About
"People forget that nobody tunes in a television show to see producers. So, if sometimes you have to step back a little bit, that's OK."
In his nearly two-hour interview, Bob Claver (1928-2017) talks about breaking into television in Chicago and his move to New York, where he worked as a writer on various children's shows. He speaks in detail about working with Bob Keeshan as a writer-producer for five years on Captain Kangaroo. He then talks about his work with Four Star Playhouse and his subsequent employment at Screen Gems. He discusses such Screen Gems properties as The Farmer's Daughter, the pilot of Gidget, and Occasional Wife. Claver details the creation of The Partridge Family, for which he served as executive producer and occasional director. Finally, he talks about his work as a freelance director on such series as Gloria and Welcome Back, Kotter. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 11, 2004 in Chicago, IL.
Highlights
Bob Claver on his directing style
Bob Claver on working with the kids of The Partridge Family and how they dealt with celebrity
Bob Claver on the early Captain Kangaroo broadcasts
Bob Claver on directing one season of Welcome Back, Kotter
Bob Claver on advice to an aspiring television director
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on the first time he saw television and his interest in theater; on early television-related jobs and meeting Bob Keeshan
On how he came to write Captain Kangaroo; on the early Captain Kangaroo broadcasts and coming up with ideas for the show; on the different elements of the Captain Kangaroo broadcasts
On a typical work week on Captain Kangaroo; on Bob Keeshan on the set of Captain Kangaroo; on the guest stars and legacy of the show
On associate-producing Four Star Playhouse and directing Ensign O'Toole; on deciding to go into directing
Chapter 2
On directing Four Star Playhouse and going to work for Screen Gems; on producing The Farmer's Daughter, The Second Hundred Years, Gidget, The Girl with Something Extra, Occasional Wife, Here Come the Brides, and The Interns
On producing and directing The Partridge Family; on casting The Partridge Family; on the characters of The Partridge Family and the musical aspects of the show
On the opening sequence and theme song of The Partridge Family; on The Partridge Family bus; on working with the kids of The Partridge Family and how they dealt with celebrity
Chapter 3
On his duties on The Partridge Family, the addition of Rick Segall to the cast, and the end of the show; on his favorite episodes of The Partridge Family and the show being a product of its time; on the questions he gets asked about the show and its continuing popularity
On working with Grant Tinker at MTM; on directing All's Fair; on directing one season of Welcome Back, Kotter
On directing one season of Mork & Mindy; on directing The Facts of Life; on the craft of directing television
On directing Gloria
Chapter 4
On directing Gloria, Small Wonder, and The New Leave it to Beaver; on directing T he New Love, American Style, The Munsters Today, Automan, and Charles in Charge
On the way sitcoms have changed since he started and things he wanted to do as director but couldn't; on moving back to Chicago in 1993 and then-current activities; on advice to an aspiring television director
On choosing what projects he wanted to direct; on career highlights and regrets and his mentors Hy Averback and Jackie Cooper; on his directing style and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
All in the Family
Bob Claver on directing Gloria
All's Fair
Bob Claver on directing All's Fair
Captain Kangaroo
Bob Claver on how he came to write Captain Kangaroo
Bob Claver on the early Captain Kangaroo broadcasts
Bob Claver on writing early Captain Kangaroo and coming up with ideas for the show
Bob Claver on Hugh Brannum as "Mr. Green Jeans" on Captain Kangaroo
Bob Claver on the puppets of Captain Kangaroo
Bob Claver on Alan Rafkin, stage manager for Captain Kangaroo
Bob Claver on a typical work week on Captain Kangaroo
Bob Claver on the cartoons of Captain Kangaroo
Bob Claver on Bob Keeshan on the set of Captain Kangaroo
Bob Claver on the guest stars of Captain Kangaroo
Bob Claver on the legacy of Captain Kangaroo
Bob Claver on leaving Captain Kangaroo
Charles in Charge
Bob Claver on directing Charles in Charge
Ensign O'Toole
Bob Claver on associate producing Four Star Playhouse and directing Ensign O'Toole
Facts of Life, The
Bob Claver on directing The Facts of Life
Farmer's Daughter, The
Bob Claver on producing The Farmer's Daughter starring Inger Stevens
Four Star Playhouse
Bob Claver on directing Four Star Playhouse
Bob Claver on associate producing Four Star Playhouse and directing Ensign O'Toole
Gidget
Bob Claver on producing the pilot of Gidget
Girl With Something Extra, The
Bob Claver on the problems of producing The Girl with Something Extra
Gloria
Bob Claver on directing Gloria
Bob Claver on directing Gloria
Here Come the Brides
Bob Claver on producing Here Come the Brides
Interns, The
Bob Claver on producing and directing The Interns
Mork & Mindy
Bob Claver on directing one season of Mork & Mindy
Munsters Today, The
Bob Claver on directing The Munsters Today and Automan
