Walter E. Grauman (March 17, 1922 – March 20, 2015) was an American director of stage shows, films and television shows.

Early life

Grauman was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Jacob and Irene Grauman, both children of German immigrants who married after settling in the United States.15th Census of the US; Shorewood Village, Milwaukee County, WI, ED 40-361, Sheet 29A His father, Jacob Grauman, was president of a film distributing company. In his early years, Grauman lived in

Shorewood, Wisconsin Shorewood is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 13,859 at the 2020 census. History In the early 19th century when the first European American settlers arrived, the Shorewood area was controlled by Nativ ...

, a suburb of Milwaukee, and later moved to Arizona where he attended the University of Arizona. He served for four years in the United States Army Air Forces flying 56 combat missions over Europe in a

B-25 The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in e ...

in the Twelfth Air Force and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross before moving to California, where his mother was living at the time.

Entertainment industry

After spending a few years running his own business, Grauman eventually took a job as stage manager at NBC's studios in Los Angeles. During his stint working at the network, he and relative (by marriage)

Alan Armer Alan A. Armer (7 July 1922 – 5 December 2010) was an American television producer, best known for his Emmy-award winning tenure as the producer of '' The Fugitive''. He also produced ''The Invaders'', ''The Untouchables'' and the first year of '' ...

developed a talent-show type program that proved popular, setting the mold for shows like '' Star Search'' and '' American Idol'' to follow. In 1957, Grauman turned to films, directing "The Disembodied" for the "B film" division of Allied Artists Studios, which was headed by friend Walter Mirisch. Although he directed only six theatrical films, Grauman had one of the most active and long lasting television careers in history which included work on such shows as '' The Untouchables'', '' The Fugitive'', ''

Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...

'', '' The Streets of San Francisco'', '' The Twilight Zone'' and ''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series f ...

''. He also reportedly helped to get Michael Douglas one of his first jobs as a lead on ''The Streets of San Francisco''. Grauman directed '' 633 Squadron'', a World War II film about a fictional squadron in the British RAF. In interviews,

George Lucas George Walton Lucas Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American filmmaker. Lucas is best known for creating the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones'' franchises and founding Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairm ...

has commented that he patterned the "trench run" sequence in his '' Star Wars: Episode IV'' on a scene from this film. (See the article on ''633 Squadron'' for more information.) Grauman also directed a number of made-for-TV films, including the

Aaron Spelling Aaron Spelling (April 22, 1923 June 23, 2006) was an American film and television producer and occasional actor. His productions included the TV series ''Family'' (1976–1980), '' Charlie's Angels'' (1976–1981), ''The Love Boat'' (1977–1986 ...

produced

1970 Events January * January 1 – Unix time epoch reached at 00:00:00 UTC. * January 5 – The 7.1 Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity scale, Mercalli intensity of X (''Extrem ...

supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...

'' Crowhaven Farm''. Broadcast as an '' ABC Movie of the Week'' on 24 November 1970 and starring

Hope Lange Hope Elise Ross Lange (November 28, 1933 – December 19, 2003) was an American film, stage, and television actress. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress ...

and Paul Burke, the film involves witchcraft, déjà vu, death, betrayal, revenge, and reincarnation, and it has become a cult classic. Grauman was the creator/executive producer of the Los Angeles Spotlight Awards (not to be confused with the Spotlight Awards (GDC) for game developers), which are run through the

Los Angeles Music Center The Music Center (officially named the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County) is one of the largest performing arts centers in the United States. Located in downtown Los Angeles, The Music Center is composed of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion ...

. He was among the closest living relatives to Sid Grauman, owner and founder of Los Angeles' famous Grauman's Chinese Theater,

Egyptian Theater Egyptian-style theatres are based on the traditional and historic design elements of Ancient Egypt. The first Egyptian Theatre to be constructed in the US – which inspired many of the identically-named theatres that followed it – was Grauma ...

and Million Dollar Theater. At the time of his death in 2015 at the age of 93, he resided in Los Angeles with his wife.

Directorial credits, theatrical films

*'' The Disembodied'' (1957) Allied Artists *'' Lady in a Cage'' (1964)

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

*'' 633 Squadron'' (1964) Mirisch/ United Artists *'' A Rage to Live'' (1965) Mirisch/UA *'' I Deal in Danger'' (1966)

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

*'' The Last Escape'' (1970) Mirisch/UA

Pilots and television series

* ''

Columbo ''Columbo'' () is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originally aired on NBC f ...

'' * '' The Untouchables'' * '' The Fugitive'' (pilot) * '' The Streets of San Francisco'' (pilot) * '' Barnaby Jones'' (pilot) * '' East Side/West Side'' * '' Naked City'' * '' The New Breed'' (pilot) * ''

'' * ''

Blue Light Blue Light or Blue light may refer to: Science and technology * Portion of the visible spectrum related to the blue color ** Blue laser ** Blue LED * Cherenkov radiation, the physical phenomenon responsible for the characteristic blue glow in nucl ...

'' * '' Honey West'' (pilot) * '' Manhunter'' (pilot) * ''

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 ...

'' (pilot) * '' Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected'' (episode "No Way Out") * '' Bare Essence'' (pilot) * ''Harrigan & Son'' (pilot) * '' Scene of the Crime'' (pilot) * ''

'' (53 one-hour episodes) * '' Blacke's Magic'' (episode "Vanishing Act") Plus over 275 30-minute and 1-hour filmed dramatic programs, including: * '' V'' * '' Trapper John, M.D.'' * '' Twelve O'Clock High'' * '' The Eleventh Hour'' * ''

Lancer A lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used for mounted warfare in Assyria as early as and subsequently by Persia, India, Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome. The weapon was widely used throughout Eurasia during the M ...

