My Emergency! Man Crush is Back On
Posted on 18. Sep, 2008 by Dave in Fire & EMS, National Fire & EMS, Random Musings
One TV show changed my life.
When I was a wee bit lad of 11 or so, I started tuning in to what was exceptionally poor reception on Channel 24 in Baltimore. There was this awesome show called Emergency! It was all about firefighters and paramedics. Basically, it rocked (for an 11-year-old). I can’t even remember what other TV Shows I watched around that time, probably the cool hip shows of the era like the A-Team and Knight Rider. But the reruns of Emergency! were the most festive.
I think I wanted to be Fireman/Paramedic Johnny Gage, but probably over the course of watching those reruns I imagined myself as Chet Kelly, the prankster, or the hard ass but honest Dr. Kelly Brackett. I wanted to go jump in Squad 51 and head off into the sunset. I’d get my chance.
I was so enamored that I went out and got the book Paramedics by James O. Page, a Los Angeles County Battalion Chief who served as one of the show’s technical advisors. In seventh grade, my science project was creating the miniature version of a Prince George’s County Paramedic (then MICU) unit (with the help of my grandfather). Then, already quite the little scanner buff in seventh grade, I sent a letter (printed on my fancy dot matrix printed powered by a Commodore 64) to the Chief of the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department. I said I wanted to do stuff around the firehouse.
The rest is pretty much history. I’ve been a member of the HVFD since 1988, second longest amongst members that are still generally ‘around’ next to Chief Emeritus Doc Moltrup. Who, granted, is around more than I am even though he technically lives in Florida.
During that time there have been a ton of ups and downs — both personally and within the department. Close calls all around. But we’ve all survived … and thrived.
In the early 90’s we used to hold Emergency! Fests … borderline 24-hour runs of videotapes of the show. We’d go crazy. Just watch it all night long between calls. Overdosing is an understatement. If you read this Greg, Ron and Peggy, you remember this well. Life was good.
Somehow, I managed to turn my experience in the fire service into a career other than being a firefighter. I took my journalism background and my interest in the Web and turned it into building Firehouse.com in 1998. A year later, I learned of a national tour of Emergency! props that would be enshrined into the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Well, archived at least for future use it turned out.
So I jumped on it. A refinished Squad 51 was going to be on the tour. Johnny and Roy were going to be there too. I called up Jim Page, who had since started JEMS Magazine. We got Firehouse.com involved as a sponsor of the tour. And who knows how I did it, but I got the Hyattsville VFD as the last firehouse stop on the nationwide tour. Squad 51 would be in MY firehouse. Johnny and Roy, too. We went further, and coordinated getting Engineer/Firefighter Mike Stoker (who retired as a real-life L.A. County Captain), Dr. Morton (Ron Pinkard), Firefighter Chet Kelly (aka the Phantom … actor Tim Donnelly) and Firefighter Marco Lopez (an actor of the same name).
Over the course of three days, we held Emergency! Fest. It was quite something. A banquet with almost 200 middle-aged women swooning over Johnny Gage and his pals (Roy DeSoto aka actor Kevin Tighe couldn’t make it), we held an all our Fest! with thousands swarming on the HVFD to get autographs and see Squad 51. There was a woman sleeping on the stoop of the firehouse when I arrived at 5 a.m. A couple got engaged in the middle of the event.
HVFD and Firehouse.com Leadership with the Cast of Emergency!
It was insanity. We used to hold these Emergency! Fests overnight watching Squad 51 roll down the street on television. Now Squad 51 was sitting in the ambulance bay next to the HVFD’s squad. Surreal.
But I digress.
During this time, it would have been pretty easy to get sick of Emergency! But I don’t think I would have. If it wasn’t for one night in the nation’s capital.
That was the night that the International Association of Fire Fighters held a special reception for the cast and crew of the show (and those of us who tagged along). Johnny sat with the leadership of the IAFF. The rest of the cast sat at the kid’s table. Oops.
The memories of that night haunted me for years. Some of the other cast members dissipated during the course of the dinner. They were found with some IAFF staff at the bar. Well on their way, so to speak. As I drove the van back to Maryland after dinner, the only recollection I have (having blocked most of it out) is several cast members just lashing out at ole Johnny Gage. Apparently, the sight of seeing him get star treatment at a fancy dinner was a bit much. It brought back memories of his persona on the set two decades prior. Or so they said.
