About
"We were free to do anything we wanted, to say anything we wanted. And we weren't afraid of being fired or anything like that. We kind of knew our limits so we weren't that extravagant. The Golden Age of Television was an age where everybody was learning. There were no experts, so there was nobody to tell us what to do."
In his five-hour interview, Bob Markell (1924-2020) discusses his early work designing sets for landmark shows Danger, Studio One, and Playhouse 90. He describes winning the first Emmy awarded for Art Direction, in 1954, for You Are There and details how he became an Emmy-winning producer on shows including The Defenders and Bicentennial Minutes. Markell discusses his work on the show Stage 67 and his involvement with the Emmy-winning shorts show, The Bicentennial Minutes. He recalls developing and producing the miniseries The Dane Curse, The Tenth Level, and movie-of-the-week Twenty Shades of Pink. He recounts becoming vice president of creative affairs at CBS and being promoted to vice president of miniseries at CBS and shares what he's been up to since leaving the television business. Sunny Parich conducted the interview on April 18, 1998 in Shelter Island, NY.
Highlights
Bob Markell on mishaps while filming live TV
Bob Markell on memories of designing for The Seven Lively Arts
Bob Markell on the biggest challenges of doing art direction on live TV shows
Bob Markell on design techniques for You Are There
Bob Markell on dealing with sensitive issues such as abortion, women's rights, alcoholism and The Korean War on The Defenders
Bob Markell on how the Blacklist affected You Are There and the whole TV industry
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on studying civil engineering in college; on designing aircraft for Grumman Aircraft during the war; on moving to New York to pursue architecture; on working as an assistant set designer for the American National Theater at summer stock
On joining the scenic designers union on working at summer stock theater in Rhode Island; on working with Jackie Gleason; on applying to work as a designer at CBS; on working at New Stages, Off-Broadway; on being hired by CBS
Chapter 2
On working as a set designer at CBS; on working on the show Suspense with Bob Stevens; on the role of a designer on a television show; on the challenges of working in television versus the stage; on sets he designed for specific shows; on how designers were hired on a show; on working on Danger
On his relationship with directors on live television; on set design on Danger and Studio One; on working with directors Sidney Lumet and John Frankenheimer; on working with writers on live anthology dramas; on mishaps while filming live TV
Chapter 3
On the challenges of working in production facilities at Grand Central Station and around New York City; on working on You Are There and the premise of the show; on the production process for You Are There; on design techniques he used on You Are There; on his Emmy win in 1954 for "art direction of a live show" for You Are There
On working with Walter Cronkite on You Are There; on the budget for the show; on how the Blacklist affected the show; on the quality of the writing on You Are There; on designing sets for the live commercials that aired with You Are There and Danger
Chapter 4
On the dynamic of working in live TV; on sets he designed; on the set design process from sketch to built set; on the biggest challenges of doing art direction on live TV shows such as You Are There; on doing You Are There on film; on working on Studio One; on working on various TV specials; on working on Together with Music with Noel Coward
On working with the CBS color system and working on Studio One and other shows such as Together With Music, in color; on working with the cast and crew of Studio One; on working on The Defenders
Chapter 5
On working on The Defenders and doing a two-part show; on working with the crew of The Defenders; on memorable episodes of Studio One; on working on Playhouse 90 as a producer; on working on The Seven Lively Arts; on working on a jazz show; on the transition from "live" TV to the use of tape
On working onr Play of the Week; on working on The Big Party on CBS; on working on the movie Twelve Angry Men; on becoming an Associate Producer on Playhouse 90; on working on several teleplays including The Cruel Day, The Sound of Trumpets and Tomorrow; on working on The Defenders
Chapter 6
On working on The Defenders; on dealing with sensitive issues on the show and the audience's response; on the differences between The Defenders and Perry Mason; on the self-contained style of The Defenders; on becoming a producer on The Defenders
On working around the Hollywood Blacklist; on the production schedule for The Defenders; on the impact of post production; on the legacy of The Defenders; on why the show ended; on working on Stage 67
Chapter 7
On working on Stage 67; on working with tape for filming shows; on working on the pilot for The Hawk
