Sidney Salkow

Sidney Salkow (June 16, 1911 – October 18, 2000) was an American film director (more than 50 motion pictures), screenwriter, and television director. Salkow was educated at the City College of New York, Columbia University and Harvard Law School. After school he returned to New York City and became an assistant director of theater and playwright. Later on, he established himself as a theatrical director. In 1932, he joined up with the film industry starting as a dialogue director but soon later, after achieving the ranks, he became a prolific writer/director of such films as Sitting Bull, Twice-Told Tales, and The Last Man on Earth (the last two both starring Vincent Price). During World War II Salkow was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps rising to the rank of Major. He was wounded whilst filming a battle on an aircraft carrier. Additionally, Salkow directed episodes of many popular TV series including Lassie, The Cisco Kid, and The Addams Family. At the age of 59, Salkow retired from directing, and taught film courses at California State University-Northridge, where he became a professor emeritus and headed the film side of the Radio, Television and Film Department. He died October 18, 2000 in Valley Village, California from natural causes at the age of 89.