Jack H. Harris

Jack Henry Harris (November 28, 1918 – March 14, 2017) was an American film producer and distributor. He produced The Blob (1958), 4D Man (1959), and Equinox (1970).^[1]

Early life

Harris was born to a Jewish family^[2] in Philadelphia, the son of Sara and Benny Ostravsky.^[2] His mother was from Romania and his father from Poland;^[2] the latter changed the family surname to Harris.^[2]

Career

Early career

Harris began his career in show business as a vaudeville performer in Gus Edwards' Kiddie Revue when he was six years old. He would later work in a theatre as an usher, in a publicity department, and in the distribution field, finally later taking up a career as a producer.^[3]

Film production

Harris is credited with coming up with the original motivation for his 1958 film, The Blob.^[4] Harris also worked on the TV series It's About Time and The Twilight Zone.

Distribution and retitling practices

As a distributor, Harris was known for acquiring independent films and retitling them with more commercial or exploitative names to enhance their marketability.^[5] One notable example was his acquisition of the 1973 Vietnam veteran drama Just Be There, which he retitled The Swinging Teacher and remarketed as an exploitation film despite its serious dramatic content.^[6]

Later recognition

Harris was among the 22 people selected to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014, in the motion pictures category.^[7] 95 at the time of his unveiling ceremony held on February 4, 2014, he was the oldest person to be honored with a star on the Walk of Fame.^[8][9]

Personal life

In 1988, he married Judith "Judy" Parker; they lived in Beverly Hills.^[2]

Death

Harris died March 14, 2017, at his home in Beverly Hills at aged 98.^[10]

Filmography

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

Miscellaneous crew

As an actor

As writer

As director

Thanks

Television

Miscellaneous crew

Book

In 2015, Harris published his first book, Father of the Blob: The Making of a Monster Smash & Other Hollywood Tales (TVGuestpert Publishing).^[11]

References

1. ^ Television & Cable Factbook. Television Digest, Incorporated. 1987. ISBN 978-0-9114862-9-2. Retrieved December 31, 2013. – via Google Books
2. ^ "'The Blob': How fame took shape from an amorphous sci-fi classic". Jewishjournal.com. June 1, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
3. ^ Weaver, Tom (2000). Return of the B Science Fiction and Horror Heroes: The Mutant Melding of Two .... McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-0755-2. Retrieved December 31, 2013. – via Google Books
4. ^ Murdico, Suzanne (January 15, 2005). Meet the Blob. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-4042-0271-9. Retrieved December 31, 2013. – via Google Books
5. ^ Harris, Jack H. (2015). Father of the Blob: The Making of a Monster Smash and Other Hollywood Tales. TVGuestpert Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9885855-1-5.
6. ^ "Pictures: PG Pic Poses as an R, Too Mild: Cancel 'The Swinging Teachers' Formerly Titled 'Just Be There'". Variety. Vol. 286, no. 13. May 4, 1977. p. 6.
7. ^ "Matthew McConaughey, Tupac and Katy Perry Among 2014 Walk of Fame Honorees". The Hollywood Reporter. June 21, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
8. ^ "Jack Harris, Producer of Horror Classic 'The Blob,' Dies at 98". March 14, 2017.
9. ^ "'Blob' producer Jack Harris gets Hollywood star". February 28, 2014. Archived February 28, 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
10. ^ "Jack Harris, who produced horror film 'The Blob,' dies at 98". Los Angeles Times. March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
11. ^ Harris, Jack H. (2015). Father of the Blob: The Making of a Monster Smash and Other Hollywood Tales. TVGuestpert Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9885855-1-5.

External links

• Jack H. Harris at IMDb