Gary Franklin (March 18, is– October 2, 2007) was a well-known

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broadcast Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

film critic Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films and the film medium. In general, film criticism can be divided into two categories: Academic criticism by film scholars, who study the composition of film theory and publish their findin ...

based in

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. He was born to a

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ish family in

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on September 22, 1928. His father was a doctor for the German Army during the First World War. His family moved to the

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in 1938 to escape

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by the

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and changed the family name from "Zlotnitzki" to "Franklin". Franklin earned a

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film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

at the

City College of New York The City College of the City University of New York (also known as the City College of New York, or simply City College or CCNY) is a Public university, public research university within the City University of New York (CUNY) system in New York ...

. He worked as a

cameraman A camera operator, or depending on the context cameraman or camerawoman, is a professional operator of a film camera or video camera as part of a film crew. The term "cameraman" does not necessarily imply that a male is performing the task. ...

for the

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during the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

. He began creating documentaries in

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and

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following his return for the war. Franklin began his broadcasting career in 1954 in

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. He worked for several

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and

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s throughout the

before his career led him to

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in 1972 where he became a roving night-side

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for

all-news radio All-news radio is a radio format devoted entirely to the discussion and broadcast of news. All-news radio is available in both local and radio syndication, syndicated forms, and is carried on both major US satellite radio networks. All-news sta ...

station

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. While at KFWB, Franklin occasionally contributed film reviews and in 1981 he was hired by KNXT (now

KCBS-TV KCBS-TV (channel 2), branded CBS Los Angeles, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast of the United States, West Coast flagship station of the CBS network. It is owned and operated by the n ...

) as a full-time film critic. Franklin's career as a film critic was most associated with

KABC-TV KABC-TV (channel 7) is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast flagship station of the ABC network. Owned and operated by the network's ABC Owned Television Stations division, the station mai ...

where he was employed from 1986 to 1991. While at KABC-TV, he used a 1-to-10 ratings scale (10 being the best) calling it "The Franklin Scale" for his

movie review Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films and the film medium. In general, film criticism can be divided into two categories: Academic criticism by film scholars, who study the composition of film theory and publish their findin ...

s. Franklin was an established photographer documenting major events in the 20th century and Hollywood industry personalities. Gary Franklin suffered four separate

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in the final years of his life. He died on October 2, 2007, at his home in

Chatsworth, California Chatsworth is a suburban neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, in the San Fernando Valley. The area around the town was home to Native Americans, who left caves containing rock art. Chatsworth was explored and colonized by the Spanish beginn ...

at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and four grandchildren.

References

External links

Los Angeles Times: Gary Franklin, 79; popular film critic on local TV created 1-to-10 rating scaleOfficial Blog
{{DEFAULTSORT:Franklin, Gary 1928 births 2007 deaths American film critics City College of New York alumni United States Army personnel of the Korean War Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States