Babette Henry (born Babette Louise Kohn;"United States, Census, 1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XRQ-F6WK : Wed Mar 20 06:46:59 UTC 2024), Entry for Babette L Henry, 10 April 1950. January 19, 1915"California, Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGB8-3PF : 26 November 2014), Kohn in entry for Babette Louise Kiebert, 23 Jun 1980; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento. –July 23, 1980) was an American television director/producer, perhaps best known for her work on Buck Rogers, where she fulfilled both functions from 1950 to 1951."'Buck Rogers' Series WILL BEGIN ON WFMY-TV Friday, May 12". Greensboro News and Record. May 10, 1950. p. 16. "The half-hour program will be slanted to provide good viewing for [...] folks who really like programs 'out of this world' with something entirely new. 'Buck Rogers' will be produced in New York by Babette Henry, famed woman TV director, in over-all charge."Chance, Norman (2011). Who Was Who on TV, Volume 1. Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris. p. 212. Dubbed by Variety "one of ABC's top TV directors,""Television's Petticoat Fever; Femme Jobs Span Gamut". Variety. March 5, 1952. p. 35. "One of ABC’s top TV directors is Babette Henry, who does the Paul Whiteman revue and who directed Sunday’s (24) live telecast of “Greatest Story Ever Told." she also helmed episodes of Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue and the short-lived Jack Lemmon series That Wonderful Guy,Leszczac, Bob (2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 182. . as well as The Frances Langford–Don Ameche Show, which also featured the young Lemmon.
Early life and career Born in Brooklyn and raised there and in White Plains, New York,"United States, Census, 1920", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJR1-DYV : Wed Jul 10 16:31:18 UTC 2024), Entry for Arthur H Kohn and Lillie Z Kohn, 1920."United States, Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4GJ-RNN : Mon Jul 15 17:22:25 UTC 2024), Entry for Arthur H Kohn and Lili Z Kohn, 1930. Henry was the first of two children born to schoolteacher Lili Z. Levy and civil engineer Arthur H. Kohn.Simon, W. L. (April 1, 1937). "The Old-Timer: Links Past and Present From Intelligencer Files – Twenty-Five Years Ago". Intelligencer Journal. p. 8. Retrieved July 25, 2025. "Following couples were united in marriage: Shreiner S. Groff and Anna M. Keller, by Rev. J. E. Whitteker. Arthur H. Kohn and Lili Z. Levy, by Rev. I. Rosenthal." She attended Cornell University, majoring in hotel administration."She Is Video's Child". The Baltimore Sun. May 7, 1950. p. C26.
After obtaining her degree, Henry tried her hand at a range of occupations—most notably, interior decorator and accountant—prior to hiring on as a secretary at CBS. From there, she worked her way through legal, sales, and public affairs, before landing a spot in the television programming division. There, she progressed from office manager to continuity writer, script writer, and, ultimately, director. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor effectively shut down television operations and Henry was shifted to the radio division, where she remained for the duration of the war.
In 1945, Henry moved to ABC, where she directed Tele Tales for Children, starring Ireene Wicker.Terrace, Vincent (1997). Experimental Television, Test Films, Pilots and Trial Series, 1925 through 1995. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 602. ."Tele Reviews". Variety. September 26, 1945. p. 45. Two years later, she was assigned to the network's fledgling Baltimore affiliate, WMAR-TV.Perkinson, William J. (December 7, 1947). "How Television Works: Scene to Screen Via WMAR". The Baltimore Sun. Sec. A, p. 1. "What the television announcer sees through the studio glass: When Producer Babette Henry's hand falls, program begins. In front of her Engineer Charles D. Cooper monitors sound. [...] Directing WMAR's programs which originate in the tower are Richard H. Shipman and Miss Babette Henry." In 1948, she directed Wicker's new series, The Singing Lady.Chase, Sam (August 28, 1948). "Radio and Television Program Reviews: Singing Lady". The Billboard. p. 11.
Look Photocrime debuted under Henry's direction in September 1949.Ross, Wallace A. (October 1949). "Programs Which Debuted September 12 Through October 23". Ross Reports on Television Programming. p. 5. Aiming to provide an alternative to the overly 'hard-boiled' private eyes who had by then become so pervasive in popular culture, the attempt elicited a qualified thumbs-up—citing "noticeable but not spectacular progress"—from Billboard's Leon Morse, who, despite reservations about the episode's writing and central performance, cites three countervailing strengths: its strong supporting performances, "some fine camera work," and, finally, the "good visual movement [in] Babette Henry's staging."Morse, Leon (October 8, 1949) "Radio and Television Program Reviews: Look Photocrime". The Billboard. p. 11.
In 1950, The Baltimore Sun acknowledged Henry's status as "one of the few full-fledged woman directors in network TV."
Other Henry-helmed shows include Cartoon Teletales,Terrace, Vincent (1986). Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials, Volume 3. New York Zoetrope. p. 520. . At Home–And How!,"Television Reviews: At Home–And How!". Variety. December 1, 1948. p. 30. Hollywood Screen Test, Fashions on Parade,"Radio and Television Program Reviews". The Billboard. May 14, 1949. p. 10. Andy and Della Russell,"Musical Programs". Ross Reports on Television Programming. May 1951. p. 17. and The Robbins Nest."This Week -- Debuts, Highlights, Changes: Fri (29)". Ross Reports on Television Programming. September 24–30, 1950. p. 2.
Among Henry's lesser-known projects was the 1949 series Jacques Fray's Music Room, a classically leaning but uncommonly relaxed on-air musical talent contest, directed by Henry and hosted by pianist Fray. New York Times critic Jack Gould, after viewing the first few episodes, deemed the show "a 'sleeper' with a charm and distinction quite its own." Much of the program's engaging quality may be attributed to Fray's quiet and relaxed supervision of the proceedings. [...] The direction of Babette Henry also has caught the spirit of the presentation, the camera work reflecting both taste and imagination. 'The Jacques Fray Music Room' is a half-hour of adult television.
Personal life and death In 1954, Henry married aerospace engineer Martin V. Kiebert, with whom she had two daughters."New York, New York City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLSR-97M7 : 16 February 2024), Babette Henry in entry for Martin Kiebert, 1954, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States;Marriage, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States, from Reclaim the Records, The NYC Marriage Index (http://www.nycmarriageindex.com : 2016); citing New York City Clerk's Office. This marriage ended sometime prior to September 1960, when Kiebert next remarried."Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VVJY-WPY : Tue Feb 25 08:33:03 UTC 2025), Entry for Martin V Kiebert and Maria P Fazio.
Predeceased by her brother and ex-husband,"Death Takes Navy Man at Denver". The Spokesman-Review. August 23, 1961. p. 2."William Henry, Akron VW Dealer". The Akron Beacon Journal. January 26, 1980. p. D6. Henry died of cancer at age 65 on June 23, 1980 in Arcadia, California,"Passings". The Los Angeles Times. June 30, 1980. p. 18. survived by her daughters and one nephew. At her request, her cremated remains were scattered across the Pacific Ocean."Obituaries: Babette Kiebert". Monrovia News-Post. June 26, 1980. p. 22.
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