"In the early days of television, we said the way to get that audience is to offer the people good stuff. They'll come up to it. The result was Goodyear Playhouse and Armstrong Theater by great writers like Paddy Chayefsky and Horton Foote. The audience got interested. And they watched it. Later, other guys came in and they said, 'No, the audiences are not going to come up. Give them crap.' Then you got Beverly Hillbillies and Gilligan's Island, things like that. Those guys were absolutely right. As the ratings proved. But it sure didn't help television. It's too bad that there wasn't a longer period of trying to come up."

    About This Interview

    In his four-hour interview, Charlie Andrews (1916-2004) talks about his early years in Chicago radio, and his service in World War II. He describes meeting Dave Garroway in Chicago and co-creating and writing for his innovative show Garroway at Large. He recounts many aspects of Garroway at Large, including rehearsing, the set of the show, the various personnel involved in producing it, and his personal relationship with Garroway. He recalls co-creating and writing for Studs' Place featuring Studs Terkel and eventually going to write for Today featuring Dave Garroway. Andrews discusses writing for CBS's The Morning Show with Dick Van Dyke as well as Caesar's Hour starring Sid Caesar. He outlines working on several shows for Arthur Godfrey, including Arthur Godfrey Time, Arthur Godfrey and His Friends, and Talent Scouts. He speaks of working on various projects in the 1960s including the Miss U.S.A. Pageant and the 1969 Emmy Awards telecast. He sums up by talking about various people with whom he's worked in his career and how he'd like to be remembered. Henry Colman conducted the interview on October 20, 1998 in West Hampton, NY.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Charlie Andrews

    Charlie Andrews on how Studs' Place was written

    02:33
    Thumbnail of Charlie Andrews

    Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey appearing on Candid Camera with Allen Funt

    05:00
    Thumbnail of Charlie Andrews

    Charlie Andrews on the legacies of Dave Garroway and Arthur Godfrey

    01:09
    Thumbnail of Charlie Andrews

    Charlie Andrews on what represents television at its best

    02:08
    Thumbnail of Charlie Andrews

    Charlie Andrews on "J. Fred Muggs," the monkey on Today

    02:18
    Thumbnail of Charlie Andrews

    Charlie Andrews on working in Chicago television in the early 1950s

    01:49
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on early radio shows he listened to; on growing up during the Great Depression and his education

    13:49

    On getting into radio in Chicago; on various people with whom he worked in Chicago radio including Mike Wallace and Hugh Downs; on his service in World War II and working in radio advertising after the war

    12:23

    Chapter 2

    On his early interest in jazz; on working with Dave Garroway in Chicago; on working in radio advertising in Chicago in 1947

    11:41

    On co-creating Garroway at Large with Dave Garroway; on working with Dave Garroway on Garroway at Large; on the various elements of Garroway at Large

    18:15

    Chapter 3

    On the studio of Garroway at Large; on early television and how writing for radio differed from writing for television; on rehearsing for Garroway at Large

    13:51

    On the atmosphere on the set of Garroway at Large and going live on the air; on working with producer Ted Mills on Garroway at Large and the directors on the show; on winning a Look Magazine Award for Garroway at Large in 1951

    12:03

    On Garroway at Large being distributed on kinescope; on the cancellation of Garroway at Large

    03:39

    Chapter 4

    On the cancellation of Garroway at Large; on creating Studs' Place; on how Studs' Place was written

    14:07

    On the cast of Studs' Place; on the rehearsal process on Studs' Place; on Studs' Place's Studs Terkel

    07:37

    On rehearsing Studs' Place and its transition from NBC to ABC; on the cancellation of Studs' Place; on joining Today

    08:35

    Chapter 5

    On how he came to work with Dave Garroway on Today; on "J. Fred Muggs," the monkey on Today; on moving from Chicago to New York to write for Today and writing for Dave Garroway's radio show "Dial Dave Garroway"

    10:34

    On working for Today creator Pat Weaver; on the early format and staff of Today hosted by Dave Garroway; on the differences between writing for Garroway at Large in Chicago and Today in New York, and working with the directors of those shows

    10:01

    On leaving Today; on the decline in the quality of television from the 1950s to the 1960s

    07:05

    Chapter 6

    On being hired to write for Caesar's Hour starring Sid Caesar; on the writing staff of Caesar's Hour; on the writing sessions of Caesar's Hour and leaving the show

    11:29

    On freelance writing for $64,000 Question and producing The Morning Show on CBS with Dick Van Dyke

    12:57

    Chapter 7

    On working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist; on Salvador Dali appearing as a guest on The Morning Show; on working with Arthur Godfrey on Arthur Godfrey Time and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends

    15:37

    On Arthur Godfrey appearing on Candid Camera with Allen Funt; on the various acts on Arthur Godfrey'sTalent Scouts; on the directors of Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and leaving Godfrey to work with Steve Allen

    12:38

    Chapter 8

    On Arthur Godfrey's lung cancer diagnosis in 1959 and working on various shows; on producing the 1969 Emmy Awards show; on producing the Miss U.S.A. pageant and other pageants

    11:47

    On working in Chicago television in the early 1950s; on what represents television at its best; on the legacies of Dave Garroway and Arthur Godfrey and the then-future of television

    06:08

    On how he'd like to be remembered; on various people he's worked with in his career

    12:38

    $64,000 Question

    Charlie Andrews on freelance writing for $64,000 Question and The Morning Show

    12:57

    Arthur Godfrey and His Friends

    Charlie Andrews on working with Arthur Godfrey on Arthur Godfrey Time and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends

    07:21

    Arthur Godfrey Time

    Charlie Andrews on working with Arthur Godfrey on Arthur Godfrey Time and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends

    07:12

    Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts

    Charlie Andrews on the various acts on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts

    03:30

    Charlie Andrews on the directors of Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts

    00:53

    Caesar's Hour

    Charlie Andrews on being hired to write for Caesar's Hour starring Sid Caesar

    05:04

    Charlie Andrews on the writing staff of Caesar's Hour

    01:44

    Charlie Andrews on the writing sessions of Caesar's Hour

    02:09

    Charlie Andrews on leaving Caesar's Hour

    02:33

    Candid Camera

    Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey appearing on Candid Camera with Allen Funt

    05:00

    Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

    Charlie Andrews on producing the 1969 Emmy Awards

    03:10

    Garroway at Large

    Charlie Andrews on co-creating Garroway at Large with Dave Garroway

    07:32

    Charlie Andrews on working with Dave Garroway on Garroway at Large

    03:36

    Charlie Andrews on the various elements of Garroway at Large

    07:05

    Charlie Andrews on the studio of Garroway at Large

    08:51

    Charlie Andrews on rehearsing for Garroway at Large

    02:20

    Charlie Andrews on the atmosphere on the set of Garroway at Large and going live on the air

    03:43

    Charlie Andrews on working with producer Ted Mills on Garroway at Large and the directors on the show

    04:02

    Charlie Andrews on winning a Look Magazine Award for Garroway at Large in 1951

    01:11

    Charlie Andrews on Garroway at Large being distributed on kinescope

    01:11

    Charlie Andrews on the cancellation of Garroway at Large

    02:28

    Charlie Andrews on the cancellation of Garroway at Large

    09:02

    Miss USA

    Charlie Andrews on producing the Miss U.S.A. pageant and other pageants

    05:19

    Morning Show, The

    Charlie Andrews on freelance writing for $64,000 Question and producing The Morning Show with Dick Van Dyke

    12:57

    Charlie Andrews on working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:43

    Charlie Andrews on Salvador Dali appearing as a guest on The Morning Show

    04:42

    Studs' Place

    Charlie Andrews on creating Studs' Place

    02:32

    Charlie Andrews on how Studs' Place was written

    02:33

    Charlie Andrews on the cast of Studs' Place

    01:54

    Charlie Andrews on the rehearsal process on Studs' Place

    01:41

    Charlie Andrews on Studs' Place's Studs Terkel

    04:01

    Charlie Andrews on rehearsing Studs' Places and its transition from NBC to ABC

    01:47

    Charlie Andrews on the cancellation of Studs' Place

    01:07

    Today

    Charlie Andrews on joining Today

    01:31

    Charlie Andrews on how he came to work with Dave Garroway on Today

    06:37

    Charlie Andrews on "J. Fred Muggs," the monkey on Today

    02:18

    Charlie Andrews on moving from Chicago to New York to write for Today and writing for Dave Garroway's radio show "Dial Dave Garroway"

    01:39

    Charlie Andrews on working for Today creator Sylvester L. Weaver (Pat Weaver)

    01:57

    Charlie Andrews on the early format and staff of Today hosted by Dave Garroway

    04:03

    Charlie Andrews on the differences between writing for Garroway at Large in Chicago and Today in New York, and working with the directors of those shows

    01:37

    Charlie Andrews on working for Today producer Mort Werner

    02:24

    Charlie Andrews on leaving Today

    01:27

    'The Idiot Box'

    Charlie Andrews on the decline in the quality of television from the 1950s to the 1960s

    05:41

    Advertising and Sponsorship

    Charlie Andrews on the role of ad agencies in early television

    00:50

    Criticism of TV

    Charlie Andrews on the decline in the quality of television from the 1950s to the 1960s

    05:41

    Emmy Awards

    Charlie Andrews on producing the 1969 Emmy Awards

    03:10

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Charlie Andrews on his service in World War II

