Herbert F. Solow
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2013) |
Herbert Franklin Solow | |
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Born | |
Spouse | Yvonne Fern (aka Harrison Solow) |
Herbert Franklin Solow (December 14, 1930 – November 19, 2020)[1][2] was an American motion picture and television executive, screenwriter, motion picture and television producer, director and talent agent.
Biography
Solow was born to a Jewish family[3] in New York City.[1] After his graduation from Dartmouth College in 1953, Solow was hired by the William Morris Agency in New York City to work in the mailroom. In 1954, he was promoted to talent agent. Later he was hired by NBC and transferred to Los Angeles in 1960 and was subsequently hired by CBS as Director of Daytime Programs, West Coast. He returned to NBC a year later as Director of Daytime Programs.[4]
The middle 1960s: Desilu before the Paramount merger
In 1964, he joined
At MGM
Solow joined
Later work
After he left MGM, he joined Hanna-Barbera to start a primetime production unit, before spinning it out in 1976.[8][9][10] Solow was the executive producer of the short-lived NBC TV series Man from Atlantis (packaged by his own production company, which was owned by Taft Broadcasting) and produced the award-winning feature-length documentary Elvis: That's the Way It Is, starring Elvis Presley.[11]
Along with Robert H. Justman, he wrote Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, published by Pocket Books in 1996. According to Publishers Weekly, "As told by Solow, Star Trek's executive in charge of production, and Justman, Star Trek's co-producer, this is arguably the definitive history of the TV show ... With plenty of behind-the-scenes material that will be of interest to Trek fans, this book puts a good deal of emphasis on the show's business side, elucidating production difficulties, cost overruns and the seemingly constant debate with NBC over the show's future." Although Solow is often credited with being the first to call Gene Roddenberry "The Great Bird of the Galaxy", drawn from one of George Takei's throwaway lines, as Mr. Sulu, from the original series episode "The Man Trap", it was actually Robert Justman who coined the phrase. Solow thought the name was silly.[12]
Personal life and death
Solow was married to Yvonne Fern Solow, a.k.a. Dr. Harrison Solow, who wrote the book, Gene Roddenberry: The Last Conversation (1994).[13][14] By 2005, Solow and his wife were living in southwest Wales, where he was a part-time lecturer at the media department of the then University of Wales, Lampeter. During her time at Lampeter, Yvonne (Harrison) Solow became Writer-in-Residence and learned Welsh.[15] They returned to Malibu, California, in 2009.
Solow died on November 19, 2020, at the age of 89.[16][17] He is survived by three daughters and one grandson.
Affiliations
Solow was a member of the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and served on the Foreign Film, Documentary, and Special Effects Committees of AMPAS.
References
- ^ a b "Herbert F. Solow • Summary Bibliography". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ Saperstein, Pat (2020-11-20). "Herb Solow, Producer Who Sold 'Star Trek' to NBC, Dies at 89". Variety. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
- ^ "My Jewish Trek" Jewish Journal Sheldon Teitelbaum. March 18, 2015
- ^ Barnes, Mike (2020-11-21). "Herbert F. Solow, Desilu Exec Behind 'Star Trek' and 'Mission: Impossible,' Dies at 89". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
- ^ Ward, ~ Dayton (2020-11-21). "Herbert F. Solow, 1930-2020". The Fog of Ward. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
- ^ Smith, Cecil. (Feb 27, 1969). "Solow Gives MGM Lion Back Its Roar". Los Angeles Times. p. g21.
- ^ Warga, Wayne. (Aug 31, 1969). "Movies: Herbert Solow Strives to Leave His Mark at MGM Herbert Solow and MGM". Los Angeles Times. p. j20.
- ^ "Fates & Fortunes" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 1, 1975. p. 49. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- ^ Shostak, Stu (12-20-2006). "Interview with Mark Evanier". Stu's Show. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
- ^ "Fates & Fortunes" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 24, 1976. p. 63. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- ^ "Herbert F. Solow, TV Exec Behind 'Star Trek' and 'Mission: Impossible,' Dies at 89". Yahoo Entertainment. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
- ^ Simply Syndicated's Starbase 66, Episode 38, Interview with Herb Solow.
- ^ "Star Trek's ex-chief movie praise". BBC News. June 2, 2009. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ISBN 0520088425.
- ^ Carpe Articulum, Literary Review, Vol. 3, Issue 3. pp 24-55 (extended interviews with photos of Herb Solow with Harrison in Lampeter)
- ^ Editors, TrekMovie. "Herbert F. Solow, A Founding Father Of Star Trek, Dies At 89". TrekMovie.com. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
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has generic name (help) - ^ Pedersen, Erik (2020-11-21). "Herbert F. Solow Dies: Exec Who Developed Original 'Star Trek' & Held Senior Posts At Several Top Showbiz Companies Was 88". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
External links
- Herbert F. Solow at IMDb
- Herbert F. Solow at AllMovie
- Herbert F. Solow at Memory Alpha
- Herbert F. Solow at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
- Herbert F. Solow web site
- Herbert F. Solow interview by Peter Anthony Holder (dated September 10, 1996)
- Herbert F. Solow discography at Discogs