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The Badger Kid: The Autobiography Of Arthur Gardner

by Arthur Gardner

118 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #07-1453; ISBN 1-4251-3690-7; US$12.45, C$12.45, EUR8.50, £6.43

Arthur Gardner, at 97 is the oldest active producer in the motion picture business with a new production of "The Rifleman" now being prepared for release.

About the Book

This covers the period of my participating in motion pictures from 1929 to 2007.

I don't believe any other individual has been as active in so many facets of the motion picture business as long as I have, and at the age of 97, still producing films. In addition I am leading an active and enterprising existence.

I play golf, not well, but enthusiastically, and most of all enjoy my relationships with my two sons, my daughter-in-law, and my two grandchildren.

I have seen the motion picture industry grow from one and two reel silent films, which I participated in as a three dollar a day extra, to eventually becoming an actor in many movies.

I was one of the leading juvenile actors in the Los Angeles branch of the WPA Federal Theatre Project, and then was cast in the film "Waterfront".

I was a fairly successful actor until 1942, when I switched to production.

That was the year that I met and married the wonderful woman - Marcia Grant, the mother of my two sons, and the grandmother of my two grandchildren. Marcia passed away in 2001.

In 1943, I was drafted into the Air Force where I met my partners, Jules Levy and Arnold Laven.

Our company sustained a great loss in 2001, when Jules Levy passed away.

To sum up, Arnold Laven and I are doing our best to maintain the prominence and success of Levy-Gardner-Laven Productions.

Hopefully we shall succeed.

About the Author

Arthur Gardner is the President of Levy-Gardner-Laven Productions, the oldest independent production company in the film business. He was born June 7, 1910 in Marinette, Wisconsin and came to Hollywood in 1929 to become an actor. He appeared in many films, starting as one of the German students in "All Quiet on the Western Front". He then turned to production. Starting as an assistant director, he and two of his World War II friends, Jules Levy and Arnold Laven, formed Levy-Gardner-Laven Productions in 1951.

The company has produced 24 theatrical films, starring such artists as John Wayne, Edward G. Robinson, Paulette Goddard, Broderick Crawford, Burt Lancaster, Elvis Presley, Burt Reynolds, James Coburn, Raquel Welch, Gene Hackman and Candice Bergen, among others. Their television series are "The Big Valley" starring Barbara Stanwyck, "The Rifleman" starring Chuck Connors, "The Detectives", starring Robert Taylor and "Law of the Plainsman" starring Michael Ansara.

A new production of "The Rifleman" as a feature film for television is being developed for the 2008 season.