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Leslie Herbert Martinson (January 16, 1915 – September 3, 2016) was an American television and film director.


Career

Martinson was born to Gertrude and Lewis Martinson in
Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
,
Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
on January 16, 1915. He had a brother named Bertram. He was a
newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as p ...
journalist before accepting a long-term job as an
MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...
script clerk in 1936. He began directing TV western series in the early 1950s. His first feature film assignment was Republic Pictures' 1954 film ''
The Atomic Kid ''The Atomic Kid'' is a 1954 American black-and-white science fiction comedy film directed by Leslie H. Martinson and starring Mickey Rooney and Robert Strauss. It was distributed by Republic Pictures and produced by Maurice Duke and Mickey ...
'', a Mickey Rooney matinée vehicle. Beginning with episodes of the series ''
Conflict Conflict may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Conflict'' (1921 film), an American silent film directed by Stuart Paton * ''Conflict'' (1936 film), an American boxing film starring John Wayne * ''Conflict'' (1937 film) ...
'', Martinson became a prolific director for
Warner Brothers Television Warner Bros. Television Studios (operating under the name Warner Bros. Television; formerly known as Warner Bros. Television Division) is an American television production and distribution studio of the Warner Bros. Television Group division o ...
. In 1954-1955, he directed the first of Mickey Rooney's three failed situation comedy
television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...
entitled ''The Mickey Rooney Show: Hey, Mulligan''. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Martinson continued directing feature films and episodic television including ''
Maverick Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to: History * Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick Aviation * AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design * General Aviation Design Burea ...
'', '' PT 109'', '' Temple Houston'', '' Batman'', '' Mission: Impossible'', '' Mannix'', ''
Diff'rent Strokes ''Diff'rent Strokes'' is an American television sitcom, which aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackso ...
'', and the
made-for-TV movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...
, ''
Rescue from Gilligan's Island ''Rescue from Gilligan's Island'' is a 1978 made-for-television comedy film that continues the adventures of the shipwrecked castaways from the 1964–67 sitcom '' Gilligan's Island'', starring Bob Denver and Alan Hale, Jr., and featuring all th ...
''. During the 1980s, Martinson directed episodes of ''
Harper Valley PTA "Harper Valley P.T.A." is a country song written by Tom T. Hall which in 1968 became a major international hit single for country singer Jeannie C. Riley. Riley's record, her debut, sold over six million copies as a single, and it made her the f ...
'', ''
CHiPs ''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. It follows the lives of two motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The seri ...
'', and ''
Airwolf ''Airwolf'' is an American action military drama television series that centers on a high-technology military helicopter, code-named ''Airwolf'', and its crew. The show follows them as they undertake various exotic missions, many involving e ...
''. Martinson was President Emeritus of the West Coast Jewish Theatre.


Personal life

He was married to television host and writer
Connie Martinson Constance Frye "Connie" Martinson (born April 11, 1932) is an American writer and television personality. Since its 1979 debut, she has hosted the syndicated television show ''Connie Martinson Talks Books'', which airs on public television. A memb ...
. They resided in Beverly Hills, California. He turned 100 on January 16, 2015 and died on September 3, 2016 at the age of 101. Prior to his marriage to Connie, Leslie was married to Louise Fish.


