The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

Broadcast Pioneers member Herman Rush, former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola Telecommunications, Inc., a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company, is a seasoned professional in the entertainment industry, with more than 30 years of experience in executive, production and sales positions. Rush was also Senior Vice President of the Entertainment Business Sector of The Coca-Cola Company and a member of the Board of Directors of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc (now Sony Pictures).

Rush began his television career in 1951 with Official Films, a pioneer TV distribution firm, serving as Salesman, Regional Sales Director, Sales Manager, Vice President in charge of Sales, and a member of its Board of Directors. In 1957 he purchased Flamingo Films, a television syndication firm, and developed it into a major independent syndication company. During the period of 1960-71, he was associated with Creative Management Associates (CMA) and its predecessor organization, General Artists Corporation (GAC), one of the world's leading talent agencies, now known as International Creative Management (ICM).

At CMA he was president of the television division, as well as executive vice-president of the parent company, a member of the Board of Directors, and one of the company's major shareholders. Rush was instrumental in the agency's entry into television packaging. He was responsible for the packaging and network placement of "The Perry Como Show," "The Jackie Gleason Show," "The Kraft Music Hall," "Hollywood Palace," "The Tom Jones Show," "The Engelbert Humperdinck Show," "Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea," "Lost In Space," "Time Tunnel," "Land Of The Giants," "The Greatest Show On Earth," "That Was The Week That Was", "All In The Family," based on the British TV Series, “Till Death Do Us Part,” and many others.

From 1971 to 1975, as an independent TV packager and producer, he produced a number of television movies and several comedy series on ABC. In 1976, in association with David Wolper Productions, he executive produced the "ABC Bicentennial Special," "The American Spirit," "Death Stalk," an NBC Movie, and in association with Irv Wilson Productions produced the NBC special, "That Was the Year That Was."

During the 1970’s, Herman Rush imported, repackaged, and produced a number of BBC comedy television series including, “For the Love of Ada,” (Americanized into, “A Touch of Grace,” staring Shirley Booth) and “Love Thy Neighbor,” starring Ron Masak. In addition, Rush produced Americanized pilots on “Dad’s Army,” (US version, “The Rear Guard”) and “Are You Being Served” (US version, “The Beans of Boston”) plus others.

In January 1979, Rush was appointed president of Marble Arch Television, the American subsidiary of Lord Lew Grades’ Associated Communications Limited, where he was involved in the production of over 10 films for television, as well as several comedy series.

In 1980 he joined Columbia Pictures as President of Columbia Pictures Television Group, and he re-established Columbia as one of the major producers and distributors of television programs.

While at Columbia, he supervised the production of over one hundred hours of movies and mini-series for television; put on the air over a dozen series including "RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT", "MIKE HAMMER" and "DESIGNING WOMEN." He choreographed Columbia's entry into first run syndication with "REAL GHOSTBUSTERS," established Coca-Cola Communications which dedicated its efforts to original programming for syndication and basic cable (the successful "BORDER TOWN" series on The Family Channel) and he created a joint venture with Lexington Broadcast Services (an affiliated company of Grey Advertising Agency) entitled Colix, with such first run syndicated programs as "THE NEW GIDGET SERIES" and "WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW" and a number of original movies for syndication, including "BOYS TOWN," starring Art Carney, and "THE RETURN OF BEN CASEY," starring Vince Edwards.

Rush has also served on the Board of Directors of Chris-Craft Industries and their subsidiary, KCOP Television, Inc. As well as their other eight TV stations, Chris Craft was eventually sold to Newscorp (Fox) for $3.5 Billion.

Rush executive produced the television special "THE AMERICAN RED CROSS EMERGENCY TEST," starring John Ritter in association with Susan Winston Productions, with whom he also executive produced "A USER'S GUIDE TO PLANET EARTH: The American Environment Test," starring Tom Selleck, both of which were sponsored by Procter & Gamble during the 1990-91 season.

Rush, in association with Raymond Katz created Katz/Rush Entertainment (KRE). KRE packaged and produced "THE NEW ORIGINAL AMATEUR HOUR," starring Willard Scott, for The Family Channel, “THE SUSAN POWTER SHOW” for Multimedia Syndications as an NBC movie entitled "MISS AMERICA: BEHIND THE CROWN" and a late night series for ABC “Nite Cap” starring Robin Leach, the first combination of an entertainment/home shopping show.

For seventeen years he has served as an Executive Producer of "THE MONTEL WILLIAMS SHOW," a one-hour, five times per week issue oriented talk show starring Montel Williams, originally syndicated by Paramount and then CBS-TV Distribution. Rush packaged and initiated the sale of this series. Rush Associates, Inc. recently produced 130 mini-programs for the General Mills Corporation through Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising.

Herman Rush currently is involved in the creation packaging of television and cable programs and original content for the Internet and related new media. Herman also serves as a consultant/ representative to several producers and production companies.

In 1988 he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to a Presidential Commission for a Drug Free America. Rush was also a board member of the Just Say No Foundation and Former Chairman of the Board and current Board Member of the Entertainment Industries Council, an Entertainment industry organization established to use the influence of the entertainment industry to fight substance abuse in America and addresses other social issues.

In December 1985 Rush was presented with an honorary fellowship by the Bar Ilan University. Herman Rush resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com