Children's Programming

Andy Ackerman on TV shows he grew up watching: The Mickey Mouse Club

Ray Aghayan on costume design for Shirley Temple's Storybook

Debbie Allen on working on Captain Kangaroo

Julie Andrews on Julie on Sesame Street

Buddy Baker on arranging music for The Mickey Mouse Club; on meeting Annette Funnicello

Buddy Baker on working with the cast and arranging music for The Mickey Mouse Club

Bob Banner on his experiences working in production on Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Bob Banner on producing Real Kids, Real Adventures for the Discovery Channel

Bob Banner on working with Jim Henson and the Muppets on The Jimmy Dean Show and A Sesame Street Christmas 

Lewis Bernstein on what goes into a season's writing on Sesame Street

Executive producer Lewis Bernstein on the importance of music to Sesame Street

Frank Biondo on being a camera operator on Sesame Street

Frank Biondo on being a camera operator on The Best of Families

Frank Biondo on being a camera operator on The Electric Company

Frank Biondo on memorable songs and episodes of Sesame Street and types of camera shots on the show

Lucille Bliss on creating and hosting The Happy Birthday to You Show

Lucille Bliss on packaging The Happy Birthday to You Show and dealing with sponsors

Lucille Bliss on working with children on The Happy Birthday to You Show

Allan Blye on performing on Misterogers, Fred Rogers' CBC precursor to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Sam Bobrick on his first official writing job for Make Me Laugh, hosted by Robert Q. Lewis, and on writing for Captain Kangaroo

Ernest Borgnine on his "Mermaid Man" character on Spongebob Squarepants; on doing voiceover roles

Peter Boyle on his father's work in children's television

Frances Buss Buch on substituting for the host of Children's Story

Frances Buss Buch on directing The Whistling Wizard

Frances Buss Buch on directing The Whistling Wizard

LeVar Burton on how he became involved with the children's show Reading Rainbow on PBS

Josie Carey on hosting The Children's Corner, with Fred Rogers doing characters

Josie Carey on hosting The Children's Corner

Josie Carey on hosting Josie's Storyland

Josie Carey on hosting The Children's Corner, featuring Fred Rogers

Josie Carey on going to do a children's show in South Carolina

Josie Carey on her work on the local South Carolina children's show Wheee!

Steve Carlin on creating and producing Rootie Kazooite

Steve Carlin on creating Rootie Kazootie (Part 2)

Ed Christie on his art direction duties on Sesame Street

Ed Christie on who owns the Sesame Street characters

Ed Christie on designing for international productions of Sesame Street

Ed Christie on how Sesame Street has changed since he started on the show

Ed Christie on designing a South African puppet with AIDS for Sesame Street South Africa

Kevin Clash on working on Captain Kangaroo

Kevin Clash on working on Sesame Street

Kevin Clash on playing "Elmo" on Sesame Street

Bob Claver on working on Time for Fun  with Bob Keeshan

Bob Claver on writing for Captain Kangaroo 

Joan Ganz Cooney on Louis Friedman and the creation of The Children's Television Network

Joan Ganz Cooney on the use of Muppets on Sesame Street and initial reaction to the show

Joan Ganz Cooney on the importance of humor in Sesame Street

Joan Ganz Cooney on the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death,  "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)

Joan Ganz Cooney on the international versions of Sesame Street

Joan Ganz Cooney on Joan Ganz Cooney on Jim Henson's request to run licensing of the Sesame Street Muppets

Joan Ganz Cooney on the reading program, The Electric Company

Joan Ganz Cooney on the math program, Square One TV

Joan Ganz Cooney on the science program, 3-2-1 Contact

Joan Ganz Cooney on the science program, 3-2-1 Contact

Joan Ganz Cooney on the math program, Square One TV

Joan Ganz Cooney on the program to promote reading, Ghostwriter

Joan Ganz Cooney on the creation of Sesame Street

John Debney on his first screen credit, for The Wonderful World of Disney

Milton Delugg on Carol Burnett's role on The Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney Show

Richard Donner on directing The Banana Splits Adventure Hour

Hugh Downs on announcing for Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Dominick Dunne on his first job in television as a floor manager on Howdy Doody

Rebecca Eaton on working for the PBS children's show Zoom

Danny Epstein on the beginning of his association with Sesame Street and the research that went into creating Sesame Street; on the music on the show

Danny Epstein on the success and legacy of Sesame Street

Danny Epstein on the hit songs of Sesame Street and working with the cast

Ray Forrest on hosting Children's Theater -- a children's television program composed of films, c. 1949-1951 and likely TV's first educational program