'' * ''

Hotel de Paree ''Hotel de Paree'' is a Western television series starring Earl Holliman that aired thirty-three episodes on the CBS Friday evening from October 2, 1959, until September 23, 1960, under the alternate sponsorship of the Liggett & Myers company ( L ...

'' * '' Man Without a Gun'' * '' Colt .45'' * '' Cover Up'' * ''

Steve Canyon ''Steve Canyon'' is an American adventure comic strip by writer-artist Milton Caniff. Launched shortly after Caniff retired from his previous strip, '' Terry and the Pirates'', ''Steve Canyon'' ran from January 13, 1947, until June 4, 1988. It ...

'' * '' Peter Gunn'' * ''

'' * '' Burke's Law'' * ''

The June Allyson Show ''The DuPont Show with June Allyson'' (also known as ''The June Allyson Show'') is an American anthology drama series which aired on CBS from September 21, 1959, to April 3, 1961, with rebroadcasts continuing until June 12, 1961. The series was ...

'' * '' Empire''

Live television drama

* 80 '' Matinee Theater'' one-hour programs * ''

Alcoa Theatre ''Alcoa Theatre'' is a half-hour American anthology series telecast on NBC at 9:30 pm on Monday nights from September 30, 1957 to May 23, 1960. The program also aired under the title ''Turn of Fate''. ''Alcoa Theatre'' was syndicated together ...

'' * '' The Philco Television Playhouse''

Director/creator/executive producer

* ''

'' - series, ABC * ''

Felony Squad ''The Felony Squad'' is a half-hour television crime drama originally broadcast on the ABC network from September 12, 1966, to January 31, 1969, a span encompassing seventy-three episodes. Overview The program starred Howard Duff (as Sergeant Sam ...

'' - series, ABC * '' The Silent Force'' - series, ABC * Six Movies-of-the-Week, ABC * ''World Premiere'', NBC * Eleven two-hour movies, CBS

Movies for television and mini-series

* ''The Forgotten Man'' - Director/Producer/Creator * ''

Daughter of the Mind ''Daughter of the Mind'' is a 1969 American made-for-television horror-thriller film starring Don Murray, Ray Milland and Gene Tierney. It was first broadcast on ABC on December 9, 1969 as the ABC Movie of the Week.TV Guide, December 6–12, 19 ...

'' - Director/Executive Producer * '' Crowhaven Farm'' - Director/Producer * ''

The Old Man Who Cried Wolf ''The Old Man Who Cried Wolf'' is a 1970 American made-for-television thriller film directed by Walter Grauman and starring Edward G. Robinson, Martin Balsam and Diane Baker. It originally aired as the ''ABC Movie of the Week'' on October 13, 19 ...

'' - Director/Producer * '' Dead Men Tell No Tales'' - Director/Executive Producer * ''Paper Man'' - Director/Executive Producer * ''

They Call It Murder ''They Call It Murder'' is a 1971 American television film directed by Walter Grauman and starring Jim Hutton. Production ''They Call It Murder'' is a two-hour television film produced by Paisano Productions in association with 20th Century Fox. I ...

'' - Director/Executive Producer * ''

Nightmare on the 13th Floor ''Nightmare on the 13th Floor'' is a 1990 American made-for-television thriller film which was originally shown on the USA Network on Halloween 1990. It stars Michele Greene as the travel writer Elaine Kalisher, James Brolin as Dr. Alan Lanier an ...

'' - Executive Producer/Director

Movies for television and mini-series - director

* ''

Are You in the House Alone? ''Are You in the House Alone?'' is a 1978 American made-for-television horror film directed by Walter Grauman and starring Kathleen Beller, Blythe Danner, and Dennis Quaid. The film is based on the 1976 novel of the same name written by Richard ...

'' - 2 hr * '' Crisis in Mid-air'' - 2 hr * ''

The Golden Gate Murders ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in E ...

'' - David Janssen/

Susannah York Susannah Yolande Fletcher (9 January 1939 – 15 January 2011), known professionally as Susannah York, was an English actress. Her appearances in various films of the 1960s, including '' Tom Jones'' (1963) and '' They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'' ...

, 2 hr, CBS * ''Irwin Shaw's Top of the Hill'' - Wayne Rogers, 4 hr * '' The Memory of Eva Ryker''- Natalie Wood, 3 hr, CBS * '' Pleasure Palace'' -

Omar Sharif Omar Sharif ( ar, عمر الشريف ; born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub , 10 April 193210 July 2015) was an Egyptian actor, generally regarded as one of his country's greatest male film stars. He began his career in his native country in the ...

, José Ferrer, 2 hr, CBS * ''Outrage!'' - 2 hr, CBS * ''Force Five'' - 2 hr, ABC * ''Covenant'' - José Ferrer, 2 hr, NBC

CBS movies and mini-series - director/producer

* '' To Race the Wind'' - Steve Guttenberg - 2 hr, CBS * ''

Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls ''Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls'' is an American television drama miniseries that aired on CBS in October 1981. The first two hours were broadcast on October 19, followed by three hours on October 20 during prime time; CBS originally i ...

'', 1981 - 5 hr, CBS * '' Bare Essence'' - 2 hr, CBS * ''Illusions'' - 2 hr, CBS * '' Who is Julia?'' - 2 hr, CBS * '' Shakedown on Sunset Strip'' - 2 hr, CBS

References

External links

* *
Interview of Walter Grauman at Directors Guild of America website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Grauman, Walter American film directors American television directors American people of German descent Artists from Milwaukee 1922 births 2015 deaths United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II United States Army Air Forces officers Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery Action film directors