Prolific Writer David Shaw Dies -- Archive Interview Online

David Shaw has died at the age of 90. Shaw was one of the most prolific writers during television's "Golden Age," nominated for an Emmy Award for his adaptation of "Our Town" for Producers Showcase. He was interviewed by the Archive of American Television on August 31, 2004.

Writer David Shaw's five-part interview is available for viewing on Google Video. Click here to access David Shaw's entire interview.




In part 2 of his interview, David Shaw talks about his work as a writer on Philco-Goodyear Playhouse, one of the key dramatic anthology series of the "Golden Age," for which he wrote the most teleplays of any single writer.

From Part 3:

Q: There was a term called "kitchen sink" dramas. What did that refer to?

A: It referred to many of the Philcos that are family dramas. With family problems. They weren't shoot 'em ups, they weren't crime, they weren't sexy. They were just family dramas.... They're not too far away from soap operas, really. But they're easy to produce and didn't call for big sets or lavish outdoor production.

Q: What is the legacy of Philco-Goodyear Playhouse?

A: I think that it was the beginning of good drama on television.

Q: How important do you think [Philco-Goodyear Playhouse producer Fred] Coe was to what is referred to as the "Golden Age of Television"?

A: How important? He was it! Fred was it. There was nobody like him.

Interview Description:
Shaw discussed his prolific career as a television writer that began in 1949 for the ABC “live” dramatic anthology series Actors Studio. He spoke in great detail about his work on the series Philco-Goodyear Playhouse, for which he contributed the most teleplays of any writer. For Philco-Goodyear, Shaw commented on several of his individual teleplays and talked about working with legendary producer Fred Coe. Shaw described knowing and working with other such figures of the “Golden Age of Television Drama,” as director Delbert Mann, writer Paddy Chayefsky, and actress Eva Marie Saint. Shaw discussed several series for which he served as a story editor including Mr. Peepers and The Defenders. He described his teleplays for Producer’s Showcase (including his Emmy-nominated adaptation of “Our Town”) and the six shows he wrote for Playhouse 90.

"The Simpsons" Hits the Big Screen

After years and years of gossip and teasers about a Simpsons feature film, the time has come! This weekend marks the opening of The Simpsons Movie -- marking the iconic television series' transition to the big screen.


In 2003, the Archive of American Television interviewed James L. Brooks, the executive producer of The Simpsons. In the interview parts 9 and 10, he speaks in-depth about the creation of The Simpsons.

Click here to access James L. Brooks 11-part interview.

Interview description:
James L. Brooks was interviewed for five-and-a-half hours (in two sessions) in Bel-Air, CA. Mr. Brooks spoke of his early days as a page at CBS – working his way up to the newsroom. After working in documentaries, Brooks turned to comedy, where he wrote scripts for Hey Landlord, The Andy Griffith Show and My Three Sons before co-creating (with Gene Reynolds) Room 222. In 1970, MTM Productions teamed Brooks with Allen Burns, where they created and produced The Mary Tyler Moore Show. They were also producers on the spin-off series Rhoda, Phyllis and Lou Grant. After leaving MTM, Brooks produced Taxi, The Associates, and The Tracy Ullman Show. Mr. Brooks also talked about the craft of writing and producing for television and his continuing work as executive producer on The Simpsons. The two-part interview was conducted by Karen Herman on January 17 and February 12, 2003.

Also available, is a full interview with Phil Roman, the founder of Film Roman, which currently oversees the animation of The Simpsons.

Former Televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker Messner Has Died -- Archive Interview is Online

Tammy Faye Messner lost her battle with lung cancer and died on July 20th at the age of 65 (story on CNN.com). Messner and then-husband Jim Bakker founded the PTL Club in 1974 and later expanded it into a network; the two co-hosted the PTL Club from 1976-87. The PTL Club ended in scandal and Tammy Faye divorced Jim Bakker in its wake. Since then she remarried, hosted The Jim J. and Tammy Faye Show (with Jim J. Bullock), and appeared on the reality television series The Surreal Life.

