Frank Q. Dobbs
Encyclopedia
Frank Q. Dobbs was a screenwriter, film director, film producer and cinematographer notable for his work on numerous Western films and television series, including Larry McMurtry
's five-hour CBS mini-series Streets of Laredo
(1995).
Born in Houston, Texas, Dobbs attended Sam Houston State Teachers College
, where he majored in journalism and minored in English and theater, while shooting college promotional films and also creating his own independent Western short films. After graduating in 1961, he collaborated with Ray Miller on Eyes of Texas, a TV magazine series for Houston's KPRC, and he soon headed for Hollywood, entering the film industry by scripting two episodes of Gunsmoke
in 1965-66.
' Rough Riders
. With Chris Black, he co-scripted the pilot of The Magnificent Seven TV series, which ran from 1998 to 2000. His association with McMurtry continued when he produced Hallmark's The Johnson County War
miniseries in 2002.
, and followed with three other features. In 2003, he directed Burt Reynolds
and Bruce Dern
in the TV movie Hard Ground, a period Western about a Yuma prison escapee who plans to control the Mexican border by assembling an army of desperadoes.
(1994), which he co-scripted.
Dobbs lived in Houston, where he died of cancer at age 66.
, which won a 2003 Emmy Award
for cinematographer Curt Apduhan
, in addition to numerous festival awards and nominations.
Larry McMurtry
Larry Jeff McMurtry is an American novelist, essayist, bookseller and screenwriter whose work is predominantly set in either the old West or in contemporary Texas...
's five-hour CBS mini-series Streets of Laredo
Streets of Laredo
Streets of Laredo is a 1993 western novel by Larry McMurtry. It is the second book published in the Lonesome Dove series, but the fourth and final book chronologically. It was adaptated into a television miniseries in 1995.-Plot introduction:...
(1995).
Born in Houston, Texas, Dobbs attended Sam Houston State Teachers College
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
, where he majored in journalism and minored in English and theater, while shooting college promotional films and also creating his own independent Western short films. After graduating in 1961, he collaborated with Ray Miller on Eyes of Texas, a TV magazine series for Houston's KPRC, and he soon headed for Hollywood, entering the film industry by scripting two episodes of Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
in 1965-66.
Producer
In 1983, he co-produced Lone Star Bar and Grill for Showtime. In 1997, he was a co-producer of John MiliusJohn Milius
John Frederick Milius is an American screenwriter, director, and producer of motion pictures.-Early life:Milius was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Elizabeth and William Styx Milius, who was a shoe manufacturer. Milius attempted to join the Marine Corps in the late 1960s, but was rejected...
' Rough Riders
Rough Riders
The Rough Riders is the name bestowed on the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three to see action. The United States Army was weakened and left with little manpower after the American Civil War...
. With Chris Black, he co-scripted the pilot of The Magnificent Seven TV series, which ran from 1998 to 2000. His association with McMurtry continued when he produced Hallmark's The Johnson County War
Johnson County War
The Johnson County War, also known as the War on Powder River, was a range war which took place in April 1892 in Johnson County, Natrona County and Converse County in the U.S. state of Wyoming...
miniseries in 2002.
Director
Dobbs made his feature film directorial debut in 1972 with the horror Western, Enter the Devil, shot in Lajitas, TexasLajitas, Texas
Lajitas is an unincorporated community in Brewster County, Texas, United States, in proximity to the Big Bend National Park.-Government:For many years the mayor of Lajitas was Clay Henry III, a "beer-drinking" goat...
, and followed with three other features. In 2003, he directed Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
and Bruce Dern
Bruce Dern
Bruce MacLeish Dern is an American film actor. He also appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows. He frequently takes roles as a character actor, often playing unstable and villainous characters...
in the TV movie Hard Ground, a period Western about a Yuma prison escapee who plans to control the Mexican border by assembling an army of desperadoes.
Actor
He appeared as an actor in Streets of Laredo and Gambler V: Playing for KeepsThe Gambler (TV movie series)
The Gambler is a series of American TV movies starring Kenny Rogers as Brady Hawkes, a fictional old-west gambler. The character was inspired by Rogers' hit song The Gambler. There are five movies in the series. The first four are directed by Dick Lowry while the last was directed by Jack Bender...
(1994), which he co-scripted.
Dobbs lived in Houston, where he died of cancer at age 66.
Awards
Houston: The Legend of Texas, which Dobbs produced in 1986, won a Bronze Wrangler Award. He was the executive producer of the Disney Channel documentary The Legend of Billy the Kid (1994), which won an Emmy. He was a technical consultant on Amargosa (2000), Todd Robinson's documentary about Death Valley Junction dancer-painter Marta BecketMarta Becket
Marta Becket is an actress, dancer, choreographer and painter who performed for more than four decades at her own theater, the Amargosa Opera House in Death Valley Junction, California...
, which won a 2003 Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for cinematographer Curt Apduhan
Curt Apduhan
Curt Apduhan is an Emmy Award winning director of photography known for his work in feature documentaries. Apduhan's contributions to director Todd Robinson's documentary film Amargosa, a study of artist Marta Becket earned the cinematographer the NATAS 2002 News/Documentary Emmy for outstanding...
, in addition to numerous festival awards and nominations.