Alan Landsburg
Encyclopedia
Alan William Landsburg is an American television writer
, producer
, and director
. He is founder and CEO of the Landsburg Company and has been involved in producing over 50 movies of the week
. He has over 2000 hours of television production experience.
with a degree in Communications. He was immediately drafted due to the Korean War and was assigned to the Army Radio Network as a writer-director. This marked the beginning of his fifty-year career of writing and directing television programs.
From the early-1960s to the mid-70's, Landsburg established himself as a successful documentary producer. His film, Kennedy, The First Thousand Days received a standing ovation at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Along with David Wolper, he pioneered the television documentary
series format. His credits include:
In 1980, Landsburg created one of the first "sensational" reality shows, That's Incredible!
Landsburg is also a prolific executive producer of made-for-television movies, many of which were based on true stories and tackled important social issues. Of note are:
His late wife, Linda Otto, produced and/or directed many of these socially relevant docudramas.
were produced under these companies' banners. In 1985, Landsburg formed The Landsburg Company.
full-time. Landsburg has owned, raced, and bred more than 400 thoroughbreds since 1976.
A founding director of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, he is the co-author of "Handbook for Thoroughbred Owners of California.
In 2002 Landsburg has served as a commissioner and chairman of the California Horse Racing Board
. More recently, he joined the National Thoroughbred Racing Association
board of directors.
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, and director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
. He is founder and CEO of the Landsburg Company and has been involved in producing over 50 movies of the week
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
. He has over 2000 hours of television production experience.
Career
Landsburg graduated from New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
with a degree in Communications. He was immediately drafted due to the Korean War and was assigned to the Army Radio Network as a writer-director. This marked the beginning of his fifty-year career of writing and directing television programs.
From the early-1960s to the mid-70's, Landsburg established himself as a successful documentary producer. His film, Kennedy, The First Thousand Days received a standing ovation at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Along with David Wolper, he pioneered the television documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
series format. His credits include:
- BiographyBiographyA biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
- wrote, directed, and/or produced 65 episodes hosted by Mike WallaceMike Wallace (journalist)Myron Leon "Mike" Wallace is an American journalist, former game show host, actor and media personality. During his 60+ year career, he has interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers....
. - National Geographic Specials
- The World of Jacques Cousteau -- Landsburg executive produced the first season of this landmark aquatic exploration documentary program that was later renamed The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau
- Alaska Wilderness LakeAlaska Wilderness LakeAlaska Wilderness Lake is a 1971 documentary film produced by Alan Landsburg. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature....
-- A 1971 documentary that was nominated for an Academy Award. - In Search of... -- Launched in 1976, the series explored the paranormal and was hosted by Leonard NimoyLeonard NimoyLeonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels....
.
In 1980, Landsburg created one of the first "sensational" reality shows, That's Incredible!
That's Incredible!
That's Incredible! was an American reality television show that aired on the ABC television network from 1980 to 1984.-Synopsis:In the tradition of You Asked For It, Ripley's Believe It or Not! and Real People, the show featured people performing stunts and reenactments of allegedly paranormal events...
Landsburg is also a prolific executive producer of made-for-television movies, many of which were based on true stories and tackled important social issues. Of note are:
- Bill -- Mickey RooneyMickey RooneyMickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
won an Emmy and a Golden Globe AwardGolden Globe AwardThe Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
for his portrayal of Bill Sackter, who was institutionalized from the age of seven and struggles to re-integrate into society when he is released almost 45 years later. - AdamAdam (TV movie)Adam is a 1983 American television film which aired on October 10, 1983 on NBC. On its original air date, it was seen by an audience of 38 million people. It was rebroadcast on April 30, 1984, and again on April 29, 1985...
-- Recounted the story of Adam Walsh, who was abducted from a Florida shopping center. The film brought attention to how kidnapped children were poorly tracked by federal government agencies. It prompted the formation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and led to the passage of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety ActAdam Walsh Child Protection and Safety ActThe Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act is a federal statute that was signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush on July 27, 2006. The Walsh Act organizes sex offenders into three tiers and mandates that Tier 3 offenders update their whereabouts every three months with lifetime...
in July 2006. Because of his outspoken advocacy on behalf of missing and exploited children, Adam's father, John WalshJohn WalshJohn Edward Walsh is an American television personality, criminal investigator, human and victim rights advocate and formerly the host, as well as creator, of America's Most Wanted...
, has become a public figure, and is now perhaps best known as host of the FOXFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
television show America's Most WantedAmerica's Most WantedAmerica's Most Wanted is an American television program produced by 20th Television, and was the longest-running program of any kind in the history of the Fox Television Network until it was announced on May 16, 2011 that the series was canceled after twenty-three years, with the final episode...
. - The Ryan WhiteRyan WhiteRyan Wayne White was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States, after being expelled from middle school because of his infection. A hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment and, when diagnosed...
Story -- Highlighted the discrimination faced by a young hemophiliac who contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion and promoted tolerance for children afflicted by AIDS. - A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story-- focused on the lengths a mother would go to in order to protect her daughter, whom she believed was sexually abused by her ex-husband.
His late wife, Linda Otto, produced and/or directed many of these socially relevant docudramas.
Companies
In 1970, Landsburg founded his own production company, Alan Landsburg Productions, which later merged into Reeves Entertainment Group. The situation comedies Gimme a Break and Kate & AllieKate & Allie
Kate & Allie is an American television situation comedy which ran from March 19, 1984 to May 22, 1989. Kate & Allie first aired on CBS as a midseason replacement series and only six episodes were initially commissioned, but the favorable response from critics and viewers alike easily convinced CBS...
were produced under these companies' banners. In 1985, Landsburg formed The Landsburg Company.
Horse racing
Landsburg retired from the television business in 2001 and has since pursued his love of horse racingHorse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
full-time. Landsburg has owned, raced, and bred more than 400 thoroughbreds since 1976.
A founding director of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, he is the co-author of "Handbook for Thoroughbred Owners of California.
In 2002 Landsburg has served as a commissioner and chairman of the California Horse Racing Board
California Horse Racing Board
The California Horse Racing Board was established in 1933 as an independent agency of the State of California, United States. The CHRB has authority over the regulation of horse racing and parimutuel betting at licensed California race tracks...
. More recently, he joined the National Thoroughbred Racing Association
National Thoroughbred Racing Association
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic...
board of directors.
External links
- http://www.filmreference.com/film/36/Alan-Landsburg.html Alan Landsburg biography (Film Reference)
- Alan Landsburg at Yahoo! TV
- John J. O'Connor, TV: After 46 Years in an Institution, New York Times, Dec. 22, 1981.