Ray Forrest on being told that he was getting transferred back to radio announcing for Pat Kelly, quitting, then getting asked to host Children's Theater on Saturday mornings -- NBC's first Saturday television programming

Ray Forrest on his film work (including underwater films) for the Saturday version of Children's Theatre

Ray Forrest on the awards Children's Theatre won

Sonny Fox on working on the first weekly, remote television show at CBS, children's show Let's Take a Trip

Sonny Fox on his first job in educational television for the children's show The Finder

Sonny Fox on the wonderful time he had hosting the children's program Wonderama

Sonny Fox on advice for those interested in hosting a children's show

Dennis Franz on Howdy Doody, the first television show he became aware of as a child

Albert Freedman on writing for and performing on The Pinky Lee Show

Albert Freedman on the type of humor on The Pinky Lee Show; on working with Pinky Lee

Albert Freedman on working for the children's show Make Your Wish

Albert Freedman on the scripted nature of > Juvenile Jury

Gerald Fried on composing for "Mathnet" on children's show Square One TV

Michael Fuchs on developing Fraggle Rock for HBO

Writer Tony Geiss on the importance of music on Sesame Street; on Buffy Saint-Marie's appearance and the song written for her; on some of the series' famous songs, including "Elmo's" theme

Lewis Gomavitz on the genesis of Kukla, Fran & Ollie created by Burr Tillstrom, including the casting of Fran Allison

Lewis Gomavitz on directing Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Lewis Gomavitz on directing Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Lewis Gomavitz on directing Kukla, Fran, & Ollie

Lewis Gomavitz on directing Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Herb Granath on his memories of The Howdy Doody Show

Marge Greene on working on the local puppet show Nixie the Pixie

Marge Greene on writing and hosting the childrens' show Tots and Tales with Marge Greene

Don Hastings on his early impressions of television, and on making his television debut on Magic Cottage

Don Hastings on Captain Video and His Video Rangers

Don Hastings on appearing on Captain Video and His Video Rangers

Martin Hoade on working on Watch the World

Leslie Hoffman on being stunt coordinator for the ABC Afterschool Special  "Me and My Hormones"

Geri Jewell on "decapitating Big Bird" when she appeared on Sesame Street

Robert Justman on working as second assistant director on The Mickey Mouse Club

Eddie Kean on writing music for Howdy Doody

Eddie Kean on writing for Howdy Doody

Eddie Kean on writing for Howdy Doody

Bob Keeshan on playing "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

Bob Keeshan on his time on Howdy Doody

Bob Keeshan on "Buffalo" Bob Smith's feelings toward him; on being fired from Howdy Doody; on his memories of Howdy Doody

Bob Keeshan on Captain Kangaroo

Bob Keeshan on creating and starring in Captain Kangaroo

Bob Keeshan on how Captain Kangaroo changed over the years

Bob Keeshan on the industry's responsibility to children

Lynnwood King on stage managing Marlin Perkins' Zoo Parade

Sid and Marty Krofft on creating H.R. Pufnsuf

Sid and Marty Krofft on the creation and production of H.R. Pufnstuf

Sid and Marty Krofft on creating The Bugaloos

Sid and Marty Krofft on creating, pitching, and casting Lidsville

Sid and Marty Krofft on creating Sigmund and the Sea Monsters

Sid and Marty Krofft on the concept and production of Land of the Lost; on the show's writers and the program's success

Sid and Marty Krofft on creating H.R. Pufnsuf

Sid and Marty Krofft on the creation and production of H.R. Pufnstuf

Sid and Marty Krofft on creating The Bugaloos

Sid and Marty Krofft on creating, pitching, and casting Lidsville

Sid and Marty Krofft on creating Sigmund and the Sea Monsters

Sid and Marty Krofft on the concept and production of Land of the Lost; on the show's writers and the program's success

Geraldine Laybourne on how You Can't Do That on Television came to be on Nickelodeon; the invention of "green slime"

Art Linkletter on his friendship with Walt Disney and on hosting the live broadcast of the opening of Disneyland

Margaret Loesch on developing and selling The Smurfs

Margaret Loesch on working on Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, and developing other shows at Hanna-Barbera

Margaret Loesch on developing The Gary Coleman Show

Margaret Loesch on developing the animated version of Fraggle Rock with Jim Henson

Margaret Loesch on Power Rangers

Margaret Loesch on developing G.I. Joe and The Transformers

Margaret Loesch on developing Jem and My Little Pony with girls in mind

Margaret Loesch on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

Loretta Long on playing "Susan" on Sesame Street

Loretta Long on playing "Susan" on Sesame Street

Loretta Long on playing "Susan" on Sesame Street

James L. Loper on the introduction of Sesame Street

James L. Loper on Mister Rogers Neighborhood and the Sears Foundation

A.C. Lyles on producing Here's Boomer

Anita Mann on working with Jim Henson on various Muppet projects including The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show

Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street

Sonia Manzano on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)

Sonia Manzano on how children react to Sesame Street

Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street creator Joan Ganz Cooney

Sonia Manzano on the legacy of Sesame Street

Chuck McCann on hosting his own children's shows on WPIX in New York City

Chuck McCann on the various characters he did on his local WPIX show

Chuck McCann on hosting The Rootie Kazootie Club

Chuck McCann on performing with puppets on Today, which led to a job on The Sandy Becker Show

Bob McGrath on how his character on Sesame Street came to have the name Bob

Bob McGrath on a favorite scene with actor Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper") in the special Christmas Eve on Sesame Street

Bob McGrath on how Will Lee's passing was handled on Sesame Street

Bob McGrath on his fond memories of working with Caroll Spinney as "Big Bird" and "Oscar The Grouch" on Sesame Street

Bob McGrath on what makes The Muppet characters unique on Sesame Street

Bob McGrath on advice he would give to a performer wanting to work in children's television

Bob McGrath on the evolution of the music of Sesame Street over the years, on his favorite moments on the show, and on celebrating the 35th anniversary of Sesame Street and the show's success

Lee Mendelson on producing the Saturday morning children's show Hot Dog

Lee Mendelson on producing Hot Dog

S. Epatha Merkerson on getting cast as "Reba" on Pee-Wee's Playhouse

FCC chair Newton Minow on his views and hopes for children's programming

Paul Monash on writing Atom Squad

Paul Monash on writing for Atom Squad, and on writing features

Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Flintstones

Rita Moreno on appearing as a regular cast member on The Electric Company

Lloyd Morrisett on the birth of Sesame Street

Lloyd Morrisett on the research and efforts that went into creating Sesame Street

Lloyd Morrisett on fundraising to get Sesame Street made and trying to get it on the air

Lloyd Morrisett on the early days of production on Sesame Street

Lloyd Morrisett on how Sesame Street was a product of its time

Lloyd Morrisett on research and early production on Sesame Street

Lloyd Morrisett on funding for a second season of Sesame Street

Lloyd Morrisett on the future of Sesame Workshop and the success and impact of Sesame Street

Robert Mott on doing sound effects for Captain Kangaroo

Robert Mott on doing sound effects for Captain Kangaroo

E. Roger Muir on producing Howdy Doody

E. Roger Muir on producing Howdy Doody

E. Roger Muir on producing Howdy Doody

E. Roger Muir on developing Gumby with Art Clokey

Thad Mumford on writing for The Electric Company

Thad Mumford on writing songs for Sesame Street with Joe Raposo

Frank Nastasi on writing for and appearing on Lunch with Soupy

Frank Nastasi on writing for and performing on Lunch with Soupy (Part 2)

Frank Nastasi on writing for and performing on The Soupy Sales Show

Frank Nastasi on writing for and performing on The Soupy Sales Show  (Part 2)

David Newell on watching The Children's Corner, with Fred Rogers

David Newell on working in various capacities on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Part 1)

David Newell on working in various capacities on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Part 2)

David Newell on working in various capacities on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Part 3)

Bill Nye on the format, audience, and early days of his show, Bill Nye, The Science Guy

Bill Nye on his look, topics for, and popular episodes of Bill Nye, The Science Guy

Bill Nye on reactions, production, and his persona on Bill Nye, The Science Guy

Bill Nye on the writing and editing on Bill Nye, the Science Guy

Bill Nye on his favorite moments and episodes of Bill Nye, the Science Guy

Bill Nye on Bill Nye, The Science Guy's Emmy wins, popular bits, and censorship issues

Roscoe Orman on his first days on Sesame Street and trying to win over the kids on set Orman on

Roscoe Orman on the Jim Henson puppeteers, Muppets he relates to best, and working with Frank Oz and Kevin Clash on Sesame Street

Roscoe Orman on his audition for "Gordon" on Sesame Street and meeting with writer Jon Stone

Roscoe Orman on Kevin Clash, "Elmo," and "Hoots the Owl"

Roscoe Orman on his Sesame Street character "Gordon" and the characteristics writer Jon Stone told him "Gordon" should have

Roscoe Orman on Sesame Street's: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

Roscoe Orman on Carroll Spinney's "Big Bird" and "Oscar the Grouch"