The next morning, one unnamed cast member had to be awakened from his hotel room after failing to wake up for the van to the firehouse for the public Emergency! Fest event. When Johnny got his own autograph table a full foot taller (and under a tent) than the rest of the cast, the tension could have been cut with the Jaws of Life.
Happily, the thousands of fans wanted to see the entire cast. Sure, they wanted Johnny Gage. But they were absolutely thrilled to meet the other heroes of Emergency! Many, like me, were inspired to join the fire and rescue service as a result of watching the show. Some a bit older than me even watched it when it was REALLY on television in the mid 70’s on NBC.
Jim Page (standing center) and Randy Mantooth (aka Fireman/Paramedic Johnny Gage ... seated) at the Emergency! Fest luncheon in 1999.
It was a thrilling, albeit odd, time. The heroes of my youth at my own firehouse. Not to mention those same folks brought back to earth with that one van trip back from dinner. But still, well worth it. I was able to spend quite a bit of time with Jim Page over those days, who it turned out would really be a more appropriate role model and someone I’d share a similar path with — in terms of being in the fire service media. Perhaps in retrospect it was as much that Paramedics book, not just the TV show, that laid the groundwork and inspiration to what I’ve done in the fire service thus far.
Jim passed away a few years ago and is greatly missed by the entire fire and EMS community.
A few weeks after Emergency! Fest I popped in one of those old school VHS tapes of Emergency! episodes. Two minutes in, I realized something was wrong. Terribly, Terribly wrong.
I couldn’t watch it.
Memories of that van ride came back into play. The wake up call. It was all too much. Alas, I thought, Emergency! would never be the same. A few years ago when the DVDs came out of the first few seasons I brought them right away. But never watched them. Would I never see another show? Was it over? That was the case, until a few weeks back.
The local ABC affiliate, Channel 7, has a new digital channel called Retro TV. It’s got Quincy, and the A-Team, plus a ton of other shows. And at 3 p.m., scheduled on my DVR, is Emergency! Today was the series finale, and as such my guide for this blog. It showed the Best Rescues of Emergency! and signed off with Johnny and Roy becoming captains.
The madness of Emergency! Fest.
I’m sure I’ll probably burn myself out a bit over the coming weeks watching these episodes where the blood pressure is almost always 120/80 and D5W and Ringers are the medical drugs of choice for every emergency. I’ll be able to speed through the responses with the DVR, downsizing the average episode to about 15 minutes. But maybe, just maybe, that will be enough to prevent me from burning out this time around.
Maybe reliving what got me into the fire and EMS service to begin with and blocking out those van ride memories will free up my mind to riding those fire trucks again. My EMT long expired, I’ve got just 100 days as of today to take my refresher and complete the written and practical exam. I’m signed up. I’m ready. Ready to serve the citizens of Prince George’s County for another 10,000 calls. Or at least have an EMT card that get used over the holidays when staffing is light.
I don’t think its a coincidence that Emergency! is re-entering my life just as I’m getting back involved with the fire service on the Web with Firefighter Nation and prepping for EMT. Life is full of cycles and recurring themes. Just like the ups and downs of my life at the HVFD and in general, so goes Emergency! in reruns, apparently.
And I owe it all to Johnny and Roy. Actually, forget that, I owe it more to Jim Page.
For more photos from Emergency! Fest in 1999, click here. For more on the show, visit the Emergency! Wikipedia page here.
Emergency is Everywhere Now! Check out Retro TV on Channel 7’s digital channel (on Comcast), find an RTV affiliate near you, get it on DVD and you can also watch some old episodes online on NBC’s vintage show site here.
28 Responses to “My Emergency! Man Crush is Back On”
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Ross Passman
19. Sep, 2008
Great Job Dave!
I bought all the DVD’s, and now my two boys and me have “Emergency Nights” w/ popcorn. My kids are as addicted as me. Thanks for setting Emergency Fest up. It was awesome.
Ross
Dan Macakanja
19. Sep, 2008
I enjoyed reading about your Emergency! days. As a kid I watched it whenever it was on. It was one of those shows you just HAD to see! I also have read many articles Jim Page wrote over the years. He was a pioneer and truly a gifted man. When he passed away a few years ago, I was in shock. It was hard to believe that someone who was at the forefront of changing the fire service could be silenced. Everytime a paramedic hops on a firetruck, I’m sure Jim is looking down and smiling.
Theresa
19. Sep, 2008
And I feel the exact same way about Sex and the city, I never get sick of watching it…lol
Dave
19. Sep, 2008
OMG. Sex in the City is no ‘Emergency!’ I assure you…what will you be inspired to do from that show? Marry Big? Become a Coach Purse dealer? LOL.
