The Other Martin Loring
Encyclopedia
"The Other Martin Loring" is a 1973 episode of Marcus Welby, M.D.
, an American medical drama
that aired on ABC
. It tells the story of a middle-aged man facing several health issues, which seem to stem from his repression of his homosexuality
. The episode aired on February 20, 1973, and was met with concern and protests from LGBT rights activists for its equating of homosexuality and illness.
and diabetic. Martin tells the concerned doctor that he is simply overworked and under stress. That night, his wife Margaret announces she is divorcing him and suing for full custody of their son Billy; she calls him an unfit parent. When he threatens a countersuit, she responds by saying that she will hold nothing back to keep him from getting their son. Later, Martin collapses. Dr Welby tends to him, then speaks with Margaret, who tells him their marriage is over. Suspecting infidelity, Dr. Welby is surprised when Margaret tells him she wishes that the problem was another woman.
The next day Margaret serves Martin with divorce papers. After a drink and an insulin
shot, Martin has a car accident. He is arrested for drunk driving, but the good doctor convinces the police it was an insulin overdose. Dr. Welby speaks with Martin's mother and, after learning that Martin's father was distant, deduces that Martin is a homosexual. After initially denying it, Martin acknowledges having homosexual tendencies. Dr. Welby suggests that Martin is not really a homosexual but that instead it is his fear of being a homosexual that is leading to his depression. Martin resists this diagnosis but, after attempting suicide
, agrees to see a psychiatrist
. Dr. Welby expresses his assurances that Martin will win his "fight" and one day be able to live a "normal" life.
's Standards and Practices (S&P) department advising that the script's portrayal of homosexuality was negative; GAA knew that the popularity of the Welby series would mean that any negative message would reach an extremely wide audience. GAA media director Ron Gold and other GAA representatives met with ABC executives on February 13, but when negotiations failed GAA zapped
ABC's New York headquarters on February 16, picketing ABC's New York City headquarters and sending 30-40 members to occupy the New York offices of ABC president Elton Rule
and board chairman Leonard Goldenson
. As they sat in, GAA members took telephone calls from supportive mental health professionals. Executives offered to meet with two GAA representatives but GAA insisted that all protesters be present. The network refused. All but six of the zappers then left; the final six were arrested but charges were later dropped.
On the day of the broadcast, 25 picketers struck the Los Angeles County Medical Association for two hours, carrying signs with slogans like MARCUS WELBY, WITCH DOCTOR and quacking to brand Welby as a quack
. A few picketers went to ABC's Los Angeles headquarters but ABC refused to meet with them. Calls for a national boycott were made but ultimately nothing came of them because in 1973 the LGBT community did not have the necessary cohesiveness to disseminate the boycott message.
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. It starred Robert Young as a family practitioner with a kind bedside manner, and was produced by David Victor and David J. O'Connell...
, an American medical drama
Medical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
that aired 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...
. It tells the story of a middle-aged man facing several health issues, which seem to stem from his repression of his homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. The episode aired on February 20, 1973, and was met with concern and protests from LGBT rights activists for its equating of homosexuality and illness.
Plot
Martin Loring consults with Dr. Welby regarding several health issues. He is an alcoholic, overweight, depressedClinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
and diabetic. Martin tells the concerned doctor that he is simply overworked and under stress. That night, his wife Margaret announces she is divorcing him and suing for full custody of their son Billy; she calls him an unfit parent. When he threatens a countersuit, she responds by saying that she will hold nothing back to keep him from getting their son. Later, Martin collapses. Dr Welby tends to him, then speaks with Margaret, who tells him their marriage is over. Suspecting infidelity, Dr. Welby is surprised when Margaret tells him she wishes that the problem was another woman.
The next day Margaret serves Martin with divorce papers. After a drink and an insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
shot, Martin has a car accident. He is arrested for drunk driving, but the good doctor convinces the police it was an insulin overdose. Dr. Welby speaks with Martin's mother and, after learning that Martin's father was distant, deduces that Martin is a homosexual. After initially denying it, Martin acknowledges having homosexual tendencies. Dr. Welby suggests that Martin is not really a homosexual but that instead it is his fear of being a homosexual that is leading to his depression. Martin resists this diagnosis but, after attempting suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, agrees to see a psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
. Dr. Welby expresses his assurances that Martin will win his "fight" and one day be able to live a "normal" life.