On working on N.Y.P.D.; on the production schedule for N.Y.P.D.; on working with the actors, writers and directors on N.Y.P.D.; on the effects of syndication on producing N.Y.P.D.; on why N.Y.P.D. ended production
On working on Ceremony Of Innocence at PBS; on working on the TV movie, Doctor Cook's Garden for ABC; on producing two movies of the week for CBS: Murder Once Removed and This Tattered Web
Chapter 8
On TV movies and freelance projects he produced for CBS; on being hired as an executive producer at CBS; on his involvement with the Emmy winning shorts show, The Bicentennial Minutes; on developing and producing the miniseries, The Dane Curse and other miniseries he developed; on being promoted to Vice President of Creative Affairs at CBS and projects he developed
On being promoted to Vice President of Miniseries at CBS; on miniseries he produced under his new title; on his move to independent producing for CBS; on miniseries he produced for the Vista Organization and NBC; on his current work as an artist; on the highlights of his career; on what represents quality television programming
Chapter 9
On the role that ratings have played in television; on the impact of ratings and marketing on the quality of television; on how he would like to be remembered; on what represents the Golden Age of Television; on on the impact of live TV
On impressions of people he's worked with in the television industry; on narrated B-roll footage of production photos from throughout his career
Shows
Bicentennial Minutes
Bob Markell on his involvement with The Bicentennial Minutes
Charlie Wild, Private Detective
Bob Markell on set design work for Charlie Wild, Private Detective
Danger
Bob Markell on set design work for the anthology Danger
Bob Markell on set design work for the anthology drama Danger
Bob Markell on set design work for the anthology Danger
Bob Markell on working on Danger
Bob Markell on B-roll footage of production photos of the show Danger
Bob Markell on B-roll footage of production photos of the show Danger
Defenders, The
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders
Bob Markell on the Emmy winning episode of The Defenders, "The Madman"
Bob Markell on David Carp's episode of The Defenders "The Seven-Hundred Year Old Gang"
Bob Markell on working with Robert Stevens on The Defenders
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Bob Markell on B-roll footage of production photos of The Ed Sullivan Show
N.Y.P.D.
Bob Markell on working on N.Y.P.D.
Bob Markell on working with David Susskind on N.Y.P.D.
Nurses, The
Bob Markell on The Nurses
Perry Mason (1957-66)
Bob Markell on the differences between The Defenders and Perry Mason
Play of the Week
Bob Markell on working on "The Iceman Cometh" for The Play of the Week
Playhouse 90
Bob Markell on working on Playhouse 90
Bob Markell on working on Playhouse 90
Seven Lively Arts, The
Bob Markell on working on The Seven Lively Arts
Bob Markell on working on The Seven Lively Arts: "The Changing Ways of Love" written by S. J. Pearlman
Bob Markell on working on The Seven Lively Arts: a series of Ernest Hemingway stories
Bob Markell on working on The Seven Lively Arts: The Nutcracker Ballet with George Balanchine
Studio One
Bob Markell on working on Studio One
Bob Markell on working on Studio One and other shows in color
Bob Markell on working on Studio One
Bob Markell on working on Studio One on specific episodes: "Henry James," "Hamlet," "Out of Towners," 'Walk Down the Hill," and episodes on the classics
Bob Markell on set design work for the anthology Studio One
Bob Markell on working with Worthington Minor on Studio One
Suspense
Bob Markell on working on Suspense
Bob Markell on working on Suspense
You Are There
Bob Markell on working on You Are There
Bob Markell on working on You Are There
Bob Markell on working with Hubbell Robinson on You Are There
Bob Markell on B-roll footage of production photos of the show You Are There
Topics
Emmy Awards
Bob Markell on breaking a design rule that won him an Emmy award in 1954 for art direction of a live show
Bob Markell on the Emmy-winning episode of The Defenders, "The Madman"
Bob Markell on The Defenders winning further Emmys
Bob Markell on the Emmy-winning Bicentennial Minutes
Hollywood Blacklist
Bob Markell on how the Blacklist affected the cast and crew of You Are There
Bob Markell on an episode of The Defenders that dealt with the Blacklist
Memorable Moments on Television
Bob Markell on an extraordinary scene for Stage 67, now saved in the Academy archives
Technological Innovation
Bob Markell on working with color on television
Bob Markell on the transition from "live" TV to the use of recorded tape
Television Industry
Bob Markell on challenges of working in television versus the stage
TV Theme Songs
Bob Markell on the improvised music cues for the opening of the show Danger
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Bob Markell on what represents the Golden Age of Television
Underrepresented Voices
Bob Markell on the pressure on Robert Hooks in the 1960's while working on N.Y.P.D.
