Television Programs of America
Encyclopedia
Television Programs of America, Inc (TPA) was a New York
-based US
television production company in the 1950s. TPA had a Canadian
subsidiary, Normandie Productions.
This television production and distribution company was best known for Fury
, King of the Wild Stallions (1955-1960).
The company was created in 1952 as a partnership between Chicago lawyer (movie financing) Milton Gordon and film producers Edward Small
and Leon Fromkess.
The company often worked in association with the British production and distribution company ITC
and its sister ITV
company Associated TeleVision
.
TPA also worked with Jack Wrather
's companies Wrather-Alvarez Broadcasting, later Jack Wrather Productions, which held the rights to Lassie
and The Lone Ranger
.
In September 1958, Independent Television Corporation (a joint venture of Jack Wrather
and the British Incorporated Television Company
(ITC) purchased TPA for $11,350,000. Wrather later (1960?) sold his shares of Independent Television Corporation to ITC.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television production company in the 1950s. TPA had a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
subsidiary, Normandie Productions.
This television production and distribution company was best known for Fury
Fury (TV series)
Fury is an American Western television series that aired on NBC from 1955–1960, starring Peter Graves as Jim Newton , Bobby Diamond as Jim's adopted son, Joey Clark Newton, and William Fawcett as ranch hand Pete Wilkey...
, King of the Wild Stallions (1955-1960).
The company was created in 1952 as a partnership between Chicago lawyer (movie financing) Milton Gordon and film producers Edward Small
Edward Small
Edward Small was a film producer from the late 1920s through 1970....
and Leon Fromkess.
The company often worked in association with the British production and distribution company ITC
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
and its sister ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
company Associated TeleVision
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
.
TPA also worked with Jack Wrather
Jack Wrather
John Devereaux "Jack" Wrather, Jr. , was a petroleum millionaire who became a television producer and later diversified by investing in broadcast stations and resort properties...
's companies Wrather-Alvarez Broadcasting, later Jack Wrather Productions, which held the rights to Lassie
Lassie (1954 TV series)
Lassie is an American television series that follows the adventures of a female Rough Collie named Lassie and her companions, human and animal. The show was the creation of producer Robert Maxwell and animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax and was televised from September 12, 1954, to March 24, 1973...
and The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked Texas Ranger who, with his Native American companion Tonto, fights injustice in the American Old West. The character has become an enduring icon of American culture....
.
In September 1958, Independent Television Corporation (a joint venture of Jack Wrather
Jack Wrather
John Devereaux "Jack" Wrather, Jr. , was a petroleum millionaire who became a television producer and later diversified by investing in broadcast stations and resort properties...
and the British Incorporated Television Company
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
(ITC) purchased TPA for $11,350,000. Wrather later (1960?) sold his shares of Independent Television Corporation to ITC.
Programs
TPA and Normandie productions included:- FuryFury (TV series)Fury is an American Western television series that aired on NBC from 1955–1960, starring Peter Graves as Jim Newton , Bobby Diamond as Jim's adopted son, Joey Clark Newton, and William Fawcett as ranch hand Pete Wilkey...
(A black stallion and his boy owner) - The Adventures of Tugboat AnnieThe Adventures of Tugboat AnnieThe Adventures of Tugboat Annie is a 1957 Canadian-filmed television series starring Minerva Urecal as Annie Brennan, the role originated by Marie Dressler in the 1932 screen classic Tugboat Annie....
with the UK's Associated-RediffusionAssociated-RediffusionAssociated-Rediffusion, later Rediffusion, London, was the British ITV contractor for London and parts of the surrounding counties, on weekdays between 1954 and 29 July 1968. Transmissions started on 22 September 1955.-Formation:... - Hawkeye and the Last of the MohicansHawkeye and the Last of the MohicansHawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans is a 1957 Western television series made for syndication by ITC Entertainment and Normandie Productions. It ran for one season of 39 half-hour monochrome episodes...
with ITC - CannonballCannonball (TV series)Cannonball was a 1958 Normandie Productions and ITC Entertainment co-production half-hour family drama series. Filmed in Canada but starring two American actors, the series followed the adventures of Mike Malone and Jerry Austin as they drove trucks across the US and Canada.The series would appear...
with ITC - The New Adventures of Charlie ChanThe New Adventures of Charlie ChanThe New Adventures of Charlie Chan was a syndicated television crime drama series made in 1957. The first five episodes were made by Vision Productions in the United States, before production switched to the United Kingdom under ITC Entertainment and Television Programs of America.The series,...
with ITC - Ramar of the JungleRamar of the JungleFor a related series, see Jungle Jim , starring Johnny Weismuller, Martin Huston, and Dean Fredericks.Ramar of the Jungle was a syndicated American television series that starred Jon Hall as Dr. Tom Reynolds and Ray Montgomery as his associate. Episodes were set in Africa and India...
- The Count of Monte CristoThe Count of Monte Cristo (TV series)The Count of Monte Cristo was a 1956 ITC Entertainment/TPA television series adapted very loosely from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, adapted by Sidney Marshall. It premiered in the UK in early 1956 and ran for 39 thirty minute episodes...
with ITC - New York Confidential with ITC
- Special Agent 7