Maurice J. Rifkin, 88; Radio, TV Syndicator

Maurice J. “Bud” Rifkin, syndicator of radio and television programs and a producer who pioneered what he called “documatics” that combined fact with fictional story lines, has died. He was 88.

The longtime president of Metromedia Producers Corp. died of cancer Sept. 4 in Beverly Hills, said his wife, Tedde.

Responsible for numerous Emmy-nominated documentaries and dramas, Rifkin took pride in inducing Rod Serling to write fictional teleplays, beginning with “Certain Honorable Men” and moving on to “A Storm in Summer.” The latter, produced by Rifkin and shown on NBC’s prestigious Hallmark Hall of Fame, earned an Emmy Award for outstanding dramatic program in 1970.

“I shamed Serling into writing it. . . . He was around the shop, narrating our Cousteau specials,” Rifkin told The Times three decades ago. “I think ‘Storm’ is the best thing he’s ever written and the best thing we’ve ever done.”

Born and reared in Ohio, Rifkin earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s in psychology from USC. But after working in a small advertising agency, he joined WKBN radio in Youngstown, Ohio, to sell advertising.

In 1938, he joined Frederic W. Ziv to syndicate radio programs, including such classics as “Boston Blackie” and “The Guy Lombardo Show.” Rifkin moved to New York in 1946, focused on getting the Ziv companies [and their successor, United Artists Television] into the developing medium of television.

The first two syndicated TV programs he sold to a few cities were the 5-minute “Sports Album” and the 15-minute “Yesterday’s Newsreel.” Soon to follow were up to 35 major syndicated series, including “Cisco Kid,” “Mr. District Attorney,” ’Science Fiction Theater” and Lloyd Bridges’ innovative, underwater “Sea Hunt.”

In 1966, Rifkin joined Wolper Productions and became president shortly before the company name changed to Metromedia Producers Corp.

Among the programs he produced there were “The Undersea World of Jacques-Ives Cousteau” and the “National Geographic” series.

As networks developed more of their own programs, Rifkin made sure his production company continued evolving to serve specialized and changing markets. He also foresaw future expansion of syndicated programs and the development of new networks and cable networks, becoming a founding stockholder in early efforts.

“People want to know about things,” he told The Times in 1969, discussing his adaptation from documentaries to docudramas and pure fictional dramas. “When we started the National Geographic, they said, ‘Who’ll watch it?’ The National Geographic is something you find in dentists’ offices. But the ratings are phenomenal.”

Among Rifkin’s specialized documentaries have been “The Making of the President--1968,” “The Selznick Years” and “Los Angeles--Where It’s At.”

As an independent producer, he worked with MGM, Columbia and Fox studios.

A multiple winner of the George Foster Peabody Awards for service to broadcasting, Rifkin also served on the board of the international council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Joan Sellers and Barbara Alter.