Sports on Television (The Praeger Television Collection)

MARILL, Alvin H.

Sports & Outdoors

Praeger

In the years immediately following World War II, NBC's legendary David Sarnoff and his cross-town equal, CBS's William S. Paley, decided that American television would be identified with quality live drama surrounded by news, light entertainment (in the form of variety and quiz shows), and family-oriented series generally spun off from radio. That initial vision eroded over the years and decades, but the dramatic part of this equation endured well into the 1960s, when, with NBC's Project 120 (which commissioned movies expressly for television in 120-minute doses), the genres known as Movies Made for Television and the miniseries emerged. Today, as Angels in America, Band of Brothers, Into the West, and Lackawanna Blues continue to draw huge cable audiences, the television movie and anthology drama is now in a unique position to represent, in a simple and direct way, the various states of the television industry itself over the past 60 years. This volume covers all of the important landmarks in the genre, from Kraft Television Theater to Roots to Rome, and provides a parallel history of the relevant events in television and American culture that helped to ensure the popularity and viability of this genre over time.
Until the early 1980s-when Cable began fragmenting the television audience-the three major networks had the airwaves mainly to themselves; but with Cable now on the scene, dramatic productions began falling victim to the bottom line. But just when it seemed that Cable was finally going to succeed in killing off such programming forever, it has itself come to play the savior to the genre; and now pay cable channels like HBO and Showtime (not subject to the same FCC restrictions as the original networks) thrive on such dramas as Angels in America, Band of Brothers, Into the West, and Lackawanna Blues. After making its several transitions across channels and decades and formats, the television movie is now in a unique position to represent, in a simple and direct way, the various states of the television industry itself over the past 60 years.

Big Pictures on the Small Screen: Made-for-TV Movies and Anthology Dramas (The Praeger Television Collection)

Humor & Entertainment

Television

Television has always augmented its dramatic and variety programming with sports. After covering wrestling and boxing matches for several years, ABC added the hugely popular Roller Derby between 1949 and 1951, and later, college and pro football. Today, there is a multitude of pay and cable networks devoted exclusively to baseball, football, golf, hockey, tennis, ice-skating, and auto racing. Rather than focusing on live sports broadcasts, however, this book chronicles the history of sports-themed comedies and dramas, to see how our national fictions have affected our authentic sports experiences, and vice versa.
Sports dominate the television landscape today, and still the demand for more is so great that pay and cable networks continue to find funding and success, even when devoted exclusively to a single sport. But this is really nothing new: television has always augmented its dramatic and variety programming with sports. Live sports have had a tremendous impact on what we see on television, and on how we see it. Rather than focusing on live sports broadcasts, however, this book takes a critical look at sports-themed comedies and dramas, to see how our authentic sports affect our national fictions as well. From the character studies that supplement Olympic coverage, to nightly highlight reels, to reality programming on ESPN, sports both echo and help shape the myths that pervade our culture. Sports on Television covers the changing relationship between live sports broadcasts and television dramas, as well as the important technological developments and cultural shifts that have changed the way we view the reality of sports.
In 1949, after covering wrestling and boxing matches for several years, ABC added the hugely popular Roller Derby, and later moved on to college and pro football, where humble beginnings have since developed into a national obsession. In the early sixties Jimmy Stewart played a disgraced baseball player in Flashing Spikes-which was also one of the rare ventures into television for veteran director John Ford. On HBO the Yankees have been the subject of both 61* - about Roger Maris's quest to top Babe Ruth's home run record - and The Bronx Is Burning, about the 1977 Yankees team. And there have been sports-themed TV sitcoms as well, such as Sports Night, Aaron Sorkin's critically lauded but commercially unsuccessful project, which preceded his work on The West Wing. Meanwhile American Gladiators―a strange blend of canned programming and authentic athletic endeavor that in effect puts television audiences in an arena with what amounts to professional athletes―is quickly becoming one of the most popular shows on primetime. Here, Marill gives due time to all of these unique projects.

Paperback, as pictured; mild shelf wear (bio)

Katharine Hepburn

Star Books/W.H.Allen

Samuel Goldwyn presents

A.S. Barnes

Robert Mitchum on the screen

In a remarkable career spanning four decades, Katharine Hepburn has dazzled filmgoers as an enchanting comedienne often caught up in romance and rivalry with Spencer Tracy, and as a dramatic actress of rare sensitivity. In this profusely illustred book, Alvin H. Marill appraises her nearly forty films and captures the magic and the unique essence of the durable star.

Katharine Hepburn, (Pyramid illustrated history of the movies)

Biographies & Memoirs

Pyramid Publications

Diminutive Mickey Rooney has been in show business for more than 80 years as actor, producer, writer, composer, and director. His still-active career spans vaudeville, radio, television, the stage, and movies such as It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, The Black Stallion, and The Bridges at Toko-Ri. He won two Golden Globes and an Emmy and has received or been nominated for many other awards. From leading a 17-piece band to writing a novel, Rooney has been dispensing earthy wisdom and good humor in the public eye for many decades. Part biography and part reference tool, this richly illustrated work covers Rooney’s life from his birth in 1920 and first stage appearance 16 months later to his television and film appearances in 2004. It discusses both his professional and personal life and includes information drawn from interviews with his peers, including Spring Byington, Jackie Cooper, and Ann Rutherford. Five appendices conclude the work: a detailed filmography of his more than 170 features and 65 shorts, each listing credits and a brief commentary, plus assorted reviews; listings of all his radio, television, and stage work; and a discography of his recorded work.

Mickey Rooney: His Films, Television Appearances, Radio Work, Stage Shows, and Recordings

Arts & Literature

McFarland

Synopses and stills from each of Poitier's films are accompanied by a brief biography and a look at his performances on stage and television

The Films of Sidney Poitier

LYLE STUART +

Surveys Robinson's life and discusses each of his films in detail, as well as listing his stage, radio, and television performances

Complete Films of Edward G. Robinson

Carol Pub. Group

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by MARILL, Alvin H.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by MARILL, Alvin H.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by MARILL, Alvin H.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Sports on Television (The Praeger Television Collection)

Big Pictures on the Small Screen: Made-for-TV Movies and Anthology Dramas (The Praeger Television Collection)

Sports on Television (The Praeger Television Collection)

Katharine Hepburn

Samuel Goldwyn presents

Robert Mitchum on the screen

Katharine Hepburn, (Pyramid illustrated history of the movies)

Mickey Rooney: His Films, Television Appearances, Radio Work, Stage Shows, and Recordings

The Films of Sidney Poitier

Complete Films of Edward G. Robinson