Bernard L. Kowalski

Bernard Kowalski is an important figure in television with a long and impressive list of credits. To mention a select few, he directed the pilots for _Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957)_ (qv), _N.Y.P.D. (1967)_ (qv) and _The Monroes (1966)_ (qv); executive-produced _Baretta (1975)_ (qv); and was co-owner of _Mission: Impossible (1966)_ (qv). Kowalski got his first job in the movie business at the age of five as an extra in several Dead End Kids pictures at Warner Brothers, as well as such 'Errol Flynn' (qv) vehicles as _Dodge City (1939)_ (qv) and _Virginia City (1940)_ (qv). His experience behind the camera began at age 17 when he worked as a clerk for his father, who was an assistant director and production manager. TV provided Kowalski with his first opportunity to direct on such Western series as _Frontier (1955)_ (qv) and _Boots and Saddles (1956)_ (qv); he then made the transition to feature-film directing in 1958 when he was hired by 'Gene Corman' (qv) (brother of 'Roger Corman' (qv)) to helm the teen exploitation feature _Hot Car Girl (1958)_ (qv).::Tom Weaver <TomWeavr@aol.com>