About
"I was instructed sometimes to hide the cards from censors, to not let them see the script, because, shall we say, some people were going to skirt around the issue, the edges of these things."
In his nearly three-hour interview, "Cue Card King" Barney McNulty (1923-2000) recounts his early years and his first big break -- working for The Ed Wynn Show. He recalls creating the concept of cue cards for Wynn, who was getting on in age and having trouble remembering lines. He discusses his cue card work on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, I Love Lucy, The Frank Sinatra Show, The Alan Young Show, Amos 'N' Andy, Queen for a Day, and The Carol Burnett Show, among many others. He details his processes for creating cue cards and for working with actors to look natural while reading the cards, and talks about his company, Ad-Libs. McNulty also fondly recalls the pleasure of working with Bob Hope for over 40 years and touring with Hope and his USO shows. Karen Herman conducted the interview on December 9, 1997 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Barney McNulty on the logistics of his weekly duties writing cue cards for several CBS shows, including The Ed Wynn Show
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Amos 'N' Andy
Barney McNulty on a bomb going off near him when he was with Bob Hope's USO show
Barney McNulty on the legacy of Bob Hope
Barney McNulty on the physical aspects of cue cards
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on listening to the radio as a kid and on trying out to be on various radio shows; on what he wanted to be when he grew up; on his experience of World War II
On attending UCLA; on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair; on getting into theater; on being hired by CBS radio as an usher; on early talk about television on CBS
Chapter 2
On how he became involved with The Ed Wynn Show; on the format of The Ed Wynn Show; on a typical workweek writing cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show, and on working on The George Gobel Show
On the logistics of his weekly duties writing cue cards for several CBS shows, including The Ed Wynn Show; on CBS and The Ed Wynn Show in the early days of television
On the studio of The Ed Wynn Show; on where he was positioned in the studio with his cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show and on his other duties; on the end of The Ed Wynn Show
Chapter 3
On the physical aspects of cue cards; on the logistics of writing out cue cards and on working with performers; on dealing with emergency situations with cue cards
On perfecting his cue card system over the years; on his competition; on dealing with shadows from cue cards and on getting actors to not look like they're looking at the cards; on using shorthand on the cue cards or using key words
On how he got his cue card assignments and on his cue card company Ad-Libs; on doing cue cards for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Chapter 4
On doing cue cards for I Love Lucy for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz; on doing cue cards for The Frank Sinatra Show and on working with a teleprompter; on doing cue cards for Jack Webb on Dragnet and other shows
On working with Bob Hope on his TV specials; on Bob Hope's management style and how he worked with his writers; on doing cue cards for Bob Hope's USO specials
Chapter 5
On doing cue cards and other duties for Bob Hope's USO Specials; on how Bob Hope's USO shows were received; on tailoring the show (and the cue cards) to the audience; on working with Bob Hope as he got older
On a bomb going off near him when he was with Bob Hope's USO show; on the people that were in Bob Hope's entourage; on the legacy of Bob Hope
On doing cue cards for Milton Berle on The Milton Berle Show; on doing cue cards for Groucho Marx on You Bet Your Life, and on Bill Cosby's remake of the show
Chapter 6
On doing cue cards for Amos 'N' Andy and Queen for a Day; on doing cue cards for Let's Make a Deal, Ralph Edwards, and The Carol Burnett Show; on doing cue cards for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
On working with actors reading cue cards, including an initially reluctant Bette Davis; on what he feels represents the best of television; on the then-future of television; on how he'd like to be remembered
On various people he worked with in his career
On B-roll photos from his career: a drawing him of with phones; with Tony Bennett and Tony Danza; with Mark Spitz; with David Hasselhoff; with Burgess Meredith; with Ralph Edwards, Andy Griffith, and Ron Howard; with Garth Brooks; with Bob Hope; with Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, and Bob Hope
Shows
Amos 'N' Andy
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Amos 'N' Andy
Bob Hope Specials
Barry McNulty on working with Bob Hope on his TV specials
Barry McNulty on Bob Hope's management style and how he worked with his writers
Barry McNulty on how Bob Hope felt about television
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for Bob Hope's USO specials
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards and other duties for Bob Hope's USO Specials
Barney McNulty on how Bob Hope's USO shows were received and on tailoring the show (and the cue cards) to the audience
Barney McNulty on working with Bob Hope as he got older and his eyesight declined
