Bill Susman
- Producer
William (Bill) Susman had an important career as a left-wing activist before he became, with job opportunities affected during the 1950s McCarthy era, a worker from the ground up in the film and television production field.He was a Red Diaper baby of Jewish heritage,born in September 1915 in Connecticut, with formal education limited to high school in the Bronx.His military experience included serving in the New York state national guard,in the Spanish Republican army rank of lieutenant in the volunteer Abraham Lincoln Brigade during the Spanish Civil War, and in the US Army rank of sergeant during World War II.Before the year (December 23rd 1937 through December 2oth 1938)during which he fought against Franco, he used his experience as a Communist party organizer to recruit Spanish speaking fellow ABL volunteers from Puerto Rico.Before he started working at MPO, a New York based production house for instructional shorts and later Tv commercials, Susman represented his district in the Queens assembly as a Democrat.In 1979 he helped start the historical archives for the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.He died on February 21st, 2003 in Sarasota, Florida.