New Video: Excerpts from Eartha Kitt's Archive Interview

By now you've probably heard that the great performer and legendary songstress (and one of Batman's three "Catwoman"), Eartha Kitt died on Christmas Day, 2008 at the age of 81. The Archive of American Television was privileged to interview Ms. Kitt about her television work in 2002. In memoriam, here are some excerpts from the interview:




Eartha Kitt (1927-2008) was interviewed for nearly an hour-and-a-half in New York, NY. Kitt briefly talked about her early stage work in New York and abroad, and her opinions regarding a performer’s relationship with the audience. She described appearing on “live” television in New York in the 1950s, on such series as Omnibus and The Ed Sullivan Show. She discussed the difficulties faced by African-Americans regarding their appearances on television. She discussed her work in filmed television, including guest shots on such series as Mission: Impossible, I Spy, and Batman (as one of the more memorable actresses who played “Catwoman”). The interview was conducted by Michael Rosen on October 15, 2002.

Director Robert Butler's Archive Interview is Now Online!

Director Robert Butler was responsible for creating the look and feel for many classic television series in a career that spanned five decades. His full Archive of American Television interview is now available online, including detailed accounts of directing the first episodes of Batman, Moonlighting (pilot telefilm) and Hill Street Blues.

Click here to access Robert Butler's entire five-hour interview.

Interview description:
Butler began by describing his early years breaking into the business as an usher at CBS. He described his experiences in various behind-the-scenes capacities on such classic “live” anthology series as Climax! and Playhouse 90. He described his first break in television directing on the comedy/drama series Hennesey. He detailed his many and varied assignments in series television in the 1960s on such series as The Detectives, Bonanza, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Dr. Kildare, Gunsmoke, The Defenders, The Fugitive, Hogan’s Heroes, The Twilight Zone, Batman, and Star Trek. Butler described his work in the 1970s on television movies (such as Columbo MOWs and James Dean) and feature films. He extensively described his groundbreaking work on the look of Hill Street Blues, for which he directed several of the initial episodes (including the pilot). He talked about his later work on such series as Remington Steele, Moonlighting (the telefilm pilot), Out on a Limb, Midnight Caller (which he also executive-produced), Sisters, and Lois & Clark. The interview was conducted by Stephen J. Abramson on January 14, 2004.