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Greg Garrison epitomized the successful television director of the 1950s and 1960s. Starting in live TV in the late 1940s, he directed Milton Berle on the hugely popular The Buick Circus Hour (1952), also known as "Texaco Star Theater." Garrison quickly mastered the fast-paced nature of live production, skills that would later prove invaluable for taped shows. His career mostly revolved around television; he directed a few game shows at ABC (Bon Voyage and Ladies Be Seated, both 1949) and CBS (Majority Rules, 1949), but found far greater success on NBC within the variety show format. His first major success came with NBC's The Kate Smith Hour (1950), which ran for five seasons until 1954. He was one of six rotating directors on John Forsythe's popular Bachelor Father (1957-1962), which aired on CBS, NBC, and ABC. Garrison also tried his hand at a few low-budget feature films that didn’t fare well at the box office, confirming that television was his true calling.
Notably, Garrison directed one of the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy debates, helping set a lasting standard for televised political campaigns. However, in the eyes of industry insiders, his name was most closely linked with Dean Martin. After 1965, Garrison worked almost exclusively with Martin, eventually earning a producer credit and playing a key role in the show's tremendous success—an impressive feat given the star’s strict contractual limitations. Martin never rehearsed with guest stars; camera setups and blocking were handled on Saturdays without him, while actual taping occurred on Sundays, often with Martin leaving before the show was finished.
Garrison believed his primary role was to keep the star happy at all costs—his approach somewhat reminiscent of Rip Torn’s character, Arthur, on The Larry Sanders Show (1992). He often overbooked the show to replace guest stars or lesser acts if they proved difficult. Those who adapted to these unique constraints frequently returned, while those who did not were rarely seen again with Martin. Garrison’s directing style and management of the easygoing Martin—who frequently flubbed lines and improvised—only endeared the show more to its audience. He required guests to rehearse with stand-ins, often himself and choreographer Lee Hale, and was generally intolerant of dissent. Making the show appear effortless demanded hard work, but Garrison also recognized the value of surrounding himself with top-notch production talent, running each show with speed and precision. His NBC office was modest, as he preferred to spend most of his time on set.
As The Dean Martin Show (1965) evolved into a roast format, Martin gradually seemed to lose some energy. Garrison responded by cleverly editing reaction shots of Martin from earlier shows—facilitated by the star’s consistent tuxedo attire—into later episodes. Garrison eventually became part-owner of the show and held a significant stake in Martin's "Roasts," which proved highly profitable in later years, especially once released on DVD. These roast infomercials, still airing on late-night cable via Guthy-Renker as of 2007, earned Garrison millions during retirement. This iconic television producer passed away at age 81 from pneumonia on March 25, 2005.