Filmography


Director

*'' City Detective'' (Unknown episodes, 1953) *''
Cowboy G-Men ''Cowboy G-Men'' is an American Western series that aired in syndication from September 1952 to June 1953, for a total of thirty-nine episodes. Synopsis Russell Hayden and former child actor Jackie Coogan (who would later perform as Uncle Feste ...
'' (1 episode, 1953) *''
General Electric Theater ''General Electric Theater'' was an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations. Radio After an audition show ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1953) *''
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse ''The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse'' is an American dramatic anthology series that aired on ABC from 1953 to 1955, sponsored by Pepsi-Cola. The show was hosted by Arlene Dahl (1953), Anita Colby (1954), and, finally, Polly Bergen (1955). Initially the s ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1953) *'' Topper'' (Unknown episodes, 1953) *''
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 ...
'' (11 episodes, 1953–1954) *''The Mickey Rooney Show: Hey, Mulligan'' (1 episode, 1954) *''
The Atomic Kid ''The Atomic Kid'' is a 1954 American black-and-white science fiction comedy film directed by Leslie H. Martinson and starring Mickey Rooney and Robert Strauss. It was distributed by Republic Pictures and produced by Maurice Duke and Mickey ...
'' (1954) *''TV Reader's Digest'' (Unknown episodes, 1955) *'' The Millionaire'' (Unknown episodes, 1955) *'' Damon Runyon Theater'' (Unknown episodes, 1955) *''Crusader'' (Unknown episodes, 1955) *''
Hot Rod Girl ''Hot Rod Girl'' is an independent, black-and-white 1956 teen-oriented action film produced by Norman T. Herman, directed by Leslie H. Martinson and released by American International Pictures as a double feature with '' Girls in Prison''. ''Hot ...
'' (1956) *'' Tales of Wells Fargo'' (2 episodes, 1957) *''
Conflict Conflict may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Conflict'' (1921 film), an American silent film directed by Stuart Paton * ''Conflict'' (1936 film), an American boxing film starring John Wayne * ''Conflict'' (1937 film) ...
'' (3 episodes, 1957) *''
Hot Rod Rumble ''Hot Rod Rumble'' is a US, low budget, black-and-white 1957 teen-oriented drag racing crime drama produced by Norman T. Herman and directed by Leslie H. Martinson. It stars Leigh Snowden and Richard Hartunian. The film tells the story of a cla ...
'' (1957) *''
Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. Their Cheyenne language belongs to the Algonquian language family. Today, the Cheyenne people are split into two federally recognized nations: the Southern Cheyenne, who are enr ...
'' (8 episodes, 1956–1957) *'' Colt .45'' (1 episode, 1958) *''
Maverick Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to: History * Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick Aviation * AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design * General Aviation Design Burea ...
'' (10 episodes, 1957–1959) *''
Sugarfoot ''Sugarfoot'' is an American Western television series that aired for 69 episodes on ABC from 1957-1961 on Tuesday nights on a "shared" slot basis – rotating with ''Cheyenne'' (first season); ''Cheyenne'' and ''Bronco'' (second season); and ...
'' (8 episodes, 1957–1959) *'' Lawman'' (7 episodes, 1958–1959) *''
The Alaskans ''The Alaskans'' is a 1959–1960 ABC/Warner Bros. western television series set during the late 1890s in the port of Skagway, Alaska. The show features Roger Moore as "Silky Harris" and Jeff York as "Reno McKee", a pair of adventurers int ...
'' (1 episode, 1960) *'' Bourbon Street Beat'' (4 episodes, 1959–1960) *''
Surfside 6 ''Surfside 6'' is an ABC television series which aired from 1960 to 1962. The show centered on a Miami Beach detective agency set on a houseboat and featured Troy Donahue as Sandy Winfield II; Van Williams as Kenny Madison (a character recyc ...
'' (1 episode, 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 ...
'' (3 episodes, 1958–1961) *'' Hawaiian Eye'' (1 episode, 1961) *'' The Roaring 20s'' (3 episodes, 1960–1961) *''
Bronco A bucking horse is any breed or either gender of horse with a propensity to buck. They have been, and still are, referred to by various names, including bronco, broncho, and roughstock. The harder they buck, the more desirable they are for rod ...
'' (2 episodes, 1958–1962) *'' Lad A Dog'' (1962) *'' Room for One More'' (4 episodes, 1962) *''Black Gold'' (1962) *''
FBI Code 98 ''FBI Code 98'' is a 1962 crime drama directed by Leslie H. Martinson and produced by Warner Bros. Originally intended as television pilot, the film was instead released theatrically in the United Kingdom in 1962, and in the United States in 1963. ...
'' (1963) *''
The Gallant Men ''The Gallant Men'' is a 1962–1963 ABC Warner Bros. Television series which depicted an infantry company of American soldiers fighting their way through Italy in World War II. Description ''The Gallant Men'' dramatized the experiences of the ...
'' (1 episode, 1963) *'' PT 109'' (1963) *'' The Greatest Show on Earth'' (Unknown episodes, 1963) *'' Temple Houston'' (6 episodes, 1963–1964) *''
Kraft Suspense Theatre The ''Kraft Suspense Theatre'' is an American television anthology series that was produced and broadcast from 1963 to 1965 on NBC. Sponsored by Kraft Foods, it was seen three weeks out of every four and was pre-empted for Perry Como's '' Kraft ...
