Franklin Adreon

• Name — Franklin Adreon • Born — 18 November 1902 • Birthplace — Gambrills, Maryland, U.S. • Died — 10 September 1979 • Place of death — Thousand Oaks, California, U.S. • Other Names — Franklyn Adreon Lt. Franklyn Adreon • Occupation — Screenwriter, director, producer, actor • Years Active — 1935–1966

Born in Gambrills, Maryland, Franklyn Adreon (pronounced "AD-re-on") began his career as a bond salesman before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1931. After his four-year enlistment he remained on call as a Marine Reservist during the 1930s, and served in the United States Marine Corps in World War II. Stationed initially with the 6th Marines in Iceland, Major Adreon was put in charge of the Marine Corps' photographic unit at Quantico, and produced military training films. Adreon entered motion pictures in 1935 with Mascot Pictures as a technical advisor on the serial The Fighting Marines (in which he also appeared in the role of Captain Holmes). This led to a post as an assistant director, which he held while the studio was absorbed by Republic Pictures in 1936. In 1937 Adreon became a screenwriter, collaborating on the scripts of Republic's serials. He worked with serial director William Witney, who also served in the Marines during the war. Adreon soon became the head of Republic's serial unit, and produced many hit serials, with his first name now billed as "Franklin". After the unit's resident director Fred C. Brannon died in April 1953, Adreon took over Brannon's duties himself and both produced and directed the serials until the studio ceased serial production in 1955. He stayed with Republic as a director, producer, and writer on various television series and films. When the studio halted production in 1957, Adreon moved to Warner Bros. as a director, and worked on its popular TV series, including Maverick and Sugarfoot. Adreon kept busy with western and action assignments until 1966, when he retired at age 63. Franklin Adreon died on September 10, 1979, in Thousand Oaks, California, at the age of 76.

• Film • Year — Film — Notes • 1937 — S.O.S. Coast Guard — Original screenplay • 1938 — The Fighting Devil Dogs — Original screenplay • 1939 — Zorro's Fighting Legion — Original screenplay • 1940 — Adventures of Red Ryder — Original screenplay Credited as Franklyn Adreon • 1947 — Jesse James Rides Again — Original screenplay • 1948 — Adventures of Frank and Jesse James — Associate producer • 1949 — Ghost of Zorro — Associate producer • 1950 — The Invisible Monster — Associate producer • 1951 — Government Agents vs Phantom Legion — Associate producer • 1952 — Zombies of the Stratosphere — Associate producer • 1953 — Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders — Director, associate producer • 1954 — Trader Tom of the China Seas — Director, associate producer • 1955 — King of the Carnival — Director, associate producer • 1956 — The Man is Armed — Director • 1962 — The Nun and the Sergeant — Director • 1966 — Dimension 5 — Director • 1966 — Cyborg 2087 — Director Alternative title: Man from Tomorrow • Television • Year — Title — Notes • 1955 — Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe — Associate producer, 12 episodes • 1957 — Cheyenne — Director, 2 episodes • 1957–1958 — Maverick — Director, 2 episodes • Colt.45 — Director, 4 episodes • Sugarfoot — Director, 10 episodes • 1958 — Frontier Doctor — Director, 2 episodes • 1958–1959 — 26 Men — Director, 2 episodes • Lassie — Director, 14 episodes • The Rough Riders — Director, 5 episodes • 1959–1960 — Tombstone Territory — Director, 5 episodes • 1960 — Pony Express — Director, 1 episode • Men into Space — Director, 1 episode • Lock-Up — Director, 3 episodes • Shotgun Slade — Director, 2 episodes • Gunsmoke — Director, 1 episode • 1960–1961 — Bat Masterson — Director, 5 episodes • 1961 — Ripcord — Director, 1 episode • The Tall Man — Director, 1 episode