![William T. Orr](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185/A7g80ZMPVP1rRPpLGoRHeTMIOTS.jpg)
William T. Orr
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William T. Orr (September 27, 1917 – December 25, 2002) was an American television producer associated with a series of western and detective programs of the 1950s-1970s. On most of his Warner Bros. series, he was billed as "Wm. T. Orr".
Orr began his career as an actor; his film credits include The Mortal Storm, The Gay Sisters, and The Big Street.
As the first head of Warner Bros. Television department, Orr forged a fruitful alliance with ABC, which resulted in the network having a number of prime time hits, such as Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip, and F Troop. At the height of this relationship in the early 1960s, Orr had nine programs in prime time simultaneously. Of these, no program was more significant than one of his earliest, Cheyenne. It was a groundbreaking series that was both the first hour-long western and the first series of any kind made by a major Hollywood film studio consisting entirely of content wholly exclusive to television.
A curator at The Paley Center for Media (previously named The Museum of Television and Radio) once encapsulated Orr's importance to Warner Bros. by saying, "Television began as a step-child. But because of Orr, it became equal with film in creating revenue and jobs for the studio." One of the key reforms he made to effect this change was to move Warner's nascent television department from cramped quarters in New York City to Los Angeles studios separate from the film division.
His impact on the genre of western fiction was recognized with a Golden Boot Award upon the announcement of his death.
Known For | Production |
---|---|
Most Rating | 5.614 |
Birthday | 1917-09-27 |
Place of Birth | New York City, New York, USA |
Also Known As | William Ferdinand Quinn Jr., William Turney Orr, Wm. T. Orr, William Orr, Bill Orr, |
![The Mortal Storm](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/xPvS7UVrJuCyE5NsiDkW39ABLGX.jpg)
1940
![The Mortal Storm](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/xPvS7UVrJuCyE5NsiDkW39ABLGX.jpg)
The Mortal Storm
7.1/76
The Roth family leads a quiet life in a small village in the German Alps during the early 1930s. After the Nazis come to power, the family is divided...
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The Mortal Storm
![Unholy Partners](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/tuzim0dOEni2wg0uFpqBF1RjA5W.jpg)
1941
![Unholy Partners](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/tuzim0dOEni2wg0uFpqBF1RjA5W.jpg)
Unholy Partners
7/4
A crusading newsman starts up a tabloid with a gangster as his 50-50 partner.
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Unholy Partners
![The Big Street](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/hMJ4YFIruJrRXEot3NmmuSbWVj7.jpg)
1942
![The Big Street](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/hMJ4YFIruJrRXEot3NmmuSbWVj7.jpg)
The Big Street
5.9/17
Meek busboy Little Pinks is in love with an extremely selfish showgirl who despises and uses him.
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The Big Street
![Navy Blues](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/lfiksNCiyZ0VMjxtX0Xqq1cvZY4.jpg)
1941
![Navy Blues](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/lfiksNCiyZ0VMjxtX0Xqq1cvZY4.jpg)
Navy Blues
4/3
On a layover in Hawaii two conniving Navy seamen borrow money to lay down bets that their ship will win the upcoming gunnery practice trophy, having f...
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Navy Blues
![Meet the Fleet](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/1o6I1jVfSZ3R1tZkzKVRpNIHAeW.jpg)
1940
![Meet the Fleet](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/1o6I1jVfSZ3R1tZkzKVRpNIHAeW.jpg)
Meet the Fleet
5.7/3
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Meet the Fleet
![Brother Rat](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/v98Bo1kCIc8rRyntGIAs2adOksp.jpg)
1938
![Brother Rat](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/v98Bo1kCIc8rRyntGIAs2adOksp.jpg)
Brother Rat
5/2
Story of three buddies at the Virginia Military Institute. Cadet Bing Edwards is secretly married and soon to be a father.
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Brother Rat
![Honeymoon for Three](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6bPcWprmvtKADUymzKFuxU1UWof.jpg)
1941
![Honeymoon for Three](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6bPcWprmvtKADUymzKFuxU1UWof.jpg)
Honeymoon for Three
5.8/5
Noted writer Kenneth Bixby, in love with his witty secretary Anne Rogers, is on a book tour when he meets up with a former college fling with a loopy...
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![Three Sons o' Guns](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ajVRtTS6rrfumTaNQ2gJuWN1fQf.jpg)
1941
![Three Sons o' Guns](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ajVRtTS6rrfumTaNQ2gJuWN1fQf.jpg)
Three Sons o' Guns
5/1
Three reckless brothers dodge the draft then sign up and become men.