'' (1 episode, 1964) *''For Those Who Think Young'' (1964) *''
No Time for Sergeants ''No Time for Sergeants'' is a 1954 best-selling novel by Mac Hyman, which was later adapted into a teleplay on ''The United States Steel Hour'', a popular Broadway play and 1958 motion picture, as well as a 1964 television series. The book chro ...
'' (1 episode, 1964) *''
Hank Hank is a male given name. It may have been inspired by the Dutch name Henk,The Origins of 10 Nicknam ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1965) *'' Run for Your Life'' (3 episodes, 1965) *''The Double Life of Henry Phyfe'' (Unknown episodes, 1966) *'' Batman'' (2 episodes, 1966) *'' Mister Roberts'' (4 episodes, 1966) *'' Batman: The Movie'' (1966) *''
The Green Hornet The Green Hornet is a superhero created in 1936 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell. Since his 1930s radio debut, the character has appeared in numerous serialized dramas in a wide variety of med ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1966) *''Wonder Woman: Who's Afraid of Diana Prince?'' (1967) *'' Fathom'' (1967) *'' The Outcasts'' (1 episode, 1969) *''
The Courtship of Eddie's Father ''The Courtship of Eddie's Father'' is an American sitcom based on the 1963 film of the same name, which was based on a novel by Mark Toby (edited by Dorothy Wilson). The series is about a widower, Tom Corbett (played by Bill Bixby), who is a ...
'' (1 episode, 1969) *''The Challengers'' (1970) *'' The Immortal'' (3 episodes, 1970) *''
Alias Smith and Jones ''Alias Smith and Jones'' is an American Western series that originally aired on ABC from January 1971 to January 1973. The show initially starred Pete Duel as Hannibal Heyes and Ben Murphy as Jedediah "Kid" Curry, outlaw cousins who are tryin ...
'' (1 episode, 1971) *'' Mrs. Pollifax-Spy'' (1971) *''
The Chicago Teddy Bears ''The Chicago Teddy Bears'' is an American sitcom that aired on CBS. The series was part of the network's 1971 fall lineup, premiering on September 17, 1971. Synopsis Unlike other shows set in Prohibition-era Chicago, ''The Chicago Teddy Bears' ...
'' (1 episode, 1971) *'' Longstreet'' (1 episode, 1971) *''How to Steal an Airplane'' (1971) *'' Ironside'' (3 episodes, 1971) *'' Ghost Story'' (1 episode, 1972) *'' Love, American Style'' (4 episodes, 1970–1972) *''
Room 222 ''Room 222'' is an American comedy-drama television series produced by 20th Century Fox Television that aired on ABC for 112 episodes, from September 17, 1969 until January 11, 1974. The show was broadcast on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 ( EST) fo ...
'' (1 episode, 1972) *''
And Millions Will Die ''...And Millions Will Die!'' (aka "And Millions Die") is a 1973 Australian television film directed by Leslie H. Martinson. It was shot in Hong Kong. Premise Nazi war criminal Franz Kessler (Joseph Furst), a wealthy germ warfare expert livin ...
'' (1973) *''
Barnaby Jones ''Barnaby Jones'' is an American detective television series starring Buddy Ebsen as a formerly retired investigator and Lee Meriwether as his widowed daughter-in-law, who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles, California. The show was o ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1973) *'' Mission: Impossible'' (9 episodes, 1971–1973) *''
The Brady Bunch ''The Brady Bunch'' is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz that aired from September 26, 1969, to March 8, 1974, on ABC. The series revolves around a large blended family with six children. The show aired for five seasons and, afte ...
'' (1 episode, 1973) *''
The Return of Charlie Chan ''The Return of Charlie Chan'' (also known as ''Happiness Is a Warm Clue'') is a 1973 American television film. It was directed by Daryl Duke and stars Ross Martin, Richard Haydn, Louise Sorel, and Leslie Nielsen. Plot Charlie Chan investigates ...
'' (Uncredited, 1973) *''
Dusty's Trail ''Dusty's Trail'' is an American Western/ comedy series starring Bob Denver and Forrest Tucker that aired in syndication from September 1973 to March 1974. The series is a western-themed reworking of Denver's previous series '' Gilligan's Island'' ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1973) *'' The Magician'' (Unknown episodes, 1973) *'' Mannix'' (8 episodes, 1969–1974) *''
The Swiss Family Robinson ''The Swiss Family Robinson'' (German: ''Der Schweizerische Robinson'') is a novel by Johann David Wyss, first published in 1812, about a Swiss family of immigrants whose ship en route to Port Jackson, Australia, goes off course and is shipwre ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1975) *''
The Six Million Dollar Man ''The Six Million Dollar Man'' is an American science fiction and action television series, running from 1973 to 1978, about a former astronaut, USAF Colonel Steve Austin, portrayed by Lee Majors. After a NASA test flight accident, Austin is re ...
'' (1 episode, 1975) *''
Cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...
'' (1 episode, 1975) *''
Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1976) *''
Quincy, M.E. ''Quincy, M.E.'' (also called ''Quincy'') is an American mystery medical drama television series from Universal Studios that aired on NBC from October 3, 1976, to May 11, 1983. Jack Klugman starred in the title role as a Los Angeles County med ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1976) *''
