About
"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."
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.
Highlights

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

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

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

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

Alan A. Armer on his involvement with the Television Academy

Alan A. Armer on moving over to 20th Century Fox and producing My Friend Flicka
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
On his early experience with television; on his radio career; on creating and producing Lights, Camera, Action!
On appearing in commercials; on working with director Walter Grauman on Lights, Camera, Action!; on the Hollywood Blacklist
On moving over to 20th Century Fox and producing My Friend Flicka ; on producing Broken Arrow; on producing Man Without a Gun
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
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
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
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
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
On producing Lancer; on his involvement with the Television Academy; on becoming a teacher, and on producing Westside Medical
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
Shows
Broken Arrow
Alan A. Armer on producing Broken Arrow
Cannon
Alan A. Armer on producing Cannon with Quinn Martin
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Alan A. Armer on winning an Emmy for The Fugitive
Fugitive, The
Alan A. Armer on how The Fugitive came about
Alan A. Armer on The Fugitive possibly being based on real-life events, and on series producer Roy Huggins
Alan A. Armer on the finale of The Fugitive, and on how it was received
Alan A. Armer on working with producer Quinn Martin on The Fugitive
Alan A. Armer on David Janssen as "Dr. Richard Kimble" on The Fugitive
Alan A. Armer on the rest of the cast of The Fugitive
Alan A. Armer on the legacy of The Fugitive, and on what he looked for in a writer
Alan A. Armer on winning an Emmy Award for The Fugitive
Alan A. Armer on the end of The Fugitive
Invaders, The
Alan A. Armer on producing The Invaders with Quinn Martin, starring Roy Thinnes as "David Vincent"
Alan A. Armer on the end of The Invaders
Lights, Camera, Action!
Alan A. Armer on creating and producing Lights, Camera, Action!
Alan A. Armer on working with director Walter Grauman on Lights, Camera, Action!
Untouchables, The
Alan A. Armer on how he came to produce The Untouchables
Alan A. Armer on the popularity of The Untouchables, which he produced
Alan A. Armer on what was attractive about the characters on The Untouchables, and on audiences rooting for the bad guys
Alan A. Armer on the historical accuracy of The Untouchables, and on the events it was based on
Alan A. Armer on the violence on The Untouchables, and on the ratings of the show
Topics
Advice
Alan A. Armer on advice to aspiring producers, and on what makes a story work
Characters & Catchphrases
Alan A. Armer on David Janssen as "Dr. Richard Kimble" on The Fugitive
Classic TV Series Episodes
Alan Armer on the finale of The Fugitive, and on how it was received
Criticism of TV
Alan A. Armer on the violence on The Untouchables and on the ratings of the show
Drama
Alan Armer on the finale of The Fugitive, and on how it was received
Emmy Awards
Alan A. Armer on winning an Emmy for The Fugitive
Hollywood Blacklist
Alan A. Armer on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Alan A. Armer on the Hollywood Blacklist
Pop Culture
Alan A. Armer on David Janssen as "Dr. Richard Kimble" on The Fugitive
Alan Armer on the finale of The Fugitive, and on how it was received
Sex & Violence
Alan A. Armer on the violence on The Untouchables and on the ratings of the show
Television Industry
Alan A. Armer on the Hollywood Blacklist
Alan A. Armer on the violence on The Untouchables and on the ratings of the show
Alan A. Armer on advice to aspiring producers, and on what makes a story work
Professions
Producers
Alan A. Armer on his producing style
Alan A. Armer on advice to aspiring producers, and on what makes a story work
Genres
Commercials
Alan A. Armer on appearing in commercials
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Alan A. Armer on producing The Fugitive
Alan A. Armer on producing Cannon with Quinn Martin
Alan A. Armer on producing Lancer
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Alan A. Armer on producing The Invaders
People
Roy Huggins
Alan A. Armer on The Fugitive possibly being based on real-life events, and on series producer Roy Huggins
David Janssen
Alan A. Armer on David Janssen as "Dr. Richard Kimble" on The Fugitive
Quinn Martin
Alan A. Armer on working with producer Quinn Martin on The Fugitive
Alan A. Armer on producing The Invaders with Quinn Martin, starring Roy Thinnes as "David Vincent"
Alan A. Armer on producing Cannon with Quinn Martin
Roy Thinnes
Alan A. Armer on producing The Invaders with Quinn Martin, starring Roy Thinnes as "David Vincent"