Arthur Schneider

Editor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Arthur Schneider (1930-2009) reminisces about his early days in television, beginning as an assistant editor at NBC in Hollywood (and later NBC Burbank), where he quickly became a full-fledged editor. He talks about his experiences editing numerous Bob Hope comedy specials and Christmas specials from Vietnam, and the unique editing challenges on those projects. Schneider discusses his development of the groundbreaking editing style on NBC's Laugh-In, and the liberal use of jump cuts. He also recalls many of the editing techniques that were used in the early days of television and explains the various technologies that have changed the face of editing throughout the last half-century. Finally, he touches on the variety programs that he edited throughout the years, including projects with Sonny and Cher and Julie Andrews. Henry Colman conducted the interview in a joint venture with American Cinema Editors (ACE) on July 16, 2001 at Universal Studios in Universal City, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"If you're a good storyteller, if you can get what the director wants on film, and get the continuity and the story and the flow and the timing, then you've done a good job."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Arthur Schneider on editing The Colgate Comedy Hour
02:28
Arthur Schneider on the use of jumpcuts on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and on editing comedy
04:35
Arthur Schneider on getting his nickname "Jump Cut" while working on the Bob Hope Specials
03:01
Arthur Schneider on his first job at NBC, starting in 1951 as a television engineer, and on learning how to edit
03:36
Arthur Schneider on editing with a laugh track
01:08
Arthur Schneider on how he would like to be remembered
01:43
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on movies he enjoyed growing up; on moving to Los Angeles and attending USC, and on the first time he saw television
On his first job at NBC, starting in 1951 as a television engineer, and on learning how to edit; on the kinescope, and how it was used for television, and his other responsibilities at NBC
On editing The Colgate Comedy Hour; on editing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, and This Is Your Life

Chapter 2

On editing Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater, The Perry Como Show, and Your Show of Shows; on how the transcontinental cable impacted television broadcasting in the United States, and on NBC moving to Burbank in 1954; on the advent of video tape and its impact on television
On editing on video tape, and on working for the NBC promotions department editing trailers; on his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist, and on NBC's colorblind test; on editing The Bob Hope Specials

Chapter 3

On working with Bob Hope as editor of the Bob Hope Specials; on getting his nickname "Jump Cut" while working on the Bob Hope Specials ; on the production and editing process for the Bob Hope Specials
On the craft of editing for television; on editing on 16 millimeter film and other formats, and on workprints; on the double system method of editing, and on off-line editing and dealing with deadlines

Chapter 4

On missing an editing deadline; on editing with a laugh track, and on video head incompatibility; on the responsibilities of the video tape opreator
On working on NBC Matinee Theater; on editing color videotape; on the various kinds of videotape editing technology he used
On how digital technology has changed editing for television; on editing for the 1964 Democratic National Convention

Chapter 5

On editing for The Huntley-Brinkley Report; on his role in creating the instant replay; on editing for The Julie Andrews Show, with guest-star Gene Kelly
On editing a special for Danny Thomas; on editing for The Dean Martin Show; on editing for ABC Stage 67
On editing for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, produced by George Schlatter

Chapter 6

On the use of jumpcuts on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and on editing comedy; on the production of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In; on the cast of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
On editing the notorious flop Turn-On; on editing the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour; on editing Tony Orlando & Dawn, Maude, and the roast segments of The Dean Martin Show

Chapter 7

On editing The New Mickey Mouse Club; on various editing systems he has used, and on meeting Stanley Kubrick; Candid Camera, Norm Crosby's The Comedy Shop, and The Greatest American Hero
On testing various editing systems; on editing his final Bob Hope Special, and on those being his favorites; on advice to an aspiring editor
On the then-current state of television editing, and on how computers have changed the quality of editing; on career highlights and regrets; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows

ABC Stage 67

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on working on ABC Stage 67's production of "Noon Wine," directed by Sam Peckinpah
03:47
Arthur Schneider on working on ABC Stage 67's production of "The Wide Open Door," directed by Franklin J. Shaffner
02:17

