George Lowther (writer)
Encyclopedia
George F. Lowther was a writer, producer, director in the earliest days of radio and television. During the 1940s, he was a scriptwriter for the Superman radio programs on the Mutual Radio Network and the author of The Adventures of Superman (1942).
Born in New York City, Lowther broke into radio at 13 as an NBC page. Eventually, he wrote episodes for radio's Dick Tracy
and Terry and the Pirates
, as well as The Adventures of Superman. He also scripted for the Roy Rogers
and Tom Mix
radio programs. In later years, he wrote, produced and directed many dramas for The United States Steel Hour
and Armstrong Circle Theatre
and also wrote for The Edge of Night
.
He later worked as a writer, director and producer for the Guy Lombardo
and Morton Downey
radio programs, as well as Broadway Calling with Gertrude Lawrence
. Lowther joined the DuMont Television Network
as an executive producer starting with its inception in 1945. He also wrote several adventure novels for children. By 1963 he had joined the Famous Writers School
.
From 1974-1975, he wrote 44 episodes of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater
— and even performed in one of them in 1974.
Lowther married the former Florence Wagner. They had two sons, Kevin and Sean, and lived in Westport, Connecticut
, where Lowther died.
Born in New York City, Lowther broke into radio at 13 as an NBC page. Eventually, he wrote episodes for radio's Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy is a comic strip featuring Dick Tracy, a hard-hitting, fast-shooting and intelligent police detective. Created by Chester Gould, the strip made its debut on October 4, 1931, in the Detroit Mirror. It was distributed by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate...
and Terry and the Pirates
Terry and the Pirates (radio serial)
Terry and the Pirates was a radio serial adapted from the comic strip of the same name created in 1934 by Milton Caniff. With storylines of action, high adventure and foreign intrigue, the popular radio series entralled listeners from 1937 through 1948...
, as well as The Adventures of Superman. He also scripted for the Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
and Tom Mix
Tom Mix
Thomas Edwin "Tom" Mix was an American film actor and the star of many early Western movies. He made a reported 336 films between 1910 and 1935, all but nine of which were silent features...
radio programs. In later years, he wrote, produced and directed many dramas for The United States Steel Hour
The United States Steel Hour
The United States Steel Hour is an anthology series which brought hour-long dramas to television from 1953 to 1963. The television series and the radio program that preceded it were both sponsored by the United States Steel Corporation....
and Armstrong Circle Theatre
Armstrong Circle Theatre
Armstrong Circle Theatre is an American anthology drama television series which ran from 1950 to 1957 on NBC, and then until 1963 on CBS. It alternated weekly with The U.S. Steel Hour.-Synopsis:...
and also wrote for The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
.
He later worked as a writer, director and producer for the Guy Lombardo
Guy Lombardo
Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest...
and Morton Downey
Morton Downey
Morton Downey was a singer popular in the United States, enjoying his greatest success in the 1930s and 1940s. Downey was nicknamed "The Irish Nightingale".-Early years:...
radio programs, as well as Broadway Calling with Gertrude Lawrence
Gertrude Lawrence
Gertrude Lawrence was an English actress, singer and musical comedy performer known for her stage appearances in the West End theatre district of London and on Broadway.-Early life:...
. Lowther joined the DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
as an executive producer starting with its inception in 1945. He also wrote several adventure novels for children. By 1963 he had joined the Famous Writers School
Famous Writers School
The Famous Writers School was an educational institution that ran a correspondence course for writers in the 1960s and 1970s. Founded in 1961 by Bennett Cerf, Gordon Carroll and Albert Dorne, it became the subject of a scandal after a 1970 exposé by Jessica Mitford, who noted the school's...
.
From 1974-1975, he wrote 44 episodes of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater
CBS Radio Mystery Theater
CBS Radio Mystery Theater was a radio drama series created by Himan Brown that was broadcast on CBS affiliates from 1974 to 1982....
— and even performed in one of them in 1974.
Lowther married the former Florence Wagner. They had two sons, Kevin and Sean, and lived in Westport, Connecticut
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
, where Lowther died.
Television credits
The following information was taken from the Internet Movie Database Web site:Producer
- Matinee TheatreMatinee TheatreMatinee 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...
(executive producer) (55 episodes, 1955–1956) - The Secret StormThe Secret StormThe Secret Storm is a soap opera which ran on CBS from February 1, 1954 to February 8, 1974. The series was created by Roy Winsor, who also created the long-running soap operas Search for Tomorrow and Love of Life...
