Overview

"As television grew more enticing for both viewers and filmmakers in the 1950s, several independent film producers with knowledge of making low-cost films and radio shows transferred their skills to producing shows for the small screen. Rather than funding live programs that were popular at the time, these producers saw the value in pre-taped shows, which created large financial returns through episode reruns. This low-cost, high-yield production model resulted in what are known and beloved as ""B"" television shows. Part historical account and part filmography, this book documents the careers of over a dozen ""B"" television producers. It chronicles the rise of situation comedies and crime dramas and explores the minds behind popular shows like My Little Margie, The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Highway Patrol and Sea Hunt. Divided into 14 chapters of producer profiles, this work is rich in both trivia and critical assessments of the first years of television. A chapter detailing the work of early female television producers rounds out the text."

Full Product Details

Author:   Richard Irvin
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.10cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.295kg
ISBN:  

9781476689968

ISBN 10:   1476689962
Pages:   223
Publication Date:   11 November 2022
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Introduction  1. Hal Roach Sr. and Jr.: From Movie Shorts to B TV Series  2. Roland Reed Productions: A Producer of Almost All Genres  3. Jack Chertok: From Iconic Heroes to Fantasy Comedies  4. Jerry Fairbanks: The Art of ­Low-Cost Production  5. Bernard J. Prockter: Turning ­Real-Life Stories into TV Series  6. Martin Stone: From Series Featuring Critics to Kids’ Shows  7. William F. Broidy: One Hit, Several Misses  8. Frederick W. Ziv: Mastering the Art of Location Filming  9. Edward Lewis: A Pioneer of ­Back-Door Pilots 10. Albert Gannaway: Early Country and Western TV Producer 11. Leon Fromkess: The Master of the Adventure Genre 12. Walter Wanger: From Films to TV and Back to Films 13. Movie Star Production Companies of B TV: Some More Successful Than Others 14. Early Female TV Producers Who Sought to Make B TV Shows Notes Bibliography Index

Reviews

"Take a serious and fascinating look at the independent producers, series and pilots of the 1950s...For a captivating and fascinating examination of early TV this book delivers on all counts.""—Boyce McClain's Consumers' Collectors' Corner"

Author Information

Richard Irvin is a self-described documentarian of television history. He lives in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

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