Frank Hursley
Encyclopedia
Frank Hursley is an American soap opera
writer.
series Have Gun, Will Travel, but became famous in 1957 when he began writing for CBS Daytime
's Search For Tomorrow
. He continued to write Search for Tomorrow
even after the show that he co-created with his wife, General Hospital
had premiered. Another married couple of television writer, Theodore and Mathilde Ferro, wrote the show in its early months.
They created the medical drama General Hospital
, for ABC Daytime
in 1963; it was the first serious effort by that network to create a daytime serial. Today, General Hospital is the longest-running daytime serial on ABC. The duo head wrote
the show until 1973, when they handed the reins to their daughter and son-in-law, Bridget and Jerome Dobson
.
In 1969, the Hursleys created and wrote the NBC Daytime
soap opera Bright Promise
that starred Dana Andrews
as college president Tom Boswell. However, they soon left that series and it was eventually cancelled in 1972. The Hursleys retired from writing serials after being fired in 1973.
way back when to reap 10% of all profits from the syndication of the show but ABC hasn't honored the deal. The daughters allege ABC has cooked the books for years -- and has failed to pay the full amount owed to the creators.
, Wagon Train
, Have Gun - Will Travel, Whirlybirds
, The Adventures of Jim Bowie
, The Millionaire, Dr. Christian
, Lassie
, Matinee Theatre
, The 20th Century-Fox Hour, The Moon is Blue
man Victor Berger and held a law degree from Marquette University
. Hursley left his first wife, Madeleine, and their one year old son, Frank Jr., both of Detroit and became an English professor at the University of Wisconsin's Milwaukee Extension.
After Doris's divorce in 1935 from her first husband, Colin Welles, she married Frank in 1936. The couple began writing for radio during World War II
and moved from their home in Thiensville, Wisconsin
to California in 1946.
Their daughter Bridget
also became a television writer, creating Santa Barbara
.
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
writer.
Career
He was a writer on the WesternWestern
Western may refer to:* Western , a category of fiction and visual art centered on the American Old West** Western fiction, the Western genre as featured in literature* Western music, a type of American folk music-In geography:...
series Have Gun, Will Travel, but became famous in 1957 when he began writing for CBS Daytime
CBS Daytime
CBS Daytime is a television programming block on CBS. It's the branding for the CBS Television Network's late morning and early afternoon programming. The block has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows, and talk shows...
's Search For Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
. He continued to write Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
even after the show that he co-created with his wife, General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
had premiered. Another married couple of television writer, Theodore and Mathilde Ferro, wrote the show in its early months.
They created the medical drama General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, for ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime is a programming block on the ABC Network which has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows and talk shows.-Schedule:...
in 1963; it was the first serious effort by that network to create a daytime serial. Today, General Hospital is the longest-running daytime serial on ABC. The duo head wrote
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
the show until 1973, when they handed the reins to their daughter and son-in-law, Bridget and Jerome Dobson
Bridget and Jerome Dobson
Bridget and Jerome Dobson were writers for American soap operas best known as creators of the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara .Bridget Dobson is the daughter of General Hospital creators Frank and Doris Hursley. Bridget and Jerome married in 1961...
.
In 1969, the Hursleys created and wrote the NBC Daytime
NBC Daytime
NBC Daytime is the schedule for the NBC television network's daytime television programming which consists of morning news program Today and soap opera Days of our Lives...
soap opera Bright Promise
Bright Promise
Bright Promise is an American daytime soap opera that ran on NBC from September 29, 1969 to March 31, 1972. It aired weekdays at 3:30 PM Eastern/2:30 PM Central.-Synopsis:...
that starred Dana Andrews
Dana Andrews
Dana Andrews was an American film actor. He was one of Hollywood's major stars of the 1940s, and continued acting, though generally in less prestigious roles, into the 1980s.-Early life:...
as college president Tom Boswell. However, they soon left that series and it was eventually cancelled in 1972. The Hursleys retired from writing serials after being fired in 1973.
Lawsuit
His estate filed a lawsuit against Disney in April 2011 over unpaid wages. According to the lawsuit, the Hursley's daughters claim their parents struck a deal with ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
way back when to reap 10% of all profits from the syndication of the show but ABC hasn't honored the deal. The daughters allege ABC has cooked the books for years -- and has failed to pay the full amount owed to the creators.
Credits
Love, American StyleLove, American Style
Love, American Style is an hour-long TV anthology produced by Paramount Television and originally aired between September 1969 and January 1974...
, Wagon Train
Wagon Train
Wagon Train is an American Western series that ran on NBC from 1957–62 and then on ABC from 1962–65...
, Have Gun - Will Travel, Whirlybirds
Whirlybirds
Whirlybirds is an American drama television series....
, The Adventures of Jim Bowie
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
In September of 1956 a TV series named "The Adventures of Jim Bowie" was aired on ABC. The show was only on the air for two years from 1956 to 1958. The series' music was unique in that is was primarily vocal, provided by Ken Darby and The King's Men .-Synopsis:The series stars Scott Forbes as the...
, The Millionaire, Dr. Christian
Dr. Christian
Dr. Christian was a long-running radio series with Jean Hersholt in the title role. It aired on CBS from 1937 to 1954.After Hersholt portrayed the character Dr. John Luke, based on Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, the obstetrician who delivered and cared for the Dionne Quintuplets, in the 20th Century Fox...
, Lassie
Lassie
Lassie is a fictional collie dog character created by Eric Knight in a short story expanded to novel length called Lassie Come-Home. Published in 1940, the novel was filmed by MGM in 1943 as Lassie Come Home with a dog named Pal playing Lassie. Pal then appeared with the stage name "Lassie" in six...
, Matinee Theatre
Matinee Theatre
Matinee Theatre is an American anthology series that aired on NBC during the Golden Age of Television, from 1955 to 1958. The series, which ran daily in the afternoon, was frequently live. It was produced by Albert McCleery, Darrell Ross, George Cahan and Frank Price with executive producer George...
, The 20th Century-Fox Hour, The Moon is Blue
The Moon Is Blue
The Moon Is Blue is a 1953 American comedy film produced and directed by Otto Preminger. The screenplay by F. Hugh Herbert, based on his 1951 play of the same title, focuses on a young woman who meets an architect on the observation deck of the Empire State Building and quickly turns his life...
Awards/nominations
He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Awards in 1974. He shared this nomination with his wife, daughter, and Deborah Hardy.Personal life
His father-in-law was Socialist CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
man Victor Berger and held a law degree from Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
. Hursley left his first wife, Madeleine, and their one year old son, Frank Jr., both of Detroit and became an English professor at the University of Wisconsin's Milwaukee Extension.
After Doris's divorce in 1935 from her first husband, Colin Welles, she married Frank in 1936. The couple began writing for radio during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and moved from their home in Thiensville, Wisconsin
Thiensville, Wisconsin
Thiensville is a village in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,254 at the 2000 census. It was founded by its namesake, John Henry Thien....
to California in 1946.
Their daughter Bridget
Bridget and Jerome Dobson
Bridget and Jerome Dobson were writers for American soap operas best known as creators of the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara .Bridget Dobson is the daughter of General Hospital creators Frank and Doris Hursley. Bridget and Jerome married in 1961...
also became a television writer, creating Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara (TV series)
Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on July 30, 1984, and last aired on January 15, 1993. The show revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California...
.