Hubbell Robinson (October 16, 1905 - September 4, 1974) was an American broadcasting executive who "was noted for his adeptness with programs both of artistic merit and of broad popular appeal."[1]William Paley, who was chairman of CBS when Robinson worked in its television division, described Robinson as "the all-around man in our programming department."[2]
Born in Schenectady, New York, on October 16, 1905,[2] Robinson was the son of Hubbell Robinson, a justice of the State Supreme Court.[1] He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1923 and from Brown University, with a BA degree, in 1927.[2]
Careeredit
In 1927 Robinson was drama critic for the film trade publication Exhibitors Herald, and in 1929 he was a reporter for the Schenectady Union Star and worked for the Knickerbocker Press. His first professional involvement with broadcasting came in 1930 when he was put in charge of the radio department (a new division) at the Young & Rubicam (Y&R) advertising agency. He was promoted to vice president and radio director at the agency in 1942. While he was at Y&R he created the soap opera The Second Mrs. Burton, for which he also wrote scripts. Like other Y&R radio executives, he produced other radio programs, wrote other scripts, and wrote commercials.[2] His scripts included those for a program that featured weekly reports from the Byrd expedition at the Little America base in Antarctica in 1934.[3]
Robinson went to the ABC radio network in 1944 and was vice president and program director there through 1945. In 1946 he became national radio director at the Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency as that agency for the first time consolidated its radio operations under one person.[4] He joined CBS in 1947. He left CBS in 1959, forming Hubbell Robinson Productions.[1] That company's TV programs included Thriller and 87th Precinct.[5] He returned to the network in 1962, becoming senior vice president for programming. He was executive producer of Climax!, Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, Playhouse 90, The Phil Silvers Show, and other programs. A dispute with the network's president led to his leaving CBS again in 1963. After three years on his own, he returned to network TV in 1966 as executive in charge of production for ABC Stage 67. His other responsibilities at ABC included being executive producer of the series Crisis!.[1]
Efforts by Robinson in the early 1960s led to increased opportunities for Black performers in TV shows. In particular, he wrote to producers suggesting that they be alert to more roles for Black people in TV shows, especially where professionals like attorneys, doctors, engineers, and teachers were portrayed.[1]
Other activitiesedit
From 1969 to 1972, Robinson was a film critic for a cable TV channel in New York City, and from 1971 to 1974 he was a contributing critic for Films in Review.[2] He was a trustee of Brown University, and he was chairman of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences's quarterly publication. He completed an autobiography, Wanderer in the Wasteland, for publication by G. P. Putnam's Sons.[1]
Personal life and deathedit
Robinson was married to writer Therese Lewis from 1940 until they divorced in 1948. On December 29, 1948, he married singer Margaret Whiting in Las Vegas.[6] After he and Whiting were divorced,[2] he married musical comedy star Vivienne Segal. He and Segal were legally separated in 1962. He had no children. He died of lung cancer on September 4, 1974, aged 68.[1]
^ abcdefg"Hubbell Robinson, TV Executive Active in CBS Programing. Dies". The New York Times. September 6, 1974. p. 36. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
^ abcdefghijklNewcomb, Horace (February 3, 2014). Encyclopedia of Television. Routledge. pp. 1941–1942. ISBN978-1-135-19472-7. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
^"Radio script writer here". The Tampa Times. March 17, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved June 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Hub Robinson Top F-C-B Spot; Agcy's $11,000,000 Billings". Variety. January 2, 1946. p. 21. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
^"TV Official Maps Plan for Dramas: Hubbell Robinson Would Put Original Plays on C.B.S.". The New York Times. July 20, 1962. p. 49. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
^"Margaret Whiting Married". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 30, 1948. p. 23. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
March 20, 2024
