William Herbert Brown Jr.
(June 23, 1917 – June 8, 1982) was an American
television director
A television director is in charge of the activities involved in making a television program or section of a program. They are generally responsible for decisions about the editorial content and creative style of a program, and ensuring the prod ...
and
producer, a radio
dramatist
A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays, which are a form of drama that primarily consists of dialogue between characters and is intended for theatrical performance rather than just
reading. Ben Jonson coined the term "playwri ...
, and a composer, perhaps best known for his work on the 1950s CBS
anthology series
An anthology series is a written series, radio, television, film, or video game series that presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a different ca ...
''
Climax!
''Climax!'' (later known as ''Climax Mystery Theater'') is an American television anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS pro ...
'' and ''
Studio One''.
Early life and career
Born in Portland, Maine on June 23, 1917
["United States, Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JPSG-JPP : 7 January 2021), William Brown, Jun 1982; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).] Brown was the son of William Herbert Brown Sr. and Florence Harrington.
["Obituaries: William Herbert Brown Sr."](_blank)
''Portland Evening Express''. July 10, 1973. p. 31. He attended
Deering High School
Deering High School (DHS) is a public high school located on Stevens Avenue in Portland, Maine, United States. The school is part of the Portland Public Schools district.
It is one of the three public high schools located in Portland, the other ...
and
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College ( ) is a Private college, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. It was chartered in 1794.
The main Bowdoin campus is located near Casco Bay and the Androscoggin River. In a ...
,
earning a
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...
degree in music in 1939. It was while a sophomore at Bowdoin, prompted by the arrival of Professor Frederic Tillotson, that Brown first began to pursue music seriously, becoming—according to ''
Evening Express'' TV writer Joe D. King—the first student in the history of Bowdoin College to elect music as a major,
a milestone Brown promptly underlined by writing and staging one musical comedy in each of his final three years in college.
Following his graduation, Brown worked as music critic at the ''
Portland Press Herald
The ''Portland Press Herald'' (abbreviated as ''PPH''; Sunday edition ''Maine Sunday Telegram'') is a daily newspaper based in South Portland, Maine, with a statewide readership. The ''Press Herald'' mainly serves southern Maine and is focused ...
''. In July 1941, his musical radio play ''Eight to the Bar'', a tribute to
boogie woogie
Boogie-woogie is a genre of blues music that became popular during the late 1920s, but already developed in African-American communities since the 1870s.Paul, Elliot, ''That Crazy American Music'' (1957), Chapter 10, p. 229. It was eventually ex ...
and its pioneer,
Pinetop Smith
Clarence "Pinetop" Smith (June 11, 1904 – March 15, 1929), was an American boogie-woogie style blues pianist. His hit tune " Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" featured rhythmic " breaks" that were an essential ingredient of ragtime music, but also ...
, aired over the NBC
Red Network
The National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network (also known as the NBC Red Network from 1927 to 1942) was an American commercial radio network which was in continuous operation from 1926 through 1999. Along with the NBC Blue Network, it wa ...
, starring
Eddie Green and narrated by
Canada Lee
Leonard Lionel Cornelius Canegata (March 3, 1907 – May 9, 1952), known professionally as Canada Lee, was an American professional boxer and actor who pioneered roles for African Americans. After careers as a jockey, boxer and musician, he beca ...
.
[King, Joe D. (March 14, 1955)]
"He's High Up on TV ... Portlander Director of Studio One Dramas; Bill Brown Started as Playwright While Student at Bowdoin; Portland Man Directs Star"
''Portland Evening Express''. p. 23. The following March, Brown's satirical sketch "A Child's History of Hot Music" was heard on ''
Columbia Workshop
''Columbia Workshop'' was a radio series that aired on the Columbia Broadcasting System from 1936 to 1943, returning in 1946–47.
Irving Reis
The series began as the idea of Irving Reis. Reis had begun his radio career as an engineer and dev ...
''.
Brown made his TV directing debut on April 23, 1949, on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
's ''The Hank Ladd Show'' (known prior to that date as ''
The Arrow Show
''The Arrow Show'' is an American television variety series that was broadcast on NBC November 24, 1948 - May 19, 1949. It was also known as ''The Phil Silvers Arrow Show'' and ''Arrow Comedy Theatre''. The sponsor was Arrow Shirts.
