Charles Gary Allison
Encyclopedia
Charles Gary Allison was an American screenwriter and film producer.
, attending school in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, England, Tokyo, Saigon and Hong Kong. He obtained his undergraduate degree in International Relations at the University of Southern California in 1960. From 1961 to 1963, he served as a White House
social aide during the John F. Kennedy
administration. From 1963 to 1969 he chaired a non-partisan White House youth program under both the Lyndon B. Johnson
and Richard M. Nixon administrations, during which time he worked on a master's degree in international relations at Georgetown University
.
Allison returned to the University of Southern California
in 1973 to obtain two masters degrees (in cinema production and professional writing) and a Ph.D. in Philosophy. In 1977, he wrote and produced Fraternity Row
for Paramount Pictures
, which won him numerous industry awards. He worked continuously on a number of studio films in the US and abroad, and also wrote and produced "The First Olympics - Athens 1896" (1983), a 5-hour mini-series for Columbia Pictures Television. The mini-series aired on NBC in 1984, and depicts the adventures of the United States' first Olympic team at the Athens 1896 Games. "The First Olympics", which received a number of Emmy nominations and awards, also won Allison the WGA Annual Award for Outstanding Script of 1984 (Television Long Form Series) from his colleagues at the Writers Guild of America
.
In 1978, Allison helped to found and served as co-chair of the Utah/US Film Festival with Robert Redford
, which would later go on to become the Sundance Film Festival
.
Allison began work in 1984 on the "The Olympic Century", the official 25 volume history of the modern Olympic movement, in a cooperative partnership with the International Olympic Committee
and several national Olympic committees. The series will be available to teachers, schools, students and libraries beginning in the Fall of 2008. In 1987, the series development was designated 1st Century Project with Allison serving as chairman, which he has done up and until the present time.
Allison died at his home in Los Angeles, May 13, 2008.
Allison was widowed in 1997 and is survived by one son, Richard, who lives and works in London, England.
Biography
Allison spent the first years of his life in London, returning to the United States in 1944. He grew up living simultaneously in Washington, DC and Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, attending school in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, England, Tokyo, Saigon and Hong Kong. He obtained his undergraduate degree in International Relations at the University of Southern California in 1960. From 1961 to 1963, he served as a White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
social aide during the John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
administration. From 1963 to 1969 he chaired a non-partisan White House youth program under both the Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
and Richard M. Nixon administrations, during which time he worked on a master's degree in international relations at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
.
Allison returned to the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1973 to obtain two masters degrees (in cinema production and professional writing) and a Ph.D. in Philosophy. In 1977, he wrote and produced Fraternity Row
Fraternity Row (Film)
Fraternity Row is a 1977 film drama portraying life in a 1950s fraternity at a fictional college.-Plot:This movie tells the story of one college student and his trials and tribulations as he pledges the Gamma Nu Pi Fraternity at a fictional Eastern school.Originally this film was Charles Gary...
for Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, which won him numerous industry awards. He worked continuously on a number of studio films in the US and abroad, and also wrote and produced "The First Olympics - Athens 1896" (1983), a 5-hour mini-series for Columbia Pictures Television. The mini-series aired on NBC in 1984, and depicts the adventures of the United States' first Olympic team at the Athens 1896 Games. "The First Olympics", which received a number of Emmy nominations and awards, also won Allison the WGA Annual Award for Outstanding Script of 1984 (Television Long Form Series) from his colleagues at the Writers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi....
.
In 1978, Allison helped to found and served as co-chair of the Utah/US Film Festival with Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
, which would later go on to become the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
.
Allison began work in 1984 on the "The Olympic Century", the official 25 volume history of the modern Olympic movement, in a cooperative partnership with the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
and several national Olympic committees. The series will be available to teachers, schools, students and libraries beginning in the Fall of 2008. In 1987, the series development was designated 1st Century Project with Allison serving as chairman, which he has done up and until the present time.
Allison died at his home in Los Angeles, May 13, 2008.
Allison was widowed in 1997 and is survived by one son, Richard, who lives and works in London, England.