During the 1960s and 1970s, it seemed as though all the top television crime dramas carried the weighty introduction, "A Quinn Martin Production." From The Untouchables and The FBI in the 1960s, to Cannon, The Streets of San Francisco, and Barnaby Jones in the 1970s, Quinn Martin dominated the crime-action genre on the small screen. At one period, the flourishing producer, who got his start as a writer for Desilu Productions, was responsible for more hours of network television programming than any other independent producer or company. In effect, he defined the formula for one-hour TV dramas—down to the number of acts, the number of action "beats" per act, and the perfection of the cliffhanger act close, which brought the audience back from each commercial break—leaving a lasting television legacy which continues to pervade popular culture.

Further Reading:

Brown, Les, editor. New York Times Encyclopedia of Television. New York, Times Books, 1977.