What's new

What ZIV Television Series Would You want to see on Blu Ray or DVD? (1 Viewer)

Capt D McMars

Bernuli Tech Vet
Premium
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Messages
5,248
Location
Colorado
Real Name
Todd Doc Sigmier
Growing up in the 60s and 70s it seemed like many of the shows were ZIV productions. Although many can still be seen via streaming, I prefer to add to my collection. I appreciate owning the series whenever possible, and view what I want, when I want it.
Once they got into television production, servicing the networks,
As the Big Three television networks began offering programs outside of prime time, Ziv's popularity and business began to decline. The market for first-run syndicated television programming began to dwindle, and the company, to attempt to save its business, began to produce programs which aired over the networks in 1956. In 1960, the company was purchased by United Artists and merged with their television unit to become Ziv-United Artists, but two years later, the name changed back to United Artists Television after the TV studio phased out Ziv Television Programs' operations.[1][4] In 1962, shortly before the name change, Ziv-UA tried a hand in changing its focus on independent television producers.[5]

Today, most of the rights to Ziv's TV shows are distributed by MGM Television and SFM Entertainment, while some of them have fallen into the public domain.

My question is, if MGM/UA is holding on to the rights and not releasing their series, why not release thru another distributor? On that note, what series from the ZIV catalog would YOU want to see released on BD or DVD?
Here's a parcial list:
 

jayembee

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2020
Messages
7,421
Location
Hamster Shire
Real Name
Jerry
Well, World of Giants has recently come out from ClassicFlix, and they've said that The Unexpected is in the works.

Personally, I'd choose Science Fiction Theatre. I know that Timeless released a Complete Series set about 10-12 years ago. I never got a copy of it, but I've heard that it wasn't great. I'd probably pick Boston Blackie for second place.
 

LouA

Senior HTF Member
Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
2,738
Location
New jersey
Real Name
Lou Antonicello
I’d love to have many of these on Blu-ray.
But especially:
Sea Hunt
Highway Patrol,
Waterfront
Hone Run Derby,
Rough Riders,
Meet Corliss Archer

The following in either format:
Boston Blackie
Harbormaster
Everglades,
Aquanauts/ Malibu Run
Men Into Space
Men Of Annapolis
I Led Three Lives
Acopulco

But if any of the shows that weren’t previously released on DVD were released in either format ,I’d buy it!
 

The 1960's

Premium
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2021
Messages
5,957
Location
New York
Real Name
Neal Rose
Here we go again.
icon_e_suicide.gif
 

Capt D McMars

Bernuli Tech Vet
Premium
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Messages
5,248
Location
Colorado
Real Name
Todd Doc Sigmier
Well, World of Giants has recently come out from ClassicFlix, and they've said that The Unexpected is in the works.

Personally, I'd choose Science Fiction Theatre. I know that Timeless released a Complete Series set about 10-12 years ago. I never got a copy of it, but I've heard that it wasn't great. I'd probably pick Boston Blackie for second place.
I do have the box set of MSFT, and glad to have it, but the episodes are not consistent. Truly, a focused restoration would not be out of order.
 

LouA

Senior HTF Member
Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
2,738
Location
New jersey
Real Name
Lou Antonicello
Some of these shows I didn’t mention because I have them in Timeless or TGG Direct sets . Others like, I Led Three Lives, King Of Diamonds, Man Called X , I’m not too familiar with , but they sound interesting.
I’d be interested in buying any of these shows , should an enterprising company come along and begin releasing them!!
 

RBailey

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jun 30, 2009
Messages
859
Real Name
John Hall
Good point. But I wish the location shoots were longer - most of the time it’s a blink and you’d miss it approach.
There are a lot of longer sequences. I think the second season has more of what you mentioned with the show becoming a bit more studio bound.
In "Death Does a Rhumba", there's a long sequence shot at the Angel's Flight railway in Bunker Hill. "Roller Coaster Murder" has a fight scene on a moving coaster shot at Santa Monica's Ocean Park Pier.
"High Voltage Murder" features a great chase and fight scene at the Reseda Drive-In Theatre (the same outdoor theatre used in the climax of "Targets" with Boris Karloff).
A boat chase shot at the Santa Monica Pier is the climax to "Waterfront Murder".
"The Grifith Park Murder" is self explanatory.
"The Big H Murder" has an ending shot at the deteriorating Hollywood sign.
"The Heist Job" has a topnotch climax at a Long Beach drawbridge.
 

Desslar

Screenwriter
Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Messages
1,384
Real Name
Stephen
There are a lot of longer sequences. I think the second season has more of what you mentioned with the show becoming a bit more studio bound.
In "Death Does a Rhumba", there's a long sequence shot at the Angel's Flight railway in Bunker Hill. "Roller Coaster Murder" has a fight scene on a moving coaster shot at Santa Monica's Ocean Park Pier.
"High Voltage Murder" features a great chase and fight scene at the Reseda Drive-In Theatre (the same outdoor theatre used in the climax of "Targets" with Boris Karloff).
A boat chase shot at the Santa Monica Pier is the climax to "Waterfront Murder".
"The Grifith Park Murder" is self explanatory.
"The Big H Murder" has an ending shot at the deteriorating Hollywood sign.
"The Heist Job" has a topnotch climax at a Long Beach drawbridge.
Thanks! Those all sound amazing! Off to look for them on Youtube or Archive.org.

Maybe the episodes I saw were from season 2. My recollection is that the bulk of the episodes were shot on sets, in between which there would be very quick on-location transitions - driving up to a building, walking into a house, etc. And then the final act would have an extended location shoot to catch the bad guy, but it was a fairly anonymous location like a rock quarry or random building roof.
 

LouA

Senior HTF Member
Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
2,738
Location
New jersey
Real Name
Lou Antonicello
If Home Run Derby were indeed on Blu, would it be cut down to 2 discs with all 26 outings, as opposed to the 3 volumes it was before?
Hard to tell. It would be according to how the company releasing it wanted to go.
But, 2 discs would be cheaper, so it might sell better.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Articles

Forum statistics

Threads
358,564
Messages
5,162,457
Members
144,665
Latest member
alltriallawyers
Recent bookmarks
0
Back
Top