John T. Binkley
Encyclopedia
John T. Binkley is an American writer-director-producer of theatre and television.
Biography
Plays and Television
Reviews
References
External links
. He studied philosophy at Stanford University
(B.A. 1968) and worked on a retrospective of his pro bono work in the healing arts at Lesley University (MEd 1994). He is a 1965 graduate of Exeter.
Binkley’s first play, No Man’s Child, premiered in 1966 at The Nitery Theater, Stanford University, and was produced for television by K.Q.E.D./ San Francisco and televised on P.B.S. stations in the major U.S. cities in 1966. In 1970 Binkley became the director of the Foothill Free Clinic in Pasadena, CA. Although an Episcopalian he was also director of education for the American Friends Service Committee. Managed by Nelson Rising, the executive producer of the Academy Award winning political drama 'The Candidate,' John ran unsuccessfully for congress in the Pasadena, CA. area in November 1972. However, he did better than any other Democrat had ever done in that district.
In 1984, Binkley produced No Adults Allowed for TV-AM
in London. The show was reviewed in the London press and aired nationally on ITV. Press reviews included the comments: “Adventurous concept,” The Sunday Times; “Viewing grownups through youngsters’ eyes…The first children’s soap opera to line up alongside big boys like Coronation Street,” Daily Express; “Compulsive viewing,” The Sunday Express. The show was syndicated in Europe, Africa and Asia. In the early development of "No Adults Allowed," veteran television producer Norman Lear ("All In The Family") worked with Binkley in an attempt to bring the show to American television, and made the observation, "It gives me an opportunity to see how children view me and my society."
Binkley created and produced The Perkins Family in 1985. The critically acclaimed U.S. version of No Adults Allowed was produced with WGBH Boston for broadcast nationally on P.B.S. 1987. It attracted the largest teen audience of any program on P.B.S. in the February, 1987, sweeps (source: A.C. Nielsen February 1987).
In 1990, Binkley produced the first season of Fifteen
for Nickelodeon (an earlier version was produced for The Disney Channel and was selected Best New Drama in Canada). A total of 65 episodes were produced between 1990 and 1992, securing awards and record ratings for Nickelodeon between 1991 and 1993(source: A.C. Nielsen).
In 2002, author Xinran and her husband, London literary agent, Toby Eady, asked Binkley to create a pilot for a Chinese version of No Adults Allowed. The pilot was produced in Nanjing.
Recently, Binkley returned to the theatre, writing and directing three plays (2003–2008) including: Seize The Day, work shopped, then toured in Scotland with Pace Theatre Company
2005-2006; and most recently, Gang of Four
, showcased by Presentation House (Vancouver) in 2008.
Plays written and directed by John Binkley
Television programs produced by John Binkley (1)
(1) with the exception of No Man's Child which Binkley directed
“Of, By & For The Children,” Los Angeles Times, TV Times 1/27/91-2/2/91. Lauren Lipton wrote regarding "Fifteen", "While the show -- Nickelodeon's first continuing drama-- might tackle some pretty serious situations, it does so with a light touch, to make viewers laugh even if they felt like crying."
Biography
Plays and Television
Reviews
References
External links
Biography
Binkley was born in Evanston, IllinoisEvanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
. He studied philosophy at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
(B.A. 1968) and worked on a retrospective of his pro bono work in the healing arts at Lesley University (MEd 1994). He is a 1965 graduate of Exeter.
Binkley’s first play, No Man’s Child, premiered in 1966 at The Nitery Theater, Stanford University, and was produced for television by K.Q.E.D./ San Francisco and televised on P.B.S. stations in the major U.S. cities in 1966. In 1970 Binkley became the director of the Foothill Free Clinic in Pasadena, CA. Although an Episcopalian he was also director of education for the American Friends Service Committee. Managed by Nelson Rising, the executive producer of the Academy Award winning political drama 'The Candidate,' John ran unsuccessfully for congress in the Pasadena, CA. area in November 1972. However, he did better than any other Democrat had ever done in that district.
