William T. Orr

Production

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William T. Orr (September 27, 1917 – December 25, 2002) was an American television producer associated with a series of western and detective programs of the 1950s-1970s. On most of his Warner Bros. series, he was billed as "Wm. T. Orr". Orr began his career as an actor; his film credits include The Mortal Storm, The Gay Sisters, and The Big Street. As the first head of Warner Bros. Television department, Orr forged a fruitful alliance with ABC, which resulted in the network having a number of prime time hits, such as Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip, and F Troop. At the height of this relationship in the early 1960s, Orr had nine programs in prime time simultaneously. Of these, no program was more significant than one of his earliest, Cheyenne. It was a groundbreaking series that was both the first hour-long western and the first series of any kind made by a major Hollywood film studio consisting entirely of content wholly exclusive to television. A curator at The Paley Center for Media (previously named The Museum of Television and Radio) once encapsulated Orr's importance to Warner Bros. by saying, "Television began as a step-child. But because of Orr, it became equal with film in creating revenue and jobs for the studio." One of the key reforms he made to effect this change was to move Warner's nascent television department from cramped quarters in New York City to Los Angeles studios separate from the film division. His impact on the genre of western fiction was recognized with a Golden Boot Award upon the announcement of his death.

Filmography Movies

Acting

MOVIE

The Mortal Storm

7.3(0.1K)

The Roth family leads a quiet life in a small village in the German Alps during the early 1930s. After the Nazis come to power, the family is divided and Martin Breitner, a family friend, is caught up in the turmoil.

Unholy Partners

7.6(0.0K)

A crusading newsman starts up a tabloid with a gangster as his 50-50 partner.

The Big Street

5.8(0.0K)

Meek busboy Little Pinks is in love with an extremely selfish nightclub singer who despises and uses him.

Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1

Not rated yet

This edition of Screen Snapshots has more of a vaudeville flavor as opposed to Ralph Staub's usual candid-camera at home with the stars offerings. Ken Murray, assisted by the Brewer Twins, is the MC, while the Andrews Sisters sing "In Apple Blossom Time" and the pre-"Uncle Miltie" Milton Berle plays his clarinet. The rest of the players, with contract-player faces belonging to 20th-Century Fox, RKO Radio, Universal and Columbia, just pass through. Production Number 3851.

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Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1

Self

MOVIE

My Love Came Back

4.9(0.0K)

Amelia is a gifted violinist who is in danger of quitting the Brissac Academy of Music. Julius arranges to have a scholarship given to her through his employee Tony so that Julius can escort Amelia to every musical event in the city. The trouble begins when he cannot meet her one night and Tony goes in his place. Tony believes that Julius and Amelia are a couple and then son Paul thinks that Tony and Amelia are a couple as he is sending her the money. The worst part is that Amelia might leave classical music for swing music with classmates Dusty, Joy and the band.

Meet the Fleet

6.4(0.0K)

The story of three recruits undergoing Navy bootcamp training.

Navy Blues

4.8(0.0K)

On a layover in Hawaii, two conniving Navy seamen borrow money to wager bets that their ship will win the upcoming gunnery practice trophy, having found out that the current champ has just transferred aboard their ship. What they haven't realized, however, is that the marksman's enlistment is up before the contest is supposed to take place.

Brother Rat

6.0(0.0K)

Story of three buddies at the Virginia Military Institute. Cadet Bing Edwards is secretly married and soon to be a father.

Honeymoon for Three

6.3(0.0K)

Noted writer Kenneth Bixby, in love with his witty secretary Anne Rogers, is on a book tour when he meets up with a former college fling with a loopy Danish girl which he barely remembers. She remembers him, very well.

Three Sons o' Guns

7.0(0.0K)

Three reckless brothers dodge the draft then sign up and become men.

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Three Sons o' Guns

Kenneth Patterson

Production

MOVIE

Sex and the Single Girl

6.5(0.1K)

A womanizing reporter for a sleazy tabloid magazine impersonates his hen-pecked neighbor in order to get an expose on renowned psychologist Helen Gurley Brown.

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Sex and the Single Girl

Producer

MOVIE

The Deadly Riddle

Not rated yet

Traveling through his kingdom’s forest one day King Arthur is confronted by The Red Knight who plans to slay him but decides to challenge him with the riddle “What does a woman want from a man?” Instructing him that there is only one correct answer he sets him free with the proviso that he must return in a month with the solution or be put to death. Riding beside the King, Sir Gawain and he become acquainted with Maid Marian who exiled herself to the forest. A frustrating month ensues as Arthur seeks the answer finally, striking a bargain with a hag to save himself. But will the price be too high?

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The Deadly Riddle

Executive Producer