(1954) TV series (producer) (1955) - Kraft Television TheatreKraft Television TheatreKraft Television Theatre is an American drama/anthology television series that began May 7, 1947 on NBC, airing at 7:30pm on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. In January 1948, it moved to 9pm on Wednesdays, continuing in that timeslot until 1958. Initially produced by the J...
(executive producer) (50 episodes, 1953–1954), also known as "Ponds Theater" - The United States Steel HourThe United States Steel HourThe United States Steel Hour is an anthology series which brought hour-long dramas to television from 1953 to 1963. The television series and the radio program that preceded it were both sponsored by the United States Steel Corporation....
(executive producer) (23 episodes, 1953–1954), also known as "The U.S. Steel Hour" - Armstrong Circle TheatreArmstrong Circle TheatreArmstrong Circle Theatre is an American anthology drama television series which ran from 1950 to 1957 on NBC, and then until 1963 on CBS. It alternated weekly with The U.S. Steel Hour.-Synopsis:...
(producer) (62 episodes, 1950–1951)
Writer
- The Edge of NightThe Edge of NightThe Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
, also known as Edge of Night (1956) TV series (unknown number of episodes, 1966) - "Matinee TheatreMatinee TheatreMatinee 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...
" (wrote four episodes, from 1955–1957)- "Nine-Finger Jack" (1957) TV episode (screenplay)
- "Make-Believe Affair" (1957) TV episode (adaptation)
- "We Won't Be Any Trouble" (1957) TV episode (writer)
- "The House on Wildwood Lane" (1955) TV episode (writer)
- "True StoryTrue StoryTrue Story may refer to:*True History, a travel tale by Lucian of Samosata*True Story *True Story * True Story *True Story , a magazine founded by Bernarr Macfadden...
" (1957) TV series (wrote an unknown number of episodes) - "Star TonightStar TonightStar Tonight, an American television anthology series, aired on ABC from February 1955 to August 1956.-Adaptations and actors:It consisted of 80 total episodes, 30 from 1955 and 50 from 1956. Each episode was a self-contained story, usually adapted from famous plays, short-stories or novels by some...
" (wrote one episode, "Will Power", in 1956) - "General Electric TheaterGeneral Electric TheaterGeneral Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald W. Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations.-Radio:...
", also known as "G.E. Theater" (wrote one episode, "O'Hoolihan and the Leprechaun", 1956) - "Climax!", also known as "Climax Mystery Theater", (wrote one episode, "Flame-Out in T-6", in 1956)
- "The United States Steel HourThe United States Steel HourThe United States Steel Hour is an anthology series which brought hour-long dramas to television from 1953 to 1963. The television series and the radio program that preceded it were both sponsored by the United States Steel Corporation....
" (also known as "The U.S. Steel Hour") (wrote one episode, "Freighter", in 1955) - "Armstrong Circle TheatreArmstrong Circle TheatreArmstrong Circle Theatre is an American anthology drama television series which ran from 1950 to 1957 on NBC, and then until 1963 on CBS. It alternated weekly with The U.S. Steel Hour.-Synopsis:...
" (wrote one episode, "The Bells of Cockaigne" (1953) TV - "Kraft Television TheatreKraft Television TheatreKraft Television Theatre is an American drama/anthology television series that began May 7, 1947 on NBC, airing at 7:30pm on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. In January 1948, it moved to 9pm on Wednesdays, continuing in that timeslot until 1958. Initially produced by the J...
" (also known as "Ponds Theater") (1953) TV Series (wrote an unknown number of episodes) - "Captain Video and His Video Rangers" (also known as "Captain Video") (wrote 4 episodes in 1952)
- "Tom Corbett, Space CadetTom Corbett, Space CadetTom Corbett is the main character in a series of Tom Corbett — Space Cadet stories that were depicted in television, radio, books, comic books, comic strips, coloring books, punch-out books and View-Master reels in the 1950s....
" (1950) TV series (wrote an unknown number of episodes) - Kraft Television TheatreKraft Television TheatreKraft Television Theatre is an American drama/anthology television series that began May 7, 1947 on NBC, airing at 7:30pm on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. In January 1948, it moved to 9pm on Wednesdays, continuing in that timeslot until 1958. Initially produced by the J...
(1947) TV series (wrote an unknown number of episodes)