Quinn Martin, Producer - by Jonathan Etter (Paperback)

About the Book

Quinn Martin was the most innovative and most creative of his kind. He was a man in touch with the future, far more than the times. His characters were not stereotypical characters. His production methods were not stereotypical either. He was unique in a number of ways. That's why his shows did so well" -- Lynda Day George, guest star on QM's The Fugitive, The FBI, and other shows. Quinn Martin was the producer of such television shows as The Invaders, Barnaby Jones, The Untouchables, The Streets of San Francisco, Cannon and 12 O'Clock High, to name just a few. How each series made it to the networks, what problems occurred during their production, and why they were cancelled are examined. Martin's devotion to his shows, his hands-on approach to the writing, casting and editing of each episode, his interactions with network executives, and the high standards he set for his crew and actors are widely admired in the industry.

Book Synopsis

""Quinn Martin was the most innovative and most creative of his kind. He was a man in touch with the future, far more than the times. His characters were not stereotypical characters. His production methods were not stereotypical either. He was unique in a number of ways. That's why his shows did so well""--Lynda Day George, guest star on QM's The Fugitive, The FBI, and other shows. Producer of such television shows as The Invaders, Barnaby Jones, The Untouchables, The Streets of San Francisco, Cannon and 12 O'Clock High, Quinn Martin was widely admired for his devotion to his shows, his hands-on approach to the writing, casting and editing of each episode, his interactions with network executives, and the high standards he set for his crew and actors. This detailed study of Martin and his company examines each of his series in detail, from development through cancellation.

Review Quotes

"incredible amount of research"--Classic Images; "long-overdue look at Martin's life and career...rich in material...definitely recommended"--Filmfax; "I loved it! It was great. I read it from cover to cover. I couldn't put it down!"--QM Post-Production Supervisor John Elizalde; "What strikes me about the book is the way he captures the excitement and enthusiasm we all had when we were making those shows. There's an immediacy to it as well. It has kind of a 'you are there' feeling."--QM Director Robert Butler; "I thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn't a puff piece like most books on the entertainment industry. This book gets it right. It tells the story from the side of the people who were there. It tells the truth!"--QM Director Ralph Senensky; "I don't usually read books on television, because most books about television have been written by people who do not know what the heck they are talking about! Instead of cross-checking and corroborating their information, instead of doing their research, the people who write these books write them based on assumption, rather than fact. This book isn't like that. It's terrific! I carry it with me all the time. He really did an outstanding job. I am absolutely amazed at the amount of information he collected, and the way he put it all together. If Quinn Martin were alive today, I think he'd be very happy with the way this book is written. I think Quinn would be very proud of this book."--Lynda Day George, guest star on numerous QM shows.

About the Author

Jonathan Etter, author of numerous classic television articles and a contributor to TV Land's Moguls: The 60s, lives in Dayton, Ohio.