William T. Orr

William T. Orr

Born: September 27, 1917
Died: December 25, 2002
in New York City, New York, USA
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.

Movies for William T. Orr...

Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul
Title: Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul
Character: Himself
Released: May 14, 1993
Type: Movie
An insider's account of Jack Warner, a founding father of the American film industry. This feature length documentary provides the rags to riches story of the man whose studio - Warner Bros - created many of Hollywood's most classic films. Includes extensive interviews with family members and friends, film clips, rare home movies and unique location footage.
bee
Title: The Lucy Show
Character: Mr. Frink
Released: October 1, 1962
Type: TV
The Lucy Show is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962–68. It was Lucille Ball's follow-up to I Love Lucy. A significant change in cast and premise for the 1965–66 season divides the program into two distinct eras; aside from Ball, only Gale Gordon, who joined the program for its second season, remained. For the first three seasons, Vivian Vance was the co-star. The earliest scripts were entitled The Lucille Ball Show, but when this title was declined, producers thought of calling the show This Is Lucy or The New Adventures of Lucy, before deciding on the title The Lucy Show. Ball won consecutive Emmy Awards as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the series' final two seasons, 1966–67 and 1967–68.
bee
Title: This Is Your Life
Character: Self
Released: October 1, 1952
Type: TV
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience, including special guest appearances by colleagues, friends and family. Edwards revived the show in 1971-72, while Joseph Campanella hosted a version in 1983. Edwards returned for some specials in the late 1980s, before his death in 2005. The show originated as a radio show on NBC Radio airing from 1948 to 1952.
bee
P-47 Combat Operations
Title: P-47 Combat Operations
Character: voice
Released: December 12, 1945
Type: Movie
This documentary short film depicts the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane in combat operations in various locales around the world during the Second World War. A variety of pilots are depicted recounting their actions in combat missions such as strafing runs, softening up of invasion sites, bomber protection, and the destruction of enemy resources and fortifications. One of the pilots has made a disastrous error in his mission, and viewers are invited to guess which of the pilots failed in his duty.
bee
Land and Live in the Desert
Title: Land and Live in the Desert
Character: Phil
Released: December 11, 1945
Type: Movie
Documentary short film depicting the correct methods of surviving the crash landing of a military aircraft in the desert. Methods of conserving water, providing shelter, and signaling for help are depicted.
bee
He Hired the Boss
Title: He Hired the Boss
Character: Don Bates
Released: April 2, 1943
Type: Movie
A shy bookkeeper accidentally discovers that the company where he works is targeted in a series of late-night robberies.
bee
Three Cadets
Title: Three Cadets
Character: Young Flier
Released: January 26, 1943
Type: Movie
The story of Three Cadets and sexually transmitted diseases.
bee
The Big Street
Title: The Big Street
Character: Decatur Reed (as William Orr)
Released: August 13, 1942
Type: Movie
Meek busboy Little Pinks is in love with an extremely selfish showgirl who despises and uses him.
bee
The Gay Sisters
Title: The Gay Sisters
Character: Dick Tone
Released: August 1, 1942
Type: Movie
The eldest of three sisters protects their Fifth Avenue mansion from a developer she once married.
bee
Soldiers in White
Title: Soldiers in White
Character: Johnny Allison
Released: February 7, 1942
Type: Movie
A young intern is drafted and placed in the Army Medical Corps as a buck private and is none too happy about it. Injured, he is placed in the hospital where a Major comes by and explains how army doctors make important advances in medical science. The private is inspired and promises to make a good soldier. He is even more inspired when a nurse becomes his superior officer.
bee
Unholy Partners
Title: Unholy Partners
Character: Tommy Jarvis
Released: November 1, 1941
Type: Movie
A crusading newsman starts up a tabloid with a gangster as his 50-50 partner.
bee
Navy Blues
Title: Navy Blues
Character: 'Mac'
Released: September 13, 1941
Type: Movie
On a layover in Hawaii two conniving Navy seamen borrow money to lay down bets that their ship will win the upcoming gunnery practice trophy, having found out that the current gunnery champ has just transferred aboard their ship. What they haven't learned, however, is that the marksman's enlistment is up before the contest is supposed to take place.
bee
Those Good Old Days
Title: Those Good Old Days
Character: Joe La Rue
Released: August 16, 1941
Type: Movie
Young Gloria's father and mother go out for the evening to see a television broadcast. Gloria's grandfather entertains her with stories about his days in vaudeville.
bee
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
Title: Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
Character: Self
Released: August 15, 1941
Type: Movie
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.
bee
Three Sons o' Guns
Title: Three Sons o' Guns
Character: Kenneth Patterson
Released: August 2, 1941
Type: Movie
Three reckless brothers dodge the draft then sign up and become men.
bee
Thieves Fall Out
Title: Thieves Fall Out
Character: George Formsby
Released: May 3, 1941
Type: Movie
Eddie Barnes, tired of being a nobody and living with his parents, decides to cash in his mother's legacy and use the money to buy a business. Unfortunately, Eddie's mother has to die before the broker can collect the full value of the policy and the broker's gangster partner doesn't want to wait for nature to take its course.
bee
Honeymoon for Three
Title: Honeymoon for Three
Character: Arthur Westlake
Released: January 18, 1941
Type: Movie
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.
bee
Meet the Fleet
Title: Meet the Fleet
Character: Kansas Potter
Released: December 21, 1940
Type: Movie
The story of three recruits undergoing Navy bootcamp training.
bee
Service with the Colors
Title: Service with the Colors
Character: Charles Corbin
Released: August 31, 1940
Type: Movie
Service with the Colors is a 1940 American short drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason. This drama is "dedicated to the soldiers of the United States Army." Men with diverse backgrounds enlist in the army and are all assigned to the same post. Some adapt easily to army life, while others have trouble making the adjustment. It was nominated for an Academy Award at the 13th Academy Awards for Best Short Subject (Two-Reel).
bee
My Love Came Back
Title: My Love Came Back
Character: Paul Malette
Released: July 13, 1940
Type: Movie
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.
bee
Young America Flies
Title: Young America Flies
Character: Jack
Released: July 13, 1940
Type: Movie
World War II propaganda film from Warner Brothers.
bee
The Mortal Storm
Title: The Mortal Storm
Character: Erich Von Rohn
Released: June 20, 1940
Type: Movie
The Roth family leads a quiet life in a small village in the German Alps during the early 1930s. When the Nazis come to power, the family is divided and Martin Brietner, a family friend is caught up in the turmoil.
bee
Invitation to Happiness
Title: Invitation to Happiness
Character: Bellboy (uncredited)
Released: June 7, 1939
Type: Movie
An egotistical boxer romances a rich backer's daughter.
bee
The Hardys Ride High
Title: The Hardys Ride High
Character: Dick Bannersly
Released: April 21, 1939
Type: Movie
Sixth of the Judge Hardy series. Judge James K. Hardy is brought the fabulous news from attorney George Irving, that he could be the heir to 2 million dollars. In order to claim the inheritance, he and his family must leave for Detroit. The disinherited heir Philip 'Phil' Westcott, adopted son of the deceased relative, has to leave the fabulous mansion Detroit. But the playboy Phil ain't going down without a fight. He decides on a charm offensive. First with Polly Benedict and foremost Andrew 'Andy' Hardy, the son of Judge Hardy.
bee
Brother Rat
Title: Brother Rat
Character: Member of the Guard
Released: October 29, 1938
Type: Movie
Story of three buddies at the Virginia Military Institute. Cadet Bing Edwards is secretly married and soon to be a father.