The Archive of American Television interviewed Tammy Faye in Palm Springs on January 19, 2005. The interview is currently available online at Google Video.

Click here to watch Part 1 of Tammy Faye Bakker Messner's interview. (30 minutes)
Click here to watch Part 2 of Tammy Faye Bakker Messner's interview. (12 minutes)

Interview Description:
Messner talked about her childhood desire to become an evangelist. She described meeting her future husband Jim Bakker at bible college and their subsequent collaboration as traveling evangelists. She detailed their discovery by Pat Robertson, and how they were launched on the fledging Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). She spoke about their children’s show, The Jim and Tammy Show, as well as Jim’s tenure as host of The 700 Club. She then discussed their creation of Trinity Broadcasting and their eventual split with their co-founders, which led to the formation of The PTL Club. Although she declined to discuss the subsequent “PTL scandal,” she spoke of the devastation it left on her life. She also spoke about The Jim J. and Tammy Faye Show and her recent appearance on The Surreal Life.

2006-07 Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations Announced

Nominations for the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced today. With this year's nominations, ER has become the most-nominated television series of all time with 120 nominations (Cheers has 117). Sally Field, who was first nominated for an Emmy in 1977 for Sybil (she won), received her seventh career nomination and her first as a regular in a series, for Brothers & Sisters.

Another Emmy perennial, Edward Asner has received his 16th Emmy nomination. Asner holds the record for most acting Emmys won by a male actor (7). He is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for The Christmas Card. Asner was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1996.


Edward Asner was interviewed by the Archive of American Television on April 7, 1999 in North Hollywood, CA.

Click here to access all Edward Asner interview segments.

Interview description:

Asner began by describing his start as an actor in theatre and in "live" television. He talked about his appearances in filmed series television in the '60s such as in Naked City, Route 66, and The Defenders; his appearance as a regular on the political drama Slatterly's People (1964-65); as well as television movies. He discussed the portrayal of his most memorable role, that of “Lou Grant,” which he played on the sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-77) and its dramatic spin-off Lou Grant (1977-82). He discussed many of his other notable television appearances such as in the miniseries Roots and Rich Man, Poor Man; the telefilms The Life and Assassination of the Kingfish and The Gathering; and the series The Trials of Rosie O'Neill. He also discussed his political activism in the 1980s and his role as Screen Actors Guild President from 1981-85.

Tune in to the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, September 16 on FOX.

Archive Interviewee Phyllis Diller is 90!

The ever-popular Phyllis Diller is 90 years old today. Ms. Diller has been seen on Boston Legal this season and does the voice of Peter's Mom on Family Guy. In the last few years, she's released a book of memoirs (pictured above) and has seen several DVD releases of her comedy work.


Phyllis Diller was interviewed by the Archive of American Television on March 8, 2000. Click here to watch Phyllis Diller's entire seven-part interview.

Interview Description:
Ms. Diller spoke of her beginnings as a successful comic breaking out of her shell as a middle-aged housewife when she appeared for the first time on stage at San Francisco’s “Purple Onion.” She spoke of her first appearance in television on Groucho Marx’s You Bet Your Life. She spoke of her many appearances on television variety shows including numerous appearances on The Jack Paar Show. She talked about her long association with Bob Hope in films and on television— making more appearances on his specials than anyone else. Show spoke of her television series The Pruitts of Southampton (1966-67), a sitcom; and The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show (1968), a variety-talk series, as well as the comedy-anthology series Love American Style. She spoke of her appearance as a regular panelist on television’s The Gong Show (1976-80) and her regular role from 1995-96 on the daytime serial The Bold and the Beautiful. She spoke of her work as a trend setting female comic and detailed her successful formula for stand-up comedy. Interviewer: Fred Westbrook.

