Arthur Gardner (producer)
A Hollywood journeyman who found his lasting niche behind the camera, producing the lean, moral Westerns that defined a generation of television.
1910–2014 (age 104)·American actor and film producer·Birthday: June 7·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Arthur Gardner's path through Hollywood was a classic studio-era story of adaptation. He started in front of the camera as a contract player at Warner Bros. in the 1930s, appearing in B-movies and serials. But his real talent lay in logistics and management. After World War II service, he partnered with writer Jules Levy and they formed Levy-Gardner-Laven, a production company that became a reliable supplier of sturdy, action-driven films and, crucially, television. Their signature hit was 'The Rifleman,' which debuted in 1958. Starring Chuck Connors as a widowed rancher with a modified Winchester, the show was a distillation of the TV Western's appeal: clear morality, paternal warmth, and concise, powerful action. Gardner's role was as the pragmatic engine, overseeing budgets, schedules, and the thousand details that turned a concept into five seasons of iconic television. He spent decades as a respected producer and a steadfast member of the Academy, representing the durable backbone of the industry.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Arthur was born in 1910, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arthur Was Born
The biggest hits of 1910
Arthur's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1910Born
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1915Started school
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Became a teenager
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Could drive
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1928Could vote
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Turned 21
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1940Turned 30
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 40
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 50
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 60
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 70
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 80
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2014Died at 104
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the successful production company Levy-Gardner-Laven, which produced films and television for decades.
- Executive produced the influential television series 'The Rifleman,' a defining Western of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
- Produced a wide range of films, from war movies like 'The Glory Guys' to the crime thriller 'The Scalphunters.'
- Served as a long-time voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Did You Know?
He was a contract actor for Warner Bros. early in his career, appearing in films like 'The Singing Marine' (1937).
His production company often worked with director Arnold Laven, his partner and childhood friend.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit during World War II.
He lived to be 104 years old, witnessing over a century of Hollywood history.
“The picture is made on the set, but the movie is made in the office.”
