About
"When starting out as a cinematographer, seek out someone with white hair or at least fifteen years experience, because that's where you're going to learn everything. Those people will share. The guy with blonde hair and who's twenty-two is trying to do the same thing as you are, and he doesn't have the backing."
In his four-hour interview, Ben Wolf (1929-2013) recalls his early television experiences at KLAC and CBS in Los Angeles, working on such programs as The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, Carson's Cellar, and Climax! He speaks about his work on The Jack Benny Show and The Red Skelton Show, and he explains the day-to-day process of working as a cameraman on the latter program. He touches upon his work on The Judy Garland Show, CBS Playhouse, and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. He reminisces about working on Norman Lear-produced programs including All in the Family and Maude. He talks about working on Three's Company and Mama's Family and becoming a freelance cameraman for the remainder of his career. He gives his impression of the then-current state of cinematography on television, and outlines some of the then-recent technological advances. He concludes by sharing several pictures from his long and varied career. Henry Colman conducted the interview on January 23, 2001 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Ben Wolf on working on the special Brigadoon, for which he won an Emmy
Ben Wolf on the role of a cinematographer in television
Ben Wolf on shooting All in the Family
Ben Wolf on shooting The Jack Benny Program
Ben Wolf on his favorite working experiences
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on moving to Los Angeles; on the first time he saw television
On his first job as a cameraman; on early cameras; on shooting The Jack Benny Show
Chapter 2
On shooting The Jack Benny Program, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, and Life with Luigi; on shooting The Ed Sullivan Show and Meet Millie
On shooting My Favorite Husband and Climax!
Chapter 3
On shooting Lux Video Theater; on shooting Pursuit; on the role of a cinematographer in television
On working with the lighting director; on working with various members of the crew; on shot composition
Chapter 4
On shooting The Red Skelton Show; on his relationship with Red Skelton; on how Red Skelton rehearsed
On how Red Skelton worked with the cameras; on doing the musical numbers for The Red Skelton Show; on shooting The Judy Garland Show
Chapter 5
On shooting The Judy Garland Show; on video tape and the transition to color; on shooting The Carol Burnett Show
On shooting My Name is Barbra; on shooting the special Brigadoon and winning Emmys; on shooting The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Chapter 6
On shooting The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; on shooting various game shows, variety shows, and talk shows
On shooting sporting events; on shooting All in the Family
Chapter 7
On shooting All in the Family, Maude and Good Times; on shooting The Jeffersons and Three's Company
On shooting Mama's Family and My Two Dads; on shooting The Love Connection; on favorite people with whom he's worked
Chapter 8
On his favorite working experiences; on recent technological developments and how cinematography has changed; on his career highlights and how he'd like to be remembered
On B-roll pictures from his career - Buddy Ebsen at CBS; photo of the crew of Climax!; the crew of The Red Skelton Show; on a shoot in Griffith Park; the cast and crew of All in the Family; Carroll O'Connor with the All in the Family camera crew; the cast and crew of Meet Millie; with his Emmy; with Marv Dresser; on the set of Climax!; on the set of On the Go; the entire crew of The Red Skelton Show with the dancers; a news crew in Portland, OR; shooting The Rose Parade; on the set of Brigadoon; Three's Company Christmas card
Shows
All in the Family
Ben Wolf on shooting All in the Family
Ben Wolf on shooting All in the Family
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
Ben Wolf on shooting The Carol Burnett Show
Ben Wolf on shooting The Carol Burnett Show
Climax!
Ben Wolf on shooting Climax!
Ben Wolf on the shooting schedule for shows such as Climax!
