[3][4] The Cincinnati, Ohio-born Fries moved to Los Angeles in 1952 and began working for the production and syndication company Ziv Television Programs.
He became vice-president in charge of production for Screen Gems, the Columbia Pictures Television arm and subsequently became vice president in charge of feature film production/administration for the parent company where he worked with the top producers and directors in the industry after serving in various production and administrative capacities in the entertainment industry.
During his eight years at Ziv, the company produced shows such as The Cisco Kid, Highway Patrol, and Sea Hunt.
[citation needed] Fries parted ways with Ziv and was appointed Vice President In Charge of Production for Screen Gems, the Columbia Pictures television arm, in 1960.
He was involved in the production of such series as Naked City, Route 66, Bewitched, Father Knows Best, and I Dream of Jeannie, during which he became lifelong friends with that sitcom's lead actress Barbara Eden.
[9] While working at Screen Gems, Fries took a meeting at the famed Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel with Harold Cohen, a former lawyer at several Hollywood talent agencies who was currently between jobs and looking to begin a new career as a producer.
[10] In 1968, Fries became Vice President In Charge of Feature Film Production for Columbia Pictures, where he worked on theatrical films such as Castle Keep (with Burt Lancaster), The Horsemen (with Jack Palance), Five Easy Pieces (with Jack Nicholson and Karen Black), and Getting Straight (with Elliott Gould and Candice Bergen).
[citation needed] It was earlier known as Alpine Productions, and signed to a contract with television distributor/producer Worldvision Enterprises.
[15] That year, Fries Entertainment is signing a deal to sell overseas rights to three pictures that were produced by Sandy Howard, in which the three films represented by Fries were the film productions Green Monkey, Dark Tower, and worldwide, except TV rights, which was ITC's TV bailiwick on the project Calhoun, which these films were represented in partnership with international sales agent Spectrafilm, and Sandy Howard Productions, who had a contract agreement.
Fries served on the board of the American Film Institute and as part of the executive committee for 23 years.
He was a member of the Caucus for Producers, Writers, & Directors from 1974 on and served four terms as the organization's chair and received their most coveted awards.
[18] Fries was a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, where he served on the Board of Governors and as treasurer and secretary of the foundation.
He was also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where he served on the Executive Branch Membership Committee.