The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame Committee has selected Beatrice Arthur, Dan Burke, Larry Gelbart, Merv Griffin, Thomas Murphy and Sherwood Schwartz to be inducted into the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame, it was announced yesterday by John Shaffner, Chairman/CEO of the Television Academy.
Link to press release.
The Archive of American Television has conducted interviews with Beatrice Arthur, Larry Gelbart, Thomas Murphy, and Sherwood Schwartz. Click on the links below to watch their full Archive interviews.
Click here to access the full five-part interview with Beatrice Arthur.
Beatrice Arthur Interview description:
Beatrice Arthur begins the interview talking about the origins of her stage name and how she started out in plays, off and on Broadway. She then talked about her first movie roles and her appearances on The George Gobel Show and Caesar’s Hour. She described her other early appearances on television in The Seven Lively Arts, Omnibus, Perry Como’s Kraft Music Hall and Star Trek and her role in the play and feature film Mame (with Angela Lansbury and Lucille Ball, respectively). She talked about her appearances on All in the Family as the liberal cousin Maude. She described her role as Maude, her relationships with Jean Stapleton, Carroll O’Connor and Norman Lear. She then discussed the controversial issues and topics that the series Maude tackled, (such as alcoholism, abortion, death, infidelity and feminism). Arthur also talked extensively about working with Norman Lear on All in the Family and Maude, watching the show 20 years after it first aired and why she eventually left the show. She then briefly talked about her series Amanda’s. Arthur talked affectionately about The Golden Girls. The interview was conducted by Karen Herman on March 15, 2001.
Click here to access the full eight-part interview with Larry Gelbart.
Larry Gelbart Interview description:
Larry Gelbart told the story of how he met Danny Thomas, who ultimately gave him his first job in the business. He talked about working with Thomas, as well as writing for Bob Hope, Red Buttons, Danny Kaye, and Sid Caesar for Caesar's Hour. Gelbart spoke of working in the Caesar's Hour writer's room with such greats as Mel Tolkin, Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, and Woody Allen. He also talked about his successful years writing for M*A*S*H and working with producer Gene Reynolds and Alan Alda. The interview was conducted by Dan Harrison on May 26, 1998.
Click here to access the full three-part interview with Thomas Murphy.
Thomas Murphy Interview description:
Murphy began his career as a broadcaster in 1954 at WROW-TV in New York. Ten years later, he was appointed the CEO of Capitol Cities, and has since overseen the ownership of many television stations, dozens of cable-TV systems and acquisition of the ABC network. In his interview, Murphy described the balance of business between the station owners, networks and viewers, and the ever-changing telecommunications business. The interview was conducted by Donald West on October 22, 1998.
Click here to access the full twelve-part interview with Sherwood Schwartz.
Sherwood Schwartz Interview description:
Sherwood Schwartz described the creation of his classics, Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch, Mr. Schwartz candidly described writing for comedic legends Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Red Skelton, and others. The interview was conducted by Dan Pasternack on September 17, 1997.