Bob Hope Specials

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing the Bob Hope Specials
03:54
Arthur Schneider on working with Bob Hope as editor of the Bob Hope Specials
09:03
Arthur Schneider on getting his nickname "Jump Cut" while working on the Bob Hope Specials
03:01
Arthur Schneider on the production and editing process for the Bob Hope Specials
04:29
Arthur Schneider on editing his final Bob Hope Special, and on those being his favorites
04:19

Candid Camera

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Arthur Schneider on editing Candid Camera
01:00

Colgate Comedy Hour, The

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing The Colgate Comedy Hour
02:28

Dean Martin Show, The

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing for The Dean Martin Show
01:17
Arthur Schneider on editing the celebrity roasts on The Dean Martin Show
02:25

Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show and This Is Your Life
01:56

Greatest American Hero, The

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing The Greatest American Hero
00:34

Huntley-Brinkley Report, The

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing for The Huntley-Brinkley Report
01:27

Julie Andrews Show, The

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing for The Julie Andrews Show, with guest-star Gene Kelly
03:43

Maude

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Arthur Schneider on editing Maude
01:08

Mickey Mouse Club, The

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing The New Mickey Mouse Club
01:36

NBC Matinee Theater

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Arthur Schneider on working on NBC Matinee Theater
01:51

Norm Crosby's The Comedy Shop

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing Norm Crosby's The Comedy Shop
01:28

Perry Como Show, The

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing The Perry Como Show
01:12

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, produced by George Schlatter
10:09
Arthur Schneider on the use of jumpcuts on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and on editing comedy
04:35
Arthur Schneider on the production of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
03:55
Arthur Schneider on the cast of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
03:19

Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

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Arthur Schneider on editing the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
03:14

Texaco Star Theater

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Arthur Schneider on editing Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater
02:30

This Is Your Life

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show and This Is Your Life
01:56

Tony Orlando & Dawn

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing Tony Orlando & Dawn
01:06

Turn-On

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Arthur Schneider on editing the notorious flop Turn-On
03:34

Your Show of Shows

View Show Page
Arthur Schneider on editing Your Show of Shows
00:29
Topics

Emmy Awards

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Arthur Schneider on editing Lorne Greene's American West, and on winning and being nominated for Emmys
01:23

Hollywood Blacklist

View Topic
Arthur Schneider on his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist, and on NBC's colorblind test
02:03

Industry Crossroads

View Topic
Arthur Schneider on his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist, and on NBC's colorblind test
02:03

Technological Innovation

View Topic
Arthur Schneider on the kinescope, and how it was used for television, and his other responsibilities at NBC
06:22
Arthur Schneider on NBC's early television facilities at Sunset and Vine, and the editing equipment he used there
03:49
Arthur Schneider on how the transcontinental cable impacted television broadcasting in the United States, and on NBC moving to Burbank in 1954
03:39
Arthur Schneider on the advent of video tape and its impact on television
02:40
Arthur Schneider on editing on video tape
07:39
Arthur Schneider on editing color videotape
04:07
Arthur Schneider on his role in creating the instant replay
04:18

Television Industry

View Topic
Arthur Schneider on his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist, and on NBC's colorblind test
02:03
Arthur Schneider on the then-current state of television editing, and on how computers have changed the quality of editing
01:16

Television and the Presidency

View Topic
Arthur Schneider on editing for the 1964 Democratic National Convention
04:05
Professions

Editor

View Profession
Arthur Schneider on editing on video tape
07:39
Arthur Schneider on the craft of editing for television
03:09
Arthur Schneider on editing on 16 millimeter film and other formats, and on workprints
05:07
Arthur Schneider on the double system method of editing, and on off-line editing
02:29
Arthur Schneider on dealing with deadlines for editors
01:38
Arthur Schneider on missing an editing deadline
02:28
Arthur Schneider on editing with a laugh track
01:09
Arthur Schneider on video head incompatibility
03:44
Arthur Schneider on the responsibilities of the video tape opreator, and on skip printing
02:23
Arthur Schneider on the various kinds of videotape editing technology he used
08:11
Arthur Schneider on how digital technology has changed editing for television
01:54
Arthur Schneider on the use of jumpcuts on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and on editing for comedy
04:35
Arthur Schneider on working at Consolidate Film Industries with the first computer and video tape editing system
04:55
Arthur Schneider on various editing systems he has used, and on meeting Stanley Kubrick
02:51
Arthur Schneider on testing various editing systems
02:04
Arthur Schneider on re-editing various series for syndication
02:20
Arthur Schneider on advice to an aspiring editor
00:44

