

Writer: Gilbert Ralston

Air date: 1961-12-11

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Expectant mother Ellen Parker loses her child after an auto accident. Casey examines her and finds that she is subject to chronic seizures, and these, not the accident, are responsible for the loss of her baby.

A Dark Night for Billy Harris (Episode 12)

Air date: 1961-12-18

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Dr. Casey operates on Billy Harris, a holdup man shot and paralyzed, but he's also concerned about the policeman, who may have been too keen and might be mentally hampered.

And If I Die (Episode 13)

Air date: 1962-01-01

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: ""The faith that looks through death."" (Wordsworth)

A Memory of Candy Stripes (Episode 14)

Air date: 1962-01-08

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Recollections.

Imagine a Long, Bright Corridor (Episode 15)

Writer: Jack Laird

Air date: 1962-01-15

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: A clean, well-lighted place.

A Story to Be Softly Told (Episode 16)

Air date: 1962-01-22

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Between you, me and the nurse's station.

The Big Trouble with Charlie (Episode 17)

Air date: 1962-01-29

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: He's not quite himself, or is he?

Give My Hands an Epitaph (Episode 18)

Air date: 1962-02-05

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Post-scriptum to a surgeon's operating life.

Victory Wears a Cruel Smile (Episode 19)

Air date: 1962-02-12

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: From another point of view.

Odyssey of a Proud Suitcase (Episode 20)

Writer: Gilbert Ralston

Air date: 1962-02-19

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: A piece of baggage.

Behold a Pale Horse (Episode 21)

Writer: Jack Laird

Air date: 1962-02-26

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: ""And his name that sat on him was Death.""

For the Ladybug, One Dozen Roses (Episode 22)

Air date: 1962-03-05

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: A decorated aviator with an alias goes into surgery.

To a Grand and Natural Finale (Episode 23)

Air date: 1962-03-12

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: A consummation devoutly to be wished.

Monument to an Aged Hunter (Episode 24)

Writer: Gilbert Ralston

Air date: 1962-03-19

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Souvenirs and trophies.

All the Clocks are Ticking (Episode 25)

Air date: 1962-03-26

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: As time goes by.

Among Others a Girl Named Abilene (Episode 26)

Writer: Jack Laird

Air date: 1962-04-02

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: A Texas rose.

A Pleasant Thing for the Eyes (Episode 27)

Air date: 1962-04-16

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: A vision of loveliness.

And Eve Wore a Veil of Tears (Episode 28)

Air date: 1962-04-23

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Sorrow and pity.

Preferably, the Less-Used Arm (Episode 29)

Writer: Gilbert Ralston

Air date: 1962-04-30

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Might and main.

An Uncommonly Innocent Killing (Episode 30)

Writer: Don Brinkley

Air date: 1962-05-07

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Gene Bilstrom is a leading business man of the community but a series of incidents causes his family concern. Bilstrom is admitted to the hospital for a complete mental evaluation but there is a fear of the stigma involved.

So Oft It Chances in Particular Men (Episode 31)

Air date: 1962-05-21

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: So oft it chances in particular men That (for some vicious mole of nature in them, As in their birth, wherein they are not guilty, Since nature cannot choose his origin) By the o'ergrowth of some complexion, Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason, Or by some habit, that too much o'erleavens The form of plausive manners—that (these men, Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, Being nature's livery, or fortune's star) Their virtues else, be they as pure as grace, As infinite as man may undergo, Shall in the general censure take corruption From that particular fault. The dram of evil Doth all the noble substance of a doubt, To his own scandal. Hamlet

When You See an Evil Man (Episode 32)

Writer: Gilbert Ralston

Air date: 1962-05-28

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: The patient and the ill.