
Ivan Tors
Writing
Biography
Ivan Tors was a Hungarian-born American playwright, film director, screenwriter, and producer renowned for his contributions to science fiction and animal-themed entertainment. After studying at the University of Budapest, he emigrated to the United States in 1939, where he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Post-war, Tors joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a screenwriter. He co-wrote and produced Storm Over Tibet (1952) and created the "Office of Scientific Investigation" trilogy, including The Magnetic Monster (1953), Riders to the Stars (1954), and Gog (1954). Tors also developed television series like Science Fiction Theater (1955–1957), Sea Hunt (1958–1961), and Flipper (1964–1967). His Miami-based studio, now known as Greenwich Studios, was instrumental in producing underwater sequences and animal-centric stories. Tors passed away in Mato Grosso, Brazil, while scouting locations for a new television series.
Known For

Sea Hunt is an American adventure television series that aired in syndication from 1958 to 1961 and was popular in syndication for decades afterwards. The series originally aired for four seasons, with 155 episodes produced. It stars Lloyd Bridges as ex-Navy frogman Mike Nelson, and was produced by Ivan Tors.
Sea Hunt

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 and Marine Preserve in southern Florida, and his two young sons, Sandy and Bud. The show has been dubbed an "aquatic Lassie", and a considerable amount of juvenile merchandise inspired by the show was produced during its first-run.
Flipper

Daktari is an American children's drama series that aired on CBS between 1966 and 1969. The series, an Ivan Tors Films Production in association with MGM Television, stars Marshall Thompson as Dr. Marsh Tracy, a veterinarian at the fictional Wameru Study Centre for Animal Behaviour in East Africa.
Daktari

Gentle Ben is an American family series that aired on CBS from September 10, 1967 to April 27, 1969. The series follows the adventures, in the Florida Everglades, of a game warden, Tom Wedloe, his wife Ellen, his son Mark and Ben the grizzly bear.
Gentle Ben

Science Fiction Theatre is an American science fiction anthology series that aired in syndication from April 1955 to April 1957. It was produced by Ivan Tors and Maurice Ziv.
Science Fiction Theatre

Men Into Space is an American science-fiction television series broadcast from September 30, 1959 to September 7, 1960 by CBS which depicted future efforts by the United States Air Force to explore and develop outer space. The black-and-white filmed show starred William Lundigan as Col. Edward McCauley.
Men Into Space

Ripcord is an American syndicated television series that ran for 76 episodes from 1961 to 1963 about the exploits of a skydiving operation by the same name.
Ripcord

The Aquanauts is an American adventure/drama series that aired on CBS in the 1960-1961 season. The series stars Keith Larsen, Jeremy Slate and Ron Ely.
The Aquanauts

The Man and the Challenge is a 36-segment half-hour television adventure/science fiction series which ran new episodes on NBC from September 12, 1959, to June 11, 1960. It starred George Nader as Dr. Glenn Barton, a research scientist for the Institute of Human Factors, an agency that conducted experiments designed to measure human endurance for the United States government. The series was produced by Ivan Tors. Nader's costars included Jack Ging as Dan Wright, Michael Masters as Bill Locke, the Canadian-born Joyce Meadows as Lynn Allen, and Michael Keith as Matt Adams. The episodes focused on various individuals setting world records of strength, endurance, and mastery of various difficult skills. The program also featured appearances by Bethel Leslie as Eleanor Beck in "The Early Warning", Ted Knight, as Dr. Herter in the episode "Daredevils", and Raymond Bailey, in the role of Dr. Kramer on the series opener "The Sphere of No Return". Joining Knight in that segment was Paul Burke.
The Man and the Challenge

The Everglades is an American crime-adventure television series that aired in first-run syndication for one season from 1961–62 and in reruns. Ron Hayes starred as Constable Lincoln Vail, a law enforcement officer of the fictional Everglades County Patrol who traveled the Florida Everglades in an airboat, a vehicle which was often the focus of the program. Hayes, a northern California actor and stuntman, was an avid outdoorsman and conservationist. Gordon Casell appeared in five of the 38 half-hour episodes as Chief Anderson, Vail's superior. Steve Brodie made three appearances as Captain Andy Benson; Dan Chandler was twice cast as Vail's sidekick, airboat guide Pete Hammond. Future film star Burt Reynolds appeared twice in the role of Lew Johnson and once as Trask. Guest stars included R.G. Armstrong, Victor Buono, Roger C. Carmel, Paul Carr, Jack Cassidy, Lonny Chapman, John Doucette, Penny Edwards, Frank Ferguson, Luke Halpin, Douglas Kennedy, Robert Knapp, Paul Lambert, Tyler McVey, Mala Powers, Chris Robinson, Johnny Seven, Ray Teal, Bill Travers, and Dawn Wells. The show was produced by Ivan Tors and distributed by Ziv-United Artists.
Everglades

Cowboy in Africa was an American Broadcasting Company television series produced during 1967-1968 by Ivan Tors and featuring Chuck Connors as the main actor. A 1966 television pilot show featuring Hugh O'Brian as Jim Sinclair, made into a movie and released to cinemas, was named Africa - Texas Style.
Cowboy in Africa

Primus is a syndicated sea adventure series which aired in 1971–1972. It told the adventures of Carter Primus. The series was produced by Ivan Tors and one season was shot.
Primus

After 26 years, the series returns with Ron Ely stepping into Lloyd Bridges' role as former Navy frogman Mike Nelson. This time, Mike is joined by his daughter Jennifer (Kimber Sissons), an oceanography student, on his underwater adventures.
Sea Hunt

A mechanical brain is programmed to sabotage the government's secret lab while working on the first space station.
Gog

Sandy is distraught when, having saved Flipper by pulling out a spear, his father insists the dolphin be released. A grateful Flipper, however, returns the favor when Sandy is threatened by sharks.
Flipper

A five man submarine plants sensors around the worlds oceans to monitor for a impending earthquake.
Around the World Under the Sea

Given the chance to live in a simulated underwater home for a month, a scientist convinces his family to take advantage of the offer. Once the family agrees to move in, underwater mayhem occurs!
Hello Down There

Composer Robert Schumann struggles to compose his symphonies while his loving wife Clara offers her support. Also helping the Schumanns is their lifelong friend, composer Johannes Brahms.
Song of Love

The Story of a boy and his bear. The TV series ‘Gentle Ben’ was spun-off from this movie.
Gentle Giant

Two co-workers in a music shop dislike one another during business hours but unwittingly carry on an anonymous romance through the mail.