    01:49

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Charlie Andrews on working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:43

    Industry Crossroads

    Charlie Andrews on working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:43

    Pop Culture

    Charlie Andrews on "J. Fred Muggs," the monkey on Today

    02:18

    Television Industry

    Charlie Andrews on the role of ad agencies in early television

    00:50

    Charlie Andrews on what he learned working in Chicago television that prepared him for New York television

    02:48

    Charlie Andrews on the decline in the quality of television from the 1950s to the 1960s

    05:41

    Charlie Andrews on working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:43

    Charlie Andrews on what represents television at its best

    02:08

    Charlie Andrews on the then-future of television

    01:03

    War

    Charlie Andrews on his service in World War II

    01:49

    World War II

    Charlie Andrews on his service in World War II

    01:49

    Awards Shows

    Charlie Andrews on producing the 1969 Emmy Awards show

    03:10

    Comedy Series

    Charlie Andrews on being hired to write for Caesar's Hour starring Sid Caesar

    11:29

    Drama Series

    Charlie Andrews on co-creating and writing Studs' Place

    15:35

    Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

    Charlie Andrews on working as a writer/producer on Arthur Godfrey's various shows Arthur Godfrey Time, Arthur Godfrey and His Friends, and Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts

    19:51

    Charlie Andrews on producing the Miss U.S.A.  pageant and other pageants

    05:19

    News and Documentary

    Charlie Andrews on producing The Morning Show with Dick Van Dyke (Part 1)

    12:57

    Charlie Andrews on writing for Today

    01:31

    Charlie Andrews on writing and producing The Morning Show with Dick Van Dyke and Walter Cronkite

    08:25

    Talk Shows

    Charlie Andrews on co-creating and writing for Garroway at Large

    18:15

    Charlie Andrews on co-creating and writing Garroway at Large (Part 2)

    29:35

    Charlie Andrews on co-creating and writing Garroway at Large

    09:03

    Charlie Andrews on writing for Today

    22:04

    Steve Allen

    Charlie Andrews on leaving Arthur Godfrey to work for Steve Allen

    00:50

    Sid Caesar

    Charlie Andrews on being hired to write for Caesar's Hour starring Sid Caesar

    05:03

    Walter Cronkite

    Charlie Andrews on working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:43

    Salvador Dali

    Charlie Andrews on Salvador Dali appearing as a guest on The Morning Show

    04:42

    Hugh Downs

    Charlie Andrews on various people with whom he worked in Chicago radio including Mike Wallace and Hugh Downs

    03:27

    Allen Funt

    Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey appearing on Candid Camera with Allen Funt

    05:07

    Dave Garroway

    Charlie Andrews on working with Dave Garroway in Chicago

    02:47

    Charlie Andrews on co-creating Garroway at Large with Dave Garroway

    07:32

    Charlie Andrews on working with Dave Garroway on Garroway at Large

    03:36

    Charlie Andrews on the various elements of Garroway at Large

    07:05

    Charlie Andrews on rehearsing for Garroway at Large with Dave Garroway

    02:20

    Charlie Andrews on the cancellation of Garroway at Large

    02:28

    Charlie Andrews on his personal friendship with Dave Garroway

    03:08

    Charlie Andrews on how he came to work with Dave Garroway on Today

    06:37

    Charlie Andrews on moving from Chicago to New York to write for Today and writing for Dave Garroway's radio show "Dial Dave Garroway"

    01:39

    Charlie Andrews on the early format and staff of Today hosted by Dave Garroway

    04:03

    Charlie Andrews on the legacies of Dave Garroway and Arthur Godfrey

    01:09

    Arthur Godfrey

    Charlie Andrews on working with Arthur Godfrey on Arthur Godfrey Time and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends

    07:12

    Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey's popularity

    03:07

    Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey's lung cancer diagnosis in 1959 and working on various shows

    03:19

    Charlie Andrews on the legacies of Dave Garroway and Arthur Godfrey

    01:09

    Ted Mills

    Charlie Andrews on working with producer Ted Mills on Garroway at Large and the directors on the show

    04:02

    Studs Terkel

    Charlie Andrews on creating Studs' Place starring Studs Terkel

    02:32

    Charlie Andrews on Studs' Place's Studs Terkel

    04:01

    Dick Van Dyke

    Charlie Andrews on working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:43

    Mike Wallace

    Charlie Andrews on various people with whom he worked in Chicago radio including Mike Wallace and Hugh Downs

    03:27

    Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver

    Charlie Andrews on working for Today creator Sylvester L. Weaver (Pat Weaver)

    01:58

    Mort Werner

    Charlie Andrews on working for Today producer Mort Werner

    02:24

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