"EMERGENCY" is 50 years old!

[GLMFAA1]

How to make yourself feel really old. The TV show "EMERGENCY" premiered on NBC this week 50 years ago. WOW. time does fly when you're having fun. In commemoration of this landmark of the adventures of FF/P Johnny Gage and FF/P Roy DeSoto this buckeye fan of the show would like to present some of my models dedicated to the show and the LACoFD. 

My first squad 51 in 1972 based on MPC Dodge pick-up kit, plastistruct butyl plastic rescue box, hand-made TwinSonic, IMC Dodge mirrors, Aurora ALF tires & wheels. Johan cop car stuff, Letre set dry transfer letters. Paper punch silver tape for slam locks.

   

 

A reproduction of Squad 10 used in the pilot movie for the show. An actual borrowed LACoFD squad before studio built squad 51 was used in the series. Johnny Gage was only a FF working the rescue squad and wanted nothing to do with paramedicine until he met with Dr. Brackett and Roy DeSoto. Pictures is producer Jack Webb in front of squad 10.

 

 

 

My 3 Dodge squads. In 1995 when Dodge change body style I fictionalized if "EMERGENCY" was to have a revival would the squad look like this?

 

 

Finally, squad 151 a Pinecrest 4 door casting from the Monogram pick up, The 4 door squads are used as training vehicles enabling them to take 'probies' for field training at actual emergencies.

Thank you, Randall Mantooth (Johnny Gage) for your contribution to EMS through the years.

 

 

greg

 

[PappyD340]

Very nice!!

[Jim B]

Awesome collection.

[the goon]

Cool.

Mark

[happy grumpy]

Great tribute to a classic show.

[Toys4Don2]

Pretty cool collection!!

[leafsprings]

Nice trio!  We had to be creative back then, no aftermarket resin support! A side note, the 16" lock ring wheels disappeared on the squad around '74, later seasons show the squad with solid 16.5" wheels, wonder if the '72 was swapped out with a '74 year model squad, and they  just swapped   the older grille to the newer cab?

Edited February 13, 2022 by leafsprings

[Big John]

How Cool is That!  Fyi, the Station 51 (as it is called on the show, 127 in real life.) is still in operation on E. 233rd cross street S. Wilmington in Wilmington, LA harbor area.  You see the 405 fwy in the background in the long shots of the station.  The duffus on google street has his camera upside down.  Still watch reruns when they come up.  Thanks for the great Dodge concepts!

[Oldcarfan27]

On 2/6/2022 at 3:57 PM, Big John said:

How Cool is That!  Fyi, the Station 51 (as it is called on the show, 127 in real life.) is still in operation on E. 233rd cross street S. Wilmington in Wilmington, LA harbor area.  You see the 405 fwy in the background in the long shots of the station.  The duffus on google street has his camera upside down.  Still watch reruns when they come up.  Thanks for the great Dodge concepts!

If you're ever in the Los Angeles area and are a fan, a tour is a must.

As I live a few miles away, I've taken my kids to the Los Angeles Fire Museum in Bellflower, CA. https://www.lacountyfiremuseum.com/

Then Station 127 in Carson, CA. https://untwistedvintage.com/touring-station-127/  then to Rampart General (Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Torrance CA.) https://shapovmusic.com/where-was-emergency-filmed/. All within a half hour's drive of each other.

Irony is that that fire station is close enough to the hospital, that in reality, if it had a paramedic unit, would have actually reported to that facility. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0068067/trivia/?ref_=tt_trv_trv

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency!

Jack Webb (of Dragnet and Adam 12 fame) is to be commended for bringing such accurate and quality rescue shows to the television public forefront!

[GLMFAA1]

The station is in honor of Robert A Cinader. He was writer/producer of 'emergency' and 'adam 12' 

Bucket list: to visit LA and see the sites. 

If anyone has the dimensions (blue prints) of station 127 (51) I would really appreciate the information as I would like to build a 1/25th scale model of the station.

greg

[Oldcarfan27]

2 hours ago, GLMFAA1 said:

The station is in honor of Robert A Cinader. He was writer/producer of 'emergency' and 'adam 12' 

Bucket list: to visit LA and see the sites. 

If anyone has the dimensions (blue prints) of station 127 (51) I would really appreciate the information as I would like to build a 1/25th scale model of the station.

greg

I haven't found any floor plans for the building, but front elevations are plenty. You can scale an approximate size, then transfer the measurements to the perimeter (satellite map). That'll at least get you the ballpark for the outside. Use the TV show to guesstimate the interior. We know the kitchen is just off to the right. Probably a lobby in the front where the entry doors are. I'm guessing the sleeping quarters are on the left and people on TV never need to use a bathroom. ?

