Joseph Liss

Joseph Liss
Born	(1911-09-02)September 2, 1911 Odesa, Russian Empire.
Died	May 20, 1988(1988-05-20) (aged 76) New York City, New York, U.S.
Education	Public School No. 37 (aka Sylvester Malone School)
Occupations	Producer, screenwriter

Joseph Liss (September 2, 1911 – May 20, 1988) was an American radio and television scriptwriter and editor.^[1]

Early life and career

Born in Odesa,^[2][3] on September 2, 1911,^[4][3] Liss was raised in Brooklyn, where he attended Public School, No. 37 (aka Sylvester Malone School).^[5]

Entertainment writer Leonard Lyons, writing in 1960 (more than two decades after the fact), informed readers that Liss's entry into the ranks of professional writers, circa late 1930s, had been both utterly unforeseen and purely expedient, arrived at wholly by means of simple elimination; an arrival, moreover, that had the added consequence of connecting Liss to yet another future dramatist of note.

Joe Liss, now one of the most successful writers in television, started writing by accident. During the depression days he applied for a job at the WPA offices. There were several lines of applicants. The shortest line was for the "Writers" Section, and so he went there, and was hired. Liss was assigned to work with another young writer, Arthur Miller.^[6][a]

Liss's radio career commenced in 1939 with scripts for Columbia Workshop; by 1941, he had joined the Library of Congress, alongside archivist Alan Lomax, and engineer Jerome Wiesner, serving as the script editor for the Library's Radio Research Project.^[8] under whose auspices he contributed to programs such as Report to the Nation and Human Adventure.^[9][1]

Though relatively new to the field of theatrical adaptation of literary classics, his attention to detail regarding this newfound specialty was, on at least one notable occasion, so thorough as to have unintended and disconcerting consequences, as when Studio One producer Worthington Miner, without bothering to reread the particular classic in question, Kipling's The Light That Failed (one of the producer's self-avowed personal favorites—albeit with the crucial qualifier, "as a boy"), had "simply shipped it off to Joe Liss, one of our best writers, for adaptation".

Imagine my fury on discovering that Joe Liss, for no reason I could fathom, had so jazzed up the end that the whole thing had become sleazy and salacious. Into Kipling's tender and beautiful love story, he'd introduced a Lesbian theme. Lesbian? Kipling? [...] I was still so angry when Joe got to my office I lit into him before he had a chance to speak. [...] "Tony," he said gently as I finally gave him an opening, "Tony, baby, when did you last read The Light That Failed? [...] Read it, baby. I didn't add that Lesbian angle. Kipling did. I just softened it." [I grudgingly did as he suggested, and] Joe was right. Kipling hadn't even minced his words. That was the story Kipling had meant to tell, and he'd told it. I never again scheduled an adaptation without re-reading the original.^[10]

Arguably the pinnacle of Liss's Studio One output is his June 1949 adaptation of S. Ansky's The Dybbuk. Produced by Miner, directed by Paul Nickell, starring Arnold Moss, and featuring "special choreography" by Felicia Sorel, the broadcast was dubbed "the most satisfying dramatic performance I have yet seen on the new medium" by New Republic critic Saul Carson, who goes on to commend Liss and Miner's "thorough grasp of television's possibilities" and concludes with the observation, "It would be tragic if the Liss-Miner 'Dybbuk' were relegated to the status of one-shot; it should be in television's repertory."^[11]

Carson was similarly impressed the following year with Liss's Philco Playhouse episode, "Ann Rutledge" (ostensibly an adaptation of the like-named, 24-minute Cavalcade of America episode that had aired in 1949, scripted by the much better known Norman Corwin, with whom Liss is credited jointly here).

Corwin's contribution consisted of his name (the sponsors insisted on that) and dozen lines or so of dialogue. The play was an original, by Joseph Liss. Probably the busiest dramatist on TV this season, Liss's opportunities for original writing are rare: most often, he is held down to adaptations, like that of Christopher La Farge's The Sudden Guest, which he had to fit to the home screen a week earlier. On this occasion, however, he got his chance, and he used it well. Grace Kelly, who played the title role, and Stephen Courtleigh as the young Lincoln, were entirely credible. 'Ann Rutledge' is not only a fitting tribute to the martyred president; it was also a commentary on what TV might receive from its better writers.^[12]

Liss's drama, "The Inward Eye" (aka "The Inward Horizon"^[13]), was produced by Goodyear Playhouse, starring Phyllis Kirk, Philip Abbott, David White, and Steven Hill.^[14] The following year it was produced by London Playhouse, starring Patricia Owens, along with William Hartnell, John Horsley, and David Markham.^[15]

