"I'm certainly proud to have been at the beginnings of The Andy Griffith Show. Andy gives me more credit than I deserve because he's quoted about how I set the style for that show. I don't know. I'm just glad I was there and was an important part of the structuring of the show. I nurtured it and nursed it and I thought I took really good care of it. It was five of the best years of my life in the business."

    About This Interview

    In his four-and-a-half-hour interview, Aaron Ruben (1914-2010) discusses his start as a radio writer for many popular stars including Dinah Shore, Burns and Allen, Fred Allen, Henry Morgan, and Milton Berle. He talks about the first time he worked in television on The Sam Levenson Show with writer Selma Diamond and his television directorial debut on The Phil Silvers Show. He discusses the first television show he produced, The Andy Griffith Show, and talks about other television shows he produced including Gomer Pyle, USMC (which he also created), CPO Sharkey, Sanford and Son, and his work writing for Matlock. He also discusses his long-time philanthropic work with at-risk children. Morrie Gelman conducted the interview on February 25, 1999 in Beverly Hills, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Aaron Ruben

    Aaron Ruben on his proudest career achievemet -- structuring The Andy Griffith Show

    00:54
    Thumbnail of Aaron Ruben

    Aaron Ruben on the legacy of The Andy Griffith Show and on his favorite episode "Opie the Birdman"

    04:01
    Thumbnail of Aaron Ruben

    Aaron Ruben on the multi-faceted skills of a good producer, what makes a good story "is a good story"

    01:47
    Thumbnail of Aaron Ruben

    Aaron Ruben on first seeing Don Knotts' "nervous man" routine; how important he was for The Andy Griffith Show as Barney Fife

    03:16
    Thumbnail of Aaron Ruben

    Aaron Ruben on why "Gomer Pyle" didn't go to Vietnam and why there were no African-American's in Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show

    02:07
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early years and education growing up in Chicago; on his interest in acting and comedy

    17:43

    On beginning his career in radio; writing for Wally Brown, Burns & Allen, and Fred Allen

    41:52

    Chapter 2

    On writing for Fred Allen's radio show

    12:00

    On writing for Milton Berle's radio show

    07:43

    On his first TV writing job for The Sam Levenson Show

    02:59

    On transitioning to television writing from radio 

    37:18

    Chapter 3

    On working with Selma Diamond; on working on Caesar's Hour with Sid Caesar, other writers on that show

    13:24

    On the Blacklist and being subpoenaed to testify

    04:34

    On working on The Phil Silvers Show with Nat Hiken

    42:02

    Chapter 4

    On working on with Neil Simon

    01:54

    On first joining The Andy Griffith Show, which he saw as a pilot; on executive producer Sheldon Leonard; on first meeting Andy Griffith; on Don Knotts; on Ron Howard; on Jim Nabors

    27:00

    Chapter 5

    On casting Jim Nabors on The Andy Griffith Show; the production of The Andy Griffith Show and its sponsors; on the legacy of The Andy Griffith Show

    10:25

    On creating and producing Gomer Pyle, USMC

    14:10

    On his one feature film The Comic; on starting on Sanford and Son

    35:25

    Chapter 6

    On developing, casting, and producing Sanford & Son

    19:36

    On various projects for television

    05:33

    On creating and producing CPO Sharkey starring Don Rickles

    03:28

    Chapter 7

    On CPO Sharkey; on dealing with networks; on Don Rickles

    04:05

    On various short-lived programs he worked on 

    12:18

    On producing The Ted Knight Show (Too Close for Comfort after it went to syndication); and Ted Knight's death

    02:22

    On writing for Matlock; looking back at the CBS "rural purge" when Mayberry was canceled; starting to volunteer with children

    41:15

    Chapter 8

    On his charitable work; on his last pilot pitch

    05:18

    On his proudest achievement; on the changes in television since he began; his advice to aspiring writers; on his favorite episode of The Andy Grifith Show

    24:58

    Chapter 9

    On "Opie the Birdman" (cont.); on how he'd like to be remembered; on helping children; on television writing as it was done on The Andy Griffith Show

    13:11

    On some of the people he worked with throughout his career including George Burns (and his genius at being a straight man), Ed Wynn, Dick Van Dyke, and others

    15:14

    Chapter 10

    On his family

    06:04

    On some photos illustrating various highlights in his career

    05:27

    Andy Griffith Show, The

    Aaron Ruben on how he came to work on The Andy Griffith Show after working on Sgt. Bilko, as a producer

    03:31

    Aaron Ruben on working with Sheldon Leonard on the cast of the Andy Griffith Show, how the show was a spinoff from the Danny Thomas Show

    01:11

    Aaron Ruben on the legacy of The Andy Griffith Show and on his favorite episode "Opie the Birdman"

    04:01

    Aaron Ruben on The Andy Griffth Show episode "Opie the Birdman" (cont.)