Professions
Set Designer
Bob Markell on working with color on television
Bob Markell on working in Summer Stock as a set designer
Bob Markell on the role of a designer on a television show
Bob Markell on design techniques for You Are There
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Bob Markell on working on Studio One
Bob Markell on working on You Are There
Bob Markell on working on Studio One
Bob Markell on working on Playhouse 90
Bob Markell on working on The Seven Lively Arts
Bob Markell on working on You Are There
Bob Markell on working on Stage 67
Bob Markell on working on Stage 67
Bob Markell on his involvement with The Bicentennial Minutes
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Bob Markell on working on the show Danger
Bob Markell on working on Danger
Bob Markell on the comparison between Perry Mason and The Defenders
Bob Markell on working on the pilot for Hawk
Bob Markell on working on N.Y.P.D.
Legal Dramas
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Bob Markell on working on Ceremony Of Innocence at PBS
Bob Markell on working on TV movie, Doctor Cook's Garden for ABC
Bob Markell on producing two movies of the week for CBS: Murder Once Removed and This Tattered Web
Bob Maerkell on the movie of the week, Twenty Shades of Pink
Bob Markell on The Tenth Level
Bob Markell on You Can't Go Home Again
Bob Markell on the miniseries, The Dane Curse
Bob Markell on the miniseries If Tomorrow Comes
People
Goodman Ace
Bob Markell on the creators of You Are There, Hubbell Robinson and Goodman Ace
George Balanchine
Bob Markell on working with George Balanchine on The Seven Lively Arts
Tallulah Bankhead
Bob Markell on working with Tallulah Bankhead on The Big Party
Leonard Bernstein
Bob Markell on working with Tennessee Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Ronald Regan, Kukla, Fran and Ollie and others on The Bicentennial Minutes
Walter Bernstein
Bob Markell on working with Walter Bernstein on the show Danger
Bob Markell on Walter Bernstein
Bob Markell on how the Blacklist affected the writers, Walter Bernstein, Abe Polonsky and Arnold Manoff on You Are There
Paul Bogart
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with directors Frank Schaffner, Paul Bogart, Stu Rosenberg, Sidney Pollack
Bob Markell on working with Paul Bogart on Stage 67
Bob Markell on Paul Bogart's involvement with The Hawk
Bob Markell on working with Paul Bogart
Lloyd Bridges
Bob Markell on working with John Forsythe, Richard Kiley and Lloyd Bridges on Murder Once Removed and This Tattered Web
James Broderick
Bob Markell on working with Cliff Robertson, Dina Merrill, Dustin Hoffman, Joan Darling and James Broderick on Stage 67
Bob Markell on working with Daniel Melnick, David Susskind, Jack Warden, Robert Hooks, Frank Converse, James Broderick, Al Pacino, James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander on N.Y.P.D.
