I noticed several episodes having people gushing as to how handsome they think Jim is. I think he looks like a smoker and a drinker. I don't see what they see.

Years later, my mom never missed an episode of Marcus Welby. She thought he was pretty keen.

Not sure there was any physical attraction there so much as she may have seen him as a worthy entertainer.

I noticed several episodes having people gushing as to how handsome they think Jim is. I think he looks like a smoker and a drinker. I don't see what they see.

I think I've read he was quite a smoker, and a nervous actor. He certinly smoked in the first episode.

Years later, my mom never missed an episode of Marcus Welby. She thought he was pretty keen.

Maybe she liked his "medical" skills.

Maybe she liked his "medical" skills.

Possible,... she was also a big Ben Casey fan.

And...The Fugitive.

He's not Cary Grant handsome but I thought he looked okay.

I thought I read he was mostly in B movies before the FKB radio days. Neither here nor there I guess.

Oh, Margaret likely just laid back and thought of . .. New Jersey [Jane Wyatt's actual birthplace(!)] when they conceived their offspring!

Bump only, to move old game down.

He was attractive, as opposed to handsome. A woman's view. I would have taken Margaret's place in a New York second. I recall hearing he abused alcohol, but never saw evidence of it in FKB. Just like Dick Van Dyke.

I have been watching a lot of Marcus Welby shows. Robert/Jim is looking a lot better, what 15 years later? Did he quit smoking or heavy drinking by the time he was doing this show?

I noticed several episodes having people gushing as to how handsome they think Jim is. I think he looks like a smoker and a drinker. I don't see what they see.
"smoker" For most of the 20th century 45% of Americans were smokers, well into the 70's. Cartons of cigarettes were given to our WWII soldiers. Cigarettes were used as currency in war ravaged areas. Supported, glamorized, promoted. Iconic scene from Now Voyager, Bette Davis and Paul Henreid--lighting cigarettes; just one among many. If you got TV Guide in 60s, almost all the ads were cigarettes. Philip Morris cigarettes was the major sponsor of I Love Lucy. Kent Cigarettes was major sponsor of Dick Van Dyke Show. To denigrate Robert Young as a "SMOKER" is to simply not understand the times he lived in. Don't take me wrong, smoking was not good. But you can't unfairly castigate a person from the 50s/60s for doing what was totally accepted. Saying looks like a "fill in the blank" well, geeze, how subjective.

I saw a 1960s episode of To Tell the Truth on Youtube the other day, and Gene Rayburn (sub. host) announced at the end of each round that every contestant would get a carton of Winstons on the way out.

Different times...

I saw a 1960s episode of To Tell the Truth on Youtube the other day, and Gene Rayburn (sub. host) announced at the end of each round that every contestant would get a carton of Winstons on the way out.

Different times...
Yes. It was a different time. We are so quick to judge our ancestors. My Dad was a smoker, a WWII veteran. Lucky Strikes. COPD killed him. People today are so judgmental about times they don't relate to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1ALtcAO69M

I noticed several episodes having people gushing as to how handsome they think Jim is. I think he looks like a smoker and a drinker. I don't see what they see.

I haven't heard any of the original radio episodes but I've read the character of Jim was much sterner and called the family members names at times.

The characters were modified for television.