David Piel

David Piel
Born
David Joseph Piel

1923
New York City, New York, USA
DiedMay 6, 2004 (aged 80)
Carson City, Nevada, USA
Other namesDavid J. Piel
EducationThe Taft School
Yale University
OccupationsTelevision producer, director, animator, actor
Spouse(s)Leslie Semple Fellner
m. 1946; div. 1949
Hedwig "Hedy" Seligsohn
m. 1949
Doloris "Dee" Rudolph
m. 1980
RelativesGerard Piel (brother)

David Joseph Piel[1][2] (1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American television director, producer and actor, best known for his contributions to children's television programming, in particular, the nearly 50 limited animation "Story Films" he produced and directed for Captain Kangaroo.[3] He also directed the first screen adaptation of Crockett Johnson's hugely successful picture book, Harold and the Purple Crayon,[4][5] and created the initially successful but short-lived, semi-animated TV series, Big Mac and His Magic Train.[6][7]

Piel was a grandson of Piels Beer founder Michael Piel,[8][4] and the younger brother of science writer and publisher Gerard Piel.[8]

Early life and career

A native of New York City,[9] born in 1923,[10][11][1] Piel was raised there and in Salisbury, Connecticut, the youngest son of opera singer Loretto Scott and Piels beer president William F.J. Piel. He attended The Taft School and Yale, graduating in 1947.[10]

Completion of Piel's collegiate studies was delayed by the nation's entry into World War II, in which he served with the United States Marines, although not as a combatant. Spared that fate by substandard eyesight, Piel nonetheless saw plenty of action and helped fellow Americans do the same, serving as war correspondent and sometime-sketch artist, most notably at Okinawa (the battle codenamed Operation Iceberg), one of the Pacific campaign's most costly ventures.[12][13][14] One of his series of sketches—tracing a wounded compatriot's journey, from battlefield trauma to hospital bed—was later used to elicit blood donations from those on the home front.[12]

In August 1948, Boxoffice reported that Piel and two fellow New Yorkers had launched the multi-media production company, Ray Films.[2] However, by the fall of 1949, he was residing in Reno, Nevada, where, while taking that city's proverbial "cure" for his maternally arranged first marriage, Piel had found employment—initially as an announcer, and later a reporter—at radio station KOLO.[3][12]

In August 1953, the San Antonio Light's pseudonymous gossip columnist—one of the field's many Cholly Knickerbockers—informed readers that the still relatively little known Piel—here identified as "the Piel heir"—had "some TV deals brewing".[15]

News of this particular Piel heir next emerged on Christmas Day, 1955, courtesy of Bridgeport Post reporter Betty Tayler. "Harold has been so well received that Johnson already is working on a sequel, and on an animated cartoon, to be produced by David Piel and released by Movie House."[16] By April of the following year, the New York Herald Tribune had noted both the formation of David Piel Inc. and the fact that its founder was the "creator, producer, and director" of the "charming new 'Story Films' seen on CBS-TV's children's shows [and currently] enjoying second and third runs on the network's 'Captain Kangaroo' show".[9]

In October 1957, Piel's finished version of Harold and the Purple Crayon was screened—and, reportedly, "loved"—by both Johnson himself and his wife and frequent collaborator Ruth Krauss, as well as several representatives of Harper Books, who hoped to publish a paperback edition of the book, concurrent with the film's release.[5] The film was ultimately released by Brandon Films in 1959.[17]

Piel's notable acting credits include the Broadway production of Joseph Heller's We Bombed in New Haven,[18] and as the briefly seen, quickly befuddled, and promptly pied-to-death security guard—in 1988's Killer Klowns From Outer Space.[19][a]

Personal life and death

Piel's 1946 marriage to Leslie Semple Fellner—arranged, as had been the initial marriage of each of his older siblings, by their mother—ended in divorce three years later.[23][24][25] Within days, he was married to German-born writer, Hedwig "Hedy" Seligsohn,[11][26][27][28] who would later become Vice President of David Piel, Inc.,[29] and also co-writer—along with Chet Gierlach and Leonard Whitcup—of the titular theme song of Big Mac and His Magic Train.[30] The marriage produced two children, a daughter, Candida, and a son, Geoffrey.[9]

On May 2, 1980, in Burlington, Vermont, Piel married Doloris Rudolph, née Adams.[31][32] They later moved to San Francisco's Marina District,[33] and, in 1991, to Carson City, Nevada, where, in 1993, his Pogonip & Mule Ears : A Souvenir Book, was published.[34]

