Chuck Fries

Producer
View Full Interview


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In his nearly five-hour interview, Chuck Fries (1928-2021) talks about working at Ziv Television, which produced Sea Hunt and syndicated programming like Highway Patrol. He discusses his stint at Screen Gems working on such shows as I Dream of Jeannie, Hazel, Bewitched, The Flying Nun, and The Patty Duke Show. He recounts being moved over to Columbia Pictures and later being hired as an executive by Metromedia. Fries details forming his own production company, Fries Entertainment, where he worked on many independent made-for-television productions including The Martian Chronicles starring Rock Hudson, The Queen of Mean, A Rumor of War, and The Amazing Spider-Man. He speaks of the many people he's encountered in his career, including Leonard H. Goldenson, William S. Paley, Danny Arnold, Fred Ziv, and others. He concludes by talking about his family, all of whom are in the industry, and about his then-current projects. Morrie Gelman conducted the interview on July 8, 1999 in Beverly Hills, CA.

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

"I would like to be remembered as the godfather of the television movie."

People Talking About ...
Chuck Fries
Highlights
Chuck Fries on producing The Martian Chronicles scripted by Richard Matheson
04:59
Chuck Fries on the culture at Ziv Productions and what it was like to work there
03:23
Chuck Fries on the inception of Bewitched at Screen Gems
03:17
Chuck Fries on working with Jacques Cousteau on The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau
04:50
Chuck Fries on what makes a successful made-for-television movie
08:47
Chuck Fries on producing the made-for-television movie A Rumor of War
01:12
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on radio programs he listened to and movies he liked in his youth
On his earliest memories of television; on attending Ohio State University and his early produce business; on going to work for Ziv Productions and moving to California

Chapter 2
On his move to Los Angeles; on his early duties at Ziv Television and becoming executive in charge of studio operations for Ziv Television; on working for Fred Ziv and John Simm at Ziv Television
On Ziv Television producing The Cisco Kid; on the cast of The Cisco Kid; on the production and distribution of the show
On the salespeople of Ziv Television and on how the company operated; on transitioning to the business side of Ziv Productions; on Ziv Television filming all their programs and the production of various shows including Sea Hunt, Rough Riders, Highway Patrol, Ripcord, and Men into Space

Chapter 3
On Ziv Productions producing Sea Hunt starring Lloyd Bridges and on producer Ivan Tors; on Ziv Productions producing Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford; on the profitability of Ziv Productions and on their most successful shows (Sea Hunt and Highway Patrol)
On the culture at Ziv Productions and what it was like to work there; on leaving Ziv Productions and the end of the company; on going to work for Bill Dozier at Screen Gems

Chapter 4
On Columbia (Screen Gems) being a family business and how the company was run; on Harry Ackerman, Vice President of Production at Screen Gems and on trouble Screen Gems had early on; on John Mitchell, President of Screen Gems, and on how Bill Dozier ran the company
On the inception of Bewitched at Screen Gems; on the staff and politics at Screen Gems; on John Mitchell's role at Screen Gems
On Screen Gems focusing on comedy programming; on Sidney Sheldon, creator of I Dream of Jeannie and The Patty Duke Show

Chapter 5
On his experience in Japan with Sidney Sheldon; on Screen Gems producing The Flying Nun starring Sally Field; on Screen Gems producing The Flintstones created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
On Screen Gems' relationship with ABC and Leonard H. Goldenson; on producing QB VII, the first miniseries; on leaving Columbia Pictures and going to work at Metromedia 

Chapter 6
On going to work for Metromedia and what the company did; on working with Jackie Cooper
On working with Jacques Cousteau on The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau; on the role talent agencies play in television, and on William Morris Agency President Abe Lastfogel; on producing made-for-television movies for Metromedia

Chapter 7
On what makes a successful made-for-television movie; on the duties of an executive producer on a made-for-television movie; on creating Fries Entertainment
On the early associates of Fries Entertainment; on his friendship with David Janssen; on producing The Word and A Rumor of War

Chapter 8
On producing A Rumor of War; on producing The Martian Chronicles scripted by Richard Matheson
On producers dealing with television ratings; on producing various series, pilots, and features including "For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story" for American Playhouse; on Fries Entertainment going public

Chapter 9
On Fries Entertainment going public; on producing The Queen of Mean starring Lloyd Bridges and Suzanne Pleshette; on the bankruptcy of Fries Entertainment in 1991
On then-current projects; on the then-current state of independent television producers; on taking an active role in industry affairs
On how television changed during his career regarding censorship of content; on the impact of cable on the television industry; on career highlights, how he'd like to be remembered, and various people he's worked with in his career

