Al Martin (January 1, 1897 – October 10, 1971) was an American screenwriter and TV writer known for his work on B-movies across a wide range of genres.

Biography

Martin, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, got his start writing scenarios and titles for silent films, first at Mascot and then at Republic. In the 1940s, he started working for

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr. Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, and screenwriter, ...

, Monogram, Columbia, and Paramount. By the 1950s, he was working on various television shows, in addition to writing sci-fi films for Roger Corman. His final feature was 1958's ''

In the Money In finance, moneyness is the relative position of the current price (or future price) of an underlying asset (e.g., a stock) with respect to the strike price of a derivative, most commonly a call option or a put option. Moneyness is firstly a thr ...

'', a Bowery Boys film. He had a son, Harvey Martin, with his first wife, Mildred Seib. After Mildred's death, he married Helen Abrams, who he co-wrote '' Invisible Ghost'' with. He once held a party for his dog at the Knickerbocker Hotel, and invited notable A-listers like

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway theatre, Broadway. Crawford was si ...

and their dogs.

Selected TV credits

* ''

Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...

'' (TV series) (1967) * ''

My Favorite Martian ''My Favorite Martian'' is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 29, 1963, to May 1, 1966, for 107 episodes. The show stars Ray Walston as "Uncle Martin" (the Martian) and Bill Bixby as Tim O'Hara. The first two seasons, totalin ...

'' (TV series) (1964–1965) * ''

My Living Doll ''My Living Doll'' is an American science-fiction sitcom that aired for 26 episodes on CBS from September 27, 1964, to March 17, 1965. It was produced by Jack Chertok and filmed at Desilu studios by Jack Chertok Television Productions, in associ ...

'' (TV series) (1964) * '' Laramie'' (TV series) (1960) * '' Troubleshooters'' (TV series) (1959–1960) * ''

77 Sunset Strip ''77 Sunset Strip'' is an American television private detective drama series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Roger Smith, Richard Long (from 1960 to 1961) and Edd Byrnes (billed as Edward Byrnes). Each episode was o ...

'' (TV series) (1959) * ''

The Restless Gun ''The Restless Gun'' is an American Western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Civil War. A skilled gunfighter, Bonner is a ...

'' (TV series) (1958) * ''

Cavalcade of America ''Cavalcade of America'' is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company, although it occasionally presented musicals, such as an adaptation of ''Show Boat'', and condensed biographies of popular composers. It was initially ...

'' (TV show) (1957) * ''

The Roy Rogers Show ''The Roy Rogers Show'' is an American western television series starring Roy Rogers. 100 episodes were broadcast on NBC for six seasons between December 30, 1951 and June 9, 1957. The episodes were set in the prevailing times (1950s) in the st ...

'' (TV series) (1956–1957) * '' Damon Runyon Theater'' (TV series) (1955) * ''

Ford Theatre ''Ford Theatre'', spelled ''Ford Theater'' for the original radio version and known, in full, as ''The Ford Television Theatre'' for the TV version, is a radio and television anthology series broadcast in the United States in the 1940s and 1950 ...

'' (TV series) (1955) * '' Mayor of the Town'' (TV series) (1954) * ''

Ramar of the Jungle ''Ramar of the Jungle'' is an American television series that starred Jon Hall as Dr. Tom ReynoldsMcNeil, Alex (1996). ''Total Television''. Penguin Books USA, Inc. . P. 683. (the titular "ramar" being an African title for a white medicine man). ...

'' (TV series) (1954) * ''

The Stu Erwin Show ''The Stu Erwin Show'' (also known as ''Trouble with Father'') is an American sitcom which aired on ABC from 1950 to 1955. Only four of the series’ five seasons on the network included new episodes; the 1953–54 season consisted entirely of re ...

'' (TV series) (1951–1953)

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1958) * ''

Invasion of the Saucer Men ''Invasion of the Saucer Men'' (U.K. title: ''Invasion of the Hell Creatures''; working title: ''Spacemen Saturday Night''), is a 1957 black-and-white comic science fiction/horror film produced by James H. Nicholson for release by American Int ...