On May 6, 2004, Piel died following a brief illness at his home in Carson City, at age 80, He was survived by his wife, Dee, and stepchildren John and Paula Randolph[10]

Notes

  1. ^ Although—given the character's custard-entombed denouement[20]—the directors had reportedly hoped to cast erstwhile TV host/frequent pie recipient Soupy Sales in the role (a hope promptly squelched by cost-cutting producers, fearful that too few would remember Sales, much less get the inside joke),[21] the substitution of Piels constituted both a more affordable and immeasurably more 'inside' joke, not to mention a much more apt analogy, especially so in November 2025, when what appears to be the sole remaining excerpt of Piel's pride and joy, Big Mac and His Magic Train, features a denouement—that of the similarly overmatched Keystone Kops, hoping to quell a massive pie-throwing riot (perpetrated, ironically, by society's 'upper crust')[22]—which perfectly presages that of Killer's hapless security guard.

References

  1. ^ a b "Piel, David Joseph, 1923-2004". Archives at Yale.
  2. ^ a b "Incorporations: Albany". Boxoffice. August 14, 1948. p. 46. "Ray Films: To deal in motion pictures, plays, radio and television programs; $20,100; incorporators, Ramsay Wilson, 39 E. 79th St.; David Joseph Piel, Erk Borge, 230 E. 32nd St."
  3. ^ a b Hepp-Elam, Mary Beth (October 16, 1999). "Carson artist has eye on sky: Watercolors displayed at brewery center; Exhibit features 'Nevada Skyscapes,' a series of 28 on Great Basin seasons". Reno Gazette-Journal. p. 2H.
  4. ^ a b Marcus, Leonard (2023). Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children's Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators From Around the World. New York: Abrams. p. 377. ISBN 9781419738982.
  5. ^ a b Nel, Philip (2012). Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss: How an Unlikely Couple Found Love, Dodged the FBI, and Transformed Children's Literature. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-61703-636-1.
  6. ^ "Metropolitan New York". Business and Home TV Screen.
  7. ^ "Nabisco Cereals Join Big Mac on 26-Week Ride in All Markets". Broadcasting. November 23, 1959. p. 59.
  8. ^ a b McCoy, Alfred W. (2016). Beer of Broadway Fame: The Piel Family and Their Brooklyn Brewery. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. p. 312. ISBN 978-1-4384-6140-3.
  9. ^ a b c "He Lives Among Puppets: David Piel's cartoons are winning wide appeal". New York Herald Tribune. April 1, 1956. p. 45. ProQuest 1323860322. The Charming new 'Story Films' [are] seen on CBS-TV's children's shows. [Currently] enjoying second and third runs on the network's 'Captain Kangaroo' show, [they] are created, produced and directed by 32-year-old David Piel [...] In addition to his 'Story Films,' Piel has created the first of a series of 30-minute color shows entitled 'Golden Time' for NBC. [...] Aside from his functions as producer-director, Peil frequently takes on the added chores of writer, designer, cartoonist, animator and character actor. [...] Of the 48 cartoons delivered to the network in the past 13 weeks, over one-half were written and narrated by Piel himself. [...] [Piel] was a child actor in summer stock, did nightclub stints in his teens, studied drama at Yale, and produced radio shows and documentary films while in the Pacific with the Marine Corps. After the war, Piel got his start in commercial film production with Louis de Rochemont. [...] Two of his industrial film shorts have garnered National Audio-Visual Presentation Awards, and two others have won prizes at the Venice InternationalciFilm Festival. [...] He still finds time to play and talk shop with his two children, Candida and Geoffrey. A native New Yorker, Piel lives in the city with his wife and family.
  10. ^ a b c "Obituaries: David J. Piel". Reno Gazette-Journal. May 9, 2004. p. 4C. "David J. Piel, of Carson City Nev., passed away on May 6 at age 80 after a brief illness. As he wished, he was at home in the company of his wife Dee and other family members including John and Paula Rudolph, also of Carson City. David grew up in New York City and Salisbury, CT, the youngest son of William F.J. Piel, president of the Piels Beer brewery, and Loretto Scott, a former opera singer. He attended the Taft School in Watertown, Conn. and entered Yale University in 1942, which had changed its academic schedule following Pearl Harbor, to accommodate students entering military service. As a member of the United States Marine Corps 5th Battalion, 1st Marine Division, David served in the Pacific Theater, including Okinawa and, after Japan's surrender, in Peking. After returning to Yale and graduating with the class of 1947, he moved to New York City and worked in advertising, communications, and television, including producing "story films" for the Captain Kangaroo show."
  11. ^ a b "Vital Statistics: Marriage Licenses". Nevada State Journal. October 25, 1949. p. 12. "David J. Piel, 26, Reno, and Hadi [sic] Seligsohn, 24, New York City"
  12. ^ a b c Namiotka, Jim (April 1, 1995). "One Man's eyesight plays a pivotal role in war". Reno Gazette Journal. p. 1B, 5B.
  13. ^ "RECOGNIZE HIM, FOLKS?". The Hammond Times. May 14, 1945. p. 16. "A Marine combat correspondent Leo T. Batt was heard Sunday over radio station WJOB at 4 p. m., in a special Mothers' day broadcast recorded by five leathernecks in a make-shift jungle 'studio' with portable recording equipment. Pictured above are marines of the First division on duty in the Pacific (Official U.S. Marine Photo) (They are from left to right; Pfc. Molton W. Roff of Indianapolis, Ind.: Pvt. Robert J. Farrar of Huntington, Ind.; Pfc. David J. Piel of New York City, holding the microphone; and Pte. Herbert R. Loy of Bryant, Ind. Sgt. Batt, a former reporter and re-write man on The Hammond Times."
