Biography/History

Frequently referred to as “television's finest writer of documentaries,” Richard F. Hanser is probably best known as co-author of NBC's internationally acclaimed series, Victory at Sea (1952-1953) and author of Project XX (1954-1962).

Programs written by Hanser received every major award in the television industry, including three Emmys and a Peabody Award. He contributed articles to numerous magazines, was a member of the Council of the Writer's Guild and of the Overseas Press Club, and served on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

1909, Dec. 15	Born in Buffalo, New York, to Adolf T. and Caroline (Feiertage) Hanser.
1923-1929	Studied for the ministry at Concordia Collegiate Institute in Bronxville, New York, before deciding on a career in journalism.
1929-1936	Worked on the Buffalo Times and the Cleveland Press as a reporter, re-write man, and columnist.
1931, Nov. 29	Married Anne Golfer, with whom he has had a son, David.
1937-1941	Employed by Fawcett Publications, a New York magazine publishing company, as an assistant editor; promoted to managing editor.
1943-1945	Served in the U.S. Army Psychological Warfare Unit, portraying “Corporal Tom Jones” in combat zone broadcasts to German soldiers.
1946-1952	Joined RKO Pathe as staff writer where he began writing documentary films.
1946	Received credit as screenwriter for Germany Today (RKO).
1947	Translated Hans Habe's novel, Aftermath, from German - into English.
1947	Received credit as screenwriter for Border Without Bayonets (RKO).
1948	Translated another Habe novel, Walk In Darkness, from German into English
1949b	Received credit as screenwriter for Berlin Powderkeg (RKO); for Savage Splendor (RKO), the first feature length color film on Africa; and for Kilroy Returns (RKO).
1952	Translated H.M. Mons' book, The Sword of Stalin, from German into English.
1952-1953	Began his writing career in television by joining the production staff of NBC's Victory at Sea. Conceived by producer Henry Salomon, this series of 26 programs about U.S. naval operations in World War II was one of television's early historical compilation documentary series. It received immediate popular and critical acclaim; was nationally and internationally syndicated; and won numerous awards, including a Peabody Award.
1953	Victory at Sea won an Emmy.
1954	Using the Victory at Sea unit, in September 1954 Salomon began producing Project XX for NBC-TV. This was a series of specials examining the social and political turmoil of this century in such programs as “Nightmare in Red” (1955), “Meet Mr. Lincoln” (1959), and “That War in Korea” (1963).
1954	The Project XX unit was designated as NBC's Special Projects Unit and given responsibility for producing The Wisdom Series which consisted of interviews with eminent contemporary figures.
1958	After Salomon's death, Hanser took over as chief writer of Project XX.
1958-1959	Project XX's “Meet Mr. Lincoln” won an Emmy.
1962, April	End of production of Project XX.
1963	Published True Tales of Hitler's Reich as a result of his personal research.
1963	Project XX's “He Is Risen” won an Emmy.
1964	Published How Hitler Made Revolution as a result of his personal research.
1971	The NBC Special Projects Unit, which had produced Project XX since its inception, became an independent production arm of NBC Enterprises under Donald B. Hyatt's direction.