In 1984, Binkley produced No Adults Allowed for TV-AM
TV-am
TV-am was a breakfast television station that broadcast to the United Kingdom from 1 February 1983 to 31 December 1992. It made history by being the first national operator of a commercial television franchise at breakfast-time , and broadcast every day of the week for most or all of the period...
in London. The show was reviewed in the London press and aired nationally on ITV. Press reviews included the comments: “Adventurous concept,” The Sunday Times; “Viewing grownups through youngsters’ eyes…The first children’s soap opera to line up alongside big boys like Coronation Street,” Daily Express; “Compulsive viewing,” The Sunday Express. The show was syndicated in Europe, Africa and Asia. In the early development of "No Adults Allowed," veteran television producer Norman Lear ("All In The Family") worked with Binkley in an attempt to bring the show to American television, and made the observation, "It gives me an opportunity to see how children view me and my society."
Binkley created and produced The Perkins Family in 1985. The critically acclaimed U.S. version of No Adults Allowed was produced with WGBH Boston for broadcast nationally on P.B.S. 1987. It attracted the largest teen audience of any program on P.B.S. in the February, 1987, sweeps (source: A.C. Nielsen February 1987).
In 1990, Binkley produced the first season of Fifteen
Fifteen (TV series)
Hillside is a Canadian-American teen drama that aired on YTV in Canada and Nickelodeon in the United States from 1991 to 1993. Created and produced by John T...
for Nickelodeon (an earlier version was produced for The Disney Channel and was selected Best New Drama in Canada). A total of 65 episodes were produced between 1990 and 1992, securing awards and record ratings for Nickelodeon between 1991 and 1993(source: A.C. Nielsen).
In 2002, author Xinran and her husband, London literary agent, Toby Eady, asked Binkley to create a pilot for a Chinese version of No Adults Allowed. The pilot was produced in Nanjing.
Recently, Binkley returned to the theatre, writing and directing three plays (2003–2008) including: Seize The Day, work shopped, then toured in Scotland with Pace Theatre Company
PACE Theatre Company
PACE Theatre Company is a registered charity and non-profit making theatre company based in Paisley, Scotland. Formed in 1988 by David Wallace, PACE has four main components: a professional theatre production and Theatre-in-education company; PACE Youth Theatre, with over 2,000 members; PACE...
2005-2006; and most recently, Gang of Four
Gang of Four
The Gang of Four was the name given to a political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials. They came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution and were subsequently charged with a series of treasonous crimes...
, showcased by Presentation House (Vancouver) in 2008.
Plays written and directed by John Binkley
- No Man’s Child (1966)
- We Went There Tomorrow (1970)
- Marilyn (2003)
- Seize The Day (2005)
- Gang of Four (2007)
Television programs produced by John Binkley (1)
- No Man’s Child (1967 PBS/U.S.)
- Secret's Out (1981 U.S.)
- No Adults Allowed (1984 ITV/U.K)
- The Perkins Family (1986, WGBH/PBS/U.S.)
- Fifteen (1986, The Disney Channel/U.S.;Canada)
- Fifteen (1990-1992 Nickelodeon/U.S.)
- Children of War (documentary) (1997)
- No Adults Allowed (2002 China)
(1) with the exception of No Man's Child which Binkley directed
Reviews
“A kid’s eye view of family life,” The Christian Science Monitor, January 2, 1987. Alan Bunce wrote, “'The Perkins Family' has two remarkable features: a cast of seven to 16-year-olds who play all the parts-- including those of adults; and dialogue that is entirely improvised...'Improvisation is a natural form of drama for children,' said producer John Binkley...'It's almost an extension of play.' This rewarding experiment in television theater brings young talent and insight to bear on family issues and everyday living."“Of, By & For The Children,” Los Angeles Times, TV Times 1/27/91-2/2/91. Lauren Lipton wrote regarding "Fifteen", "While the show -- Nickelodeon's first continuing drama-- might tackle some pretty serious situations, it does so with a light touch, to make viewers laugh even if they felt like crying."