Chapter 10
On various people he's worked with in his career; on his family; on producing the feature "Troop Beverly Hills"
Shows

American Playhouse

View Show Page
Chuck Fries on producing "For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story" for American Playhouse on PBS
04:26

Bewitched

View Show Page
Chuck Fries on the inception of Bewitched at Screen Gems
03:17

Cisco Kid, The

View Show Page
Chuck Fries on Ziv Television producing The Cisco Kid
03:11
Chuck Fries on the cast of The Cisco Kid
01:23
Chuck Fries on the production and distribution of The Cisco Kid
01:20

Flintstones, The

View Show Page
Chuck Fries on Screen Gems producing The Flintstones created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
05:18

Flying Nun, The

View Show Page
Chuck Fries on Screen Gems producing The Flying Nun starring Sally Field
03:19

Highway Patrol

View Show Page
Chuck Fries on Ziv Television filming all their programs and the production of various shows including Sea Hunt, Rough Riders, Highway Patrol, Ripcord, and Men Into Space
03:37
Chuck Fries on Ziv Productions producing Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford
03:43
Chuck Fries on the profitability of Ziv Productions and on their most successful shows (Sea Hunt and Highway Patrol)
03:15

I Dream of Jeannie

View Show Page
Chuck Fries on Sidney Sheldon, creator of I Dream of Jeannie and The Patty Duke Show
04:57

Patty Duke Show, The

View Show Page
Chuck Fries on Sidney Sheldon, creator of I Dream of Jeannie and The Patty Duke Show
04:57

QB VII

View Show Page
Chuck Fries on producing QB VII, the first miniseries
05:02

Sea Hunt

View Show Page
Chuck Fries on Ziv Television filming all their programs and the production of various shows including Sea Hunt, Rough Riders, Highway Patrol, Ripcord, and Men Into Space
03:37
Chuck Fries on Ziv Productions producing Sea Hunt starring Lloyd Bridges and on producer Ivan Tors
06:54
Chuck Fries on the profitability of Ziv Productions and on their most successful shows (Sea Hunt and Highway Patrol)
03:15

Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, The

View Show Page
Chuck Fries on working with Jacques Cousteau on The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau
04:50
Topics

Censorship / Standards & Practices

View Topic
Chuck Fries on how television changed during his career regarding censorship of content
04:16

First Big Break

View Topic
Chuck Fries on going to work for Ziv Productions and moving to California
07:36

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Chuck Fries on going to work for Ziv Productions and moving to California
07:36

Television Industry

View Topic
Chuck Fries on the profitability of Ziv Productions and on their most successful shows (Sea Hunt and Highway Patrol)
03:15
Chuck Fries on the history of Screen Gems
02:01
Chuck Fries on Columbia (Screen Gems) being a family business and how the company was run
04:30
Chuck Fries on Harry Ackerman, Vice President of Production at Screen Gems and on trouble Screen Gems had early on
03:04
Chuck Fries on John Mitchell, President of Screen Gems, and on how Bill Dozier ran the company
02:47
Chuck Fries on the staff and politics at Screen Gems
02:32
Chuck Fries on Screen Gems focusing on comedy programming
02:15
Chuck Fries on Screen Gems' relationship with ABC and Leonard H. Goldenson
01:59
Chuck Fries on going to work for Metromedia and what the company did
07:11
Chuck Fries on the role talent agencies play on television, and on William Morris Agency President Abe Lastfogel
07:40
Chuck Fries on creating Fries Entertainment
04:30
Chuck Fries on the early associates of Fries Entertainment
04:28
Chuck Fries on the duties of an executive producer on a made-for-television movie
02:09
Chuck Fries on producers dealing with television ratings
02:06
Chuck Fries on Fries Entertainment going public
01:34
Chuck Fries on Fries Entertainment going public
01:58
Chuck Fries on the bankruptcy of Fries Entertainment in 1991
01:47
Chuck Fries on the then-current state of independent television producers 
02:39
Chuck Fries on taking an active role in industry affairs
01:53
Chuck Fries on how television changed during his career regarding censorship of content
04:16
Chuck Fries on the impact of cable on the television industry
01:41
Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

View Genre
Chuck Fries on Ziv Productions producing Sea Hunt starring Lloyd Bridges and on producer Ivan Tors
06:54

Animation

View Genre
Chuck Fries on Screen Gems producing The Flintstones  created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
05:18

Classic Anthology Series

View Genre
Chuck Fries on producing "For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story" for American Playhouse  on PBS
04:26