John Shinkle
19. Sep, 2008
Dave,
Really enjoyed your story. I’m old enough to have watched emergency as a kid and just LOVED IT!!! I couldn’t wait for it to come on Saturday night. I thought about it all week. One time I broke my collarbone playing football in the front yard while waiting for 7pm when emergency was on. I begged my mom to let me watch the show and then go to the hospital. I loved that show and years later have loved the career that somehow was maybe inspired in some way by the things I saw on that show.
Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich
19. Sep, 2008
Dave:
Great blog!
Your’s should serve as a model.
I am at that age where I DID watch it on TV in the seventies-real time! But, I’m not sure if THAT or the movie “Towering Inferno” was the bug that bit me.
But I DO know that Jim Page most definitely impacted my life as an EMT in training. I still have his books and not part with them…I will not even LOAN them out.
Your memories of the van ride home reminds me of my meeting with Pete Rose. I took my son to see him and to get his autograph, because, as I told my son, this guy was a Hall of Fame lock. Well, within 6 months of that autograph session where Pete treated every kid like he was one of them-so very cool-and Pete and I had quite a discussion about snake skin shoes. The athletic shoes that he had on that day were SNAKESKIN. I have a ton of pictures of the day, ball cards that are autographed and a baseball autographed as well. They will never be sold. I digress.
When the news came out that Pete was being banned from baseball for betting, my son and I were crushed, because this was not the ending be-fitting of a guy who played the game like Pete did.
But, that would explain the little TV that he had at his feet the day we saw him. He was watching the horse races, while signing autographs!
My point is that we get so wrapped up in our heroes that we fail to see the flaws that exist in all of us, but we for one reason or another struggle with those flaws in our heroes. My personal opinion is because we want our heroes to embody the strengths that we lack, that they accomplish goals that we cannot reach and to win everytime while we are barely .500.
You know; you have a way of making me chatty.
TCSS.
Art
FETC
19. Sep, 2008
Dave,
Great Blog… I watched the show on Prime Time, rabbit ears and black and white tv as a young lad. I own the series and all of my children have watched them. They to this day, are still good pr for the fire service, positive attitudes for the most part…and no blood, guts or strong violence as in all of today’s media.
My children enjoy them as much as I did… I still love the show! LMAO when they tow in that old engine they bought, that needed a “little work” and see old school comradiere…
Peter Lupkowski
19. Sep, 2008
I remember when my dad, an asst chief at the time, got the call from one of the captains that there is this new show you have to watch…the rest is a mirrior of all of the other posts. Great then, and fun now watching the dvds with my son. Thanks to all that made it fun then, and the web chief that let’s us have fun now!
Donald "Doc" Moltrup
19. Sep, 2008
Dave,
I really enjoyed reading your blog. This brought back a lot of great memories for me of that era in my tenure as Fire Chief of the Hyattsville VFD. “Emergency” is on everyday where I live in Florida now as well and I record each episode with the DVR. I know that this show was the inspiration for a number of members of HVFD and really increase public awareness of the EMS role of the fire service.
Donald Moltrup
Chief Emeritus
Hyattsville VFD
Emergency! Featured Episode: Boot | ItsFestive.com
19. Sep, 2008
[...] My Emergency! Man Crush is Back On [...]
Capt. Michael Heeder
24. Sep, 2008
I, too and a child of the Emergency! era. I was just a wee lad in the 1970’s but like many others like us I would park myself in front of the old console television on Saturday nights for my favorite show. My father still jokes about the fact that he had a TV remote control long before anyone else – he would say what channel to watch and I would hop up and change the channel. However, on Saturday nights, the channel did not get changed.
Jim Page was another Icon of my youth, although I didn’t know it at the time. I still my copy of Effective Company Command – the 3rd printing from 1985. My best memory though was James at his worst – the day he broke down in Gainesville, Florida.
James had spent years restoring his old Rescue 11 that he rode for many years in Los Angeles. He was on tour in Florida and passing through Gainesville along I-75 when he went “out of service”, so to speak. I was the PR and Public Education Specialist for my Department at the time, and while I did not get to meet Jim directly, I still have the photos of Rescue 11 here in my city. It was nice.
Anyway, I concur – yes, it was Johnny and Roy who inspired me to become a firefighter (I was much more akin to Roy than Johnny) but it is not about the actors or the production. Heck, watch old reruns and you will catch so many bloopers Dick Clark would have a field day with them.