Herbert Brodkin
Bob Markell on working with Herbert Brodkin on Studio One
Bob Markell on working with Herbert Brodkin
Bob Markell on becoming an Associate Producer and working with Herbert Brodkin
Bob Markell on working with Herbert Brodkin
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Herbert Brodkin
Yul Brynner
Bob Markell on working with Yul Brynner
Bob Markell on working with Yul Brynner
Bob Markell on how the Blacklist affected Martin Ritt and Yul Brynner
James Coburn
Bob Markell on working with Bob Lenski, Martin Pull, James Coburn, Hector Elizondo, Malaki MaCourt and Gene Simmons on The Dane Curse
Larry Cohen
Bob Markell on working with writers Reginald Rose, Alvin Barts, George Belack, Larry Cohen, David Rintel and Ernest Kinoy on The Defenders
Charles Collingwood
Bob Markell on working with Walter Cronkite, Mike Wallace, Robert Trout and Charles Collingwood on You Are There
Walter Cronkite
Bob Markell on working with Walter Cronkite, Mike Wallace, Robert Trout and Charles Collingwood on You Are There
Bob Markell on working with Walter Cronkite
Bing Crosby
Bob Markell on working with Bing Crosby, Doug Kramer, Ted Post, Blythe Danner and Frank Converse on the TV movie, Doctor Cook's Garden
Michael Dann
Bob Markell on working with Michael Dann
Blythe Danner
Bob Markell on working with Bing Crosby, Doug Kramer, Ted Post, Blythe Danner and Frank Converse on the TV movie, Doctor Cook's Garden
Joan Darling
Bob Markell on working with Cliff Robertson, Dina Merrill, Dustin Hoffman, Joan Darling and James Broderick on Stage 67
Ossie Davis
Bob Markell on working with William Shatner, George Bellack and Ossie Davis on The Tenth Level
Charles S. Dubin
Bob Markell on working with Charles Dubin on Movies of the Week
Norman Felton
Bob Markell on working with Norman Felton
Horton Foote
Bob Markell on working on Tomorrow with Horton Foote
Bob Markell on working with Horton Foote
John Forsythe
Bob Markell on working with John Forsythe, Richard Kiley and Lloyd Bridges on Murder Once Removed and This Tattered Web
John Frankenheimer
Bob Markell on working with John Frankenheimer
Bob Markell on directors' use of recorded tape
Bob Markell on working with John Frankenheimer on the show Danger
Bob Markell on John Frankenheimer
Chuck Fries
Bob Markell on working with Charles Fries
Jack Gilford
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Jack Gilford
Jackie Gleason
Bob Markell on working with Jackie Gleason during a summer stock theater performance
Lee Grant
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Lee Grant
Bob Markell on working with Lee Grant and Chris Sarandon on You Can't Go Home Again
Bob Markell on working with Lee Grant
Gene Hackman
Bob Markell on working with Burt Reynolds, Gene Hackman, Sam Wanamaker, Hubbell Robinson and Veronica Valante on the pilot for The Hawk
George Roy Hill
Bob Markell on working with George Roy Hill
Dustin Hoffman
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman, Martin Sheen
Bob Markell on working with Dustin Hoffman and Cliff Robertson on Stage 67
Bob Markell on working with Cliff Robertson, Dina Merrill, Dustin Hoffman, Joan Darling and James Broderick on Stage 67
Billie Holiday
Bob Markell on working with Billie Holiday on The Seven Lively Arts
John Houseman
Bob Markell on working with John Houseman
Norman Jewison
Bob Markell on directors' use of recorded tape
Bob Markell on working with Norman Jewison on The Big Party
James Earl Jones
Bob Markell on working with Daniel Melnick, David Susskind, Jack Warden, Robert Hooks, Frank Converse, James Broderick, Al Pacino, James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander on N.Y.P.D.
Jason Robards, Jr.
Bob Markell on working with Jason Robards on "The Iceman Cometh" for The Play of the Week
David Karp
Bob Markell on working with writers, George Bellack, David Karp, Robert Schlitt on N.Y.P.D.
