Antony Ellis
Antony "Tony" Ellis (March 1, 1920 – September 26, 1967), born Antony Ellis Jacobs, was a writer, director, and producer of radio and television shows.[1][2][3]
Biography
[edit]Ellis was born in England on March 1, 1920.[1] He later moved to the United States and became a naturalized American citizen.[4]
Radio career
[edit]He began his entertainment career as an actor, but transitioned to writing. He was known for his radio scripts for the shows Escape, Suspense, Gunsmoke, Pursuit, and Romance, On Stage, Crime Classics, Hallmark Hall of Fame, and CBS Radio Workshop.[1][5][6] He wrote, directed, and produced the well-regarded series Frontier Gentleman.[1][7]
Variety wrote of the 1950 episode "A Sleeping Draft" for Suspense: "Scripter Ellis sustained chills via his suspenseful script".[8]
When he took over running Suspense from Elliott Lewis, Ellis focused on science fiction rather than noir.[9] He adapted Ray Bradbury stories for radio.[10] He took over producing Escape for William Froug in 1956.[11]
Television and film career
[edit]He produced and wrote for Zane Grey Theatre and Black Saddle. He was a producer of Michael Shayne.[12][13] He wroteThe Monroes, A Man Called Shenandoah, and Arrest and Trial.[13]
For television, Ellis wrote scripts for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and four episodes of Gunsmoke.[14]
His sole feature film screenplay was The Ride Back (1957).[13] Variety's review said, "The unusual Antony Ellis yarn almost fails in the art house vein. With special handling the film conceivably could tape this field for favorable results. It's a simple story Ellis tells and under Allen H. Miner's leisurely direction it slowly unfolds in a fatalistic atmosphere".[15]
Ellis was involved with the Writers Guild of America West. He was elected vice-president of the radio writers branch in 1954 and secretary-treasurer in 1958.[16][17][18]
Personal life and death
[edit]Ellis was married to Georgia Ellis; they met while appearing at the Pasadena Playhouse. She played Miss Kitty in the Gunsmoke radio series.[14][19][4][3][20] They had a son, Jonathan.[21]
Ellis died of cancer on September 26, 1967, in Big Bear, California.[7][13] He was survived by his wife, Janice Pickard Ellis; by his son from his marriage to Georgia Ellis; two daughters; brother; and mother.[13][22]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Ellett, Ryan (2017-12-01). Radio Drama and Comedy Writers, 1928-1962. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-6593-1.
- ^ Shreve, Ivan G. (February 2, 2022). ""Herewith, an Englishman's account of life and death in the West…" | Radio Classics". Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ a b Palmer, Zuma (1953-09-02). "Radio more than ever gratifying to writer-director". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ a b Shreve, Ivan G. (March 1, 2016). "Happy Birthday, Antony Ellis!". Radio Spirits. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ Echols, Katherine Barnes (2017-08-23). King Arthur and Robin Hood on the Radio: Adaptations for American Listeners. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-3000-7.
- ^ Dave. "Radio Review: Lux Hour of Romance and Mystery". Variety . June 11, 1952. 187, 1. Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. pg. 26. Via Proquest.
- ^ a b French, Jack; Siegel, David S. (2013-11-05). Radio Rides the Range: A Reference Guide to Western Drama on the Air, 1929-1967. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-1254-6.
- ^ Edba. "Radio Review: Escape". Variety. October 4, 1950. 180, 4. Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. Pg. 30. Via Proquest.
- ^ Samerdyke, Michael (2014-05-16). Horror 213. Lulu Press, Inc. ISBN 978-1-312-19661-2.
- ^ Eller, Jonathan R. (2014-09-30). Ray Bradbury Unbound. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-09663-1.
- ^ At deadline: People. Broadcasting, Telecasting. May 7, 1956. 50, 19. Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. Pg. 9. Via Proquest.
- ^ "Antony Ellis Signed As 'Shayne' Producer". The Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood. Vol. 162, Iss. 35. November 9, 1960. P. 7. Via Proquest.
- ^ a b c d e "Obituaries". Variety. October 4, 1967. 248, 7. Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. Pg. 62a. Via Proquest.
- ^ a b Tranberg, Charles. William Conrad: A Life & Career. BearManor Media.
- ^ Gilb. "Film Reviews: The Ride Back". Variety. May 1, 1957. 206, 9. Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. Pg. 7. Via Proquest.
- ^ "Personnel relations". Broadcasting. June 2, 1958. 54, 22. Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. Pg. 84. Via Proquest.
- ^ TV-Radio writers nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood. Vol. 131, Iss. 27. October 6, 1954. P. 7. Via Proquest.
- ^ "Writers Guild of America Elects Richard Breen Prez". The Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood. Vol. 132, Iss. 9. November 19, 1954. 1, 4. Via Proquest.
- ^ Palmer, Zuma (1955-07-12). "One more vacation comes to an end". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. p. 24. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ Palmer, Zuma (1953-09-03). "Requirements for good acting defined by writer, director Ellis". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ "Radio Review: From the Production Centres". Variety. July 20, 1955. 199, 7. Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. Pg. 30. Via Proquest.
- ^ "Missing Persons". WGA West Newsletter. Los Angeles. June 1973. p. 3. Via Proquest.
External links
[edit]- Antony Ellis at IMDb