  14. ^ "Mrs. W. E. Hervey Hears Son Greet Her from Okinawa". The Marlow Review. May 17, 1945. p. 16. "Left to right in the picture are Pvt. Em'mitt Coppedge, Oklahoma City; Pfc. David J. Piel, Salisburry, Conn., the announcer; Pvt. Bobby G. Degarme, Sand Springs; Pfc. Warren Cook, Ponca City; and T-Sgt. Leslie W. Hervey, Marlow."
  15. ^ Knickerbocker, C. (June 19, 1953). "Ask Cholly: Necklace Spurs Big Talk". The San Antonio Light. p. 30.
  16. ^ Tayler, Betty (December 25, 1955). "Barnaby's Creator Really Makes Bed He Plans to Lie In". The Bridgeport Post. p. 25.
  17. ^ Nel, op. cit., p. 315.
  18. ^ Willis, John (1969). Theatre World. New York: Crown Publishers. p. 23. LCCN 46--13321.
  19. ^ Young, R. G. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film: Ali Baba to Zombies. New York: Applause Books. p. 333. ISBN 1-55783-269-2.
  20. ^ YouTube Movies & TV. "Killer Klowns From Outer Space". YouTube.
  21. ^ Kevin Carr (October 17, 2013). "22 Things We Learned from the 'Killer Klowns From Outer Space' Commentary". Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  22. ^ Geno's House of Rare Films (June 26, 2024). "THE BIG MAC SHOW [1961 - United Artists Associated"]. YouTube.
  23. ^ "Troth Announced". The New York Times. September 3, 1946. p. 14. "PINE ORCHARD, Conn., Sept. 2—Mrs. Irving S. Fellner of this place, formerly of Chappaqua, N. Y., has made known the engagement of her daughter, Leila Semple, to David Joseph Piel, son of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Piel of New York and Salisbury.[...] Mr. Piel, an alumnus of the Taft School, has resumed his studies at Yale University after serving with the Marine Corps in the Pacific."
  24. ^ McCoy, Alfred W. (2016). Beer of Broadway Fame: The Piel Family and Their Brooklyn Brewery. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. p. 312. "These society weddings into wealthy families secured their sisters' fortunes. But this conventional path did not work for Loretto's sons, whose marriages, once the bedrock of New York society, soon ended in divorce. With a small inheritance and no interest in a career at the brewery, all would have to make their way in competitive, middle-class professions—law, medicine, journalism, and advertising."
  25. ^ "Vital Statistics: Decrees Granted". Nevada State Journal. October 23, 1949. p. 17. "Marion Allen from Ruth Allen; Norma Platter from Walter Platter: Jerry Thompson from Hildegarde Thompson; David Piel from Leila Piel;"
  26. ^ McCloy, op. cit., p. 323. "The FBI dossier also reported that Gerard's brother David was married to Hedwig Seligsoh, who reportedly said, during World War II, that 'when V.E. Day comes she would wrap herself in the Red Flag and make a speech on Tomes Square.' As the daughter of Julius L. Seligsohn, who had headed the Aid Association of German Jews and died in a Nazi concentration camp, his sisrer-in-law, Gerard said, was 'a fierce young woman and had reason to be.'"
  27. ^ Songs in the Morning : An Anthology of Poetry by Students in American Colleges and Universities. New York: Harbinger House. 1943. p. 195.
  28. ^ G.P. (June 1947) "New Publications, Municipal and Civic: Mental Attitudes". The American City. p. 139. "Don’t Be A Jerk: Jerks Are A Noosense— By Hedi Seligsohn: Illustrations by Ben Blank. The League for Fair Play, Inc., 11 West 42nd St., New York 18, N. Y. 31 pp. 25 cents. 'Immunization against diseases of the mind is a community affair.' This is the point made by this little book. In an exceedingly clever approach, the author handles with a light touch a weighty subject of serious implications."
  29. ^ "Metropolitan New York". Business and Home TV Screen. February 2 , 1959. p. 110. "DAVID PIEL, INC. 562 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y.; Phone: Columbus 5-3382; Date of Organization: 1956;; David Piel, President, Producer; Hedi Piel, Vice-President"
  30. ^ Library of Congress (1960). Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series. Part 5: Music Jul-Dec 1959: Vol 13 No 2. United States Copyright Office. p. 1161.
  31. ^ "Death Notices and Funerals Held". The Burlington Free Press. March 6, 2008. p. 4B. "Doloris Rudolph Piel, 80, passed away March 1, 2008, in Carson City. Dee was the child of Ross and Christine Adams of Milan, Italy. [...] Dee was predeceased by her husband, David Piel. She is survived by her son, John Rudolph and his wife Paula of Carson City,"
  32. ^ "Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQL-Z4B3 : Fri Mar 08 08:47:54 UTC 2024), Entry for David J Piel and Doloris G Rudolph, 2 May 1980.
  33. ^ Kris Conti (as Conti) "Question Man: Best Inexpensive Vacation". San Francisco Chronicle. September 1, 1983. p. 62. "David Piel, 55, Giants' commercial man/artist, Marina: Stay here and play tourist. Pretend you're from Iowa. Go to Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown and take the tours. Everybody treats you wonderfully and you can really have fun."
  34. ^ "Pogonip & mule ears : a souvenir book". WorldCat. "Genre: Illustrated works. Physical Description: 163 pages; illustrations; 22 cm. OCLC Number/Unique Identifier: 36198246. [...] Cover subtitle: A random sampling of life in the high desert. Notes: 'Random essays & photographs of life in Northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe, California'."