It is about the spirit of the beginnings of Emergency Services as we know it. It is about the vision of Jim Page and his ability to use the media to spread the word about fire and rescue efforts. It is about inspiration – inspiring a child to become a public servant and inspiring a nation to embrace the fire service in a way that makes our efforts in this 9-11 world more important than ever.
I would have loved to be a firefighter back in the 70’s – the antique rigs, the simplicity of it all… but whether it is a Crown FireCoach or a Ward LaFrance a Dodge utility truck – or a modern E-One or Sutphen or ALF… the mystique and passion is not lost with me. I will forever be a fan of and thankful for Emergency!
manuel reynoso
27. Sep, 2008
EMERGENCY,was the best show that abc had on at 7pm in 1978,I watch it every night that it was on T.V.
Mike
04. Oct, 2008
I came across your blog when I was trying to find out some information about the cast of Emergency. I enjoyed it immensely. I grew up watching the original network episodes of Emergency as a VERY young boy, and a few years later watching the re-runs on our local independent station (it was given the name “Emergency One!”). I never missed a show if I could help it. I remember my favorite character being Mike Stoker because his name was Mike and he drove the truck.
I too recently re-discovered the show on re-runs, and it has a permanent “record” slot on my DVR. I am surprised at how well the actual fire and accident scenes held up; they went to great extent to make them realistic.
Although I never became a firefighter (my boyhood goal), I did become a television news photographer after I got out of college. And I LOVED shooting fires. One of my first shoots after getting a job at a TV station in Memphis was a well-involved house fire that occurred on a very windy day. Not only was everyone impressed by the video I shot (the MFD pretty much let photographers go anywhere, and I took full advantage), but they also asked me about the holes in my jacket. It turned out that, without my even knowing, several embers were blown by the wind onto my coat. I was proud of those holes.
Then, I got to shoot a news series where we spent several days with a particular shift at one of the MFD firehouses, and rode along on calls. AND I actually got to go into the one big house fire that occurred while we were shooting (although we were at the busiest firehouse, virtually nothing happened the first day or night, which often happens when the TV news crew arrives). I spent ten years as a TV photographer, and this is by far the best memory that I have.
To me, watching Emergency now is “comfort TV” (sort of like comfort food). It unwinds and de-stresses me after a day at work.
Billy Goldfeder
04. Oct, 2008
Excellent blog and related cool STUFF Dave! LOVED that show from the 1st day it came out…we used to bet to see which way the rigs would pull out of the firehouse. Guess things were simpler back in the day!
Thanks,
BillyG
Jack McElfish
04. Oct, 2008
Dave, You are doing a great job with Firefighter Nation. Having grown up and working in Montgomery County, MD, in the mid 60’s and 70’s, I too remember “Emergency” and was impressed about how they operated on the west coast. I remember when Montgomery County put into service the “Heart Mobile” which was a dual wheel type bread truck staffed with a RN (Mary Beth Michos was one of the first hired) and paramedics that ran countywide on all heart attacks or trauma calls. It ran out of Rockville Fire Station 3 and we used to pull duty nights to drive and staff it. It was a lot of fun. As far as Jim Page, I got to become good friends with him and he was always a person who was 10 years ahead of other fire/rescue leaders. When he died, we lost a great person and a great futurist. Keep up the good fight. Jack
Tina Fey for Vice President (and the CNN Opinion Meter) | ItsFestive.com
05. Oct, 2008
[...] My Emergency! Man Crush is Back On [...]
kathlynn
05. Oct, 2008
Dave,
Just gotta say,
“This is a OUTSTANDING site!”
I was a young girl back in the 70’s during the Emergency era. I began watching with my younger nephews while visiting them at an older sister’s house. It did not seem odd to me that I was a girl and obsessed with a show about men who were paramedics and fought fires. Emergency had such a hold upon me at one point that I recall begging my mom to drop me off at my older sister’s so that I could watch Emergency with my nephews and role play with them afterwards. Fortunately both the nephews and I were close in age and they didn’t mind having a girl, their aunt, playing paramedics and nurse in their backyard. Of course since there was no female fire fighter so I played Dixie which was fine and dandy with me anyway. I thought she was a really cool and sharp chic! Later I develpoed a bit of Bracketitis(a crush on that doc). Years later,I have fond and vivid memories of a unique show abotu rescue that set the ground base for others like it to follow in the future. Nope, I haven’t met the amy of the cast yet. It would be great if fate could deal a card of luck my way while most of them are still alive.
kathleen williams
07. Oct, 2008
Your web site is awsome! I was searching to find a local fire company that was having a gun raffel and I came upon yours. who ever does your web page is great. I was so in awe of your page that if they took a vote on the best ever your site would win. Keep up the good work in all you do.