Most Wanted Most Wanted may refer to: Law enforcement A most wanted list used by a law enforcement agency to alert the public, such as: *FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives *FBI Most Wanted Terrorists *ICE Most Wanted *List of Mexico's 37 most-wanted drug lords *Lis ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1976) *''Escape from Angola'' (1976) *''
Code R ''Code R'' is an American action-adventure television series that aired on CBS from January 21 to June 10, 1977. ''Code R'' focuses on the emergency services (police, fire, and ocean rescue) of the California Channel Islands. The series starred ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1977) *''
Eight Is Enough ''Eight Is Enough'' is an American television comedy-drama series that ran on ABC from March 15, 1977, until May 23, 1981. The show was modeled on the life of syndicated newspaper columnist Tom Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, who ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1977) *''
Bigfoot and Wildboy ''Bigfoot and Wildboy'' was a live action children's television series on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. It began in 1977 as a part of ''The Krofft Supershow'' on Saturday mornings. Each episode was 15 minutes long, with cliffhanger endings ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1977) *''Missile X - Geheimauftrag Neutronenbombe'' (1978) *''
Fantasy Island ''Fantasy Island'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Gene Levitt. It aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tattoo. ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1978) *''
Rescue from Gilligan's Island ''Rescue from Gilligan's Island'' is a 1978 made-for-television comedy film that continues the adventures of the shipwrecked castaways from the 1964–67 sitcom '' Gilligan's Island'', starring Bob Denver and Alan Hale, Jr., and featuring all th ...
'' (1978) *''
Diff'rent Strokes ''Diff'rent Strokes'' is an American television sitcom, which aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackso ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1978) *''
The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo ''The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo'' is an American action comedy television series that ran on NBC from September 18, 1979, to May 5, 1981. For its second season the show was renamed ''Lobo''. The program aired Tuesday nights, at 8:00p.m. Easte ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1979) *''Big Shamus, Little Shamus'' (Unknown episodes, 1979) *'' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' (1 episode, 1979) *''
Young Maverick ''Young Maverick'' is a 1979 television series and a sequel to the 1957–1962 series ''Maverick'', which had starred James Garner as roving gambler Bret Maverick. Charles Frank played Ben Maverick, the son of Bret's first cousin Beau Maverick, ma ...
'' (1 episode, 1979) *''
Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
'' (4 episodes, 1979–1980) *'' Private Benjamin'' (Unknown episodes, 1981) *''
Harper Valley PTA "Harper Valley P.T.A." is a country song written by Tom T. Hall which in 1968 became a major international hit single for country singer Jeannie C. Riley. Riley's record, her debut, sold over six million copies as a single, and it made her the f ...
'' (1 episode, 1982) *'' The Kid with the Broken Halo'' (1982) *''
CHiPs ''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. It follows the lives of two motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The seri ...
'' (10 episodes, 1981–1982) *'' The Kid with the 200 I.Q.'' (1983) *''
The Powers of Matthew Star ''The Powers of Matthew Star'' is an American sci-fi television series that aired on NBC on Friday evenings from September 17, 1982 until April 8, 1983. It starred Peter Barton as the title character, the alien prince Matthew "E'Hawke" Star of ...
'' (2 episodes, 1983) *''
Small & Frye ''Small & Frye'' is an American television sitcom that was produced by The Walt Disney Company and broadcast on CBS in 1983. This series, which starred Darren McGavin and Jack Blessing as the title characters, lasted for only one season of six e ...
'' (Unknown episodes, 1983) *''
Manimal ''Manimal'' is an American superhero television series created by Glen A. Larson and Donald R. Boyle, it ran on NBC from September 30 to December 17, 1983. The show centers on the character Jonathan Chase ( Simon MacCorkindale), a shape-shiftin ...
'' (1 episode, 1983) *''The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins'' (1984) *''
Airwolf ''Airwolf'' is an American action military drama television series that centers on a high-technology military helicopter, code-named ''Airwolf'', and its crew. The show follows them as they undertake various exotic missions, many involving e ...
'' (1 episode, 1984) *''
Small Wonder Small Wonder or variants may refer to: Film, television and theatre * ''Small Wonder'' (TV series), a 1985–1989 American sitcom * '' A Small Wonder'', a 1966 Australian television film * '' Small Wonders'', a 1995 documentary film * ''Small Wond ...
'' (4 episodes, 1986–1988)


Awards


References


External links


Official site
*
Episodes on TV
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinson, Leslie H. 1915 births 2016 deaths American centenarians Men centenarians Artists from Boston American male screenwriters American film directors American television directors Television producers from Massachusetts Film producers from Massachusetts Screenwriters from Massachusetts