Further reading

  • Jemail, Jimmy (August 21, 1951). "The Inquiring Fotographer – The Question: What are your chances of going to Heaven when you die? The Place: Along Lexington Avenue". p. 25. "David J. Piel, picture producer: 'My chances are pretty slim because I can't play a harp and don't possess a flowing white robe. However, if St. Peter relents and lets me in, I certainly wouldn't want to do your job up above. What question could you possibly ask six angels?'"
  • Adams, Val (New York Times New Service). "NBC Plans Series for Children". The Atlanta Constitution. August 18, 1955. p. 32. "Golden Time will contain story telling by live performers, animated dramatizations and special instructive material of a do-it-yourself nature. The host for the series will be A character called the Golden Wizard, otherwise known as Mr. G. Wiz. He will be portrayed by Dickie Beals. The network has proposed fall debut for the program. It would be weekly feature on either Saturday or Sunday mornings. The production staff now at work on Golden Time includes Arthur (Shimkin of Simon & Schuster. David Piel, motion picture director associated with Science Pictures, and Roger Muir, NBC producer. Mitch Miller of Columbia Records will be the musical director of the new series. The Aluminum Co. of America has purchased the time period to be relinquished by Philco Television Playhouse on the NBC network after Oct. 2."
  • "Piel Will Tell Engineers About Animated Cartoons". Daily Press. January 12, 1958. p. 10c.
  • "AM Radio Highlights". New York Daily News. October 14, 1964. p. 95. "12:00 Mid. — WNBC Long John Nebel Show: David Piel, Will Oursler, Roy Schatt, Richard Plechner, 'The Hanky-Panky of Politics'"
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