Irwin Rosten
Encyclopedia
Irwin Rosten was an American documentary film
maker who also produced several hour-long documentaries for television. He is best known for his 1975 film The Incredible Machine
. He was twice nominated for an Academy Award and won an Emmy Award
for the documentary Mysteries of the Mind.
Rosten was born on September 10, 1924, in Brooklyn. He began his career as a documentary filmmaker during the 1950s with the DuMont Television Network
, where he was manager of news and public affairs. He moved to Los Angeles
in 1954, where he produced the 1958 documentary Thou Shalt Not Kill for station KNXT
about capital punishment
. He was hired by KTLA
in 1956, where his documentaries included the 1963 Splt Image about internal television programming produced by patients at Camarillo State Mental Hospital
.
During the 1960s, he made independent documentaries for the Wolper Organization
and at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
. He produced a number of one-hour nature and wildlife television specials for National Geographic, the last of which he produced in 1991.
He produced the first television special featuring Jacques Cousteau in addition to such films as The Wolf Men
, his 1969 film about the hunting of timberwolves, and The Incredible Machine
(1975), both of which received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. His 1974 film Birds Do It, Bees Do It
was screened at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival
. He earned Emmy Award
s, a Peabody Award
and Writers Guild of America Awards. The Incredible Machine, which included some of the first pictures taken inside the human body and presented on film, ranked as the most-watched program in Public Broadcasting Service
until 1982.
Rosten died at age 85 in his Hollywood home on May 23, 2010, due to vascular disease
. He was survived by his wife, Marilyn Ryan, as well as by a son, Peter
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
maker who also produced several hour-long documentaries for television. He is best known for his 1975 film The Incredible Machine
The Incredible Machine (film)
The Incredible Machine is a 1975 documentary film directed by Irwin Rosten and Ed Spiegel. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. E. G. Marshall narrated the film, which was produced by Rosten, together with Dennis B...
. He was twice nominated for an Academy Award and won an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for the documentary Mysteries of the Mind.
Rosten was born on September 10, 1924, in Brooklyn. He began his career as a documentary filmmaker during the 1950s with 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...
, where he was manager of news and public affairs. He moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1954, where he produced the 1958 documentary Thou Shalt Not Kill for station KNXT
KNXT
KNXT is a television station owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno, broadcasting on digital channel 50. The station is licensed in Visalia, California, about 45 miles southeast of Fresno...
about capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
. He was hired by KTLA
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
in 1956, where his documentaries included the 1963 Splt Image about internal television programming produced by patients at Camarillo State Mental Hospital
Camarillo State Mental Hospital
Camarillo State Mental Hospital, also known as Camarillo State Hospital, was a psychiatric hospital for both developmentally disabled and mentally ill patients in Camarillo, California. The hospital closed in 1997. The site has been redeveloped as the California State University, Channel Islands...
.
During the 1960s, he made independent documentaries for the Wolper Organization
David L. Wolper
David Lloyd Wolper was an American television and film producer, responsible for shows such as Roots, The Thorn Birds, North & South, L.A. Confidential, and the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory...
and at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
. He produced a number of one-hour nature and wildlife television specials for National Geographic, the last of which he produced in 1991.
He produced the first television special featuring Jacques Cousteau in addition to such films as The Wolf Men
The Wolf Men
The Wolf Men is a 1969 documentary film produced by Irwin Rosten. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature....
, his 1969 film about the hunting of timberwolves, and The Incredible Machine
The Incredible Machine (film)
The Incredible Machine is a 1975 documentary film directed by Irwin Rosten and Ed Spiegel. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. E. G. Marshall narrated the film, which was produced by Rosten, together with Dennis B...
(1975), both of which received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. His 1974 film Birds Do It, Bees Do It
Birds Do It, Bees Do It
Birds Do It, Bees Do It is a 1974 documentary film covering sexuality in the animal kingdom. It was directed by Nicolas Noxon and Irwin Rosten, and co-produced by David L. Wolper....
was screened at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival
1974 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*René Clair *Jean-Loup Dabadie *Kenne Fant *Félix Labisse *Irwin Shaw *Michel Soutter *Monica Vitti *Alexander Walker *Rostislav Yurenev -Feature film competition:...
. He earned Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s, a Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
and Writers Guild of America Awards. The Incredible Machine, which included some of the first pictures taken inside the human body and presented on film, ranked as the most-watched program in Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
until 1982.
Rosten died at age 85 in his Hollywood home on May 23, 2010, due to vascular disease
Vascular disease
Vascular disease is a form of cardiovascular disease primarily affecting the blood vessels.Some conditions, such as angina and myocardial ischemia, can be considered both vascular diseases and heart diseases .Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor....
. He was survived by his wife, Marilyn Ryan, as well as by a son, Peter