William T. Orr
Also Known As: William Ferdinand Quinn Jr., William Turney Orr, Wm. T. Orr, William Orr, Bill Orr
Biography: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William T. Orr (September 27, 1917 – December 25, 2002) was an American television producer associated with a series of western and detective programs of the 1950s-1970s. On most of his Warner Bros. series, he was billed as "Wm. T. Orr". Orr began his career as an actor; his film credits include The Mortal Storm, The Gay Sisters, and The Big Street. As the first head of Warner Bros. Television department, Orr forged a fruitful alliance with ABC, which resulted in the network having a number of prime time hits, such as Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip, and F Troop. At the height of this relationship in the early 1960s, Orr had nine programs in prime time simultaneously. Of these, no program was more significant than one of his earliest, Cheyenne. It was a groundbreaking series that was both the first hour-long western and the first series of any kind made by a major Hollywood film studio consisting entirely of content wholly exclusive to television. A curator at The Paley Center for Media (previously named The Museum of Television and Radio) once encapsulated Orr's importance to Warner Bros. by saying, "Television began as a step-child. But because of Orr, it became equal with film in creating revenue and jobs for the studio." One of the key reforms he made to effect this change was to move Warner's nascent television department from cramped quarters in New York City to Los Angeles studios separate from the film division. His impact on the genre of western fiction was recognized with a Golden Boot Award upon the announcement of his death.
Department: Production
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA
Birthday: September 27, 1917
Deathday: December 25, 2002
Adult: No
Gender: Male
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Known For:
The Mortal Storm
Overview: The Roth family leads a quiet life in a small village in the German Alps during the early 1930s. After the Nazis come to power, the family is divided and Martin Breitner, a family friend, is caught up in the turmoil.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-06-20
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Unholy Partners
Overview: A crusading newsman starts up a tabloid with a gangster as his 50-50 partner.
Genres: Crime Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-11-01
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The Big Street
Overview: Meek busboy Little Pinks is in love with an extremely selfish nightclub singer who despises and uses him.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-08-13
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Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
Overview: This edition of Screen Snapshots has more of a vaudeville flavor as opposed to Ralph Staub's usual candid-camera at home with the stars offerings. Ken Murray, assisted by the Brewer Twins, is the MC, while the Andrews Sisters sing "In Apple Blossom Time" and the pre-"Uncle Miltie" Milton Berle plays his clarinet. The rest of the players, with contract-player faces belonging to 20th-Century Fox, RKO Radio, Universal and Columbia, just pass through. Production Number 3851.
Genres: Music Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-08-15
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My Love Came Back
Overview: Amelia is a gifted violinist who is in danger of quitting the Brissac Academy of Music. Julius arranges to have a scholarship given to her through his employee Tony so that Julius can escort Amelia to every musical event in the city. The trouble begins when he cannot meet her one night and Tony goes in his place. Tony believes that Julius and Amelia are a couple and then son Paul thinks that Tony and Amelia are a couple as he is sending her the money. The worst part is that Amelia might leave classical music for swing music with classmates Dusty, Joy and the band.
Genres: Comedy Drama Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-07-13
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Meet the Fleet
Overview: The story of three recruits undergoing Navy bootcamp training.
Genres: War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-12-21
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Navy Blues
Overview: On a layover in Hawaii two conniving Navy seamen borrow money to lay down bets that their ship will win the upcoming gunnery practice trophy, having found out that the current gunnery champ has just transferred aboard their ship. What they haven't learned, however, is that the marksman's enlistment is up before the contest is supposed to take place.
Genres: Comedy Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-09-13
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Brother Rat
Overview: Story of three buddies at the Virginia Military Institute. Cadet Bing Edwards is secretly married and soon to be a father.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-10-29
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Honeymoon for Three
Overview: Noted writer Kenneth Bixby, in love with his witty secretary Anne Rogers, is on a book tour when he meets up with a former college fling with a loopy Danish girl which he barely remembers. She remembers him, very well.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-01-18
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Three Sons o' Guns
Overview: Three reckless brothers dodge the draft then sign up and become men.
Genres: Romance Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-08-02
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The Hardys Ride High
Overview: Sixth of the Judge Hardy series. Judge James K. Hardy is brought the fabulous news from attorney George Irving, that he could be the heir to 2 million dollars. In order to claim the inheritance, he and his family must leave for Detroit. The disinherited heir Philip 'Phil' Westcott, adopted son of the deceased relative, has to leave the fabulous mansion Detroit. But the playboy Phil ain't going down without a fight. He decides on a charm offensive. First with Polly Benedict and foremost Andrew 'Andy' Hardy, the son of Judge Hardy.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-04-21
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Invitation to Happiness
Overview: An egotistical boxer romances a rich backer's daughter.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-06-07
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Service with the Colors
Overview: Service with the Colors is a 1940 American short drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason. This drama is "dedicated to the soldiers of the United States Army." Men with diverse backgrounds enlist in the army and are all assigned to the same post. Some adapt easily to army life, while others have trouble making the adjustment. It was nominated for an Academy Award at the 13th Academy Awards for Best Short Subject (Two-Reel).
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-08-31
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He Hired the Boss
Overview: A shy bookkeeper accidentally discovers that the company where he works is targeted in a series of late-night robberies.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-04-02
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The Gay Sisters
Overview: The eldest of three sisters protects their Fifth Avenue mansion from a developer she once married.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-08-01
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Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul
Overview: An insider's account of Jack Warner, a founding father of the American film industry. This feature length documentary provides the rags to riches story of the man whose studio - Warner Bros - created many of Hollywood's most classic films. Includes extensive interviews with family members and friends, film clips, rare home movies and unique location footage.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1993-05-14
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Soldiers in White
Overview: A young intern is drafted and placed in the Army Medical Corps as a buck private and is none too happy about it. Injured, he is placed in the hospital where a Major comes by and explains how army doctors make important advances in medical science. The private is inspired and promises to make a good soldier. He is even more inspired when a nurse becomes his superior officer.
Genres: Documentary War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-02-07
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Those Good Old Days
Overview: Young Gloria's father and mother go out for the evening to see a television broadcast. Gloria's grandfather entertains her with stories about his days in vaudeville.
Genres: Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-08-16
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Young America Flies
Overview: World War II propaganda film from Warner Brothers.
Genres: War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-07-13
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Thieves Fall Out
Overview: Eddie Barnes, tired of being a nobody and living with his parents, decides to cash in his mother's legacy and use the money to buy a business. Unfortunately, Eddie's mother has to die before the broker can collect the full value of the policy and the broker's gangster partner doesn't want to wait for nature to take its course.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-05-03
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Three Cadets
Overview: The story of Three Cadets and sexually transmitted diseases.
Genres: Drama Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-01-26
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P-47 Combat Operations
Overview: This documentary short film depicts the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane in combat operations in various locales around the world during the Second World War. A variety of pilots are depicted recounting their actions in combat missions such as strafing runs, softening up of invasion sites, bomber protection, and the destruction of enemy resources and fortifications. One of the pilots has made a disastrous error in his mission, and viewers are invited to guess which of the pilots failed in his duty.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1945-12-12
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Land and Live in the Desert
Overview: Documentary short film depicting the correct methods of surviving the crash landing of a military aircraft in the desert. Methods of conserving water, providing shelter, and signaling for help are depicted.
Genres: Documentary War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1945-12-11
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