Walter Grauman


Walter E. Grauman was an American director of stage shows, films and television shows.

Early life

Grauman was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Jacob and Irene Grauman, both children of German immigrants who married after settling in the United States. His father, Jacob Grauman, was president of a film distributing company.
In his early years, Grauman lived in Shorewood, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, and later moved to Arizona where he attended the University of Arizona. He served for four years in the United States Army Air Forces flying 56 combat missions over Europe in a B-25 in the Twelfth Air Force and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross before moving to California, where his mother was living at the time.

Entertainment industry

After spending a few years running his own business, Grauman eventually took a job as stage manager at NBC's studios in Los Angeles. During his stint working at the network, he and relative Alan Armer developed a talent-show type program that proved popular, setting the mold for shows like Star Search and American Idol to follow.
In 1957, Grauman turned to films, directing "The Disembodied" for the "B film" division of Allied Artists Studios, which was headed by friend Walter Mirisch. Although he directed only six theatrical films, Grauman had one of the most active and long lasting television careers in history which included work on such shows as The Untouchables, The Fugitive, Route 66, The Streets of San Francisco, The Twilight Zone and Murder, She Wrote. He also reportedly helped to get Michael Douglas one of his first jobs as a lead on The Streets of San Francisco.
Grauman directed 633 Squadron, a World War II film about a fictional squadron in the British RAF. In interviews, George Lucas has commented that he patterned the "trench run" sequence in his Star Wars: Episode IV on a scene from this film.
Grauman also directed a number of made-for-TV films, including the Aaron Spelling produced 1970 supernatural horror film Crowhaven Farm. Broadcast as an ABC Movie of the Week on 24 November 1970 and starring Hope Lange and Paul Burke, the film involves witchcraft, déjà vu, death, betrayal, revenge, and reincarnation, and it has become a cult classic.
Grauman was the creator/executive producer of the Los Angeles Spotlight Awards, which are run through the Los Angeles Music Center. He was among the closest living relatives to Sid Grauman, owner and founder of Los Angeles' famous Grauman's Chinese Theater, Egyptian Theater and Million Dollar Theater. At the time of his death in 2015 at the age of 93, he resided in Los Angeles with his wife.

Directorial credits, theatrical films

Pilots and television series

ColumboThe UntouchablesThe Fugitive The Streets of San Francisco Barnaby Jones East Side/West SideNaked CityThe New Breed Route 66Blue LightHoney West Manhunter Most Wanted Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected Bare Essence Harrigan & Son Scene of the Crime Murder, She Wrote Blacke's Magic The Twilight Zone
Plus over 275 30-minute and 1-hour filmed dramatic programs, including:VTrapper John, M.D.Twelve O'Clock HighThe Eleventh HourLancerHotel de PareeMan Without a GunColt.45Cover UpSteve CanyonPeter GunnBlue LightBurke's LawThe June Allyson Show

Live television drama

Director/creator/executive producer

Blue Light - series, ABCFelony Squad - series, ABCThe Silent Force - series, ABC
  • Six Movies-of-the-Week, ABCWorld Premiere, NBC
  • Eleven two-hour movies, CBS

Movies for television and mini-series

The Forgotten Man - Director/Producer/CreatorDaughter of the Mind - Director/Executive ProducerCrowhaven Farm - Director/ProducerThe Old Man Who Cried Wolf - Director/ProducerDead Men Tell No Tales - Director/Executive ProducerPaper Man - Director/Executive ProducerThey Call It Murder - Director/Executive ProducerNightmare on the 13th Floor - Executive Producer/Director

Movies for television and mini-series – director

Are You in the House Alone? – 2 hrCrisis in Mid-air – 2 hrThe Golden Gate Murders – David Janssen/Susannah York, 2 hr, CBSIrwin Shaw's Top of the Hill – Wayne Rogers, 4 hrThe Memory of Eva Ryker- Natalie Wood, 3 hr, CBSPleasure Palace – Omar Sharif, José Ferrer, 2 hr, CBSOutrage! – 2 hr, CBSForce Five – 2 hr, ABCCovenant – José Ferrer, 2 hr, NBC

CBS movies and mini-series – director / producer