About
"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."
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.
Highlights
Frederic Ziv on syndicating his first program as an independent producer
Frederic Ziv on rates for radio and television rights before television took off
Frederic Ziv on competition from other television syndicators
Frederic Ziv on his recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist
Frederic Ziv on network reaction to his television syndication
Full Interview
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
Cisco Kid, The
Frederic Ziv on buying the radio and television rights to Cisco Kid
Frederic Ziv on the premiere of Cisco Kid, his first original programming for television
Highway Patrol
Frederic Ziv on producing Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford
Red Skelton Show, The
Frederic Ziv on syndicating The Red Skelton Show for radio
Sea Hunt
Frederic Ziv on producing Sea Hunt starring blacklisted actor Lloyd Bridges; on filming underwater
Frederic Ziv on producers on Sea Hunt
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Frederic Ziv on standards he used for the content of his programs
Historic Events and Social Change
Frederic Ziv on how his company was affected by World War II
Hollywood Blacklist
Frederic Ziv on his recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Frederic Ziv on his recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist
Sex & Violence
Frederic Ziv on criticisms of too much violence on television Westerns
Technological Innovation
Frederic Ziv on filming shows in color
Television Industry
Frederic Ziv on rates for radio and television rights before television took off
Frederic Ziv on network reaction to his television syndication
Frederic Ziv on competition from other television syndicators
Frederic Ziv on criticisms of too much violence on television Westerns
Frederic Ziv on international syndication
Frederic Ziv on forming Economy TV and the state of his syndication library in the 1950s
Frederic Ziv on standards he used for the content of his programs
Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on network programming
War
Frederic Ziv on how his company was affected by World War II
World War II
Frederic Ziv on how his company was affected by World War II
Professions
Executives
Frederic Ziv on his role as President of his company
Producers
Frederic Ziv on syndicating his first program as an independent producer
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Frederic Ziv on being the father of the action-adventure genre on television
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Frederic Ziv on producing Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford; on problems with Broderick Crawford
Western Series
Frederic Ziv on the premiere of Cisco Kid, his first original programming for television
Frederic Ziv on producing Bat Masterson starring Gene Barry
People
Lauren Bacall
Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Lauren Bacall
Gene Barry
Frederic Ziv on producing Bat Masterson starring Gene Barry
Humphrey Bogart
Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Humphrey Bogart
Lloyd Bridges
Frederic Ziv on his recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist
Frederic Ziv on producing Sea Hunt starring blacklisted actor Lloyd Bridges
Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Lloyd Bridges
Eddie Cantor
Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Eddie Cantor
Ronald Colman
Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Ronald Colman
Broderick Crawford
Frederic Ziv on producing Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford; on problems with Broderick Crawford
Samuel Goldwyn
Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Samuel Goldwyn
Guy Lombardo
Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Guy Lombardo
Fred MacMurray
Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Fred MacMurray
Red Skelton
Frederic Ziv on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked - Red Skelton