In her review of a January 1958 episode of Wide Wide World entitled "A World on Wheels", Montreal Star TV critic Pat Pearce credits Liss for at least "managing to make an informative 90 minutes out of what was, in essence, one giant motor car commercial".^[16]

Personal life and death

On April 17, 1936, in the nation's capitol, Liss married native New Yorker, fellow Brooklynite, and Hunter College alumnus (class of 1930), Mildred Melman,^{[17][18][19][20][21][22]} They had at least two children, daughters Josephine and Emily.^[23][19]

Liss died on May 20, 1988, aged 76.^[4]

Filmography

• Studio One
  • Ep. "Not So Long Ago" (1948) - writer
  • Ep. "The Outward Room" (1949) - teleplay
  • Ep. "Moment of Truth" (1949) – teleplay
  • Ep. "The Dybbuk" (1949) – adaptation
  • Ep. "The Outward Room" (1949) – adaptation
  • Ep. "The Light That Failed" (1949) – adaptation
  • Ep. "The Inner Light" (1949) – adaptation
  • Ep. "The Scarlet Letter" (1950) – adaptation
  • "Torrents of Spring" (1950) – adaptation
  • Ep. "Trilby" (1950) – adaptation
  • Ep. "The Floor of Heaven" (1950) adaptation
  • Ep. "Hangman's House" (1951) – adapted by
  • Ep. "Mutiny on the Nicolette" (1951) – by
  • Ep. "Waterfront Boss" (1952) – adaptation
  • Ep. "Pagoda" (1952) – adaptation
• Philco Television Playhouse
  • Ep. "The Last Tycoon" (1949) – teleplay
  • Ep. "Mist on the Waters" (1949) – adaptation
  • Ep. "Little Boy Lost" (1950) – adaptation
  • Ep. "The Sudden Guest" (1950) – writer
  • Ep. "Ann Rutledge" (1950) – adaptation
  • Ep. "The Second Oldest Profession" (1950) – adaptation
  • Ep. "The Touch of a Stranger" – adaptation
  • Ep. "The Gambler" (1950) – writer
  • Ep. "The Great Escape" (1951) – adaptation
  • Ep. "Bulletin 120" (1951) - writer
  • Ep. "Tender Age" (1952) – writer
  • Ep. "The Best Laid Schemes" (1952) – writer
• The O'Neills
  • Ep. 1.1 (1949)
• Suspense
  • Ep. "Suspicion" (1949) – teleplay
  • Ep. "Man in the House" (1949) – adapted by
• Lux Video Theatre
  • Ep. "To Thine Own Self" (1950) – adaptation
• The Ford Theatre Hour
  • Ep. "The Heart of Darkness" (1950) – adapted by
  • Ep. "Cause for Suspicion" (1950) – adapted by
  • Ep. "The Golden Mouth" (1951) – adapted by
  • Ep. "The Heart of Darkness (restaged)" (1951) – adapted by
  • Ep. "Dead on the Vine" (1951) – adapted by
• The Black Forest (1954) – writer
• Goodyear Playhouse
  • Ep. "The Inward Eye" (1954) – writer
• American Inventory
  • Ep. "The Doodlebrain" (1955) – written by
• London Playhouse
  • Ep. "The Inward Eye" (1955) - writer
• Wide Wide World
  • Ep. "American Rhapsody" (1955) – writer
  • Ep. "Portrait of an American Winter" (1956) – writer
  • Ep. "Birth of an American" (1956) – writer
  • Ep. "Pursuit of Happiness" (1956) – writer
  • Ep. "Song of America" (1956) – writer
  • Ep. "The Florida Story" (1956) – writer
  • Ep. "A Woman's Story" (1957) – writer
  • Ep. "A Man's Story" (1957) – writer
  • Ep. "Land of Promise" (1957) – writer
  • Ep. "The Challenge of Space" (1957) – writer
  • Ep. "The World on Wheels" (1958) – writer
  • Ep. "Force for Survival" (1958) – writer
  • Ep. "The Sound of Laughter" (1958) – writer
• Matinee Theatre
  • Ep. "Silent Partner" (1956) - written by
• Encounter
  • Ep. "A Silent Cry" (1956) – writer
  • Ep. "The Silent Partner" (1957) – writer
  • Ep. "Hangman's House" (1959) – teleplay
• Sunday Showcase
  • Ep. "The Margaret Bourke White Story" (1960) – writer
• Play of the Week
  • Ep. "The Dybbuk" (1960) – writer
  • Ep. "He Who Gets Slapped" (1961) – adaptation
• Project Twenty
  • Ep. "The World of Billy Graham" (1961) – writer
  • Ep. "The World of Jimmy Doolittle" (1962) – writer
• The World of Sophia Loren (TV movie) (1962) – writer
• The World of Benny Goodman (TV movie) (1963) – writer
• The World of Maurice Chevalier (TV movie) (1963) – writer
• Espionage
  • Ep. "Some Other Kind of World" (1964) – writer
• For the People
  • Ep. "Between Candor and Shame" (1965) – story
• Bell Telephone Hour
  • Ep. "Wayfarer on the Mississippi" (1965) – writer
  • Ep. "The Many Facets of Cole Porter" (1965) – writer
  • Ep. "Salute to Veteran's Day" (1965) – writer
• In Search of Man (TV movie) (1965) – writer