Bob Ridgeway
08. Oct, 2008
Dave;
Great article and a true history lesson, both locally in the DC area and nationwide. I started riding the ambulance (no such thing as ‘EMS’ back then) in the early 1960’s in Beltsville, Prince George’s County, MD. My Dad was Chief at that time, and often drove the unit while I rode ‘aid’, but that’s another whole story. After I became a career firefighter there, I first heard of Jim Page through his book, “Effective Company Command”. which was on our study list for promotion. In fact, I still have a copy and consider it one of the finest texts for the company officer ever written. Much later, which serving as Chief in Gastonia, NC., I had the chance to meet Jim and work on a couple of projects with him. He was one of finest, most forward-thinking guys in our profession that I have ever met, and I still remember the last time we talked, which was just about 2 weeks before he passed. Great blog site and story, and some great memories. Thanks, Bob Ridgeway
Drag D
08. Oct, 2008
A-Team and Knight Rider came out some 10 or so years after Emergency! Get your “Era” straight!
Dave
08. Oct, 2008
Yes, yes…hence why it was reruns on a station with crappy reception.
James Mancuso
01. Nov, 2008
I have always loved Emergency! It has the end result of my joining my hometown volunteer fire department, albeit in a support capacity, which is just as much a part of the fire service as the fire fighting ops. are. I hope someone does another series like it as I cannot get enough of it.
Carol
19. Nov, 2008
Great website! There will be a new generation of fire fighters thanks to the re-discovery of Emergency.
My brother (a paramedic) bought the Emergency DVDs to watch with his kids. These are my 2.5 yr old nephew’s favorite videos. The little guy dresses up in a plastic helmet, his rain coat, snow boots, and wears his sister’s pink snorkling mask for his respirator. He wears this outfit and searches for fires with his flashlight, asking “Where the fire be?” He sleeps with his gear by his bed in case the alarm goes off in the middle of the night, just like the crew.
Gage and DeSoto make pretty good role models. We never missed an episode!
Dave Belk
27. Nov, 2008
Longtime devoted “Emergency!” fan for 36 years. Also big personal fan to actor Randy Mantooth.Met him in person at a NENA convention in Downtown Charlotte NC.where I live.He was nice & spoke about his signature role as Johnny Gage LA county paramedic of Squad 51.Watch every moment of the classic series & it takes me back to my 1st grade years.Long live “Emergency!” “Station 51,KMG-365.
mike owens
19. Dec, 2008
when i was a kid. i use to watch the show when it was new.i grew an attachment to it because my family lived less than 2 miles from the real station and i se to ask my parents to take me roy and john,but they always told me it was their day off.i still watch it w/ my boys everyday on retro television network and have it on dvd so i can get my daily fix
Dave Belk
21. Feb, 2009
I’m a loyal friend & true of all “Emergency!”fans everywhere.I hail from Charlotte NC.I met Randy Mantooth nearly 2 years ago at a NENA convention in Downtown Charlotte.He’s my kind of 70’s TV icon opposite Lou Ferrigno of “The Incredible Hulk.”I enjoy watching the DVD versions on my home TV.It’s really educational on what I want to be in my future.I think I can do it if I put my mind to good use.Thanks for listening! “Station 51,KMG-365.” 10-4.
Dave Belk
28. Feb, 2009
I’m from Charlotte NC.Huge personal fan of actor Randy Mantooth alias Johnny Gage of “Emergency!” I collect all 6 seasons of the 70’s TV series.Takes me back to my grade school days.It’s real educational & it inspires me on what I want to do in my future.Help other people in dire needs.I was victim of a car accident 3 years ago.Both the firefighters & medics saved my life.At least I wasn’t seriously injured.But with 5 months of therapy,I’m back on my feet again & driving a better car.I love every minute of the show.Johnny Gage is 1 of my favorite 70’s TV icons.”10-4 Squad 51.” “Station 51,KMG-365.”
Nancy
26. Mar, 2009
You are not alone. I too have had a lifelong love of Emergency. Here’s a little irony, I love the show, bought the VHS tapes due to the airing of 2003. At such time, I became disabled and met my current boyfriend. Upon talking within the first few months, he told me that he loved the show and became a paramedic because of it. What a small world?