    01:08

    Caesar's Hour

    Aaron Ruben on working on Caesar's Hour with Sid Caesar, other writers on that show

    09:50

    CPO Sharkey

    Aaron Ruben on creating and producing CPO Sharkey starring Don Rickles

    03:28

    Aaron Ruben on creating the show CPO Sharkey ; his relationship with the networks

    01:51

    George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The

    Aaron Ruben on writing for George Burns and Gracie Allen's radio show

    02:50

    Gomer Pyle - USMC

    Aaron Ruben on creating and producing Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

    14:10

    Matlock

    Aaron Ruben on writing for Matlock

    00:59

    Phil Silvers Show, The aka You'll Never Get Rich aka Sergeant Bilko

    Aaron Ruben on working on the Phil Silvers Show with Nat Hiken

    42:02

    Aaron Ruben on the Phil Silvers Show ; Neil "Doc" Simon was a writer, who wrote "Come Blow Your Horn" during this period

    01:54

    Sam Levenson Show, The

    Aaron Ruben his first TV writing job for The Sam Levenson Show

    02:54

    Sanford and Son

    Aaron Ruben on how he came to work on Sanford & Son with Norman Lear; how he suggested the main characters be Black but the network wanted an Italian

    03:58

    Aaron Ruben on the difficulty of finding actors for Sanford & Son ; how Redd Foxx came to be cast

    05:49

    Aaron Ruben on producing Sanford & Son and working with the cast and crew

    09:46

    Too Close for Comfort

    Aaron Ruben on producing The Ted Knight Show (Too Close for Comfort after it went to syndication); and Ted Knight's sudden death 

    02:22

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Aaron Ruben on getting a subpoena to testify during the Hollywood Blacklist 

    05:24

    Television Industry

    Aaron Ruben on the critical role ratings played in show survivals

    00:45

    Underrepresented Voices

    Aaron Ruben on why "Gomer Pyle" didn't go to Vietnam and why there were no African-American's in Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show

    02:07

    Aaron Ruben on developing, casting, and producing Sanford & Son

    19:38

    Vietnam War

    Aaron Ruben on why "Gomer Pyle" didn't go to Vietnam and why there were no African-American's in Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show

    02:07

    Producers

    Aaron Ruben on the multi-faceted skills of a good producer, what makes a good story "is a good story"

    39:31

    Writers

    Aaron Ruben on Sheldon Leonard's "seminars" which were held with The Andy Griffith Show writers

    03:34

    Comedy Series

    Aaron Ruben on why "Gomer Pyle" didn't go to Vietnam and why there were no African-American's in Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show

    02:07

    Fred Allen

    Aaron Ruben on writing for Fred Allen's radio show

    12:00

    Gracie Allen

    Aaron Ruben on writing for George Burns and Gracie Allen's radio show

    03:00

    Milton Berle

    Aaron Ruben on writing for Milton Berle's radio show

    07:43

    George Burns

    Aaron Ruben on writing for George Burns and Gracie Allen's radio show

    03:00

    Sid Caesar

    Aaron Ruben on the domineering presence of Sid Caesar

    08:25

    Selma Diamond

    Aaron Ruben on Selma Diamond's persona

    02:06

    Redd Foxx

    Aaron Ruben on how Redd Foxx came to be cast on Sanford & Son; the cast of All in the Family sat through the casting

    03:54

    Nat Hiken

    Aaron Ruben on working on the Phil Silvers Show with Nat Hiken

    42:02

    Ron Howard

    Aaron Ruben on noticing the talents of Ron Howard as a young kid on The Andy Griffith Show; his professionalism

    01:31

    Don Knotts

    Aaron Ruben on first seeing Don Knotts' "nervous man" routine; how important he was for The Andy Griffith Show as Barney Fife

    03:16

    Sheldon Leonard

    Aaron Ruben on the career of Sheldon Leonard, from actor to producer; how he conviced Ruben to become a producer

    05:29

    Aaron Ruben on Sheldon Leonard's "seminars" which were held with The Andy Griffith Show writers

    03:34

    Sam Levenson

    Aaron Ruben his first TV writing job for The Sam Levenson Show

    02:59

    Jim Nabors

    Aaron Ruben on how Jim Nabor's character "Gomer Pyle" was developed

    14:10

    Don Rickles

    Aaron Ruben on creating and producing CPO Sharkey starring Don Rickles

    03:28

    Aaron Ruben on why Don Rickles never achieved success in television; why his show CPO Sharkey never took off

    00:40

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