Franklin Adreon

Franklin "Pete" Adreon (born Franklyn Adreon, November 18, 1902 – September 10, 1979) was an American film and television director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is best known to film buffs as the longtime producer of Republic Pictures' serials.

Early life and career Born in Gambrills, Maryland, Franklyn Adreon (pronounced "AD-re-on") began his career as a bond salesman before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1931. After his four-year enlistment he remained on call as a Marine Reservist during the 1930s, and served in the United States Marine Corps in World War II. Stationed initially with the 6th Marines in Iceland, Major Adreon was put in charge of the Marine Corps' photographic unit at Quantico, and produced military training films.

Adreon entered motion pictures in 1935 with Mascot Pictures as a technical advisor on the serial The Fighting Marines (in which he also appeared in the role of Captain Holmes). This led to a post as an assistant director, which he held while the studio was absorbed by Republic Pictures in 1936. In 1937 Adreon became a screenwriter, collaborating on the scripts of Republic's serials. He worked with serial director William Witney, who also served in the Marines during the war.

Adreon soon became the head of Republic's serial unit, and produced many hit serials, with his first name now billed as "Franklin". After the unit's resident director Fred C. Brannon died in April 1953, Adreon took over Brannon's duties himself and both produced and directed the serials until the studio ceased serial production in 1955.

He stayed with Republic as a director, producer, and writer on various television series and films. When the studio halted production in 1957, Adreon moved to Warner Bros. as a director, and worked on its popular TV series, including Maverick and Sugarfoot. Adreon kept busy with western and action assignments until 1966, when he retired at age 63.

Franklin Adreon died on September 10, 1979, in Thousand Oaks, California, at the age of 76.

Selected filmography