Comedy Series

View Genre
Chuck Fries on the inception of Bewitched at Screen Gems
03:17
Chuck Fries on Screen Gems producing The Flying Nun  starring Sally Field
03:15

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

View Genre
Chuck Fries on Ziv Productions producing Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford
03:46

News and Documentary

View Genre
Chuck Fries on working with Jacques Cousteau on The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau
04:50

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

View Genre
Chuck Fries on producing QB VII, the first miniseries
05:02
Chuck Fries on producing the miniseries The Word written by Dick Berg
03:00
Chuck Fries on producing the made-for-television movie A Rumor of War
01:12
Chuck Fries on producing A Rumor of War
08:31
Chuck Fries on producing The Martian Chronicles
09:35
Chuck Fries on producing The Queen of Mean starring Lloyd Bridges and Suzanne Pleshette
06:13

Western Series

View Genre
Chuck Fries on Ziv Television producing The Cisco Kid
05:54
People

Abe Lastfogel

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on the role talent agencies play in television, and on William Morris Agency President Abe Lastfogel
07:40

Barbara Eden

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on various people he's worked with in his career: Barbara Eden
00:18

Bill Dozier

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on going to work for Bill Dozier at Screen Gems
06:18
Chuck Fries on John Mitchell, President of Screen Gems, and on how Bill Dozier ran the company
02:47

Bob Markell

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on Bob Markell
01:57

Brandon Stoddard

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on Brandon Stoddard
01:40

Brandon Tartikoff

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on Brandon Tartikoff
01:16

Broderick Crawford

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on Ziv Productions producing Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford
03:46

Danny Arnold

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on Danny Arnold
01:35

Danny Thomas

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on various people he's worked with in his career: Danny Thomas
00:15

David Gerber

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on David Gerber
01:39

David Janssen

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on his friendship with David Janssen
03:51

Dick Berg

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on producing the miniseries The World written by Dick Berg
03:01

Eddie Cantor

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on various people he's worked with in his career: Eddie Cantor
00:34

Fred Silverman

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on Fred Silverman
02:42

Harry Ackerman

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on Harry Ackerman, Vice President of Production at Screen Gems and on trouble Screen Gems had early on
03:04

Jackie Cooper

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on working with Jackie Cooper
05:35

Jacques Cousteau

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on working with Jacques Cousteau on The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau
04:50

James T. Aubrey

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on various people he's worked with in his career: James T. Aubrey
00:26

John Mitchell

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on John Mitchell, President of Screen Gems, and on how Bill Dozier ran the company
02:47
Chuck Fries on John Mitchell's role at Screen Gems
05:13

Joseph Barbera

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on Screen Gems producing The Flintstones created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
05:19

Leonard H. Goldenson

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on Screen Gems' relationship with ABC and Leonard H. Goldenson
01:59
Chuck Fries on various people he's worked with in his career: Leonard H. Goldenson
00:20

Lloyd Bridges

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on Ziv Productions producing Sea Hunt starring Lloyd Bridges and on producer Ivan Tors
06:54
Chuck Fries on producing The Queen of Mean starring Lloyd Bridges and Suzanne Pleshette
06:13

Michael Eisner

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on various people he's worked with in his career: Michael Eisner
00:45

Ray Bradbury

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on Rock Hudson in The Martin Chronicles and Ray Bradbury's displeasure with the project
04:36

Richard Matheson

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on producing The Martian Chronicles scripted by Richard Matheson
04:59

Rob Reiner

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on various people he's worked with in his career: Rob Reiner
00:18

Rock Hudson

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on Rock Hudson in The Martin Chronicles and Ray Bradbury's displeasure with the project
04:36

Sally Field

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on Screen Gems producing The Flying Nun starring Sally Field
03:15

Sherwood Schwartz

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on various people he's worked with in his career: Sherwood Schwartz
00:15

Shirley Booth

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on various people he's worked with in his career: Shirley Booth
00:12

Sidney Sheldon

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on Sidney Sheldon, creator of I Dream of Jeannie and The Patty Duke Show
04:57
Chuck Fries on his experience in Japan with Sidney Sheldon
04:12

Suzanne Pleshette

View Interview Page
Chuck Fries on producing The Queen of Mean starring Lloyd Bridges and Suzanne Pleshette
06:13

William Hanna

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on Screen Gems producing The Flintstones created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
05:18

William S. Paley

View Person Page
Chuck Fries on various people he's worked with in his career: William S. Paley
00:14

All Interviews

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWYZ
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Z