Overview
P ...
'', restaffed and retitled accordingly), with prior host
Phil Silvers
Phil Silvers (born Phillip Silver; May 11, 1911 – November 1, 1985) was an American entertainer and comedic actor, known as "The King of Chutzpah". His career as a professional entertainer spanned nearly 60 years. He achieved major popularity w ...
and sidekick
Jack Gilford
Jack Gilford (born Jacob Aaron Gellman; July 25, 1908 – June 4, 1990) was an American Broadway, film, and television actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for '' Save the Tiger'' (1973).
Early life and ...
replaced, respectively, by
Hank Ladd and the pre-''
Life of Riley''
Jackie Gleason
Herbert John Gleason (born Herbert Walton Gleason Jr.; February 26, 1916June 24, 1987), known as Jackie Gleason, was an American comedian, actor, writer, and composer also known as "The Great One". He developed a style and characters from growin ...
. Brown's next assignment came in August of that year, on composer
Meredith Willson
Robert Reiniger Meredith Willson (May 18, 1902 – June 15, 1984) was an American flautist, composer, conductor, musical arranger, bandleader, playwright, and writer. He is perhaps best known for writing the book, music, and lyrics for the 1 ...
's self-titled, six-week series, which served as the summer replacement for NBC's ''
The Aldrich Family
''The Aldrich Family'', a popular radio teenage situation comedy (July 2, 1939 – April 19, 1953), was also presented in films, television and comic books. In the radio series' opening exchange, awkward teen Henry's mother called, "Hen-''ry-y-y ...
''. That fall, Brown became director of ''
Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue
''Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue'' is an American television variety series. The show aired on ABC on Sunday evenings from November 6, 1949, through March 30, 1952 hosted by Paul Whiteman.
Overview
The show was hosted by band leader Paul White ...
'',
In the fall of 1951, Brown—together with Frank Telford and Joseph Scibetta—became one of three alternating directors on ''
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
''Schlitz Playhouse of Stars'' is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. The title was shortened to ''Schlitz Playh ...
'', The following year, in episodes airing February 1 and May 16, respectively, he produced and directed the TV debuts of screen star
Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern (born Harriette Arlene Lake; January 22, 1909 – March 15, 2001) was an American actress who worked on stage, radio, film, and television, in a career that spanned nearly six decades. Sothern began her career in the late 1920s ...
—in "Lady With a Will" (based on the like-named
Ward Morehouse
Ward Morehouse (November 24, 1895 – December 7, 1966) was an American theater critic, newspaper columnist, playwright, and author.
Life and career
Born in Savannah, Georgia, Ward Morehouse first worked as a reporter for ''The Savannah Press ...
-
Peggy Wood
Mary Margaret Wood (February 9, 1892 – March 18, 1978) was an American actress of stage, film, and television. She is best remembered for her performance as the title character in the CBS Television show, television series ''Mama (American TV ...
play)—and singer
Polly Bergen
Polly Bergen (born Nellie Paulina Burgin; July 14, 1930 – September 20, 2014) was an American actress, singer, television host, writer, and entrepreneur.
She won an Emmy Award in 1958 for her performance as Helen Morgan (singer), Helen ...
.
In January 1954, Brown signed with
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...
, succeeding John Claar as director of the sitcom ''
Life With Father'', based on the
like-named Broadway play and its
1947 film adaptation. In October of that year, Brown helmed the series premiere of ''
Climax!
''Climax!'' (later known as ''Climax Mystery Theater'') is an American television anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS pro ...
'', "The Long Goodbye," based on
Raymond Chandler
Raymond Thornton Chandler (July 23, 1888 – March 26, 1959) was an American-British novelist and screenwriter. In 1932, at the age of forty-four, Chandler became a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive durin ...
's
like-named novel. Guiding a cast led by
Dick Powell
Richard Ewing Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and studio head. Though he came to stardom as a musical comedy performer, he showed versatility and successfully transform ...
,
Teresa Wright
Muriel Teresa Wright (October 27, 1918 – March 6, 2005) was an American actress. She won the 1942 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Carol Beldon in ''Mrs. Miniver''. She was nominated for the same award in 1941 for her ...
, and
Cesar Romero
César Julio Romero Jr. (February 15, 1907 – January 1, 1994) was an American actor. He was active in film, radio, and television for almost 60 years. His wide range of screen roles included Latin lover (stereotype), Latin lovers, historical ...
