"It was a pattern we used successfully in The Untouchables, where the framework for the series would be 'the fugitive' running from the law and there would be a human-dimensional story about the characters 'the fugitive' would become involved with. That's really what made the series work."

    About This Interview

    In his three-hour interview, Alan A. Armer (1922-2010) talks about his early years growing up during the Great Depression. He acknowledges winning a World's Fastest Talker contest, while a teenager, speaking 617 words in 57 seconds. He speaks about his studies in speech and drama and his practical experience as an announcer in radio. He describes his years in local television in Los Angeles at KNBH (now KNBC) where he worked in many capacities and developed the series Lights, Camera, Action, a showcase for new young acting talent. He chronicles his work as a producer at 20th Century Fox in series television, where he produced My Friend Flicka and Broken Arrow. With Broken Arrow's production falling during the era of the Hollywood Blacklist, Armer reveals that the series' original writers could not be hired, rejected by the sponsor (but that he later employed them on The Fugitive). He speaks in great detail about his association as executive producer with the classic crime series The Untouchables. For this series, he comments on the controversy that arose due to the show's portrayal of Italian Americans, the necessity to tone down the show's depiction of violence, and Robert Stack's performance as Eliot Ness. He then talks about his work with Quinn Martin on the series The Fugitive. For The Fugitive, he gives his impressions of the cast, comments on the series highly-rated finale, and notes the series' Emmy win for Best Drama Series. He also touches on the later Quinn Martin-produced series The Invaders and Cannon. Finally, he talks about serving as Chairman of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in the early 1970s, and the increase in membership and creation of the Film Group screenings during his tenure. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on July 15, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Alan A. Armer

    Alan A. Armer on how he came to produce The Untouchables

    11:09
    Thumbnail of Alan A. Armer

    Alan A. Armer on The Fugitive possibly being based on real-life events, and on series producer Roy Huggins

    03:06
    Thumbnail of Alan A. Armer

    Alan A. Armer on producing The Invaders with Quinn Martin, starring Roy Thinnes as "David Vincent"

    09:09
    Thumbnail of Alan A. Armer

    Alan A. Armer on working with producer Quinn Martin on The Fugitive

    02:52
    Thumbnail of Alan A. Armer

    Alan A. Armer on his involvement with the Television Academy

    09:02
    Thumbnail of Alan A. Armer

    Alan A. Armer on moving over to 20th Century Fox and producing My Friend Flicka

    08:48
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on entering a "fast talking contest" as a kid; on his education, and on being a disc jockey

    12:46

    On his early experience with television; on his radio career; on creating and producing Lights, Camera, Action!

    11:15

    On appearing in commercials; on working with director Walter Grauman on Lights, Camera, Action!; on the Hollywood Blacklist

    14:08

    On moving over to 20th Century Fox and producing My Friend Flicka ; on producing Broken Arrow; on producing Man Without a Gun

    19:29

    Chapter 2

    On how he came to produce The Untouchables; on what was attractive about the characters on The Untouchables, and on audiences rooting for the bad guys

    15:39

    On the historical accuracy of The Untouchables and on the events it was based on; on the violence on The Untouchables, and on the ratings of the show

    15:48

    On how The Fugitive came about; on The Fugitive possibly being based on real-life events, and on series producer Roy Huggins; on the ending of The Fugitive, and on working with series producer Quinn Martin

    27:33

    Chapter 3

    On the legacy of The Fugitive; on his producing style; on winning an Emmy Award for The Fugitive, and on the end of the show

    11:03

    On producing The Invaders with Quinn Martin, starring Roy Thinnes as "David Vincent"; on the end of The Invaders; on producing Cannon with Quinn Martin

    16:42

    On producing Lancer; on his involvement with the Television Academy; on becoming a teacher, and on producing Westside Medical

    20:14

    On becoming a teacher, and on producing Westside Medical; on career achievements and regrets; on advice to aspiring producers, and on what makes a story work; on how he would like to be remembered

    08:25

    Broken Arrow

    Alan A. Armer on producing Broken Arrow

    05:11

    Cannon

    Alan A. Armer on producing Cannon with Quinn Martin

    03:44

    Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

    Alan A. Armer on winning an Emmy for The Fugitive

    00:43

    Fugitive, The

    Alan A. Armer on how The Fugitive came about

    06:31

    Alan A. Armer on The Fugitive possibly being based on real-life events, and on series producer Roy Huggins