 

Edited February 8, 2022 by Oldcarfan27

[Big John]

As I recall the captain had an office in the front right (as we face the building) Kitchen behind that. and yep the sleeping quarters on the Left.  From the arrangement of roof vents I would bet the locker room/ bath are behind the sleeping quarters, and probably equipment storage behind the kitchen.

Oh, and Jack Webb was at one time married to Julie London (Dixi) after the divorce she married Bobby Troup (Dr. Early) both Jazz singers in the 50s. Must have been amicable if he cast them as leads at Rampart.

[Big John]

Yesterday on COZI TV they had a 50th anniversary tribute to Emergency with interviews of Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe.  Probably able to catch it on rerun or youtube.  Great Tribute to a ground breaking show!

[Street Rod]

That was a great tv show. Squad and Engine 51 are on my list of vehicles to build.

 

 

[GLMFAA1]

Just to add a little bit more of history regarding this show are these facts. The late Jim Paige of EMS history was a battalion chief in the LACoFD and was an onset/scene consultant when they filmed the show. The late Tom Showers who built model fire apparatus was the designer of the rescue truck bodies that were built by the fire departments shop.

This picture lifted from the internet shows the original rescue squad from the 50's. Prior units were panel trucks, and the equipment evolution required more room. This unit also has what was called the 'platter' The emergency lights and siren were on a plate that could be removed for easy repair or replacement without putting the unit out of service for a long time. With the introduction of the 'paramedic side' of the squad, the spare air bottles, fire extinguisher and K12 saw was relegated to the walkway of the squad body.

greg

 

[leafsprings]

Great info Greg! Looks like the squad in the photo is doable if you find a cab from an old '60 Ford F100 kit. A few episodes of Emergency show a '58 Ford F 350 deluge unit. Truck looks like its in great condition for being almost 20 years old.

Edited August 28, 2022 by leafsprings

[leafsprings]

This is more of a brush type unit. Official L.A. county fire crest on door.  6 lug wheels= F350

Edited August 28, 2022 by leafsprings

[stavanzer]

Neat Stuff.

I have the first 2 seasons on DVD. I rewatch them often. I saw most of the show on broadcast TV when it was first run.

Always liked it. I've always wondered why Jack Webb never pursued Lic Agreements with Toy/Model Companies to sell little 'Squads' and 'Adam-12s'? I know I'd have pestered Grandma until I got the whole set!

 

[martinfan5]

I feel old and I wasnt alive when it was on the air?

[1st 700 Quad]

On 8/15/2022 at 6:00 PM, leafsprings said:

Great info Greg! Looks like the squad in the photo is doable if you find a cab from an old '60 Ford F100 kit. A few episodes of Emergency show a '58 Ford F 350 deluge unit. Truck looks like its in great condition for being almost 20 years old.

Oh, I need to build THAT..

[GLMFAA1]

Just went through thread and saw the picture of brush unit by 'leafsprings'. The crest on the door is Los Angeles CITY not the county. 

you make the call.

Latest LACoFD door logo.

greg

[Chariots of Fire]

Nice stuff, Greg!  I have those LA County decals.  When my children were growing up that was a Sunday nite fare to sit and watch Emergency! before they went to bed. The show was pretty close to being responsible for the development of EMS services we have today.  I just may have to build the rescue!  I did Engine 51 a few years ago.

[AZPartsLocators]

One of my favorite shows. I watch it every day. Monday through Friday

[leafsprings]

On 2/9/2023 at 6:49 AM, GLMFAA1 said:

Just went through thread and saw the picture of brush unit by 'leafsprings'. The crest on the door is Los Angeles CITY not the county. 

 

Yep, my bad. Would love to see a photo book of all the LA city and LA county brush and rescue vehicles used in the 50's thru 70's.

[Aaronw]

27 minutes ago, leafsprings said:

Yep, my bad. Would love to see a photo book of all the LA city and LA county brush and rescue vehicles used in the 50's thru 70's.

 

There are two really good books on LACO rigs, Ride the Devil Wind, and Devil Wind Fire Wagons. The first book is a history of the LA County Fire Department and its predecessors, the second is focused on the fire apparatus used in LA County 1920-1995. Both are heavily illustrated with vintage photos. These books came out in the 1990s but you can still find them for reasonable prices.