Notes

1. In his 1987 memoir, Timebends: A Life, Arthur Miller makes a few mentions of their early connection, acknowledging Liss as "a friend and radio writer then working for the Library of Congress Folklore Division", and later mentioning that it was "through my friend Joe Liss, who worked in the radio division of the library" that he himself, had, "in desperation", later secured employment with the LOC.^[7]

References

1. Ellett, Ryan (2017). Radio Drama and Comedy Writers, 1928-1962. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 128. "Joseph Liss was a script writer and editor for much of the 1940s, first for the federal government and then as a freelancer. His earliest work was for The Columbia Workshop (1939, 1942, 1946) but then beginning around 1941 as a member of the Library of Congress Radio Project with Alan Lomax and Archibald MacLeish. [...] Ater 1946, Liss left the government sector to earn a living doing freelance writing and editing. One of his first jobs was co-writing Fighting Senator on CBS (1946). [...] Liss wrote various dramatic television scripts during the 1950s and 1960s"
2. Kaplan, Debra; Moss, Rachel Merrill, ed. (2023). The Dybbuk Century: The Jewish Play That Possessed the World. Ann Arbour: University of Michigan Press. p. 131. ISBN 9780472056439. "After World War II, The Dybbuk was itself something of a dybbuk. Habima did not stage its expressionist version in New York until May 1948. [...] The following year, The Dybbuk was presented on TV in an adaptation by the Odesa-born TV dramatist Joseph Liss, as part of the CBS series Westinghouse Studio One, featuring the Yiddish actor David Opatoshu as Sender."
3. "Illinois, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZC-8PD5 : Tue Apr 08 02:28:35 UTC 2025), Entry for Joseph Liss and Sherman Dryer, 16 Oct 1940.
4. "United States, Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JPHL-9M8 : 7 January 2021), Joseph Liss, 20 May 1988; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
5. "The Eagle's Honor Roll for Month of December: Eagle Makes Important Announcement—Bronze Medals for Pupils Who Get on Honor Roll Four Times Within School Year—Silver Bars for Those Who Already Have Medals". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. . pp. 2, 3, 4.
6. Lyons, Leonard (January 26, 1960). "The Lyons Den". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 15.
7. Miller Arthur (1987). Timebends: A Life. London : Methuen. pp. 278, 498. ISBN 0413414809.
8. "SOUND RECORDINGS OF FESTIVAL MADE FOR U. S. LIBRARY". Asheville Citizen-Times. July 26, 1941. p. 2.
9. Little, Mary (October 7, 1941). "Report to Nation Shows the Crisis' Effect on U.S.". The Des Moines Register.
10. Schaffner, Franklin J. (1985). Worthington Miner : A Directors Guild of America Oral History. Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press. p. 203. ISBN 0-8108-1757-8.
11. Carson, Saul (June 20, 1949). "ON THE AIR: A Week of Precedents". ‘’The New Republic’’. p. 27.
12. Carson, Saul (February 27, 1950). "On the Air: The Distaff Side". The New Republic. p. 23.
13. Tashman, George (March 16, 1954). "Clickin' the Channels". Richmond Independent. p. 6. "Comedy Hour was followed Sunday by TV Playhouse, which offered 'The Inward Horizon,' by Joseph Liss. This was originally titled "The Inward Eye," but was changed for some unknown reason. Phyllis Kirk starred in this serious and moving drama about a blind girl who finds a new life through seeing eye dog. Although we have all seen seeing eye dogs at one time or another, I don't believe the average person knew the work that goes into training and matching the master and the dog. 'The Inward Horizon' was beautifully done,"
14. "TV Key". Brooklyn Eagle. March 14, 1954. p. 28. "9:00 p.m. Ch. 4-TV Playhouse. 'The Inward Eye.' Phyllis Kirk stars in an eloquent, touching and often humorous documentary by ace author Joseph Liss about the problems of the blind and their training with Seeing Eye dogs. To the list of the Four Freedoms add the one examined in this expert play--the freedom to move about."
15. "Thursday November 10". Picture Post. November 1955. p. 58.
16. Pearce, Pat (January 6, 1958). "Sunday TV Fare Good But Weighty". The Montreal Star. p. 14.
17. "Licensed to Marry". The Washington Herald. April 18, 1936
18. "District of Columbia, Marriages, 1811-1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V64L-5JR : Fri Mar 08 04:45:41 UTC 2024), Entry for Joseph Liss and Mildred Melman, 17 Apr 1936.
19. "United States, Census, 1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XP8-BC49 : Thu Oct 05 15:36:48 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Liss and Mildred Liss, 27 April 1950.
20. "Public School 95, Jamaica". Times Union. June 29, 1922. p. 15.
21. "Play School Comedy". The Brooklyn Daily Times. November 4, 1925. p. 10.
22. Hunter College (June 18, 1930). "Candidates for Degrees (continued): Bachelor of Arts". Hunter College 61st Commencement Program. p. 7.
23. ."From the Production Centres: New York City". Variety. December 8, 1948. p. 24. "Joe Liss rates production centers: CBS-TV 'Studio One' produces his 'Time Is a King Friend’ on Jan. 9. Helen Hayes’ 'Electric Theatre’ does Liss’ original Dec. 26 called 'The Second Sarah Siddons’. And Liss’ wife gave birth to a girl, Emily, last week."