, Brown's direction was dubbed "imaginative and vigorous" by ''Hollywood Reporter'' critic Milton Luban, who described the work itself as "beautifully acted and directed, and loaded with suspense," and deemed the episode clearly superior to any of the previously released big screen Chandler adaptations.
In February 1955, Brown was moved from ''Climax!'' to ''
Studio One''. His first project there was
"Donovan's Brain", an adaptation of
Curt Siodmak
Curt Siodmak (August 10, 1902 – September 2, 2000) was a German-American novelist, screenwriter and director. He is known for his work in the horror and science fiction film genres, with such films as '' The Wolf Man'' and '' Donovan's Brain'' ...
's
like-named novel, written by
William Templeton and starring
Wendell Corey
Wendell Reid Corey (March 20, 1914 – November 8, 1968) was an American stage, film, and television actor. He was President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a board member of the Screen Actors Guild, and also served on the ...
and
E. G. Marshall
E. G. Marshall (born Everett Eugene Grunz;Everett Eugene Grunz in Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1900-1934, Ancestry.comEverett Eugene Grunz in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, accessed via Ancestry.com June 18, ...
. Brown then directed
Inger Stevens
Inger Stevens (born Ingrid Stensland; October 18, 1934 – April 30, 1970) was a Swedish-born American film, stage, and Golden Globe Awards, Golden Globe–winning television actress.
Early life
Inger Stevens was born in Stockholm, Swede ...
,
Skip Homeier
George Vincent Homeier (October 5, 1930 – June 25, 2017), known professionally as Skip Homeier, was an American actor who started his career at the age of eleven and became a child star.
Career Child actor
Homeier was born in Chicago, Illino ...
, and
George Macready
George Peabody Macready Jr. (August 29, 1899 – July 2, 1973) was an American stage, film, and television actor often cast in roles as polished villains.
Early life
Macready was born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 29, 1899. He claimed t ...
in the episode, "The Conviction of Peter Shea".
In November 1956,
Lee Remick
Lee Ann Remick (; December 14, 1935 – July 2, 1991) was an American actress and singer. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for the film ''Days of Wine and Roses (film), Days of Wine and Roses'' (1962) and was nominated fo ...
starred as "The Landlady's Daughter," in an episode co-starring
Richard Kiley
Richard Paul Kiley (March 31, 1922 – March 5, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor and singer. He is best-known for his distinguished theatrical career in which he twice won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Kile ...
,
George Mathews,
Fred Gwynne
Frederick Hubbard Gwynne (July 10, 1926 – July 2, 1993) was an American actor, artist and author, who is widely known for his roles in the 1960s television sitcoms '' Car 54, Where Are You?'' (as Francis Muldoon) and '' The Munsters'' (as Herm ...
,
Peg Hillias, and
Crahan Denton
Crahan Denton (pronunciation: "kran"; born Arthur Crahan Denton; March 20, 1914 – December 4, 1966) was an American stage, film and television actor. One of his most famous film roles was in ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' (1962), in which he p ...
, with ''Variety'' commending Gwynne's performance in particular and noting Brown's "nice sense for movement and atmosphere."
Beginning in 1960, Brown served as executive producer of ''
Shirley Temple's Storybook
''Shirley Temple's Storybook'' is a 1958–61 American children's anthology series hosted and narrated by actress Shirley Temple. The series features adaptations of fairy tales like Mother Goose and other family-oriented stories performed by we ...
''.
Personal life and death
On June 9, 1941, Brown married Janet Pierce Johnson at Boston's
Trinity Church.
["Janet Pierce Johnson Married to Lt. William Herbert Brown, Jr."](_blank)
''Portland Press Herald''. June 14, 1941. p. 1. Their union produced three children, all sons.
On June 8, 1982, 15 days before his 65th birthday, Brown died in a hospital in Portland. He was survived by his mother and three sons. His remains are interred at
Evergreen Cemetery.
["Obituaries: William H. Brown Jr."](_blank)
''Portland Evening Express''. June 10, 1982. p. 35.
Notes
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, William H.
1917 births
1982 deaths
American radio writers
American television directors
American television producers
Bowdoin College alumni
People from Portland, Maine
Deering High School alumni