About
"They'll probably say, 'He's the guy that did the curtain rod and the belly-button dresses.' What are you going to do? When you hit that many people all at once, they'll remember that."
In his three-hour interview, Bob Mackie recounts his earliest experiences in Hollywood working for respected designers Edith Head and Jean Louis. He discusses working with Ray Aghayan on The Judy Garland Show and recalls the notable television specials with which he was involved, including Brigadoon, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Carousel, and Kismet. Mackie details his eleven-year tenure on The Carol Burnett Show and explains the weekly requirements for designing costumes for the complex ensemble show. He speaks fondly of designing costumes for Burnett's most memorable characters: "Starlett O'Hara" from "Went with the Wind," dim-bulb secretary "Mrs. Wiggins," shrill "Eunice Harper Higgens," and fading legend "Nora Desmond". Mackie describes his successful collaboration with Cher, beginning with The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and continuing with Cher, The Sonny and Cher Show, and her various television, concert, and public appearances (including her well-known Academy Award outfits). He also comments on his designs for Donny and Marie, The Diahann Carroll Show, and such feature films as Lady Sings the Blues and Funny Lady. He speaks about his then-most recent work, including a line of collectible dolls for Mattel's Barbie, more television collaborations with Carol Burnett, and television specials including Gypsy and Mrs. Santa Claus. Finally, he reminisces about designing for such performers as Bette Midler, Bernadette Peters, Carol Channing, Elton John, Dinah Shore, Ann-Margret, Mitzi Gaynor, and Lucille Ball. Jennifer Howard conducted the interview on June 29, 2000 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in "Went With the Wind," a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on dressing Cher and her outrageous outfits
Bob Mackie on assisting with costume design on The Judy Garland Show
Bob Mackie on designing for Barbie
Bob Mackie on fabrics for television and the challenges of black and white
Bob Mackie on his design style
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on his love of movies and Technicolor; on his designs in college and his first professional job at Paramount
On assisting Ray Aghayan on The Judy Garland Show; on working with Edith Head and Judy Garland
On television specials for Danny Thomas and Jimmy Durante; on Alice Through the Looking Glass
Chapter 2
On creating costumes for Alice Through the Looking Glass; on the 1960's fashions
On costume design for The Carol Burnett Show; on designing for film and Broadway; on designing for black and white television; on accommodating for star's pregnancy
On his inspiration for designs; on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
Chapter 3
On working within constraints of a budget; on dealing with censorship of designs; on the cast and fashions of The Carol Burnett Show
On memorable characters and skits on The Carol Burnett Show -- "Mrs. Wiggins," "Eunice," "Mama Harper," "Nora Desmond," and "Zelda"
Chapter 4
On "Charwoman" and his favorite costumes of The Carol Burnett Show; on Carol & Company; on television specials with Fred Astaire and Diana Ross
On working on The Carol Burnett Show and The Sonny and Cher Show at the same time; on working with Cher
Chapter 5
On costume design for Marie Osmond on Donny & Marie; on The Diahann Carroll Show; on his book Dressing for Glamour
On movies for which he did costumes - Lady Sings the Blues, Funny Lady, Pennies from Heaven, Staying Alive and Brenda Starr; on opening Bob Mackie Originals; on Mama's Family
On designing clothing for the red carpet and designing production numbers for the Academy Awards; on designing for Barbie; On Gypsy and Tales From the City
Chapter 6
On some of the writers on The Sonny and Cher Show; on Mrs. Santa Claus; on working on a ballet done to Elvis music - Blue Suede Shoes, Ballet Rocks; on collaborating with Bette Midler
On his thoughts on people with whom he's worked; on successful collaborations
On his current projects; on his design style; on advice to aspiring costume designers
Chapter 7
On the state of costume design for television today; on believing MTV is the most visually interesting thing on TV; on career highlights
On his regrets - never learning stage design; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Academy Awards, The
Bob Mackie on designing clothing for the red carpet and designing production numbers for the Academy Awards
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Bob Mackie on working with producer Alan Handley on Alice Through the Looking Glass - the first show to win an Emmy for costume design
Bob Mackie on creating costumes for Alice Through The Looking Glass
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City
Bob Mackie on acting in Armistead Maupin's Tales of The City
Brigadoon
Bob Mackie on costume design for Brigadoon and musical comedies
Carol & Company
Bob Mackie on Carol & Company and reunion shows
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
