Paul Alter (March 11, 1922 – June 11, 2011) was an American television director, specializing in

game show A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or demonstrative and are typically directed by a host, ...

s for Mark Goodson Productions. Alter was best known as the original director of ''

Family Feud ''Family Feud'' is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson. It features two families who compete to name the most popular answers to survey questions in order to win cash and prizes. The show has had three separate runs, the ...

'' from the show's origin in the mid-1970s until the early 1990s and the director of ''

The Price Is Right ''The Price Is Right'' is a television game show franchise created by Bob Stewart, originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman; currently it is produced and owned by Fremantle. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also i ...

'' from 1986 until 2000.

Early life and career

Born in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Roc ...

, Alter studied piano with

Teddy Wilson Theodore Shaw Wilson (November 24, 1912 – July 31, 1986) was an American jazz pianist. Described by critic Scott Yanow as "the definitive swing pianist", Wilson had a sophisticated, elegant style. His work was featured on the records of many ...

, from the

Benny Goodman Quartet Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His conce ...

. Alter became a talented musician. Later on, Alter would put his talent to use composing the 1969 theme for '' To Tell the Truth''.

Television work

His first job as a game-show director was on the original CBS version of '' Beat the Clock'' in 1950. He then began a long association with

Mark Goodson Mark Leo Goodson (January 14, 1915 – December 18, 1992) was an American television producer who specialized in game shows, most frequently with his business partner Bill Todman, with whom he created Goodson-Todman Productions. Early life and ea ...

Bill Todman William Selden Todman (July 31, 1916 – July 29, 1979) was an American television producer and personality born in New York City. He produced many of television's longest-running shows with business partner Mark Goodson, with whom he create ...

Productions, where he worked on many of their shows including ''

What's My Line? ''What's My Line?'' is a panel game show that originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, originally in black and white and later in color, with subsequent U.S. revivals. The game uses celebrity paneli ...

'', '' I've Got a Secret'' and '' To Tell the Truth''. Alter directed both versions of ''

'', beginning with the original NBC version in New York starring Bill Cullen that ran from 1956 to 1965. In 1986 he became director of the CBS version, replacing Marc Breslow. Alter was relieved of his position as director of ''The Price Is Right'' in 2000 by Pearson Television due to an unfavorable deposition against host Bob Barker. Bart Eskander replaced Alter as director of ''The Price Is Right'', though Alter briefly resumed his position as part of a special agreement with Pearson. Alter directed the original version of ''

'' which ran on ABC from 1976 to 1985. When ''Family Feud'' was revived in 1988, Alter directed that version as well until October 1990, when Alter left the show to direct ''To Tell the Truth''. He retired following his departure from ''The Price Is Right''. On the '' E! True Hollywood Story'' episode on ''Family Feud'', Alter gave some insight on popular game show hosts saying: "Dawson became more of the boss. That happens to any M.C. who becomes popular...he can call the shots." E! True Hollywood Story. ''Family Feud''. July 28, 2002. In his career, Alter won two

Emmy award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

s, first for ''Family Feud'' in 1982 and later for ''The Price is Right'' in 1996. He received 14 Emmy nominations during his career.

''Honey, I Blew Up the Kid'' lawsuit

In 1980, Alter submitted to the

Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October 1 ...

a story treatment about a kid who, due to a genetic accident, grew to an enormous size, which he based on his granddaughter's knocking over toys. By 1991, it became the movie '' Honey, I Blew Up the Kid''. Alter sued Disney that year, claiming several similarities between that movie and his treatment. His case went to trial in 1993, which resulted in the jury awarding him $300,000.

Death

Alter died of natural causes on June 11, 2011, in Los Angeles, California; he was 89.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Alter, Paul 1922 births 2011 deaths American composers American male composers American television directors People from Chicago Television producers from Illinois