    02:16

    Alan A. Armer on the finale of The Fugitive, and on how it was received

    02:03

    Alan A. Armer on working with producer Quinn Martin on The Fugitive

    02:52

    Alan A. Armer on David Janssen as "Dr. Richard Kimble" on The Fugitive

    04:47

    Alan A. Armer on the rest of the cast of The Fugitive

    09:34

    Alan A. Armer on the legacy of The Fugitive, and on what he looked for in a writer

    06:21

    Alan A. Armer on winning an Emmy Award for The Fugitive

    00:43

    Alan A. Armer on the end of The Fugitive

    01:37

    Invaders, The

    Alan A. Armer on producing The Invaders with Quinn Martin, starring Roy Thinnes as "David Vincent"

    09:09

    Alan A. Armer on the end of The Invaders

    03:49

    Lights, Camera, Action!

    Alan A. Armer on creating and producing Lights, Camera, Action!

    02:53

    Alan A. Armer on working with director Walter Grauman on Lights, Camera, Action!

    06:52

    Untouchables, The

    Alan A. Armer on how he came to produce The Untouchables

    11:09

    Alan A. Armer on the popularity of The Untouchables, which he produced

    01:37

    Alan A. Armer on what was attractive about the characters on The Untouchables, and on audiences rooting for the bad guys

    02:53

    Alan A. Armer on the historical accuracy of The Untouchables, and on the events it was based on

    08:00

    Alan A. Armer on the violence on The Untouchables, and on the ratings of the show

    07:48

    Advice

    Alan A. Armer on advice to aspiring producers, and on what makes a story work

    04:27

    Characters & Catchphrases

    Alan A. Armer on David Janssen as "Dr. Richard Kimble" on The Fugitive

    04:47

    Classic TV Series Episodes

    Alan Armer on the finale of The Fugitive, and on how it was received

    02:03

    Criticism of TV

    Alan A. Armer on the violence on The Untouchables and on the ratings of the show

    07:48

    Drama

    Alan Armer on the finale of The Fugitive, and on how it was received

    02:03

    Emmy Awards

    Alan A. Armer on winning an Emmy for The Fugitive

    00:43

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Alan A. Armer on the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:16

    Industry Crossroads

    Alan A. Armer on the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:16

    Pop Culture

    Alan A. Armer on David Janssen as "Dr. Richard Kimble" on The Fugitive

    04:47

    Alan Armer on the finale of The Fugitive, and on how it was received

    02:03

    Sex & Violence

    Alan A. Armer on the violence on The Untouchables and on the ratings of the show

    07:48

    Television Industry

    Alan A. Armer on the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:16

    Alan A. Armer on the violence on The Untouchables and on the ratings of the show

    07:48

    Alan A. Armer on advice to aspiring producers, and on what makes a story work

    04:27

    Producers

    Alan A. Armer on his producing style

    02:22

    Alan A. Armer on advice to aspiring producers, and on what makes a story work

    04:26

    Commercials

    Alan A. Armer on appearing in commercials

    04:00

    Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

    Alan A. Armer on producing The Fugitive

    11:03

    Alan A. Armer on producing Cannon with Quinn Martin

    03:44

    Alan A. Armer on producing Lancer

    01:48

    Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

    Alan A. Armer on producing The Invaders

    12:58

    Roy Huggins

    Alan A. Armer on The Fugitive possibly being based on real-life events, and on series producer Roy Huggins

    03:06

    David Janssen

    Alan A. Armer on David Janssen as "Dr. Richard Kimble" on The Fugitive

    04:47

    Quinn Martin

    Alan A. Armer on working with producer Quinn Martin on The Fugitive

    02:52

    Alan A. Armer on producing The Invaders with Quinn Martin, starring Roy Thinnes as "David Vincent"

    09:09

    Alan A. Armer on producing Cannon with Quinn Martin

    03:44

    Roy Thinnes

    Alan A. Armer on producing The Invaders with Quinn Martin, starring Roy Thinnes as "David Vincent"

    09:09

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