Books: A Memoir by Archive Interviewee John Rich

A recent book, Warm up the Snake: A Hollywood Memoir (The University of Michigan Press), recounts Archive interviewee John Rich's life in the trenches as one of television's premier directors and producers. Rich boldly recounts his work on many classic series (and episodes) including The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gilligan's Island, All in the Family and MacGyver as well as his longtime involvement in the Directors Guild of America. It's a humerous, no-holds-barred look behind the scenes at some of our favorite shows and also gives readers a glimpse into what makes a great director.

From Warm Up the Snake:

During my days as an NBC stage manager, I witnessed plenty of foul-ups that no one could have invented. One day I was assigned to monitor the time and placement of a live commercial insert within a program, produced by an outside advertising agency. The program featured "Dunninger, the Mental Wizard," a see-all know-all "mentalist" act. As the NBC representative, I had little to do but sit in the control room behind the production team and observe the action with my notepad at the ready. The first two sales pitches went as planned, but as the program neared its end, the director became concerned that the time would run out before the final commercial. He instructed the stage manager to "give Dunninger a speed-up and signal we have one minute to go."

The stage manager obeyed, but the mentalist's pace continued as before. The director called, "Give him 30 seconds!" No response. "Speed him up, we're not going to make it!" Pandemonium reigned as the performer talked right into the NBC systems cue, cutting off transmission. The last commercial was lost: disaster. I made my notes, and joined the angry mob as they boiled out of the control room and confronted a bewildered Dunninger. "W lost the last commercial: the agency men screamed. "Why didn't you take our cues?"

"What cues?" Dunninger asked.

"The three or four speed-ups, the one-minute, and the thirty-second cues we gave to the stage manager."

Dunninger was irate. "Why don't you put the son of a bitch where I can see him? What do you think I am, a mind reader?"

John Rich's Archive interview is now online. Click here to access all 14 parts.


Interview description:
John Rich was interviewed for nearly seven hours in Los Angeles, CA. Mr. Rich talked about his start in television as a stage manager for NBC, where he worked on The Colgate Comedy HourT. He eventually got his start as a director on The Ezio Pinza Show. He talked numerous shows he directed throughout his career including I Married Joan, The Ray Bolger Show, Our Miss Brooks, Gunsmoke, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch, and All In the Family, which he also produced. He also discussed directing pilots for Maude, The Jeffersons, Barney Miller, and Newhart. Mr. Rich also discussed executive producing Benson and MacGyver. The interview was conducted by Henry Colman on August 3, 1999.

Radio Play Podcast Features A Look at TV's Early Days

HENRY WINKLER AND JASON RITTER STAR IN RADIO PLAY ABOUT TELEVISION'S EARLY DAYS –-- TUNE IN OR DOWNLOAD THE FULL PODCAST (FREE)

On Saturday evening, July 7, Southern California residents can tune in KPCC 89.3 FM to hear the L.A. Theatre Works' radio theatre production of The Ruby Sunrise by Rinne Groff, starring (Archive interviewee) Henry Winkler, Jason Ritter, Elisabeth Moss and Asher Book. The most recent offering in L.A. Theatre Works' award-winning radio drama series, "The Play's the Thing," The Ruby Sunrise is directly inspired by the story of Philo Farnsworth and the early days of "live" television. In it, a spirited 1920s girl works independently to develop electronic television. Twenty-five years later, her daughter, now working at a television network. vows to bring her mother’s story to the small screen during "TV’s Golden Age". Winkler stars as a 1950s television producer with Jason Ritter as his underling writer. Other regional and nationwide radio stations presenting The Ruby Sunrise are listed below, as well as podcast information*.

The program also features a discussion about early television with Karen Herman, director of the Archive of American Television, and writer-producer Phil Savenick, an expert on the history of television. Excerpts from the Archive's collection include insights from the late Elma Farnsworth, widow of television inventor Philo Farnsworth. NEW: Click here to read a transcript of the entire interview with Phil and Karen and to find out how to save on tickets to upcoming L.A. Theatre Works performances.