Dinah Shore Show, The
Ben Wolf on shooting The Dinah Shore Show
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Ben Wolf on shooting The Ed Sullivan Show
Full House
Ben Wolf on shooting Full House
George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The
Ben Wolf on shooting The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and Life With Luigi
Good Times
Ben Wolf on shooting Good Times
Jack Benny Program, The
Ben Wolf on shooting The Jack Benny Program
Ben Wolf on shooting The Jack Benny Program
Jeffersons, The
Ben Wolf on shooting The Jeffersons
Judy Garland Show, The
Ben Wolf on shooting The Judy Garland Show
Ben Wolf on shooting The Judy Garland Show
Love Connection
Ben Wolf on shooting Love Connection
Lux Video Theatre
Ben Wolf on shooting Lux Video Theatre
Mama's Family
Ben Wolf on shooting Mama's Family
Maude
Ben Wolf on shooting Maude
Meet Millie
Ben Wolf on shooting Meet Millie
Merv Griffin Show, The
Ben Wolf on shooting The Merv Griffin Show and The Lawrence Welk Show
My Favorite Husband
Ben Wolf on shooting My Favorite Husband
My Two Dads
Ben Wolf on shooting My Two Dads
Price is Right, The
Ben Wolf on shooting various game shows including The Price is Right
Pursuit
Ben Wolf on shooting Pursuit
Red Skelton Show, The
Ben Wolf on working as a cameraman on The Red Skelton Show
Ben Wolf on Red Skelton in front on the camera
Ben Wolf on his relationship with Red Skelton
Ben Wolf on the rehearsal for The Red Skelton Show
Ben Wolf on how Red Skelton worked with the cameras
Ben Wolf on Seymour Berns, the producer of The Red Skelton Show and the directors on the show
Ben Wolf on shooting the musical numbers for The Red Skelton Show
Ben Wolf on the guest stars of The Red Skelton Show
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The
Ben Wolf on shooting The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Ben Wolf on shooting The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ben Wolf on shooting The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour
Three's Company
Ben Wolf on shooting Three's Company
Tony Orlando & Dawn
Ben Wolf on appearing on-camera on Tony Orlando and Dawn
Topics
Advice
Ben Wolf on advice to someone starting out in the cinematography business
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Ben Wolf on his mentors
Emmy Awards
Ben Wolf on working on the special Brigadoon, for which he won an Emmy
Ben Wolf on shooting various other shows for which he won Emmys
First Big Break
Ben Wolf on his first television job as a cameraman at KLAC
Pivotal Career Moments
Ben Wolf on his first television job as a cameraman at KLAC
Sports
Ben Wolf on shooting sporting events
Technological Innovation
Ben Wolf on the emergence of video tape and the transition to color
Ben Wolf on the kinescope
Ben Wolf on then-recent technological developments for cameras and then-current cinematography
Ben Wolf on how cinematography has changed
Television Industry
Ben Wolf on advice to someone starting out in the cinematography business
Professions
Cinematographer
Ben Wolf on the role of a cinematographer in television
Ben Wolf on how the television cinematographer works with the lighting director
Ben Wolf on the television cinematographer working with the director
Ben Wolf on cinematographers working with assistant directors and stage managers
Ben Wolf on cinematographers establishing a look for a show with lighting directors
Ben Wolf on shot composition
Ben Wolf on advice to someone starting out in the cinematography business
Ben Wolf on how cinematography has changed
Ben Wolf on then-recent technological developments for cameras and then-current cinematography
Production Professionals
Ben Wolf on the role of a cinematographer in television
Ben Wolf on how the television cinematographer works with the lighting director
Ben Wolf on the television cinematographer working with the director
Ben Wolf on cinematographers working with assistant directors and stage managers
Ben Wolf on cinematographers establishing a look for a show with lighting directors
Ben Wolf on shot composition
Ben Wolf on advice to someone starting out in the cinematography business
Ben Wolf on how cinematography has changed
Ben Wolf on then-recent technological developments for cameras and then-current cinematography
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Ben Wolf on shooting Climax!
Comedy Series
Ben Wolf on shooting The Jack Benny Program
Ben Wolf on shooting The Jack Benny Program
Ben Wolf on shooting All in the Family
Ben Wolf on shooting Three's Company
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Ben Wolf on shooting The Red Skelton Show
Ben Wolf on working on the special Brigadoon, for which he won an Emmy
People
Jack Benny
Ben Wolf on shooting The Jack Benny Program
Ben Wolf on shooting The Jack Benny Program
Seymour Berns
Ben Wolf on Seymour Berns, the producer of The Red Skelton Show and the directors on the show
George Burns
Ben Wolf on shooting The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and Life With Luigi
Charles Cappleman
Ben Wolf on working with VP of West Coast Operations Charles Cappleman at CBS
Johnny Carson
Ben Wolf on shooting Carson's Cellar with Johnny Carson
Cher
Ben Wolf on shooting The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour
Judy Garland
Ben Wolf on shooting The Judy Garland Show
Ben Wolf on shooting The Judy Garland Show
Robert F. Kennedy
Ben Wolf on his career highlights
Carroll O'Connor
Ben Wolf on shooting All in the Family
Dinah Shore
Ben Wolf on shooting The Dinah Shore Show
Red Skelton
Ben Wolf shooting The Red Skelton Show
Ben Wolf on Red Skelton in front on the camera
Ben Wolf on his relationship with Red Skelton
Ben Wolf on the rehearsal for The Red Skelton Show
Ben Wolf on how Red Skelton worked with the cameras
Barbra Streisand
Ben Wolf on shooting My Name is Barbra
Ed Sullivan
Ben Wolf on shooting The Ed Sullivan Show