Barney McNulty on a bomb going off near him when he was with Bob Hope's USO show
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Let's Make a Deal, Ralph Edwards, and The Carol Burnett Show
Dragnet
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for Jack Webb on Dragnet and other shows
Ed Wynn Show, The
Barney McNulty on early talk about television on CBS -- Ed Wynn comes out from NY to start a variety show to compete with Texaco Star Theater
Barney McNulty on how he became involved with The Ed Wynn Show, where he first became involved in writing out cue cards
Barney McNulty on the format of The Ed Wynn Show
Barney McNulty on a typical workweek writing cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show and working on The George Gobel Show
Barney McNulty on the logistics of his weekly duties writing cue cards for several CBS shows, including The Ed Wynn Show
Barney McNulty on CBS and The Ed Wynn Show in the early days of television
Barney McNulty on the studio of The Ed Wynn Show
Barney McNulty on where he was positioned in the studio with his cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show; on his other duties on the show
Barney McNulty on the end of The Ed Wynn Show
Frank Sinatra Show, The (1957-58)
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for The Frank Sinatra Show and on working with a teleprompter
George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
George Gobel Show, The
Barney McNulty on a typical workweek writing cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show and working on The George Gobel Show
I Love Lucy
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for I Love Lucy for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Let's Make a Deal
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Let's Make a Deal, Ralph Edwards, and The Carol Burnett Show
Milton Berle Show, The (1954-56)
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Milton Berle on The Milton Berle Show
Queen for a Day
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Queen for a Day
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
You Bet Your Life
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Groucho Marx on You Bet Your Life and on Bill Cosby's remake of the show
Topics
1939-40 World's Fair
Barney McNulty on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Barney McNulty on cue card professionals dealing with censorship
Comedy-Variety
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for I Love Lucy with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
First Big Break
Barney McNulty on how he became involved with The Ed Wynn Show, where he first became involved in writing out cue cards
Historic Events and Social Change
Barney McNulty on his experience of World War II
Barney McNulty on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair
Barney McNulty on traveling with Bob Hope on his USO Tours of Vietnam
Pivotal Career Moments
Barney McNulty on how he became involved with The Ed Wynn Show, where he first became involved in writing out cue cards
Television Industry
Barney McNulty on cue card professionals dealing with censorship
Barney McNulty on what he feels represents the best of television and on the then-future of television
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for I Love Lucy with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Vietnam War
Barney McNulty on traveling with Bob Hope on his USO Tours of Vietnam
War
Barney McNulty on his experience of World War II
Barney McNulty on traveling with Bob Hope on his USO Tours of Vietnam
World War II
Barney McNulty on his experience of World War II
Professions
Inventor
Barney McNulty on how he became involved with The Ed Wynn Show, where he first wrote out cue cards
Barney McNulty on the specifics of his cue card process and on his cue card company Ad-Libs
Barney McNulty on cue card professionals dealing with censorship
Barney McNulty on working with actors reading cue cards, including an initially reluctant Bette Davis
Production Professionals
Barney McNulty on how he became involved with The Ed Wynn Show, where he first wrote out cue cards
Barney McNulty on the physical aspects of cue cards
Barney McNulty on the logistics of writing out cue cards and working with performers
Barney McNulty on dealing with emergency situations with cue cards and on the need to be quick on your feet
Barney McNulty on perfecting his cue card system over the years and on his competition
Barney McNulty on dealing with shadows from cue cards and getting actors to not look like they're looking at the cards
Barney McNulty on using shorthand on the cue cards or using key words
Barney McNulty on how he got his cue card assignments and on his cue card company Ad-Libs
Barney McNulty on cue card professionals dealing with censorship
Barney McNulty on working with actors reading cue cards, including an initially reluctant Bette Davis
Technology Innovators
Barney McNulty on how he became involved with The Ed Wynn Show, where he first wrote out cue cards
Barney McNulty on the specifics of his cue card process and on his cue card company Ad-Libs
Barney McNulty on cue card professionals dealing with censorship
Barney McNulty on working with actors reading cue cards, including an initially reluctant Bette Davis
Genres
Comedy Series
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for I Love Lucy for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Amos 'N' Andy
