Harve Bennett - Early Years

Early Years

As a young boy, Bennett was one of the kids on the radio program Quiz Kids, which introduced him to show business. By the time Bennett had reached college age, the radio business—aside from music radio—was in decline, and he turned to the world of film. He entered the University of California, Los Angeles, and graduated from their film school. Following his graduation from college, in 1953 Bennett joined the U.S. Army. He served in the Military Police Corps, based at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Lompoc, California. He was honorably discharged in 1955 with the rank of corporal. Bennett then began his career as a production executive. He first worked at CBS in New York City and later moved to the programming department of ABC, becoming Vice President of Daytime Programming. At ABC he rose to become Vice-President of Programming for a time.