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Ironside was a crime drama television series that aired on NBC from 1967 to 1975. The show starred Raymond Burr as the titular character, a paraplegic chief of detectives in San Francisco. Don Galloway, Don Mitchell, and Barbara Anderson played his trusted assistants, while Elizabeth Baur and Ted Cassidy joined later in the series.

Ironside centered around the cases that the San Francisco Police Department's Special Investigations Division tackled under the leadership of Chief Robert T. Ironside. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Ironside was no less of an effective leader than his able-bodied counterparts. He used his intellect, sharp analytical skills, and ability to read people to solve complex cases.

Ironside's team consisted of three detectives: Sergeant Ed Brown (Don Galloway), Officer Eve Whitfield (Barbara Anderson), and Mark Sanger (Don Mitchell), Ironside's personal assistant. While Brown was a no-nonsense detective with a rough exterior, Whitfield's compassionate approach often helped solve cases that required a different perspective. Sanger was the brains behind the operation, frequently deciphering clues that no one else noticed.

In the early seasons, Ironside often visited the scenes of the crimes in person, actively investigating and almost always had his pistol holstered on his lap. Being a paraplegic, he sometimes found himself in precarious situations in the line of duty, but his colleagues always had his back. In later seasons, the show focused more on investigations from the detectives' perspectives.

Throughout the series, Ironside tackled a wide range of cases, such as murder, robbery, and even international espionage. He often clashed with other law enforcement agencies due to his unorthodox methods, but his team always managed to find the clues that led to the perpetrators.

In season four, Elizabeth Baur joined the show as Officer Fran Belding, replacing Barbara Anderson's character, Eve Whitfield. Belding was a young and enthusiastic detective who proved to be a valuable addition to the team, providing a fresh perspective on cases. Ted Cassidy also joined the cast in later seasons as the houseman for Ironside's wheelchair-bound home.

The series was known for its strong writing and realistic portrayal of police work, garnering critical acclaim for its depictions of complex cases and intricate investigations. The show also tackled sensitive topics such as racism, poverty, sexism, and mental illness, which were hot-button issues during the time when the show aired.

Ironside lasted for eight seasons, ending in 1975 after 199 episodes. The show was popular with viewers, consistently ranking high in the Nielsen ratings. Its success led to a made-for-television movie and a short-lived revival series in the late 1990s.

In conclusion, Ironside was a classic crime drama that focused on cases investigated by the San Francisco Police Department's Special Investigations Division, headed by a paraplegic chief of detectives. The show featured strong writing, realistic portrayals of police work, and an excellent cast of characters, including Raymond Burr's iconic portrayal of Chief Robert T. Ironside. The series remains a favorite of fans of the crime drama genre and is still enjoyed by viewers today.

Ironside is a series that ran for 8 seasons (202 episodes) between September 14, 1967 and on NBC