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Three Sons o' Guns
![The Hardys Ride High](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/2Rkvj4Iopgw082KzMqkhu0I6O5V.jpg)
1939
![The Hardys Ride High](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/2Rkvj4Iopgw082KzMqkhu0I6O5V.jpg)
The Hardys Ride High
6/3
Sixth of the Judge Hardy series. Judge James K. Hardy is brought the fabulous news from attorney George Irving, that he could be the heir to 2 million...
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![Invitation to Happiness](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/eVnKA29mQE7eYguDarqSUcIDrER.jpg)
1939
![Invitation to Happiness](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/eVnKA29mQE7eYguDarqSUcIDrER.jpg)
Invitation to Happiness
0/0
An egotistical boxer romances a rich backer's daughter.
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Invitation to Happiness
![Service with the Colors](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/nfOo9BRQk1I2kiXOWzUbjpIVRnf.jpg)
1940
![Service with the Colors](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/nfOo9BRQk1I2kiXOWzUbjpIVRnf.jpg)
Service with the Colors
4.4/5
Service with the Colors is a 1940 American short drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason. This drama is "dedicated to the soldiers of the United States...
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![He Hired the Boss](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/quMdNMwUakXAoNK1r6Egtx2MpUs.jpg)
1943
![He Hired the Boss](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/quMdNMwUakXAoNK1r6Egtx2MpUs.jpg)
He Hired the Boss
3/1
A shy bookkeeper accidentally discovers that the company where he works is targeted in a series of late-night robberies.
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![The Gay Sisters](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cXG7iD6iQZSvBRgEUrkNZ3BLpsk.jpg)
1942
![The Gay Sisters](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cXG7iD6iQZSvBRgEUrkNZ3BLpsk.jpg)
The Gay Sisters
6.5/8
The eldest of three sisters protects their Fifth Avenue mansion from a developer she once married.
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![My Love Came Back](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/kynhluonP3AkHXQPM7RPM0sceu5.jpg)
1940
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My Love Came Back
5.2/6
Amelia is a gifted violinist who is in danger of quitting the Brissac Academy of Music. Julius arranges to have a scholarship given to her through his...
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![Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/kbVbZgJajCPDBjGdXADOXJebrP9.jpg)
1993
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Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul
5/1
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![Soldiers in White](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8l33rBdo570GHqZy0miOmxwYe3A.jpg)
1942
![Soldiers in White](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8l33rBdo570GHqZy0miOmxwYe3A.jpg)
Soldiers in White
6/1
A young intern is drafted and placed in the Army Medical Corps as a buck private and is none too happy about it. Injured, he is placed in the hospital...
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![Those Good Old Days](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1941
![Those Good Old Days](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
Those Good Old Days
0/0
Young Gloria's father and mother go out for the evening to see a television broadcast. Gloria's grandfather entertains her with stories about his days...
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Those Good Old Days
![Young America Flies](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mZpNiDaJi1KQAfuhxORH3clPwpn.jpg)
1940
![Young America Flies](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mZpNiDaJi1KQAfuhxORH3clPwpn.jpg)
Young America Flies
0/0
World War II propaganda film from Warner Brothers.
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![Thieves Fall Out](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cxXi38cGQtwqjEqUOwV2KTSa5xu.jpg)
1941
![Thieves Fall Out](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cxXi38cGQtwqjEqUOwV2KTSa5xu.jpg)
Thieves Fall Out
5.5/2
Eddie Barnes, tired of being a nobody and living with his parents, decides to cash in his mother's legacy and use the money to buy a business. Unfortu...
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Thieves Fall Out
![Three Cadets](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1943
![Three Cadets](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
Three Cadets
0/0
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![Land and Live in the Desert](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/i2xxmAUlTABc4ugHtHcT1KwCjQQ.jpg)
1945
![Land and Live in the Desert](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/i2xxmAUlTABc4ugHtHcT1KwCjQQ.jpg)
Land and Live in the Desert
0/0
Documentary short film depicting the correct methods of surviving the crash landing of a military aircraft in the desert. Methods of conserving water,...
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![P-47 Combat Operations](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1945
![P-47 Combat Operations](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
P-47 Combat Operations
0/0
This documentary short film depicts the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane in combat operations in various locales around the world during the Second Worl...
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![Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1941
![Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
0/0
This edition of Screen Snapshots has more of a vaudeville flavor as opposed to Ralph Staub's usual candid-camera at home with the stars offerings. Ken...
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