Quinn Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Quinn Martin
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|---|---|
| Born |
Irwin Martin Cohn
May 22, 1922 New York City, US
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| Died | September 5, 1987 (aged 65) |
| Occupation | Television producer |
| Spouse(s) | Madelyn Pugh (a.k.a. Madelyn Davis); Marianne Muffet Webb |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Martin G. Cohn |
Quinn Martin (born Irwin Martin Cohn; May 22, 1922 – September 5, 1987) was a famous American television producer. He was really good at making TV shows! For 21 years in a row (from 1959 to 1980), he had at least one TV show on during prime time. Prime time is when most people watch TV. Quinn Martin is now a member of the Television Hall of Fame. He was added to the Hall of Fame in 1997 because of his amazing work.
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Quinn Martin's Early Life
Quinn Martin was born on May 22, 1922, in New York City. His birth name was Irwin Martin Cohn. He was the second of two children in his family. His dad, Martin Goodman Cohn, worked in movies. He was a film editor and producer at Metro Goldwyn Mayer studios. His mom was Anna Messing Cohn.
When Quinn was four years old, his family moved to Los Angeles, California. He went to Fairfax High School. After high school, he joined the United States Army during World War II. He served for five years in the Signal Corps. He later changed his name to Quinn Martin.
He went to the University of California at Berkeley. He studied English there, but he did not finish his degree.
How Quinn Martin Started in TV
Quinn Martin started his career in television as a film editor. He worked at MGM, just like his dad. Later, he managed post-production for places like Universal Studios.
By the mid-1950s, he became an executive producer for Desilu Studios. This studio was started by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. They were famous for the TV show I Love Lucy. Quinn's first wife, Madelyn Pugh Davis, was one of the writers for I Love Lucy.
In 1959, Quinn Martin produced a special for Desilu. This special later became a weekly TV show called The Untouchables. This show was very popular and won several Emmy Awards.
Quinn Martin Productions Company
In 1960, Quinn Martin started his very own company called QM Productions. This company made many successful TV shows during the 1960s and 1970s.
Popular Quinn Martin Television Series
Quinn Martin's company produced many well-known TV shows. Here is a list of some of them:
| Title | First Episode | Final Episode | Genre | Seasons | Episodes | Original Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The New Breed | October 3, 1961 | June 5, 1962 | Crime drama | 1 | 36 | ABC |
| The Fugitive | September 17, 1963 | August 29, 1967 | Crime drama | 4 | 120 | ABC |
| Twelve O'Clock High | September 18, 1964 | January 13, 1967 | Military drama | 3 | 78 | ABC |
| The F.B.I. | September 19, 1965 | April 28, 1974 | Crime drama | 9 | 241 | ABC |
| The Invaders | January 10, 1967 | March 26, 1968 | Science fiction | 2 | 43 | ABC |
| Dan August | September 23, 1970 | April 8, 1971 | Crime drama | 1 | 26 | ABC |
| Cannon | September 14, 1971 | March 3, 1976 | Crime drama | 5 | 122 | CBS |
| Banyon | September 15, 1972 | January 12, 1973 | Crime drama | 1 | 15 | NBC |
| The Streets of San Francisco | September 16, 1972 | June 9, 1977 | Crime drama | 5 | 121 | ABC |
| Barnaby Jones | January 23, 1973 | April 3, 1980 | Crime drama | 8 | 178 | CBS |
| The Manhunter | September 11, 1974 | March 5, 1975 | Crime drama | 1 | 22 | CBS |
| Caribe | February 17, 1975 | May 12, 1975 | Crime drama | 1 | 13 | ABC |
| Bert D'Angelo/Superstar | February 21, 1976 | July 10, 1976 | Crime drama | 1 | 12 | ABC |
| Most Wanted | October 16, 1976 | August 20, 1977 | Crime drama | 1 | 21 | ABC |
| Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected | February 2, 1977 | August 24, 1977 | Horror/Sci Fi | 1 | 8 | NBC |
| The Runaways | April 27, 1978 | September 4, 1979 | Drama | 2 | 18 | NBC |
| A Man Called Sloane | September 22, 1979 | December 22, 1979 | Secret Agent | 1 | 12 | NBC |
Besides these TV series, Quinn Martin also made 20 "made-for-TV" movies. These were movies made specifically for television. Some examples include House on Greenapple Road (1970) and Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan (1975). Some TV movies, like Code Name: Diamond Head (1977), were actually pilot episodes for new TV shows that never got picked up. His only movie made for theaters was The Mephisto Waltz (1971).
In 1978, some investors bought QM Productions. They later sold it to another company called Taft Broadcasting in 1979. The QM name and logo were still used on screen until 1983.
How Quinn Martin's Shows Were Made
Shows from QM Productions often started with an announcer saying, "A Quinn Martin Production." Then, pictures of the main actors and guest stars would appear with their names. After that, the announcer would say, "Tonight's episode," and tell you the episode's name.
In some shows, like The Fugitive, a short story about the show's background was told. This helped viewers understand the plot. Each episode was divided into four "acts" and an "epilogue." The show title and the act number were shown on screen at the start of each part.
Quinn Martin's Later Life
Later in his life, Quinn Martin taught at the University of California at San Diego. He also helped create a scholarship for students studying theater and communications at Santa Clara University.
He moved to Rancho Santa Fe, California, which is near San Diego. There, he became the president of the La Jolla Playhouse. He was also involved in making movies for Warner Bros. with a new company.
Quinn Martin's Death
Quinn Martin passed away from a heart attack on September 5, 1987. He was at his home in Rancho Santa Fe, California.