New Leave it to Beaver, The
Bob Claver on directing The New Leave it to Beaver
New Love American Style, The
Bob Claver on directing The New Love, American Style
Occasional Wife
Bob Claver on producing Occasional Wife
Partridge Family, The
Bob Claver on producing and directing The Partridge Family
Bob Claver on casting The Partridge Family
Bob Claver on the characters of The Partridge Family and the musical aspects of the show
Bob Claver on the opening sequence and theme song of The Partridge Family
Bob Claver on The Partridge Family bus
Bob Claver on working with the kids of The Partridge Family and how they dealt with celebrity
Bob Claver on his duties on The Partridge Family, the addition of Rick Segall to the cast, and the end of the show
Bob Claver on his favorite episodes of The Partridge Family and the show being a product of its time
Bob Claver on meeting President Richard Nixon during the run of The Partridge Family
Bob Claver on the questions he gets asked about The Partridge Family and the continuing popularity of the show
Bob Claver on the Partridge Family spin-off Getting Together
Second Hundred Years, The
Bob Claver on producing The Second Hundred Years
Small Wonder
Bob Claver on directing Small Wonder
Welcome Back, Kotter
Bob Claver on directing one season of Welcome Back, Kotter
Topics
Advice
Bob Claver on advice to an aspiring television director
Bob Claver on advice to aspiring television producers
Characters & Catchphrases
Bob Claver on the characters of The Partridge Family and the musical aspects of the show
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Bob Claver on his mentors Hy Averback and Jackie Cooper
Fame and Celebrity
Bob Claver on working with the kids of The Partridge Family and how they dealt with celebrity
Pop Culture
Bob Claver on the characters of The Partridge Family and the musical aspects of the show
Bob Claver on the opening sequence and theme song of The Partridge Family
Bob Claver on The Partridge Family bus
Television Industry
Bob Claver on working with the kids of The Partridge Family and how they dealt with celebrity
Bob Claver on producing the pilot of Gidget
Bob Claver on the way sitcoms have changed since he started
Bob Claver on advice to an aspiring television director
Bob Claver on advice to aspiring television producers
TV Theme Songs
Bob Claver on the opening sequence and theme song of The Partridge Family
Professions
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Bob Claver on directing The Munsters Today and Automan
Children's Programming
Bob Claver on working on Time for Fun with Bob Keeshan
Bob Claver on writing for Captain Kangaroo
Classic Anthology Series
Bob Claver on directing Four Star Playhouse
Bob Claver on associate producing Four Star Playhouse and directing Ensign O'Toole
Comedy Series
Bob Claver on producing The Farmer's Daughter starring Inger Stevens
Bob Claver on producing The Second Hundred Years
Bob Claver on producing the pilot of Gidget
Bob Claver on the problems of producing The Girl with Something Extra
Bob Claver on producing Occasional Wife
Bob Claver on producing Here Come the Brides
Bob Claver on producing and directing The Partridge Family
Bob Claver on associate producing Four Star Playhouse and directing Ensign O'Toole
Bob Claver on writing and directing The Partridge Family (Part 2)
Bob Claver on directing All's Fair
Bob Claver on directing one season of Welcome Back, Kotter
Bob Claver on directing one season of Mork & Mindy
Bob Claver on directing Gloria
Bob Claver on directing Gloria ( Part 2)
Bob Claver on directing Small Wonder
Bob Claver on directing The New Leave it to Beaver
Bob Claver on directing The New Love, American Style
Bob Claver on directing The Munsters Today and Automan
Bob Claver on directing Charles in Charge
Medical Dramas
Bob Claver on producing and directing The Interns
People
Hy Averback
Bob Claver on his mentors Hy Averback and Jackie Cooper
Danny Bonaduce
Bob Claver on casting The Partridge Family: Danny Bonaduce
Hugh Brannum
Bob Claver on Hugh Brannum as "Mr. Green Jeans" on Captain Kangaroo
David Cassidy
Bob Claver on casting The Partridge Family: David Cassidy
Jackie Cooper
Bob Claver on his mentors Hy Averback and Jackie Cooper
Susan Dey
Bob Claver on casting The Partridge Family: Susan Dey
Sally Field
Bob Claver on producing the pilot of Gidget starring Sally Field
Shirley Jones
Bob Claver on casting The Partridge Family: Shirley Jones
Gabe Kaplan
Bob Claver on directing one season of Welcome Back, Kotter starring Gabe Kaplan
Bob Keeshan
Bob Claver on working on Time for Fun with Bob Keeshan
Bob Claver on Bob Keeshan on the set of Captain Kangaroo
David Madden
Bob Claver on casting The Partridge Family: David Madden
Alan Rafkin
Bob Claver on Alan Rafkin, stage manager for Captain Kangaroo
Ben Stein
Bob Claver on directing All's Fair on which Ben Stein was a political consultant
Inger Stevens
Bob Claver on producing The Farmer's Daughter starring Inger Stevens
Grant Tinker
Bob Claver on working with Grant Tinker at MTM
John Travolta
Bob Claver on directing one season of Welcome Back, Kotter starring John Travolta
Robin Williams
Bob Claver on directing one season of Mork & Mindy starring Robin Williams