*Tune in!
Nationwide radio broadcasts include:
89.3 FM KPCC Southern California, Saturdays 10:00 p.m
94.1 FM KPFA Northern California, Sundays 7:00 p.m.
94.9 FM KUOW Seattle, WA Fridays 10:00 p.m.
89.7 FM WGBH Boston, MA, first Sunday of month 10:00 p.m.
91.1 FM KRCB Sonoma County, CA Saturdays 6:00 p.m.
89.9 FM KUNM Albuquerque, NM bimonthly, Sundays 6:00 p.m.
XM Satellite Radio Nationwide (Sonic Theatre Channel), Saturdays 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (EST)

How to Podcast "The Play's the Thing"
As of July 7, free podcasts of The Ruby Sunrise are available here. Copy and paste http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510190 into your preferred podcasting software to automatically receive all monthly episodes of "The Play's the Thing" broadcasts.

Also, we've just posted Henry Winkler's full Archive interview online!


Interview Description:
Henry Winkler was interviewed for two-and-a-half hours in Los Angeles, CA. Winkler discussed his early years, his early passion for acting, and his struggles with then-undiagnosed dyslexia. He chronicled his early career in New York, where he acted on stage and in numerous commercials and his subsequent decision to move to Los Angeles, where he was quickly cast as a guest actor on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He detailed all aspects of the role for which he became most known, Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the hit sitcom, Happy Days. He discussed his casting, Fonzie character, working with the cast (particularly Ron Howard), and the iconic status (and occasional mayhem it generated) of Fonzie. He spoke about his transition to directing and producing, which included being executive producer of MacGyver, and his later acting projects including Arrested Development and The Practice. The interview was conducted on November 10, 2006. Click here to access Henry Winkler's 5-part interview.

Casting Executive Ethel Winant's Interview is Now Online

Casting Executive Ethel Winant's interview is now online. Ms. Winant discusses her early years casting for live anthologies, her role as one of the first female network executives, and her experiences as a network casting executive for CBS and NBC.

Click here to access Ethel Winant's entire 7-part interview.

Here are some excerpts:

From Part 4

Q You were one of the first female network executives. What was it like to be the only woman at the top?

I'd been the only woman for so long that I never thought about it. I mean there were things that you gotta do. Like, in the executive dining room there was a bathroom which had no door, no lock. So, for years,when I went to go to the bathroom, I would go outside, take the elevator, go down and go to the lady's room. And, finally, I just said, well, I'm not going do this anymore. I figured out that if I took my shoes off and left my shoes outside the door that these guys, because they would all go in together, that they would know that I was in the bathroom. They wouldn't walk in. I was always the only woman. For years, and years and years.

From Part 7

What advice would you give someone who’s starting out as a casting director?

It’s hard now, I think it’s harder to be a good casting director now because the world is so much bigger. I used to have this really simple advice which was to watch a lot of television, watch a lot of movies, start making lists for yourself and every time you see somebody that you like, write their name down. If you watch a television show, if you watch a movie, if every time you go to a play, keep lists, keep cards, do all that. It's really what it’s about -- seeing as many people as you can, going to as many plays, workshops as you can. I don’t think there’s any way to learn it.

Interview description:
In her 7-part oral history interview, Ethel Winant (1922-2003) discusses her start in television as a volunteer for Studio One, produced by Worthington Minor. Winant talks about her shift into casting and her job with David Susskind's Talent Associates. Winant speaks about her experience as one of the first, high-ranking female executives in television, working for CBS and NBC as well as her encounters with the Blacklist. Winant's fondest memories in television focus on her work as a casting director for Playhouse 90, and the talented people she worked with: John Houseman, John Frankenheimer, Martin Manulis, Fred Coe and Hubbell Robinson. Additionally she talks about casting such classics as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Shogun. The interview was conducted on August 7, 1996 by Sunny Parich.