Fran Harris Tuchman

1915 - 2013

Television pioneer Fran Harris Tuchman passed away on March 18, 2013 at her residence. Born in New York City on August 17, 1915, Fran aspired to be an actress and studied at the Faust School of Dramatic Arts. She began her career as an actress in Chicago in 1933 on stage and radio, but the emergence of television and the lack of men technicians during World War II drew her behind the camera at WBKB, one of the first TV stations in the country. She was a member of a team of women known as "the original seven" who kept the station running in the war years. Fran wrote, directed, operated cameras, lights, audio and film equipment, served as official mistress of ceremonies and was also featured in two weekly news programs. At the end of the war, Fran founded and headed the first TV and motion picture department for Ruthrauff & Ryan, one of Chicago's leading ad agencies. She produced all their TV and business films and oversaw TV operations in branch offices from coast to coast. In 1949, she married Ralph G. Tuchman and they moved to Los Angeles, where they founded Harris-Tuchman Productions in 1950. Her success continued as she co-created, directed and produced for client Mattel Toys the first commercial for "Barbie", which launched her into national and international fame. Fran wrote and/or directed more than 5,000 commercials and 200 sales, training or public information films, winning more than 50 major awards in the film and advertising industry. She personally received the Silver Medal of the American Advertising Federation for outstanding achievement and creative excellence. Fran and Ralph found a new goal in life when they joined the Beverly Hills Church of Religious Science. With their usual zest for anything in which they were involved, they entered the School of Ministry. Prior to her graduation, Fran served the church as a teacher and practitioner. When Ralph accepted the pulpit at the Burbank/Toluca Lake Church of Religious Science, where he served for 13 years, Fran divided her energies between running the business and supporting his work as a teacher, practitioner, workshop leader and book shop manager. She served on the International Board of Trustees of the United Church of Religious Science, and most recently was serving on the Board of the Science of Mind Foundation, which she chaired from 1993 to 1995. In 1996, she received the William H. D. Hornaday Humanitarian Award from United Church, and in 1998 was given the prestigious Practitioner Emeritus Award in recognition of more than 30 years as a professional practitioner of Religious Science. After her husband's passing, Fran became a founding member of the Central Glendale Church of Religious Science, where she continued her work as practitioner, teacher and workshop leader. Among her professional and community leadership roles, Fran was a past president of Los Angeles Advertising Women, and founding chair and director of the Los Angeles/Salvador (Bahia, Brazil) Sister City program. She was currently serving on the Boards of Committee of Professional Women for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Braille Institute Auxiliary. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Science of Mind Foundation, P.O. Box 75127, Los Angeles, CA 90075, or Braille Institute, 741 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029.