Bob Mackie on creating costumes for The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in "Went With the Wind," a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on Carol Burnett's quick costume changes
Bob Mackie on costume design for The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on Carol Burnett's signature roles on The Carol Burnett Show
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78): "Went with the Wind!" Sketch
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in "Went With the Wind," a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
Carol Burnett Show, The (1991)
Bob Mackie on designing clothing for Carol Burnett's later shows
Cher
Bob Mackie on working with Cher on Cher
Diahann Carroll Show, The
Bob Mackie on costume design for The Diahann Carroll Show
Donny & Marie
Bob Mackie on costume design for Marie Osmond on Donny & Marie
Fred Astaire Show, The
Bob Mackie on The Fred Astaire Show
Frosty Frolics
Bob Mackie on loving local KTLA show Frosty Frolics when he was young
Gypsy
Bob Mackie on designing clothing for Gypsy with Bette Midler
Judy Garland Show, The
Bob Mackie on assisting Ray Aghayan on The Judy Garland Show
Bob Mackie on Judy Garland and The Judy Garland Show
King Family Show, The
Bob Mackie on creating costumes for The King Family Show
Mama's Family
Bob Mackie on getting credit for the original look for Mama's Family
Mitzi Gaynor Specials
Bob Mackie on censorship of designs when designing for Mitzi Gaynor
Once Upon a Mattress
Bob Mackie on the Once Upon a Mattress special with Carol Burnett
Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Bob Mackie on working with Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Bob Mackie on some of the writers on The Sonny and Cher Show
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Bob Mackie on censorship of designs
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Bob Mackie on finding inspiration for costume designing on television
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in "Went With the Wind," a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
Emmy Awards
Bob Mackie on working with producer Alan Handley on Alice Through the Looking Glass - the first show to win an Emmy for costume design
Bob Mackie on winning an Emmy for Alice Through The Looking Glass
Memorable Moments on Television
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in "Went With the Wind," a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on designing the Queen Elizabeth gown for Whoopi Goldberg for the 1999 Academy Awards
Bob Mackie on dressing Cher for her presentation of an award to Don Ameche at the Academy Awards
Pivotal Career Moments
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in "Went With the Wind," a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on finding inspiration for costume designing on television
Television Industry
Bob Mackie on censorship of designs
We Laughed
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in "Went With the Wind," a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
Professions
Costume Designer
Bob Mackie on wanting to be a costume designer
Bob Mackie on the craft of costume design for television
Bob Mackie on finding inspiration for costume designing on television
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in a spoof of "Gone With the Wind" on her show
Bob Mackie on his design style
Bob Mackie on advice to aspiring costume designers
Bob Mackie on costume design today
Designers
Bob Mackie on wanting to be a costume designer
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in a spoof of "Gone With the Wind" on her show
Bob Mackie on finding inspiration for costume designing on television
Bob Mackie on the craft of costume design for television
Bob Mackie on production design for the Academy Awards
Bob Mackie on his design style
Bob Mackie on advice to aspiring costume designers
Bob Mackie on costume design today
Production Designer
Bob Mackie on production design for the Academy Awards
Genres
Awards Shows
Bob Mackie on designing clothing for the red carpet and designing production numbers for the Academy Awards
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Bob Mackie on Judy Garland and The Judy Garland Show
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in "Went With the Wind," a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on costume design for The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on working with Cher on Cher and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
People
Ray Aghayan
Bob Mackie on assisting Ray Aghayan on The Judy Garland Show
Bob Mackie on Ray Aghayan and Judy Garland
Bob Mackie on working with Ray Aghayan
Bob Mackie on working with Ray Aghayan
Bob Mackie on costume design for producer Ray Aghayan's The Diahann Carroll Show
Bob Mackie on Ray Aghayan asking him to do the Queen Elizabeth gown for the 1999 Academy Awards
Don Ameche
Bob Mackie on dressing Cher for her presentation of an award to Don Ameche at the Academy Awards
Julie Andrews
Bob Mackie on working with Julie Andrews
Fred Astaire
Bob Mackie on The Fred Astaire Show
Lucille Ball
Bob Mackie on working with Lucille Ball
Ken Berry
