Rex Allen – Maria McClay

1958-1959

Rex Allen stars as Dr. Bill Baxter, the Frontier Doctor, in this late fifties American Western television series. The series was also known as “Unarmed” and “Man of the West”. The good doctor, based out of Rising Springs, Arizona, rides across the country side in a buggy with his black bag and experiences many adventures as he tries to help those he encounters along the way.

Maria appears in one episode of the series that centers on cases of cholera sprouting up in the vicinity of Los Angeles’ China Town.

Episodes

S01 E16 – Illegal Entry (1959)

January 10, 1959

Maria plays Mei Ling, an employee of Hong Kong Harry’s, who proves helpful to Dr. Bill Baxter as he attempts to track down carriers of cholera in the city.

*Director*	William Witney
*Producer*	Edward J. White
*Production Company*	Studio City Television Service (Hollywood Television Service, a division of Republic Pictures)
*Aired*	January 10th, 1959
*Cast*	Rex Allen (Dr. Bill Baxter), Harold Huber (Hongkong Harry), Maria Tsien (Mei Ling), John Crawford (Sergeant Blake), Lyle Talbot (Police Chief), Joe Forte (Staff Doctor), Marshall Bradford (Mr. Mahew)

*Maria McClay as Mei Ling, a helpful employee of Hong Kong Harry’s*

When a patient dies of cholera, the doctor is determined to find the carriers of the disease. His investigation leads him to Hong Kong Harry’s in Chinatown, a “low class hangout for derelicts of every class and color, with a tawdry, sordid atmosphere that attracted innocent sightseers as well as worldly thrill seekers.”. Here he meets Mei Ling (Maria), an employee of Hong Kong Harry’s, who helps him greatly with his cause, after the owner, played by Harry Huber in Yellow Face, proves to be less than forthcoming.

This episode features Maria in a more extensive speaking role and she is present throughout the entire second half of the show. Unfortunately this episode is also rife with racial prejudice of the 50s, mostly “Yellow Peril” kind of stuff, as well as the obligatory use of Yellow Face (Harry Huber as Hong Kong Harry).

Scenes Featuring Maria

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