Herbert Brodkin
Herbert Brodkin | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 9, 1912 |
| Died | October 29, 1990 (aged 77) |
| Alma mater | Yale School of Drama |
| Occupation(s) | Director, producer |
| Years active | 1940s-1990 |
| Spouse | Patricia M. Brodkin |
Herbert Brodkin (November 9, 1912–October 29, 1990)[1] was an American producer and director of film and television.
Brodkin was best known as the producer of the television shows Playhouse 90, The Defenders[2], and the short-lived series Coronet Blue.[3]
Brodkin was also the founder and president of Plautus Productions and also the co-founder of Titus Productions with Robert Berger in 1965.
Early life and Education
Brodkin was born on November 9, 1912 in New York City.[1] Brodkin was the youngest of six children born unto parents Adolph and Rose Brodkin.[4] Brodkin's parents were both born in Russia. His father immigrated from Russia in 1887[5] and his mother in 1894.[6] Brodkin had two older brother; Nathanal and Milton, and three older sisters; Gertrude, Ethel, and Beatrice.[7]
Brodkin graduated from the Yale School of Drama in 1940.[8]
Career
Broadway
Brodkin started his career as a scenic designer of the 1947 Broadway drama O'Daniel. He was also the scenic designer of many other plays. Eventually, Brodkin would be the production manager of the plays Texas, Li'l Darlin, (1949), and Something About a Soldier, (1962).[9]
Television
Brodkin began his career in television in 1950 as a set designer at CBS. Brodkin achieved recognition a few years later and became a producer for many anthology programs of the 1950's including The Elgin Hour, The Alcoa Hour, Goodyear Television Playhouse, Studio One.
Playhouse 90 was one of Brodkin's most memorable production credit. Beginning in 1956, the series was able to put Brodkin's expertise in the theatrical arts. The series ended in 1960. Another one of Brodkin's memorable production credits was the 1960s courtroom drama The Defenders. The series starred E.G. Marshall and Robert Reed as a father-and-son defense attorney team who, under the production of Brodkin, dealt with subjects such as euthanasia and blacklisting, subjects which, at the time, were very touchy for television. Brodkin also became famous for his use of close-ups and fast cuts in the series.[10]
Some of the other television series that Brodkin produced were Brenner, The Nurses, and Coronet Blue, (all for CBS) and Espionage (TV series) (for NBC).[11]
Film
Brodkin also produced several films throughout his career.
One of those films include the 1981 movie Skokie. Skokie was the true story of constitutional rights in Illinois. The movie's plot was based off of the real life NSPA Controversy of Skokie, Illinois in the late 1970s which involved the National Socialist Party of America. The movie starred Danny Kaye.[12]
Plautus Productions/Titus Productions
In 1959, Brodkin founded and became the president of Plautus Productions. The series was responsible for series such as Brenner, The Defenders, The Nurses, Espionage and Coronet Blue.[13] The production company closed in 1967.
In 1965, Brodkin, along with producer Robert Berger founded Titus Productions. Titus Productions served as the production company for many of the TV shows and films that Brodkin produced including the 1978 miniseries Holocaust, and the movies Skokie and Mandela.[11]
Personal life
Brodkin was married once to Patricia M. Brodkin.
Death
Brodkin died on October 29, 1990 in New York City, New York at the Mount Sinai Hospital. He died of an aneurysm at the age of 77.[14] He was thirteen days shy of his 78th birthday.
He was proceeded in death by his wife Patricia Brodkin. He was survived by his two daughters; Lucinda D. and Brigit A. Brodkin. He was also survived by two older sisters; Pat Cutler, and Beatrice Forrest.[10]
Legacy
At Brodkin's alma mater, Yale School of Drama there are two scholarship and graduate programs named after Brodkin. They are The Herbert H. and Patricia M. Brodkin Scholarship and The Patricia M. Brodkin Memorial Scholarship.
The Herbert H. and Patricia M. Brodkin Scholarship was established by Herbert and Patricia Brodkin in 1963. The program is given to an outstanding selected by the faculty of the school. The Patricia M. Brodkin Memorial Scholarship was established in 1983 by Herbert Brodkin, associates and friends in memory of his wife Patricia. The program is awarded to a student of the school.[8]
References
- ^ a b "Herbert Brodkin (1912-1990)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ "Herbert Brodkin, 77, a television producer celebrated for his dramas on social issues died Monday". Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ "Herbert Brodkin (died 1990) Biography". www.tv.com. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ "United States Census, 1920 results for Herbert Brodkin". familysearch.org. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "Person Details for Adolph Brodkin United States Census, 1920". familysearch.org. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "Person Details for Rose Brodkin United States Census, 1920". familysearch.org. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "Person Details for Herbert Brodkin United States Census, 1920". familysearch.org. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ a b "YSD Graduate Programs". www.tomshultz.com. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "Herbert Brodkin at IBDB". ibdb.com. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ a b "Herbert Brodkin Is Dead at 77; TV Producer Who Broke Taboos". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ a b "Museum of Broadcast Communications - Brodkin, Herb (U.S. Producer)". www.museum.tv. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ "Skokie (1981)". www.allmovie.com. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ "Herbert Brodkin /Plautus Productions". ctva.biz. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ "H. Brodkin, 77; Produced Top Shows for TV". Retrieved November 12, 2015.