Richard Kiley
Bob Markell on working with Rob Ribman and Richard Kiley on Ceremony of Innocence for PBS
Bob Markell on working with John Forsythe, Richard Kiley and Lloyd Bridges on Murder Once Removed and This Tattered Web
Ernest Kinoy
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Ernest Kinoy
Bob Markell on working with writers Reginald Rose, Alvin Barts, George Belack, Larry Cohen, David Rintel and Ernest Kinoy on The Defenders
Jack Klugman
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Jack Klugman
Bob Markell on working with Jack Klugman
Buzz Kulik
Bob Markell on directors' use of recorded tape
Sam Leve
Bob Markell on working with Sam Leve making a model railroad train
Sidney Lumet
Bob Markell on working with Sidney Lumet on You Are There
Bob Markell on working with Sidney Lumet
Bob Markell on working with Sidney Lumet on The Seven Lively Arts
Bob Markell on working with Sidney Lumet on the movie Twelve Angry Men
Bob Markell on working with Sidney Lumet on the show Danger
Bob Markell on working with producer Charles Russell and director Sidney Lumet
Bob Markell on working with Sidney Lumet, Charles Russell on You Are There
Arnold Manoff
Bob Markell on how the Blacklist affected the writers, Walter Bernstein, Abe Polonsky and Arnold Manoff on You Are There
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Arnold Manoff
Martin Manulis
Bob Markell on working with Martin Manulis
Alex March
Bob Markell on working with directors, David Pressman and Alex March on N.Y.P.D.
E. G. Marshall
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with E.G. Marshall
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with E.G. Marshall
Mary Martin
Bob Markell on working with Mary Martin on Together with Music
Steve McQueen
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Steve McQueen
Daniel Melnick
Bob Markell on working with Daniel Melnick, David Susskind, Jack Warden, Robert Hooks, Frank Converse, James Broderick, Al Pacino, James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander on N.Y.P.D.
Dina Merrill
Bob Markell on working with Cliff Robertson and Dina Merrill on Stage 67
Bob Markell on working with Cliff Robertson, Dina Merrill, Dustin Hoffman, Joan Darling and James Broderick on Stage 67
Worthington Miner
Bob Markell on working with Worthington Miner
Zero Mostel
Bob Markell on working with Zero Mostel at summer stock
Tony Mottola
Bob Markell on working with Tony Mottola on the show Danger
Robert Mulligan
Bob Markell on working with Robert Mulligan on The Defenders
Bob Markell on working with Robert Mulligan
Bob Markell on working on Tomorrow with William Shatner and Robert Mulligan
Conrad Nagel
Bob Markell on working with Conrad Nagel on Stage 67
Ralph Nelson
Bob Markell on working with Ralph Nelson
Paul Nickell
Bob Markell on working on Studio One summer shows "Stage Door" and "Broadway" with Frank Schafner, Paul Nickell
Leslie Nielsen
Bob Markell on working with Leslie Nielsen
Al Pacino
Bob Markell on working with Daniel Melnick, David Susskind, Jack Warden, Robert Hooks, Frank Converse, James Broderick, Al Pacino, James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander on N.Y.P.D.
Arthur Penn
Bob Markell on working with Arthur Penn
Bob Markell on working with Arthur Penn
Abraham Polonsky
Bob Markell on how the Blacklist affected the writers, Walter Bernstein, Abe Polonsky and Arnold Manoff on You Are There
Ted Post
Bob Markell on working with Sidney Lumet, Ted Post and other directors on Danger
Bob Markell on working with Bing Crosby, Doug Kramer, Ted Post, Blythe Danner and Frank Converse on the TV movie, Doctor Cook's Garden
David Pressman
Bob Markell on working with directors, David Pressman and Alex March on N.Y.P.D.
