Frederic Ziv

Syndication Pioneer / Producer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his two-hour-plus interview, Frederic Ziv (1905-2001) discusses his start in print advertising. He then details the founding of one of the first and largest syndication companies in television history. He talks of the first program he syndicated for radio, The Freshest Thing in Town (for local bakeries), and explains transitioning from radio to television syndication. He recalls how Ziv Television Programs became the leading programming force outside the networks during the 1950s, producing and distributing telefilms for local station use. Among the big hits Ziv outlines: Highway Patrol, Sea Hunt, and Whirlybirds. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 23, 1998 in Cincinnati, OH.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I'm opposed to the idea of networks. I'm opposed to giving them six stations. I'm opposed to the idea that they deserve any stations. We fought the network on every single count."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Frederic Ziv on syndicating his first program as an independent producer

03:08

Frederic Ziv on rates for radio and television rights before television took off

02:13

Frederic Ziv on competition from other television syndicators

01:11

Frederic Ziv on his recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist

01:46

Frederic Ziv on network reaction to his television syndication

01:52

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early years and influences; on growing up in Cincinnati; on his interest in radio and going to law school; on writing

On working for an advertising agency and starting his own agency; on producing radio programs for sponsors; on syndicating his first program, "The Freshest Thing in Town"

Chapter 2

On his ad campaigns for syndicated shows; on selling programs to sponsors; on specific programs including Boston Blackie; on buying television rights for radio shows

On the first time he saw television; on the cost of television rights and selecting the half-hour format for TV shows; on how his company was affected by World War II

On Ziv television; on the first TV shows he produced and his competition

Chapter 3

On the premiere of Cisco Kid, his first original programming for television; on shooting shows in California and the audience who watched Cisco Kid

On his role as President of his company; on how he sold shows; on his recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist

On opening his international division; on forming Economy TV and purchasing a studio

Chapter 4

On standards he used for the content of his programs; on the beginning of network syndication

On producing Sea Hunt starring blacklisted actor Lloyd Bridges; on producing Bat Masterson starring Gene Barry

On being the father of the action-adventure genre on television; on producing Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford

On selling 80 percent of his company to United Artists; on how Hollywood has changed over the years; on teaching at the University of Cincinnati

On writing the book "The Business of Writing"; on his thoughts on network programming and his success in syndication

Chapter 5

On his thoughts on people with whom he's worked: Guy Lombardo, Lloyd Bridges, and others

Shows

Bat Masterson

Frederic Ziv on producing Bat Masterson starring Gene Barry

02:01

Cisco Kid, The

Frederic Ziv on buying the radio and television rights to Cisco Kid

02:39

Frederic Ziv on the premiere of Cisco Kid, his first original programming for television

18:14

Highway Patrol

Frederic Ziv on producing Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford

04:17

Red Skelton Show, The

Frederic Ziv on syndicating The Red Skelton Show for radio

00:48

Sea Hunt

Frederic Ziv on producing Sea Hunt starring blacklisted actor Lloyd Bridges; on filming underwater

03:32

Frederic Ziv on producers on Sea Hunt

02:58

Topics

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Frederic Ziv on standards he used for the content of his programs

01:26

Historic Events and Social Change

Frederic Ziv on how his company was affected by World War II

03:07

Hollywood Blacklist

Frederic Ziv on his recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist

01:46

Industry Crossroads

Frederic Ziv on his recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist

01:46

Sex & Violence

Frederic Ziv on criticisms of too much violence on television Westerns

00:55

Technological Innovation

Frederic Ziv on filming shows in color

00:26

Television Industry

Frederic Ziv on rates for radio and television rights before television took off

02:13

Frederic Ziv on network reaction to his television syndication

01:52

Frederic Ziv on competition from other television syndicators

01:11

Frederic Ziv on criticisms of too much violence on television Westerns

00:55

Frederic Ziv on international syndication

02:57

Frederic Ziv on forming Economy TV and the state of his syndication library in the 1950s

00:54

Frederic Ziv on standards he used for the content of his programs

01:26

Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on network programming

01:16

War

Frederic Ziv on how his company was affected by World War II

03:07

World War II

Frederic Ziv on how his company was affected by World War II

03:07

Professions

Executives

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Frederic Ziv on his role as President of his company

00:49

Producers

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Frederic Ziv on syndicating his first program as an independent producer

03:08

Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

Frederic Ziv on being the father of the action-adventure genre on television

00:32

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Frederic Ziv on producing Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford; on problems with Broderick Crawford

04:17

Western Series

Frederic Ziv on the premiere of Cisco Kid, his first original programming for television

18:14

Frederic Ziv on producing Bat Masterson starring Gene Barry

02:01

People

Broderick Crawford

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Frederic Ziv on producing Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford; on problems with Broderick Crawford

04:17

Eddie Cantor

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Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Eddie Cantor

00:29

Fred MacMurray

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Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Fred MacMurray

00:15

Gene Barry

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Frederic Ziv on producing Bat Masterson starring Gene Barry

02:01

Guy Lombardo

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Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Guy Lombardo

00:58

Humphrey Bogart

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Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Humphrey Bogart

00:43

Lauren Bacall

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Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Lauren Bacall

00:23

Lloyd Bridges

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Frederic Ziv on his recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist

01:46

Frederic Ziv on producing Sea Hunt starring blacklisted actor Lloyd Bridges

03:32

Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Lloyd Bridges

00:29

Red Skelton

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Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Red Skelton

00:11

Ronald Colman

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Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Ronald Colman

00:19

Samuel Goldwyn

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Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Samuel Goldwyn

00:53