hubbell, robinson, october, 1905, september, 1974, american, broadcasting, executive, noted, adeptness, with, programs, both, artistic, merit, broad, popular, appeal, william, paley, chairman, when, robinson, worked, television, division, described, robinson, . Hubbell Robinson October 16 1905 September 4 1974 was an American broadcasting executive who was noted for his adeptness with programs both of artistic merit and of broad popular appeal 1 William Paley who was chairman of CBS when Robinson worked in its television division described Robinson as the all around man in our programming department 2 Contents 1 Early years 2 Career 3 Other activities 4 Personal life and death 5 Awards 6 ReferencesEarly years editBorn in Schenectady New York on October 16 1905 2 Robinson was the son of Hubbell Robinson a justice of the State Supreme Court 1 He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1923 and from Brown University with a BA degree in 1927 2 Career editIn 1927 Robinson was drama critic for the film trade publication Exhibitors Herald and in 1929 he was a reporter for the Schenectady Union Star and worked for the Knickerbocker Press His first professional involvement with broadcasting came in 1930 when he was put in charge of the radio department a new division at the Young amp Rubicam Y amp R advertising agency He was promoted to vice president and radio director at the agency in 1942 While he was at Y amp R he created the soap opera The Second Mrs Burton for which he also wrote scripts Like other Y amp R radio executives he produced other radio programs wrote other scripts and wrote commercials 2 His scripts included those for a program that featured weekly reports from the Byrd expedition at the Little America base in Antarctica in 1934 3 Robinson went to the ABC radio network in 1944 and was vice president and program director there through 1945 In 1946 he became national radio director at the Foote Cone amp Belding advertising agency as that agency for the first time consolidated its radio operations under one person 4 He joined CBS in 1947 He left CBS in 1959 forming Hubbell Robinson Productions 1 That company s TV programs included Thriller and 87th Precinct 5 He returned to the network in 1962 becoming senior vice president for programming He was executive producer of Climax Gunsmoke I Love Lucy Playhouse 90 The Phil Silvers Show and other programs A dispute with the network s president led to his leaving CBS again in 1963 After three years on his own he returned to network TV in 1966 as executive in charge of production for ABC Stage 67 His other responsibilities at ABC included being executive producer of the series Crisis 1 Efforts by Robinson in the early 1960s led to increased opportunities for Black performers in TV shows In particular he wrote to producers suggesting that they be alert to more roles for Black people in TV shows especially where professionals like attorneys doctors engineers and teachers were portrayed 1 Other activities editFrom 1969 to 1972 Robinson was a film critic for a cable TV channel in New York City and from 1971 to 1974 he was a contributing critic for Films in Review 2 He was a trustee of Brown University and he was chairman of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences s quarterly publication He completed an autobiography Wanderer in the Wasteland for publication by G P Putnam s Sons 1 Personal life and death editRobinson was married to writer Therese Lewis from 1940 until they divorced in 1948 On December 29 1948 he married singer Margaret Whiting in Las Vegas 6 After he and Whiting were divorced 2 he married musical comedy star Vivienne Segal He and Segal were legally separated in 1962 He had no children He died of lung cancer on September 4 1974 aged 68 1 Awards edit1958 Emmy Award 2 1959 Emmy Award 2 1960 TV Digest Awards 2 2 1962 Producers Guild Award 2 1967 Fame Award 2 1972 Television Academy s Salute Award 2 References edit a b c d e f g Hubbell Robinson TV Executive Active in CBS Programing Dies The New York Times September 6 1974 p 36 Retrieved June 7 2023 a b c d e f g h i j k l Newcomb Horace February 3 2014 Encyclopedia of Television Routledge pp 1941 1942 ISBN 978 1 135 19472 7 Retrieved June 8 2023 Radio script writer here The Tampa Times March 17 1934 p 2 Retrieved June 8 2023 via Newspapers com Hub Robinson Top F C B Spot Agcy s 11 000 000 Billings Variety January 2 1946 p 21 Retrieved July 8 2023 TV Official Maps Plan for Dramas Hubbell Robinson Would Put Original Plays on C B S The New York Times July 20 1962 p 49 Retrieved June 8 2023 Margaret Whiting Married The New York Times Associated Press December 30 1948 p 23 Retrieved June 8 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hubbell Robinson amp oldid 1182579406, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
