Paul Alter
Encyclopedia
Paul Alter was a former American television director, specializing in game show
s for Mark Goodson Productions
. Alter was best known as the original director of Family Feud
from the show's origin in in the mid-1970s until the early 90's.
, Alter studied piano with Teddy Wilson
, from the Benny Goodman Quartet
. Alter became a talented musician. Later on, Alter would put his talent to use composing the 1969 theme for To Tell the Truth
.
version of Beat the Clock
in 1950. He then began a long association with Mark Goodson
-Bill Todman
Productions, where he worked on many of their shows including What's My Line?
, I've Got A Secret
and To Tell The Truth
. Alter directed the original version of Family Feud
which ran on ABC from 1976 to 1985. When Family Feud was revived in 1988, Alter directed on that version as well until October 1990, when Alter left the show to direct the revival of To Tell the Truth. Another show for which he directed both versions was The Price Is Right
. He first worked on the original incarnation in New York starring Bill Cullen
that ran from 1956 to 1965. In 1986 he became director of the current version of the show, replacing original director Marc Breslow
. Alter was relieved of his position as director of The Price Is Right in 2000 by Pearson Television due to an unfavorable deposition
against host Bob Barker. Bart Eskander replaced Alter as director of The Price Is Right, though Alter briefly regained his position as part of a special agreement with Pearson.
He retired following his departure from The Price Is Right. On E! True Hollywood Story
episode on Family Feud, Alter's gave some insight on popular game show hosts saying: "Dawson became more of the boss. That happens to any M.C. who becomes popular, he can call the shots".
. Alter sued Disney that year, claiming several similarities between that movie and his treatment. His case went to trial in 1993, which resulted in the jury awarding him $300,000.
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
s for Mark Goodson Productions
Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson was an American television producer who specialized in game shows.-Life and early career:...
. Alter was best known as the original director of Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
from the show's origin in in the mid-1970s until the early 90's.
Early life and career
Born in Chicago, IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Alter studied piano with Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson
Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson was an American jazz pianist whose sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.-Biography:Wilson was born in Austin, Texas in...
, from the Benny Goodman Quartet
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
. Alter became a talented musician. Later on, Alter would put his talent to use composing the 1969 theme for To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
.
Television work
His first job as a game show director was on the original CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
version of Beat the Clock
Beat the Clock
Beat the Clock is a Goodson-Todman game show which has aired on American television in several versions since 1950.The original show, hosted by Bud Collyer, ran on CBS from 1950–1958 and ABC from 1958–1961. The show was revived in syndication as The New Beat the Clock from 1969–1974, with Jack Narz...
in 1950. He then began a long association with Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson was an American television producer who specialized in game shows.-Life and early career:...
-Bill Todman
Bill Todman
William S. "Bill" Todman was an American television producer born in New York City. He produced many of television's longest running shows with business partner Mark Goodson.-Early life:...
Productions, where he worked on many of their shows including What's My Line?
What's My Line?
What's My Line? is a panel game show which originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, with several international versions and subsequent U.S. revivals. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations....
, I've Got A Secret
I've Got a Secret
I've Got a Secret is a panel game show produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS television. Created by comedy writers Allan Sherman and Howard Merrill, it was a derivative of Goodson-Todman's own panel show What's My Line?...
and To Tell The Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
. Alter directed the original version of Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
which ran on ABC from 1976 to 1985. When Family Feud was revived in 1988, Alter directed on that version as well until October 1990, when Alter left the show to direct the revival of To Tell the Truth. Another show for which he directed both versions was The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
. He first worked on the original incarnation in New York starring Bill Cullen
Bill Cullen
William Lawrence Francis "Bill" Cullen was an American radio and television personality whose career spanned five decades...
that ran from 1956 to 1965. In 1986 he became director of the current version of the show, replacing original director Marc Breslow
Marc Breslow
Marc Breslow is a former American television director, specializing in game shows for Mark Goodson Productions. Breslow was the director throughout the CBS and syndicated run of Match Game during the 1970s and early 1980s, and was the original director of the 1972 version of The Price Is...
. Alter was relieved of his position as director of The Price Is Right in 2000 by Pearson Television due to an unfavorable deposition
Deposition (law)
In the law of the United States, a deposition is the out-of-court oral testimony of a witness that is reduced to writing for later use in court or for discovery purposes. It is commonly used in litigation in the United States and Canada and is almost always conducted outside of court by the...
against host Bob Barker. Bart Eskander replaced Alter as director of The Price Is Right, though Alter briefly regained his position as part of a special agreement with Pearson.
He retired following his departure from The Price Is Right. On E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story is an American documentary series on E! that deals with famous Hollywood celebrities, movies, TV shows and well-known public figures...
episode on Family Feud, Alter's gave some insight on popular game show hosts saying: "Dawson became more of the boss. That happens to any M.C. who becomes popular, he can call the shots".
"Honey, I Blew Up the Kid" lawsuit
In 1980, Alter submitted to the Walt Disney Company a story treatment about a kid who, due to a genetic accident, grew to an enormous size, which he based on his granddaughter's knocking over toys. By 1991, it became the movie Honey, I Blew Up the KidHoney, I Blew Up the Kid
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid is the 1992 sequel to the 1989 film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Directed by Randal Kleiser and released by Walt Disney Pictures, the film stars Rick Moranis, Marcia Strassman, Robert Oliveri and Amy O'Neill, who reprise their roles as Wayne, Diane, Nick, and Amy Szalinski...
. Alter sued Disney that year, claiming several similarities between that movie and his treatment. His case went to trial in 1993, which resulted in the jury awarding him $300,000.