Alan Handley

Summary

Alan Handley (March 11, 1912 – January 5, 1990) was an American producer and director of television programmes. In 1966 he was awarded the Emmy in the category "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety or Music" for his work on The Julie Andrews Show (1965).

Alan Handley
Born(1912-03-11)March 11, 1912
Indiana, U.S.A.
DiedJanuary 5, 1990(1990-01-05) (aged 77)
Los Angeles, U.S.A.
Occupation(s)actor, television director, television producer novelist
Years active1936-1975

Stage career edit

In the 1930s, Handley acted in a number of theatrical productions, on and off Broadway. His acting career came to an end with the advent of World War II, during which he served in the Army Engineers.[1]

Television career edit

Handley's career as a television producer at NBC was initially most marked by his work on The Dinah Shore Show (1951–1957).[2] Walter Ames, television critic for the Los Angeles Times, referred to him as "Dinah Shore's guardian angel".[3]

His directorial debut was in 1954, as one of the seven directors to work on the television spectacular Light's Diamond Jubilee, a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the invention of the incandescent light bulb.

He was director of the telecasts of the 30th, 31st and 32nd Academy Awards (1958–1960).[4]

Writing career edit

In 1948 Handley's whodunnit novel Kiss Your Elbow was first published. Its setting is the New York theatrical scene. To mark their sixtieth anniversary in 2009, Harlequin NA republished Kiss Your Elbow as one of their six earliest books, with the original text and cover art.

Handley died of a heart attack at the age of 77.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Alan Handley, Television Director, 77 (obituary)". The New York Times. January 11, 1990. Retrieved November 14, 2009. Mr. Handley's three-decade career in television began in the medium's early days, ...
  2. ^ Horace Newcomb (2004). Encyclopedia of Television. ISBN 9781579583941.
  3. ^ Ames, Walter (April 24, 1954). "Handley to Create Own TV Package". Los Angeles Times. Alan Handley, one of television's top creative minds, yesterday signed a long-term contract with NBC to produce, direct and develop his own video packages. Handley has been Dinah Shore's guardian angel ...
  4. ^ Robert A. Osborne (1999). 70 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards.
  5. ^ "Alan Handley, Television Director, 77". Retrieved June 30, 2018.

Further reading edit

  • 'Kiss Your Elbow' by Alan Handley (Harlequin) 2009, ISBN 978-0-373-83745-8

External links edit