IRWIN ALLEN
the Master of Disaster

     Irwin Allen is ust one of many film legends. But he is a huge one.  He was born in 1916 in New York City and a graduate of Columbia University with a degree in Journalism. Early on he worked as a magazine editor and radio producer to make ends meet.  In 1991 the science fiction world was turned upside down as Irwin Allen was lost on November 2nd, just days after losing Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. 

     Nearly all of his films and television projects were Special Effects heavy productions. In the 1970's Irwin Allen rose to the top of his game creating incredible disaster films, which include The Poseidon Adventure in 1972 and then the Towering Inferno in 1974. While these films earned him the title "Master of Disaster" he was helped another legend in Special Effects cinematographer L.B. Abbott, who was known in the business for his trick shots. It was early in his career In 1953 that Allen won an Academy Award for his feature "The Seas Around Us." 

     It all started for Allen in 1960 when he moved to Twentieth Century Fox Studios to produce "The Lost World".  He spent the majority of the 60's babysitting his four series and doing a multitude of telefilms before dominating the feature film industry in the 70's with his disaster films. 

     Irwin Allen laid his magic touch on the television screen creating what has become four classic science fiction series in the 60's creating "Lost In Space", "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", "Time Tunnel", and one of my favorites "Land of the Giants". 

Irwin Allen became the disaster king creating these films... When Time Ran Out; Poseidon Adventure, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure; The Towering Inferno; The Swarm; Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea; and The Lost World. 

     The writer, producer and director was successful on feature films and television. Here is a partial list of his television work. Outrage; Alice in Wonderland; Cave-In; Aliens From Another Planet; Code Red; Fire; Flood; Time Travelers; Adventures of the Queen; Return of Captain Nemo; City Beneath the Sea; and of course his four most famous television series, Lost in Space; Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Land of the Giants. 

     Irwin Allen was known in Hollywood for his strong presence on the sets and knew exactly what he wanted. His fingers were on every aspect of his project and even wanted the cast to view the dailies and iron out problems. While many found the man difficult to work with, they all respected and admired him. It was shown in the number of previous cast members who attend his funeral. 

     This past year, there has been effort to re-invent his series Time Tunnel and Lost in Space at NBC & Fox. Both projects are currently dead, but this is Hollywood and they could be resurrected at any time. 

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