Cast
- Robert YoungRobert Young (actor)Robert George Young was an American television, film, and radio actor, best known for his leading roles as Jim Anderson, the father of Father Knows Best and as physician Marcus Welby in Marcus Welby, M.D. .-Early life:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Young was the son of an Irish immigrant father...
as Dr. Marcus Welby - James BrolinJames BrolinJames Brolin is an American actor, producer and director, best known for his roles in soap operas, movies, sitcoms, and television. He is the father of actor Josh Brolin and husband of singer/actress Barbra Streisand.-Early life:...
as Dr. Steven Kiley - Elena VerdugoElena VerdugoElena Verdugo is an American actress who began in films at the age of six in Cavalier of the West . Her career in radio, television, and film spanned six decades....
as Consuelo Lopez - Mark MillerMark Miller (actor)Mark Miller is an American television actor/writer who made more than forty appearances in television programs and films since 1957. He co-starred with Joanne Dru and J...
as Martin Loring - Sharon AckerSharon AckerSharon Acker is a film, stage and television actress.Acker began her acting career in theater, and made her film debut when she recreated her stage role in Lucky Jim . Her first American film appearance was in the Lee Marvin action film, Point Blank .-Movies:*Lucky Jim .....
as Margaret Loring - Martha ScottMartha ScottMartha Ellen Scott was an American actress best known for her roles as mother of the lead character in numerous films and television shows.-Early life:...
as Mrs. Loring, Martin's mother - Scott JacobyScott JacobyScott Jacoby is an American actor. He won an Emmy Award for his role in the 1972 television film That Certain Summer. He is also famous for playing the lead role in the made for TV film Bad Ronald 1974....
as Billy Loring
Controversy and protests
Person or persons unknown leaked the script for "The Other Martin Loring" to gay groups sometime around January 1973. In response, the Gay Activists Alliance sent a letter to ABCAmerican 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...
's Standards and Practices (S&P) department advising that the script's portrayal of homosexuality was negative; GAA knew that the popularity of the Welby series would mean that any negative message would reach an extremely wide audience. GAA media director Ron Gold and other GAA representatives met with ABC executives on February 13, but when negotiations failed GAA zapped
Zap (action)
A zap is a form of political direct action that came into use in the 1970s in the United States. Popularized by the early gay liberation group Gay Activists Alliance, a zap was a raucous public demonstration designed to embarrass a public figure or celebrity while calling the attention of both gays...
ABC's New York headquarters on February 16, picketing ABC's New York City headquarters and sending 30-40 members to occupy the New York offices of ABC president Elton Rule
Elton Rule
Elton H. Rule was an American television executive and former president of the American Broadcasting Company. Assuming the presidency at a time when ABC was a distant third in the Nielsen ratings, Rule is credited with greatly expanding network revenue, ratings, affiliates and profits...
and board chairman Leonard Goldenson
Leonard Goldenson
Leonard H. Goldenson was President of the U.S. television and radio broadcaster ABC.-Early life and career:...
. As they sat in, GAA members took telephone calls from supportive mental health professionals. Executives offered to meet with two GAA representatives but GAA insisted that all protesters be present. The network refused. All but six of the zappers then left; the final six were arrested but charges were later dropped.
On the day of the broadcast, 25 picketers struck the Los Angeles County Medical Association for two hours, carrying signs with slogans like MARCUS WELBY, WITCH DOCTOR and quacking to brand Welby as a quack
Quackery
Quackery is a derogatory term used to describe the promotion of unproven or fraudulent medical practices. Random House Dictionary describes a "quack" as a "fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill" or "a person who pretends, professionally or publicly, to have skill, knowledge, or...
. A few picketers went to ABC's Los Angeles headquarters but ABC refused to meet with them. Calls for a national boycott were made but ultimately nothing came of them because in 1973 the LGBT community did not have the necessary cohesiveness to disseminate the boycott message.
See also
- List of 1970s American television episodes with LGBT themes
- "The Outrage"The Outrage (Marcus Welby)"The Outrage" is a 1974 episode of Marcus Welby, M.D., a long-running American medical drama on ABC. The episode tells the story of a teenage boy who is sexually assaulted by his male teacher. The episode, which originally aired October 8, 1974, sparked controversy and anger for its equation of...
- a second Marcus Welby, M.D. episode that engendered controversy - "Flowers of Evil"Flowers of Evil (Police Woman)"Flowers of Evil" is a 1974 episode of the American police procedural television series Police Woman. The episode features Sgt. Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson going undercover at a nursing home to investigate a murder. She uncovers a trio of lesbians who are robbing and murdering their elderly residents...
- an episode of Police WomanPolice Woman (TV series)Police Woman is an American television police drama starring Angie Dickinson that ran on NBC for four seasons, from September 13, 1974, to March 29, 1978.-Synopsis:...
that drew protests for its portrayal of lesbians
External links
- "The Other Martin Loring" at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...