William T. Orr

Born: 1917-09-27

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.


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The Mortal Storm

as Erich Von Rohn
Released: 1940-06-20

The Roth family leads a quiet life in a small village in the German Alps during the early 1930s....

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The Big Street

as Decatur Reed (as William Orr)
Released: 1942-08-13

Meek busboy Little Pinks is in love with an extremely selfish showgirl who despises and uses him.

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Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul

as Himself
Released: 1993-05-14

An insider's account of Jack Warner, a founding father of the American film industry. This...

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The Hardys Ride High

as Dick Bannersly
Released: 1939-04-21

Sixth of the Judge Hardy series. Judge James K. Hardy is brought the fabulous news from attorney...

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The Gay Sisters

as Dick Tone
Released: 1942-08-01

The eldest of three sisters protects their Fifth Avenue mansion from a developer she once married.

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My Love Came Back

as Paul Malette
Released: 1940-07-13

Amelia is a gifted violinist who is in danger of quitting the Brissac Academy of Music. Julius...

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Soldiers in White

as Johnny Allison
Released: 1942-02-07

A young intern is drafted and placed in the Army Medical Corps as a buck private and is none too...

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Three Sons o' Guns

as Kenneth Patterson
Released: 1941-08-02

Three reckless brothers dodge the draft then sign up and become men.

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Invitation to Happiness

as Bellboy (uncredited)
Released: 1939-06-07

An egotistical boxer romances a rich backer's daughter.

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Brother Rat

as Member of the Guard
Released: 1938-10-29

Story of three buddies at the Virginia Military Institute. Cadet Bing Edwards is secretly...

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Unholy Partners

as Tommy Jarvis
Released: 1941-11-01

A crusading newsman starts up a tabloid with a gangster as his 50-50 partner.

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Thieves Fall Out

as George Formsby
Released: 1941-05-03

Eddie Barnes, tired of being a nobody and living with his parents, decides to cash in his...

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Honeymoon for Three

as Arthur Westlake
Released: 1941-01-18

Noted writer Kenneth Bixby, in love with his witty secretary Anne Rogers, is on a book tour when...

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Navy Blues

as 'Mac'
Released: 1941-09-13

On a layover in Hawaii two conniving Navy seamen borrow money to lay down bets that their ship...

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Young America Flies

as Jack
Released: 1940-07-13

World War II propaganda film from Warner Brothers.

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Meet the Fleet

as Kansas Potter
Released: 1940-12-21

The story of three recruits undergoing Navy bootcamp training.

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He Hired the Boss

as Don Bates
Released: 1943-04-02

A shy bookkeeper accidentally discovers that the company where he works is targeted in a series...

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Service with the Colors

as Charles Corbin
Released: 1940-08-31

Service with the Colors is a 1940 American short drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason. This...

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Land and Live in the Desert

as Phil
Released: 1945-12-11

Documentary short film depicting the correct methods of surviving the crash landing of a...

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The Lucy Show

as Mr. Frink
First aired: 1962-10-01

The Lucy Show is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962–68. It was Lucille Ball's...

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This Is Your Life

as Self
First aired: 1952-10-01

This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally...

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