Fred Weintraub
| Fred Weintraub | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 27, 1928 Bronx, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | film producer television producer film director screenwriter |
| Known for | Original owner of The Bitter End Martial Arts and action films |
| Website | |
| http://www.fredweintraub.com/ | |
Fred Weintraub (born April 27, 1928 in Bronx, New York) is an American film and television producer, director and screenwriter.
Contents |
[edit] Career
[edit] Background
Weintraub is the original owner and host of The Bitter End in New York City's Greenwich Village.[1] Weintraub's discerning eye discovered and presented to the world such soon-to-be-famous acts as Peter, Paul and Mary, Lenny Bruce (with whom he was arrested for obscenity), Pete Seeger, Randy Newman and The Isley Brothers.[1] The diversity of the Village's most famous club is testament to Weintraub's vision, a partial list (from the Bitter End website) includes early performances of Neil Diamond, Woody Allen, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Ricky Nelson, Nina Simone, Dustin Hoffman, Charles Aznavour, Lily Tomlin, Stevie Wonder, Kris Kristofferson, Joni Mitchell, George Carlin, Bob Dylan, Harry Chapin, and Phil Ochs.[1] During the early 1960s The Bitter End hosted "Open Mike" Hootenannies every Tuesday night, showcasing young, old, known and unknown talented folksingers.[1][2]
[edit] Films and television
Moving west in the mid 60's Weintraub created, wrote, and produced many famous TV shows including Hootenanny and Dukes of Hazzard.[3] Beginning with Rage then Enter the Dragon Weintraub produced dozens of movies, many with a martial arts theme as well as directing a documentary on Bruce Lee Curse of the Dragon (1993).[3]
In 1970 Weintraub became an Executive Vice President of Warner Bros. and his first film for the studio was Woodstock. In 1972 he became an independent producer and introduced Bruce Lee, the first star from the emerging nations, in the classic film Enter The Dragon.
One of Weintraub's earlier documentary films was It's Showtime (1976) which consisted of film clips profiling various animal actors, such as Rin Tin Tin, Flipper, Trigger, and Asta, with commentary from the actors who worked with them and including footage of James Cagney, Jimmy Durante, Cary Grant, Maureen O'Sullivan, Dick Powell, Ronald Reagan, and Mickey Rooney working with animal stars.[4][5]
[edit] Filmography
- As producer
- La Femme Musketeer (2004) (TV)
- Dream Warrior (2003)
- Warrior Angels (2002)
- Endangered Species (2002)
- Amazons and Gladiators (2001)
- Perilous (2000)
- The Devil's Arithmetic (1999) (TV) (producer)
- Playboy's Really Naked Truth (1995-1997) (TV)
- The Best of the Really Naked Truth (1997) (TV)
- The New Adventures of Robin Hood (1997) (TV)
- Undertow (1996) (TV)
- Under the Gun (1995)
- Triplecross (1995) (TV)
- Backstreet Justice (1994)
- Trouble Bound (1993)
- Curse of the Dragon (1993)
- The JFK Assassination: The Jim Garrison Tapes (1992)
- Born to Ride (1991)
- China O'Brien II (1991 in film1991)
- Chips, the War Dog (1990) (TV)
- China O'Brien (1990)
- The Best of the Martial Arts Films (1990)
- The Women's Club (1987)
- Gymkata (1985)
- Out of Control (1985))
- High Road to China (1983)
- Force: Five (1981)
- The Big Brawl (1980)
- Tom Horn (1980)
- Jaguar Lives! (1979)
- The Promise (1979)
- Checkered Flag or Crash (1977)
- The Pack (1977)
- Hot Potato (1976)
- Trial by Combat (1976)
- It's Showtime (1976)
- The Ultimate Warrior (1978)
- Golden Needles (1974)
- Truck Turner (1974)
- Black Belt Jones (1974)
- Enter the Dragon (1973)
- Rage (1972)
- As writer
- The New Adventures of Robin Hood (1997) (TV)
- The Women's Club (1987)
- The Promise 1979)
- Trial by Combat (1976)
- Black Belt Jones (1974)
- As director
- Curse of the Dragon (1993)
- It's Showtime (1976)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d bitterend.com, by Paul Colby, "The History", accessed 01-17-2009
- ^ folkmusicarchives.org, "The Bitter End", accessed 01-17-2009
- ^ a b filmreference.com, "Fred Weintraub Biography (1928-)", accessed 01-17-2009
- ^ Yahoo Movies, It's Showtime cast and crew, accessed 01-17-2009
- ^ New York Times Movies, It's Showtime cast and crew, accessed 01-17-2009
