Schultz, Chiz

A producer for film and television, Charles Hamilton "Chiz" Schultz's career spans over forty years. He is best known for his work in television and as a producer of films featuring African Americans. Schultz began his career in show business as a stage manager, actor and producer with various summer stock companies from 1946-1953. After graduating from Princeton University in 1954, he was employed by television networks, eventually producing specials, such as "The Judy Garland Show."

As executive producer of programs with the Educational Broadcasting Corporation in 1962, Schultz established the original programming department for Channel 13, becoming director of programs in 1963. The following year he served as program executive for CBS-TV, supervising specials and series for the network.

In 1968 Schultz joined Belafonte Enterprises, Inc. (B.E.I) as president and executive producer of film and television. From 1968 to 1975, he developed and produced several shows featuring singer, actor and president of B.E.I, Harry Belafonte, including the 1969 Off-Broadway tribute to Lorraine Hansberry, "To Be Young Gifted and Black." In 1972, Schultz formed his first production company, Chiz Schultz, Inc., producing half hour and feature films. As a consultant to the Children's Television Workshop, he designed a program advisory service to meet its television programming needs. He was also a consultant to the Ford Foundation, creating and supervising the first minority training program in the film industry. From 1977 to 1979, Schultz produced television shows for Public Broadcasting Service and NBC-TV, winning an Emmy nomination for his production of "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." In 1982 he became the executive producer of "Betcha Don't Know," a series of thirty second info-mercials for NBC-TV.

Fireside Entertainment Corporation was Chiz Schultz's second production company, formed in 1986 with Steven Schwartz. Among its many successful productions were "A Raisin in the Sun," starring Danny Glover and Esther Rolle. He also produced the National Geographic Explorer series for the Discovery Channel. He continues to work as a producer with his production companies, Chiz Schultz, Inc. and Charles IV Productions.

From the description of Charles "Chiz" Schultz collection, 1968-1990. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122517245

A producer for film and television, Charles Hamilton “Chiz” Schultz' career spans over forty years. Best known for his work in television and as a producer of films featuring African Americans, Schultz began his career in show business as a stage manager, actor and producer with various summer stock companies from 1946 to 1953. Upon graduating from Princeton University in 1954, he was employed by CBS-TV as a staff production assistant on the Mama and Adventure series, and in 1955, he became associate producer on several television shows including Studio One, Playhouse 90 and Kraft Theater. His first independent producing was done from 1959 to 1962 as a freelance associate producer for television specials such as The Judy Garland Show and Belafonte: New York 19.

As executive producer of programs with the Educational Broadcasting Corporation in 1962, Schultz established the original programming department for Channel 13, creating programs and supervising a staff of producers, directors, writers, and composers. His promotion to director of programs in 1963, expanded his responsibilities to include programming, scheduling, and creative personnel. After ten years, Chiz Schultz returned in 1964 to CBS-TV as program executive, supervising specials and series for the network. Three years later, in 1967, he joined Thomas Spelling Productions as producer and story editor for The Danny Thomas Show. He also worked on the development and casting of the Mod Squad pilot.

In 1968 Schultz joined Belafonte Enterprises Inc. as vice president and executive producer of film and television. From 1968 to 1972, he developed and produced several shows featuring singer, actor, and president of B.E.I., Harry Belafonte. The shows included the television special Harry and Lena (1969), and the feature films The Angel Levine (1970), The Landlord (1970), and Buck and the Preacher (1972). In addition, he produced the off-Broadway tribute to Lorraine Hansberry, To be Young, Gifted and Black (1969).

1972 was a watershed year for Schultz, he established his first production Company, Chiz Schultz Inc., and produced, among other shows, a half hour film pilot, J.T., (1972) for ABC-TV and the feature films Ganga and Hess Ganga and Hess is now in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. (1975) and Baron Wolfgang von Trips (1976). That same year, he served as a consultant to the Children's Television Workshop and designed a Program Advisory Service to help meet their television programming needs. He was also a consultant to the Ford Foundation, creating and supervising the first minority training program in the film industry, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Hudson Valley Freedom Theater and Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center, Inc., two organizations dedicated to maximizing the creative potential within African-American communities.

In 1974, Schultz created a series of videotaped training courses, which he called Contemporary Awareness Training, developed for corporations and public institutions to promote awareness and understanding about issues such as racism and sexism.

From 1977 to 1979, Schultz produced television shows for Public Broadcasting Service and NBC-TV. His special for Once Upon a Classic, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, won an Emmy nominee for Best Children's Program in 1979. In 1982, he became the executive producer of Betcha Don't Know, a series of thirty-second info-mercials for NBC-TV and an Emmy-nominated Children's Television Workshop production starring Mickey Rooney and Robert Guillaume. From 1983 to 1986, Schultz was executive producer for the film documentary on the Committed Artists of South Africa, Asinamali, The House of Dies Drear, the two hour mystery film for Public Broadcasting Service's Wonderworks series, and the Academy Award nominated feature film for Columbia Pictures, A Soldier's Story.

Fireside Entertainment Corporation was Chiz Schultz's second production company. He joined his creative and business talents with those of Steven Schwartz to form the corporation in 1986. Among its many successful productions were A Raisin in the Sun, starring Danny Glover and Esther Rolle, for American Playhouse; Award for Cable Excellence winner Ordinary People and four years of new material for The Best of National Geographic. After three years the company was dissolved.

Schultz is married to Dr. Nancy Marshall Schultz and has three children. He continues to work as a producer with his production companies, Chiz Schultz, Inc. and Charles IV Productions.

From the guide to the Charles "Chiz" Schultz collection, 1968-1990, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)