'' (1957) * ''

Army Bound ''Army Bound'' is a 1952 American drama film directed by Paul Landres and written by Al Martin. The film stars Stanley Clements, Karen Sharpe, Steve Brodie, Jeffrey Stone, Harry Hayden, Lela Bliss and Gil Stratton. The film was released on Oct ...

'' (1952) * ''

Amazon Quest ''Amazon Quest'' is a 1949 American adventure film directed by Steve Sekely and written by Al Martin. The film stars Tom Neal, Carole Mathews, Carole Donne, Don Zelaya, Ralph Graves, Joseph Crehan, Jack George, Joseph Granby, Edward Clark and Jul ...

'' (1949) * '' Racing Luck'' (1948) * ''

The Strange Mrs. Crane ''The Strange Mrs. Crane'' is a 1948 American film noir directed by Sam Newfield (credited as Sherman Scott) for Eagle-Lion Films. Plot The Al Martin–penned murder drama centers around a gubernatorial candidate's wife's ex-partner's fiancé ...

'' (1948) * ''

Rusty Leads the Way ''Rusty Leads the Way'' is a 1948 American drama film directed by Will Jason and starring Ted Donaldson, Sharyn Moffett and John Litel. It is part of the Rusty film series.Blottner p.286 Plot Cast * Ted Donaldson as Danny Mitchell * Sharyn M ...

'' (1948) * ''

My Dog Rusty ''My Dog Rusty'' is a 1948 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring Ted Donaldson, John Litel and Ann Doran. It was part of the eight-film Rusty series of films produced by Columbia Pictures, about a boy and his valiant German Sh ...

'' (1948) * ''

The Son of Rusty ''The Son of Rusty'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring Ted Donaldson, Stephen Dunne and Ann Doran. It was part of Columbia Pictures' eight-film Rusty series about a boy and his valiant German Shepherd. Plot Dann ...

'' (1947) * ''

Blondie Knows Best ''Blondie Knows Best'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, and Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is the eighteenth of the 28 Blondie films. Plot Dagwood is under the threat of ...

'' (1946) * ''

A Guy Could Change ''A Guy Could Change'' is a 1946 American drama film starring Allan Lane and Jane Frazee. The supporting cast features 13-year-old Robert Blake (billed as "Bobby Blake"), Wallace Ford, Adele Mara and Gerald Mohr. ''A Guy Could Change'' was the ...

'' (1946) * '' Carolina Blues'' (1944) * ''

Nine Girls ''Nine Girls'' is a 1944 American mystery film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Ann Harding, Evelyn Keyes and Jinx Falkenburg.Blottner p.167 Karen DeWolf, Connie Lee, and Al Martin wrote the script, which was based on a play by Wilfred H. Peti ...

'' (1944) * '' A Gentle Gangster'' (1943) * ''

The Devil with Hitler ''The Devil with Hitler'' (released in Great Britain as ''The Devil Checks Up'') is a black-and-white 1942 comedy short propaganda film that was one of Hal Roach's Streamliners short film series. When the board of directors of Hell want Adolf Hitl ...

'' (1942) * '' Mississippi Gambler'' (1942) * '' Gang Buster'' (1942) * ''

The Mad Doctor of Market Street ''The Mad Doctor of Market Street'' is a 1942 American horror film produced by Universal Pictures starring Lionel Atwill. The film was a low-budget project that utilized the studio's contract players and gave rising director Joseph H. Lewis an ...

'' (1942) * ''

Stagecoach Buckaroo ''Stagecoach Buckaroo'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and written by Al Martin. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Nell O'Day, Anne Nagel, Herbert Rawlinson and Glenn Strange. The film was released on Feb ...

'' (1942) * '' Invisible Ghost'' (1941) * ''

Flying Wild ''Flying Wild'' (aka ''The East Side Kids in Flying Wild'' and ''Air Devils'') is a 1941 film directed by William Beaudine under the pseudonym "William West" as the fifth installment of the East Side Kids series which eventually totaled 22 fi ...

