James T. Aubrey, Jr.

James Thomas Aubrey, Jr. (December 14, 1918–September 3, 1994) was an American television and film executive. President of the CBS Television Network during the early 1960s, he put some of television's most successful series, including Gilligan's Island and The Beverly Hillbillies, on the air and consequently CBS dominated American television: during the 1963-1964 season, CBS had fourteen of the fifteen top-rated prime-time series. The New York Times Magazine in 1964 called him "a master of programming whose divinations led to successes that are breathtaking."

Charges of bribes

In April 1964, charges were printed in a celebrity scandal sheet that Aubrey was taking kickbacks from producers and put a friend's shows on the air sight unseen. The Federal Communications Commission made inquiries and CBS learned that Aubrey's car and apartment were paid for by Filmways, the producer of the Hillbillies, Green Acres, Mr. Ed, and other CBS programs even though his CBS salary was $264,000 a year. While not illegal, CBS had not known of Aubrey's ties. More troubling were the charges of favoritism. Aubrey's friend Keefe Brasselle, who had bit parts in several movies in the 1940's and 1950's, had no experience as a producer, but yet Aubrey scheduled three of his shows for the 1964-1965 season (The Baileys of Balboa, The Reporter, and The Cara Williams Show) all without pilots. Also troubling to CBS were the charges that Brasselle had ties to the Mafia. Costs skyrocked on Brasselle's shows and all three bombed.

Related Topics:
1964 - Federal Communications Commission - Filmways - Green Acres - Mr. Ed - Keefe Brasselle - 1965 - The Baileys of Balboa - The Reporter - The Cara Williams Show - Mafia

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In late 1964, Aubrey approached Stanton with a proposal. Claiming he had investors lined-up ready to buy the company, Aubrey said once in control, they would fire Paley, install Stanton as chairman, and make Aubrey CBS corporate president. This did not come to pass, but Aubrey's contempt for Paley knew no bounds, even showing his disregard in public. "Aubrey was torpedoed at last," wrote The New York Times Magazine, "by a combination of his imperiousness, the ratings drop, and a vivid afterhours life culminating in a raucuous Miami Beach party–details of which no one ever agrees on–the weekend he was fired."

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Paley ordered Stanton to fire him and it was done on, February 27, 1965, the announcement being delayed until the following afternoon, a Sunday. Stanton's statement declared:

Related Topics:
February 27 - 1965

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:Jim Aubrey's outstanding accomplishment during his tenure as head of the C.B.S. television network need no elaboration. His extraordinary record speaks for itself.

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His successor was announced as John A. Schneider, the general manager of WCBS-TV in New York City, who had no experience at the network level. Aubrey was so despondent Stanton feared he would kill himself. Wall Street took the news badly as well: CBS stock plunged nine points. "I don't pretend to be any saint. If anyone wants to indict me for liking pretty girls, I'm guilty."

Related Topics:
John A. Schneider - WCBS-TV - New York City

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Aubrey's marriage to Phyllis Thaxter, an actress signed to MGM in the 1940s, ended in divorce in 1963 (they wed in 1944) because of his work and his "liking pretty girls"–one he was frequently seen with when he went to MGM was actress Raquel Welch. They had two children, James Watson Aubrey (born January 5, 1953) and Susan Schuyler "Skye" Aubrey, (the actress Skye Aubrey) (born circa 1946).

Related Topics:
Phyllis Thaxter - 1940s - 1963 - 1944 - Raquel Welch - January 5 - 1953 - Skye Aubrey - 1946

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Aubrey, who left CBS with $2.5 million in network stock, moved to the Sunset Strip and set up a production company. His attorney, Gregson Bautzer, in 1967 tried to buy the American Broadcasting Company for his client Howard Hughes. Aubrey was to have run ABC after the takeover, but the reclusive Hughes refused to testify in person before the Federal Communications Commission, which had to approve the purchase, and the deal collapsed.

Related Topics:
1967 - American Broadcasting Company - Howard Hughes - Federal Communications Commission

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