Bob Mackie on the Once Upon a Mattress special with Carol Burnett
Sonny Bono
Bob Mackie on working with Cher on Cher and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Carol Burnett
Bob Mackie on designing for Carol Burnett for The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on Carol Burnett's quick costume changes
Bob Mackie on designing for pregnancy and weight gain and Carol Burnett not telling him she was pregnant
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in "Went With the Wind," a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on Carol Burnett on The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on producer Joe Hamilton taping his wife, Carol Burnett, talking to the at-home audience on The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on Carol Burnett's signature roles
Bob Mackie on the Once Upon a Mattress special with Carol Burnett
Bob Mackie on designing clothing for Carol Burnett's later shows
Bob Mackie on the chemistry of Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett
Diahann Carroll
Bob Mackie on costume design for The Diahann Carroll Show
Carol Channing
Bob Mackie on working with Carol Channing
Cyd Charisse
Bob Mackie on working with Cyd Charisse
Cher
Bob Mackie on designing for Sonny and Cher
Bob Mackie on designing for pregnancy and weight gain for Cher
Bob Mackie on censorship of designs when designing for Cher
Bob Mackie on working with Cher on Cher and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Bob Mackie on dressing Cher for the Academy Awards
Tim Conway
Bob Mackie on Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show
Jimmy Durante
Bob Mackie on designing for Danny Thomas and Jimmy Durante television specials
Jerry Van Dyke
Bob Mackie on Jerry Van Dyke of The Judy Garland Show
Nanette Fabray
Bob Mackie on working with Nanette Fabray
Judy Garland
Bob Mackie on assisting with costume design on The Judy Garland Show
Bob Mackie on working with Judy Garland
Bob Mackie on designing for Judy Garland for black and white television
Mitzi Gaynor
Bob Mackie on censorship of designs when designing for Mitzi Gaynor
Bob Mackie on collaborating with Mitzi Gaynor
Whoopi Goldberg
Bob Mackie on designing the Queen Elizabeth gown for Whoopi Goldberg for the 1999 Academy Awards
Robert Goulet
Bob Mackie on Robert Goulet in Brigadoon
Joe Hamilton
Bob Mackie on producer Joe Hamilton taping his wife, Carol Burnett, talking to the at-home audience on The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on getting credit for the original look for Mama's Family
Alan Handley
Bob Mackie on working with producer Alan Handley on Alice Through the Looking Glass
Goldie Hawn
Bob Mackie on Cher wanting an outfit similar to one he had done for Goldie Hawn
Bob Mackie on working with Goldie Hawn
Edith Head
Bob Mackie on working with costume designer Edith Head at Paramount
Bob Mackie on working with Edith Head and what he learned from her
Elton John
Bob Mackie on working with Elton John
Shirley Jones
Bob Mackie on designing for pregnancy and weight gain for Shirley Jones
John F. Kennedy
Bob Mackie on sketching the dress that Marilyn Monroe wore to sing "Happy Birthday" to JFK
Bob Mackie on Judy Garland's response to JFK's death
Harvey Korman
Bob Mackie on Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show
Angela Lansbury
Bob Mackie on a television special Mrs. Santa Claus with Angela Lansbury
Vicki Lawrence
Bob Mackie on designing for pregnancy and weight gain for Vicki Lawrence
Bob Mackie on Vicki Lawrence on The Carol Burnett Show
Bob Mackie on "Mama Harper" on The Carol Burnett Show
Ann-Margret
Bob Mackie on working wit Ann-Margret
Steve Martin
Bob Mackie on costume design for Pennies from Heaven
Bette Midler
Bob Mackie on designing clothing for Gypsy with Bette Midler
Bob Mackie on working with Bette Midler
Liza Minnelli
Bob Mackie on working with Liza Minnelli
Marilyn Monroe
Bob Mackie on sketching the dress that Marilyn Monroe wore to sing "Happy Birthday" to JFK
Marie Osmond
Bob Mackie on costume design for Marie Osmond on Donny & Marie
Bernadette Peters
Bob Mackie on working with Bernadette Peters
Debbie Reynolds
Bob Mackie on working with Debbie Reynolds
Diana Ross
Bob Mackie on a television special with Diana Ross and the Supremes and The Temptations, produced by George Schlatter
George Schlatter
Bob Mackie on a television special with Diana Ross and the Supremes and The Temptations, produced by George Schlatter
Dinah Shore
Bob Mackie on working with Dinah Shore
Beverly Sills
Bob Mackie on working with Beverly Sills
Barbra Streisand
Bob Mackie on Barbra Streisand appearing on The Judy Garland Show
Bob Mackie on costume design for Funny Lady
Danny Thomas
Bob Mackie on designing for Danny Thomas and Jimmy Durante television specials
Tina Turner
Bob Mackie on working with Tina Turner
Ret Turner
Bob Mackie on costume design with Rhett Turner for Donny & Marie
Bob Mackie on getting credit for the original look for Mama's Family
Dick Van Dyke
Bob Mackie on Dick Van Dyke on The Carol Burnett Show
Bruce Vilanch
Bob Mackie on Ray Aghayan asking him to do the Queen Elizabeth gown for the 1999 Academy Awards
Lyle Waggoner
Bob Mackie on Lyle Waggoner on The Carol Burnett Show