Post-Production Professionals

View Profession
Arthur Schneider on editing on video tape
07:39
Arthur Schneider on the craft of editing for television
03:09
Arthur Schneider on editing on 16 millimeter film and other formats, and on workprints
05:07
Arthur Schneider on the double system method of editing, and on off-line editing
02:29
Arthur Schneider on dealing with deadlines for editors
01:38
Arthur Schneider on missing an editing deadline
02:28
Arthur Schneider on editing with a laugh track
01:09
Arthur Schneider on video head incompatibility
03:46
Arthur Schneider on the responsibilities of the video tape opreator
02:23
Arthur Schneider on the various kinds of videotape editing technology he used
08:11
Arthur Schneider on how digital technology has changed editing for television
01:54
Arthur Schneider on the use of jumpcuts on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and on editing comedy
04:35
Arthur Schneider on working at Consolidate Film Industries with the first computer and video tape editing system
04:55
Arthur Schneider on various editing systems he has used, and on meeting Stanley Kubrick
02:51
Arthur Schneider on testing various editing systems
02:07
Arthur Schneider on re-editing various series for syndication
02:20
Arthur Schneider on advice to an aspiring editor
00:44
Genres

Children's Programming

View Genre
Arthur Schneider on editing The New Mickey Mouse Club
01:35

Classic Anthology Series

View Genre
Arthur Schneider on working on ABC Stage 67
06:04

Comedy Series

View Genre
Arthur Schneider on editing for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
10:09
Arthur Schneider on editing Candid Camera
01:00
Arthur Schneider on editing Norm Crosby's The Comedy Shop
01:28
Arthur Schneider on editing The Greatest American Hero
00:34

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
Arthur Schneider on editing The Colgate Comedy Hour
02:28
Arthur Schneider on editing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show and This Is Your Life
01:56
Arthur Schneider on editing Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater
02:30
Arthur Schneider on editing The Perry Como Show
01:12
Arthur Schneider on editing Your Show of Shows
00:29
Arthur Schneider on editing the Bob Hope Specials
03:54
Arthur Schneider on editing the Bob Hope Specials
16:33
Arthur Schneider on editing for The Julie Andrews Show, with guest-star Gene Kelly
03:43
Arthur Schneider on editing for The Dean Martin Show
01:17
Arthur Schneider on editing his final Bob Hope Special, and on those being his favorites
04:19

News and Documentary

View Genre
Arthur Schneider on editing for The Huntley-Brinkley Report
01:27
People

Lorne Greene

View Person Page
Arthur Schneider on editing Lorne Greene's American West, and on winning and being nominated for Emmy Awards
01:23

Bob Hope

View Person Page
Art Schneider on editing the Bob Hope Specials
03:53
Arthur Schneider on working with Bob Hope as editor of the Bob Hope Specials
09:03

Gene Kelly

View Person Page
Arthur Schneider on editing for The Julie Andrews Show, with guest-star Gene Kelly
03:44

Stanley Kubrick

View Person Page
Arthur Schneider on meeting Stanley Kubrick
01:22

Sam Peckinpah

View Person Page
Arthur Schneider on working on ABC Stage 67's production of "Noon Wine," directed by Sam Peckinpah
03:47

Franklin J. Schaffner

View Person Page
Arthur Schneider on working on ABC Stage 67's production of "The Wide Open Door," directed by Franklin J. Shaffner
02:16

George Schlatter

View Interview Page
Arthur Schneider on editing for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, produced by George Schlatter
10:09

Danny Thomas

View Person Page
Arthur Schneider on editing a special for Danny Thomas
01:10

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