Robert A. Cinader Collection

Title: Robert A. Cinader Collection

Dates: 1942 – 1995 [bulk 1946-1980]

Collection Number: WGF-MS-129

Creator/Collector: Cinader, R. A., 1924-1982

Extent: 3 linear feet, 3 boxes

Repository: Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Abstract: The bulk of the collection consists of produced and unproduced scripts, outlines, and formats that Cinader wrote throughout his 30+ career as a television writer and producer. The remainder of the collection consists of personal and professional photographs, press clippings and writings as well as some items related to Cinader’s wife, Jean Aubuchon, and her acting career.

Language of Material: English

Available by appointment only.

The responsibility to secure copyright and publication permission rests with the researcher.

[Identification of item]. Robert A. Cinader Collection. Collection Number: WGF-MS-129. Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Donated by the Cinader estate in 2019.

Robert A. Cinader, nicknamed R.A.C., was born on November 10, 1924, and was raised in New York City. He attended New York University for a semester before he was drafted by the US Army into WWII where he served as a logistics expert. After his service in the Army, he continued his education at New York University and majored in English Literature. After a very brief stint attending the New York University’s Law School, Cinader worked in the research department at Holiday Magazine and then for the publications division of the United Nations, culminating his career at the UN as the department head. Cinader’s first foray into the television industry was as an editor for the trade publication, Ross Reports, after which he joined the William Morris Agency in New York in television packaging. In 1956 he joined California National Production (CNP), a subsidiary of NBC and became the Vice President of Programming. While at CNP, Cinader created the tv series The Silent Service (1957), Union Pacific (1958) and Boots and Saddles (1956). After Cinader left CNP, he worked briefly for Hal Roach Studios, Red Skelton Studios and Warner Brothers before joining Mark VII Ltd., actor and producer Jack Webb’s production company associated with Universal Studios. While with Mark VII Ltd. Cinader produced the tv series Dragnet 1967 (1967) and co-created and produced the tv series Adam-12 (1968), Emergency! (1972), Chase (1973) and Sierra (1974). Emergency! is Cinader’s greatest contribution to television because the series has largely been credited for the growth of emergency medical services throughout the United States. Prior to the show’s premiere, there were only 12 paramedic services operating in the US; after the first three years of the show’s airing, 46 out of 50 states enacted laws that allowed paramedics to practice. For his work on Emergency! Cinader was appointed to the Los Angeles County Medical Services Commission and Fire Station 127, where Emergency! was filmed, was renamed the Robert A. Cinader Memorial Fire Station in his memory. Cinader’s other credits include Pine Canyon is Burning (1977), The Rebels (1979), The Seekers (1979), Condominium (1980), Quincy, M.E. (1980) as producer, and finally Knight Rider (1982) as producer. At one time, he served as a board member for the Producers Guild of America. Cinader died in 1982 in Encino, California of cancer. Actress and wife of Robert Cinader, Jean Aubuchon Cinader, was born in 1922 in St. Louis, MO. She was most known for her role in the original Broadway production of the Elmer Rice comedy, Dream Girl, in 1945. She also appeared in more than 100 television commercials. In addition to her acting career, Aubuchon was a supporter of animal welfare and environmental protection causes. She died in 2019 at the age of 96.

The collection materials are arranged into four series. Both Series I and II pertain to Cinader’s professional writing. Series I, Produced Television, contains script drafts for television shows that were produced, including episodes for the television series Julia (1968 – 1971) that Cinader wrote while script consultant for the series. Series II, Unproduced Television, forms the bulk of the collection and contains script drafts, outlines, formats and story ideas for television series and movies that were never produced. Some of the unproduced formats and/or scripts were intentionally written for specific actors including Milton Berle, Richard Burton, Diahann Carroll, Joan Davis and Gale Storm, according to accompanying information. Series III, Professional/Personal Papers and Ephemera, contains materials that relate to Cinader’s professional and personal life. The contents include some of Cinader’s employment contracts, resignation letters, contracts with agency companies, professional and personal correspondence, news clippings about Cinader and the tv series he created, professional and personal photographs, and Cinader’s personal writing in the form of short stories and college term papers. Much of the professional correspondence covers Cinader’s attempt to sell several television projects including two episodes of The Defenders; The Platinum Polka Dot; Time, Tide and Johnny Cardew; and The War Booking. Series IV contains materials related to Jean Aubuchon Cinader. Included in this series are press clippings about Aubuchon’s early theater performances at the Little Theater in St. Louis, Missouri, scripts from various plays she was in including “Our Town,” which she starred in along with John Ritter, head shots of Aubuchon throughout her career, personal photographs of the Cinader’s dogs and family members, and some correspondence.