Peter Rodgers Organization
Encyclopedia
The Peter Rodgers Organization (PRO) is a television syndication company, based in Hollywood, California. It distributes more than 2,000 films, dozens of documentaries and off network television
series to global markets. PRO claims to hold the largest library of films of any non-studio distributor.
PRO is also the American distributor of UK-based programming from Indigo Films, ITV Studios
and FremantleMedia
.
escapee of Nazi persecution, who arrived in the United States
in 1938. Following a distinguished tour of service in the United States Army
as a military intelligence
officer during World War II
, Rodgers moved to Los Angeles
in 1954 to work for National Telefilm Associates
(NTA), where he would serve as Vice President of Domestic Distribution and Sales, reporting to President and Chairman of the Board Ely Landau
.
In 1976, he left NTA to form the Peter Rodgers Organization. Over the last four decades, the company has represented and managed the rights to classic television shows such as The Bill Cosby Show
, The Rifleman
, Candid Camera
, Flipper
, I Spy The Saint
, My Favorite Martian
and the 1990 series, Zorro
.
Peter Rodgers died on February 21, 1988 at age 68. He was succeeded by his son, Stephen Rodgers.
Rodgers' death left family members arguing, with some of them wanting to liquidate the prestigious and prosperous entertainment company he had formed. After resulting legal clashes, Rodgers’ son Stephen surrendered all inheritance left to him by his father, and purchased the agency from the estate in 1988. He has served as its CEO since that time. At the time, Stephen Rodgers was believed to be the youngest CEO of any active business in this field, having succeeded his father at age 25.
Stephen Rodgers personally holds the copyright to several films, including The Unearthly
(1957) and Beginning of the End
(1957) He also owns O’Kennedy’s Ireland, a documentary about President John F. Kennedy
’s visit to his ancestral home of Dublin, Ireland
, where the O'Kennedy dynasty began, only months prior to his assassination in 1962. He also owns theme music to series such as I Spy, Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
and Peter Gunn
.
Rodgers is also a representative for the Zane Grey
estate.
PRO is also credited for a substantial number of films licensed to the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000
. PRO also provided footage for productions to E!
, The Discovery Channel, the MTV Video Music Awards
, The Kennedy Center Honors, the Emmy Awards, and other productions.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series to global markets. PRO claims to hold the largest library of films of any non-studio distributor.
PRO is also the American distributor of UK-based programming from Indigo Films, ITV Studios
ITV Studios
ITV Studios is a television production company owned by the British television network ITV. It not only makes programmes primarily for its parent company, but also for other networks...
and FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia, Ltd. is the content and production division of Bertelsmann's RTL Group, Europe's second largest TV, radio, and production company...
.
History
The company was founded in 1976 by Peter S. Rodgers, a VienneseVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
escapee of Nazi persecution, who arrived in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1938. Following a distinguished tour of service in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as a military intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
officer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Rodgers 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 to work for National Telefilm Associates
National Telefilm Associates
National Telefilm Associates was an independent distribution company that handled reissues of American film libraries, including much of Paramount Pictures' animated and short-subjects library.-History:...
(NTA), where he would serve as Vice President of Domestic Distribution and Sales, reporting to President and Chairman of the Board Ely Landau
Ely Landau
Ely Abraham Landau was an American producer and production executive best remembered for films of plays in the American Film Theatre series....
.
In 1976, he left NTA to form the Peter Rodgers Organization. Over the last four decades, the company has represented and managed the rights to classic television shows such as The Bill Cosby Show
The Bill Cosby Show
The Bill Cosby Show is an American situation comedy that aired for two seasons on NBC's Sunday night schedule from 1969 until 1971, under the sponsorship of Procter & Gamble. There were 52 episodes made in the series. It marked Cosby's first solo foray in television, after his co-starring role with...
, The Rifleman
The Rifleman
The Rifleman is an American Western television program that starred Chuck Connors as homesteader Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show, filmed in black-and-white with a half hour running time, ran...
, Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
, Flipper
Flipper (1964 TV series)
Flipper, from Ivan Tors Films in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television, is an American television program first broadcast on NBC from September 19, 1964, until April 15, 1967. Flipper, a bottlenose dolphin, is the companion animal of Porter Ricks, Chief Warden at fictional Coral Key Park...
, I Spy The Saint
The Saint (TV series)
The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
, My Favorite Martian
My Favorite Martian
My Favorite Martian is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from September 29, 1963 to May 1, 1966 for 107 episodes...
and the 1990 series, Zorro
Zorro (1990 TV series)
Zorro, also known as The New Zorro, New World Zorro, and Zorro 1990, is an American action-adventure drama series featuring Duncan Regehr as the character of Zorro. Regehr portrayed the fearless Latino hero and fencer on The Family Channel from 1990 to 1993...
.
Peter Rodgers died on February 21, 1988 at age 68. He was succeeded by his son, Stephen Rodgers.
Rodgers' death left family members arguing, with some of them wanting to liquidate the prestigious and prosperous entertainment company he had formed. After resulting legal clashes, Rodgers’ son Stephen surrendered all inheritance left to him by his father, and purchased the agency from the estate in 1988. He has served as its CEO since that time. At the time, Stephen Rodgers was believed to be the youngest CEO of any active business in this field, having succeeded his father at age 25.
Stephen Rodgers personally holds the copyright to several films, including The Unearthly
The Unearthly
The Unearthly is a science fiction/horror film written by Jane Mann and John D.F. Black, with characters originally created by Edward D. Wood, Jr....
(1957) and Beginning of the End
Beginning of the End
Beginning of the End is a 1957 American science fiction film directed by Bert I. Gordon and starring Peter Graves and Peggie Castle. The film is about an agricultural scientist who has successfully grown gigantic vegetables using radiation...
(1957) He also owns O’Kennedy’s Ireland, a documentary about President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
’s visit to his ancestral home of Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, where the O'Kennedy dynasty began, only months prior to his assassination in 1962. He also owns theme music to series such as I Spy, Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse is a children's cartoon television show that was produced by Trans-Artists Productions and syndicated by Tele Features Inc. in 1960. The characters were created by Bob Kane as a parody of his earlier works Batman and Robin and in many ways predict the more campy...
and Peter Gunn
Peter Gunn
Peter Gunn is an American private eye television series which aired on the NBC and later ABC television networks from 1958 to 1961. The show's creator was Blake Edwards...
.
Rodgers is also a representative for the Zane Grey
Zane Grey
Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the Old West. Riders of the Purple Sage was his bestselling book. In addition to the success of his printed works, they later had second lives and continuing influence...
estate.
PRO is also credited for a substantial number of films licensed to the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
. PRO also provided footage for productions to E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
, The Discovery Channel, the MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
, The Kennedy Center Honors, the Emmy Awards, and other productions.