Further reading

Articles

• Perkins, Al (Radio & Film Director, Look Magazine). "Radio Writer's Market List—1946". The Author and Journalist. February 1946. p. 15.
• "Summer Workshop Season Preems; Adelphi College Lineups; Workshops; [https://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1948-06-30_171_4/page/36/mode/2up?q=%22Joe+Liss%22+writer (Continued from page 28)". Variety. June 30, 1948. p. 36. "In conjunction, half a dozen scholarships in radio writing have been set up. They'll entitle recipients to study at Adelphi during ihe coming fall-winter terms. Applicants are asked to write to Joe Liss, care of Adelphi. Liss, playwright and scripter, lately has been a writer on CBS’ 'You Are There.'”
• Corby, Jane (July 13, 1948). "Theater: Garden City Youngster Has Role in Adelphi College Production". Brooklyn Eagle. p. 4. "Nine-year-old Richard Ellington [...] will take the part of Josh Templar in the Joseph Liss play, 'Time Is a Kind Friend,' which will be the second production of the Adelphi College Center of the Creative Arts."
• "Adelphi College Offers Summer Radio Course". Brooklyn Eagle. June 2, 1949. p. 4. "The staff of the Creative Arts Center includes Joseph Liss, whose 'You Are There' program is heard over CBS Sunday afternoons; Martin Magner, whose 'Under Arrest' is broadcast over the Mutual network Sunday nights; Charles Harrell, connected with ABC's television shows, 'Stop the Music' and 'Famous Jury Trials,' and Paul L. Brownstone, former traffic manager of KLZ, Denver, Col."
• Liss, Joseph; Clarke, William Kendall; Lefferts, George; Schrank, Joseph (July 11, 1951). "Problems Besetting the Television Writer; Top Scripters Toiling in the Video Vineyards Explore Ways and Means of Bringing Style and Individuality to a New Medium and Win Respect as Dramatists, Rather Than Hacks". Variety. p. 41.
• United Press (August 27, 1952). "Radio Guild Held Red-Dominated; Senate Group Sees Television Very Susceptible to Infiltration; "Radio Guild Cited as Red-Dominated (Continue from page 1): Mentions Joseph Liss". Brooklyn Eagle. p. 13. "Pressed for details, Miss Knight referred to Columbia Broadcasting System program, Studio One. She told the subcommittee on April 28, 1951, that Joseph Liss, 'well known as a left wing sympathizer,' was employed as a writer on the show more than anyone else. 'Until a recent housecleaning,' she said then, 'it was pretty generally conceded that almost anything at Columbia Broadcasting Co. was going to be very difficult for a writer who was not sympathetic to the left wing.'"

Books

• Bannerman, R. LeRoy (1986). Norman Corwin and Radio : The Golden Years. University, Ala. : University of Alabama Press. p. 75. ISBN 0817302743.
• Rosenthal, Michael (2017). Barney : Grove Press and Barney Rosset, America's maverick publisher and the battle against censorship. New York: Arcade. pp. 135, 165. ISBN 9781628726503.

External links

Joseph Liss at IMDb