John Randolph
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with John Randolph
Ronald Reagan
Bob Markell on working with Tennessee Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Ronald Regan, Kukla, Fran and Ollie and others on The Bicentennial Minutes
Robert Redford
Bob Markell on working with Robert Redford on "The Iceman Cometh" for The Play of the Week
Robert Reed
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Robert Reed
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Robert Reed
Burt Reynolds
Bob Markell on working with Burt Reynolds, Gene Hackman, Sam Wanamaker, Hubbell Robinson and Veronica Valante on the pilot for The Hawk
Martin Ritt
Bob Markell on working with Martin Ritt
Bob Markell on working with Martin Ritt
Bob Markell on how the Blacklist affected Martin Ritt and Yul Brynner
Cliff Robertson
Bob Markell on working with Cliff Robertson and Dina Merrill on Stage 67
Bob Markell on working with Dustin Hoffman and Cliff Robertson on Stage 67
Bob Markell on working with Cliff Robertson, Dina Merrill, Dustin Hoffman, Joan Darling and James Broderick on Stage 67
Hubbell Robinson
Bob Markell on the creators of You Are There, Hubbell Robinson and Goodman Ace
Bob Markell on working with Hubbell Robinson on Stage 67
Bob Markell on working with Burt Reynolds, Gene Hackman, Sam Wanamaker, Hubbell Robinson and Veronica Valante on the pilot for The Hawk
Bob Markell on working with Hubbell Robinson
Reginald Rose
Bob Markell on working with Reginald Rose on The Defenders
Bob Markell on working with Reginald Rose on The Defenders
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Reginald Rose
Bob Markell on working with writers Reginald Rose, Alvin Barts, George Belack, Larry Cohen, David Rintel and Ernest Kinoy on The Defenders
Stuart Rosenberg
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with directors Frank Schaffner, Paul Bogart, Stu Rosenberg, Sidney Pollack
Franklin J. Schaffner
Bob Markell on working on Studio One summer shows "Stage Door" and "Broadway" with Frank Schafner, Paul Nickell
Bob Markell on working with Franklin Schaffner on Studio One
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with directors Frank Schaffner, Paul Bogart, Stu Rosenberg, Sidney Pollack
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with directors Frank Schaffner, Paul Bogart, Stu Rosenberg, Sidney Pollack
Robert Schlitt
Bob Markell on working with writers, George Bellack, David Karp, Robert Schlitt on N.Y.P.D.
William Self
Bob Markell on working with William Self
Rod Serling
Bob Markell on Rod Serling writing an episode of Studio One about Hollywood
William Shatner
Bob Markell on working with William Shatner on The Defenders
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with William Shatner and Robert Bellamy
Bob Markell on working on Tomorrow with William Shatner and Robert Mulligan
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with William Shatner
Bob Markell on working with William Shatner, George Bellack and Ossie Davis on The Tenth Level
David Shaw
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with David Shaw
Sidney Sheldon
Bob Markell on working with Sidney Sheldon and Tom Berringer on the miniseries If Tomorrow Comes
Fred Silverman
Bob Markell on working with Fred Silverman at CBS
Bob Markell on working with Fred Silverman
Lionel Stander
Bob Markell on working with Lionel Stander during a summer stock theater performance
Rod Steiger
Bob Markell on B-roll footage of production photos of the show You Are There with Rod Steiger
Robert Stevens
Bob Markell on working on Suspense with Bob Stevens
Bob Markell on working with Robert Stevens
David Susskind
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with David Susskind
Bob Markell on working with Daniel Melnick, David Susskind, Jack Warden, Robert Hooks, Frank Converse, James Broderick, Al Pacino, James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander on N.Y.P.D.
Bob Markell on working with David Susskind
Robert Trout
Bob Markell on working with Walter Cronkite, Mike Wallace, Robert Trout and Charles Collingwood on You Are There
Jon Voight
Bob Markell on working on The Defenders with Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman, Martin Sheen
Mike Wallace
Bob Markell on working with Walter Cronkite, Mike Wallace, Robert Trout and Charles Collingwood on You Are There
Eli Wallach
Bob Markell on working with Eli Wallach and Annie Jackson on Twenty Shades of Pink
Jack Warden
Bob Markell on working with Daniel Melnick, David Susskind, Jack Warden, Robert Hooks, Frank Converse, James Broderick, Al Pacino, James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander on N.Y.P.D.
Tennessee Williams
Bob Markell on working with Tennessee Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Ronald Regan, Kukla, Fran and Ollie and others on The Bicentennial Minutes
Ethel Winant
Bob Markell on working with Ethel Winant
Robert D. Wood
Bob Markell on working with Robert D. Wood