'' (1941) * '' Caught in the Act'' (1941) * '' The Last Alarm'' (1940) * ''

Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus ''Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline, based on the book of the same name by George W. Peck, one of his stories of Peck's Bad Boy. Plot summary Bill Peck receives ten dollars from his ...

'' (1938) * ''

The Shadow Strikes ''The Shadow Strikes'' is a 1937 black and white American film based on the story ''Ghost of the Manor'' written by Walter B. Gibson under the pen name Maxwell Grant The Shadow was featured on a popular radio show and also as a pulp magazine ...

'' (1937) * ''

Island Captives ''Island Captives'' is a 1937 American adventure film directed by Paul Kerschner and written by Al Martin. The film stars Edward Nugent, Joan Barclay, Henry Brandon, Charles King, Forrest Taylor and Carmen Laroux. The film was released on July ...

'' (1937) * ''

Trail Dust ''Trail Dust'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Nate Watt, written by Al Martin, and starring William Boyd, James Ellison, George "Gabby" Hayes, Morris Ankrum, Gwynne Shipman, Britt Wood and Dick Dickson. It was released on Decembe ...

'' (1936) * '' Kelly of the Secret Service'' (1936) * '' Prison Shadows'' (1936) * '' The Law Rides'' (1936) * ''Framed'' (1936) * '' The Rogues' Tavern'' (1936) * '' Taming the Wild'' (1936) * ''

A Face in the Fog ''A Face in the Fog'' is a 1936 American film directed by Robert F. Hill. Plot June Collyer (her last film) plays a meddlesome reporter who claims she can recognize "the fiend" because she saw his face in the fog (in a mirror). She becomes his ...

'' (1936) * '' The Fighting Coward'' (1935) * '' Bars of Hate'' (1935) * '' Danger Ahead'' (1935) * ''

What Price Crime ''What Price Crime'' or ''What Price Crime?'' is a 1935 American crime film directed by Albert Herman and starring Charles Starrett, Noel Madison and Virginia Cherrill.Pitts p.57 Cast * Charles Starrett as Allen Grey * Noel Madison as Douglas ...

'' (1935) * ''

The Devil on Wheels ''The Devil On Wheels'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by Crane Wilbur and starring Darryl Hickman. In addition to being the first film about street racing youth, it is also notable for being one of the first films to feature actresses ...

'' (1934) * '' The Lost Jungle'' (1934) * ''

The Wolf Dog ''The Wolf Dog'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Mascot film serial directed by Colbert Clark and Harry L. Fraser and starring Frankie Darro and Rin Tin Tin, Jr. The plot concerns a young boy becoming the heir to a fortune and a villain attempting t ...

'' (1933) * '' The Bachelor's Club'' (1929) * ''

Riley of the Rainbow Division ''Riley of the Rainbow Division'' is a 1928 American silent war comedy film directed by Bobby Ray and starring Creighton Hale, Al Alt and Pauline Garon.Munden p.644 In Britain, it was released under the alternative title of ''Flappers in Khaki ...

'' (1928) *''

The Speed Classic ''The Speed Classic'' is a 1928 American silent action film directed by Bruce M. Mitchell and starring Rex Lease, Mildred Harris and Mitchell Lewis. Synopsis A young man obsessed with cars is dumped by his girlfriend, and goes on a binge in ...

'' (1928) * ''

Dugan of the Dugouts ''Dugan of the Dugouts'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Bobby Ray and starring Pauline Garon, Danny O'Shea and Ernest Hilliard.Munden p.206 It was one of two films directed by Ray, a former silent-era film comedian, who late ...

'' (1928) * ''

The Albany Night Boat ''The Albany Night Boat'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Alfred Raboch and starring Olive Borden, Ralph Emerson and Duke Martin.Connelly p.7 It was produced and distributed by the independent Tiffany Pictures, one of the lar ...

'' (1928)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Al 1897 births 1971 deaths American television writers People from Milwaukee 20th-century American screenwriters