Roscoe Orman on the legacy of Sesame Street

Roscoe Orman on people recognizing him as "Gordon" on Sesame Street

Fess Parker on starring in Davy Crockett

Fess Parker on starring in Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone

Fess Parker on starring on Davy Crockett

Fess Parker on starring on Davy Crockett

Daniel Petrie, Sr. on directing Panhandle Pete and Jennifer

Carroll Pratt on mixing sound for The Mickey Mouse Club

Sterling "Red" Quinlan on Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Charlotte Rae on appearing as "Molly the Mail Lady" on Sesame Street

Arthur Rankin Jr. on The King Kong Show

Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Tomfoolery

Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Jackson 5ive, and on working with executive Michael Eisner

Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Festival of Family Classics

Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Kid Power

Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Thundercats

Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Silverhawks

Ed Resnick on the early KTLA show Time for Beany

Ed Resnick on the early KTLA show Judy Splinters

Heino Ripp on the technical staff of Howdy Doody

Pat Robertson on the Children's Programming on The Family Channel

Fred Rogers on the value of television as a teaching tool for children

Fred Rogers on having Michael Keaton as a floor manager on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Fred Rogers on The Children's Corner, hosted by Josie Carey

Fred Rogers on The Children's Corner

Fred Rogers on starting Misterogers on the CBC in Canada

Fred Rogers on hosting Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Fred Rogers on hosting Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Fred Rogers on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Phil Roman on animating Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Phil Roman on animating Horton Hears a Who!

Phil Roman on animating Mister Magoo at UTA

Phil Roman on animating Jay Ward's George of the Jungle

Phil Roman on joining producer Bill Melendez to animate Charlie Brown Specials

Phil Roman on animating and producing the Charlie Brown Specials with Bill Melendez

Phil Roman on producing Garfield Specials

Phil Roman on producing Howie Mandel's Bobby's World cartoon series

Stanley Ralph Ross on the development of The Electric Company

Stanley Ralph Ross on providing voiceover for Super Friends

Stanley Ralph Ross on providing voiceover for Superman, Rambo, and Inspector Gadget

Glenda Rovello on her production design work on the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place and Good Luck Charlie

Haim Saban on his eight-year quest to get Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on the air, and on its ultimate success when it finally aired

Arthur Schneider on editing The New Mickey Mouse Club

Hazel Shermet on playing "Henrietta Hippo" on The New Zoo Revue

Fred Silverman on developing the successful afternoon "kid's block" on WGN in Chicago including the popular Bozo's Circus, and the prime time Family Classics family-oriented film series which included Lassie and David O. Selznick's Tom Sawyer  

Fred Silverman on becoming head of daytime programming at CBS in New York and changing and fine-tuning the Saturday morning schedule starting with "superhero adventure" programs which included Underdog, the animated Superman, Space Ghost, and Mighty Mouse.  He describes in detail developing the long-running Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! and other comedy-adventure and "pure-comedy" programs, and touches on developing spin-off concept at during this time

John Singleton on working as a production assistant/security guard on Pee-Wee's Playhouse

"Buffalo" Bob Smith on hosting Howdy Doody

"Buffalo" Bob Smith on hosting Hoody Doody

"Buffalo" Bob Smith on hosting Howdy Doody

Caroll Spinney on playing Mr. Lion on Boston's Bozo's Circus

Caroll Spinney on going to New York to work for Jim Henson on Sesame Street

Caroll Spinney on the cast and memorable episodes of Sesame Street

Caroll Spinney on the second season and beyond of Sesame Street and how Jim Henson's death affected the show

Fred Steiner on scoring the theme of Beany and Cecil

Jeremy Stevens on co-creating and writing for The Electric Company

Dick Stiles on doing art direction for Toy Pony

Norman Stiles on writing for Sesame Street (Part 1)

Norman Stiles on writing for Sesame Street (Part 2)

Norman Stiles on writing for Sesame Street (Part 3)

Norman Stiles on writing for Sesame Street (Part 4)

Studs Terkel on appearing on Kukla, Fran & Ollie with puppeteer Burr Tillstrom 

Marlo Thomas on bringing Free to be... You and Me to television; on the use of satellites; on television's responsibility to children

Saul Turteltaub on writing for Shari Lewis's first network show The Shari Lewis Show

Bruce Vilanch on writing for Sesame Street specials and the Muppets

James Wall on stage managing and playing "Mr. Baxter" on Captain Kangaroo

James Wall on stage managing Captain Kangaroo, and on playing Mr. "Baxter" on the show

Matthew Weiner on being a child performer on Romper Room

Dan Wilcox on writing for Captain Kangaroo

Dan Wilcox on writing for Sesame Street