Barry Crane

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Barry Crane, born Barry Cohen, (November 11, 1927, Detroit, Michigan – July 5, 1985, Los Angeles, California) was a prolific television producer and director, and a champion bridge player.

Crane (sometimes credited as Barry Cohen) produced The Magician, and was an associate producer on several episodes of Mission: Impossible. He was credited with directing numerous episodes of such series as Trapper John, M.D., The Incredible Hulk, Hawaii 5-0, CHiPs, Dallas, Wonder Woman, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix.

Crane, who won 15 North American championships, was a Grand Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) and traveled extensively to play in matchpoint pairs tournaments. In World Bridge Federation (WBF) competition he won one world championship and was a World Life Master. Crane also played in team events (where the strategy is subtly different from matchpoint play), and won several titles.

During his lifetime, Crane accumulated more masterpoints (35,135.80) – which are awarded by the ACBL for success in tournament play – than any other player. At Crane's death, second placed Paul Soloway was approximately 11,000 behind; only in 1991, several years after Crane's death did Soloway surpass Crane's lifetime total. In honor and as a memorial to Crane, the ACBL renamed the award given to the player who accumulates the most Masterpoints in a single year to the Barry Crane Trophy, and the list of high Masterpoint attainers to the Barry Crane Top 500.[1] Crane was elected to the ACBL Hall of Fame in 1995.[2]

Crane was murdered on July 5, 1985 – a homicide which has not been solved.

Contents

[edit] Awards

  • IBPA Personality of the Year 1985
  • McKenney Trophy 1952, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1978
  • Mott-Smith Trophy 1970, 1971
  • Oeschger Trophy 1961, 1962, 1963, 1967
  • Stoddard Memorial Trophy 1980

[edit] Tournament record

[edit] Winner

  • World Mixed Pairs (1) 1978
  • North American Bridge Championships (15)
    • Mixed Pairs (2) 1975, 1982
    • Men's Pairs (1) 1966
    • Open Pairs (7) 1964, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1983
    • Master Mixed Teams (1) 1980
    • West Coast Master Mixed Teams (2) 1953, 1954
    • North American Swiss Teams (1) 1978
    • North American Men's Swiss Teams (1) 1983

[edit] Runners-up

  • North American Bridge Championships (10)
    • Mixed Pairs (3) 1971, 1974, 1977
    • Open Pairs (2) 1976, 1984
    • Master Mixed Teams (1) 1969
    • Men's Board-a-Match Teams (2) 1956, 1971
    • Vanderbilt Knockout Teams (2) 1951, 1985[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ ACBL passes memorial resolution, renaming trophy
  2. ^ Crane's biography at the ACBL Hall of Fame site
  3. ^ Hall of Fame biography with tournament wins and awards

[edit] External links