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for Jack Webb on Dragnet and other shows
Game Shows
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Groucho Marx on You Bet Your Life and on Bill Cosby's remake of the show
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Queen for a Day
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Let's Make a Deal, Ralph Edwards, and The Carol Burnett Show
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show
Barney McNulty on a typical workweek writing cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show and working on The George Gobel Show
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for The Frank Sinatra Show and on working with a teleprompter
Barry McNulty on working with Bob Hope on his TV specials
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards and other duties for Bob Hope's USO Specials
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Milton Berle on The Milton Berle Show
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Let's Make a Deal, Ralph Edwards, and The Carol Burnett Show
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Reality TV
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Queen for a Day
People
Gracie Allen
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Barney McNulty on working with Gracie Allen
Desi Arnaz
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for I Love Lucy for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Fred Astaire
Barney McNulty on working with Fred Astaire
Lucille Ball
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for I Love Lucy for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Barney McNulty on working with Lucille Ball
Tony Bennett
Barney McNulty on a photo of him with Tony Bennett and Tony Danza
Edgar Bergen
Barney McNulty on working with Edgar Bergen
Milton Berle
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Milton Berle on The Milton Berle Show
Garth Brooks
Barney McNulty on a photo of him with Garth Brooks
George Burns
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Tony Danza
Barney McNulty on a photo of him with Tony Bennett and Tony Danza
Bette Davis
Barney McNulty on working with actors reading cue cards, including an initially reluctant Bette Davis
Ralph Edwards
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Let's Make a Deal, Ralph Edwards, and The Carol Burnett Show
Barney McNulty on a photo of him with Ralph Edwards, Ron Howard, and Andy Griffith
Redd Foxx
Barney McNulty on working with Redd Foxx
George Gobel
Barney McNulty on a typical workweek writing cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show and working on The George Gobel Show
Andy Griffith
Barney McNulty on a photo of him with Ralph Edwards, Ron Howard, and Andy Griffith
David Hasselhoff
Barney McNulty on a photo of him with David Hasselhoff
Bob Hope
Barry McNulty on working with Bob Hope on his TV specials
Barney McNulty on the people that were in Bob Hope's entourage
Barney McNulty on the legacy of Bob Hope
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards and other duties for Bob Hope's USO Specials
Barney McNulty on working with Bob Hope as he got older and his eyesight declined
Barney McNulty on his wife, Jill McNulty and on Bob Hope thanking the troops
Barney McNulty on a photo of him with Bob Hope and others
Barney McNulty on a photo with Dan Rowan, Bob Hope, and Dick Martin
Ron Howard
Barney McNulty on a photo of him with Ralph Edwards, Ron Howard, and Andy Griffith
Seaman Jacobs
Barney McNulty on the writers of The Ed Wynn Show and on adapting cue cards for last-minute material
Hal Kanter
Barney McNulty on the writers of The Ed Wynn Show and on adapting cue cards for last-minute material
Danny Kaye
Barney McNulty on working with Danny Kaye
Gene Kelly
Barney McNulty on working with Gene Kelly
Dick Martin
Barney McNulty on a photo with Dan Rowan, Bob Hope, and Dick Martin
Groucho Marx
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Groucho Marx on You Bet Your Life and on Bill Cosby's remake of the show
Harpo Marx
Barney McNulty on working with Ed Wynn and Harpo Marx
Burgess Meredith
Barney McNulty on a photo of him with Burgess Meredith
Dick Powell
Barney McNulty on working with Dick Powell
Dan Rowan
Barney McNulty on a photo with Dan Rowan, Bob Hope, and Dick Martin
Dinah Shore
Barney McNulty on working with Dinah Shore
Frank Sinatra
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for The Frank Sinatra Show and on working with a teleprompter
Barney McNulty on working with Frank Sinatra
Sid Smith
Barney McNulty on working with Sid Smith
Mark Spitz
Barney McNulty on a photo of him with Mark Spitz
Jack Webb
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for Jack Webb on Dragnet and other shows
Flip Wilson
Barney McNulty on working with Flip Wilson
Ed Wynn
Barney McNulty on early talk about television on CBS -- Ed Wynn comes out from NY to start a variety show to compete with Texaco Star Theater
Barney McNulty on how he became involved with The Ed Wynn Show
Barney McNulty on the format of The Ed Wynn Show
Barney McNulty on a typical workweek writing cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show and working on The George Gobel Show
Barney McNulty on CBS and The Ed Wynn Show in the early days of television
Barney McNulty on the end of The Ed Wynn Show
Alan Young
Barney McNulty on working with Alan Young