About
"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."
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.
Highlights

Charlie Andrews on how Studs' Place was written

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

Charlie Andrews on the legacies of Dave Garroway and Arthur Godfrey

Charlie Andrews on what represents television at its best

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

Charlie Andrews on working in Chicago television in the early 1950s
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
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
Chapter 2
On his early interest in jazz; on working with Dave Garroway in Chicago; on working in radio advertising in Chicago in 1947
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
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
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
On Garroway at Large being distributed on kinescope; on the cancellation of Garroway at Large
Chapter 4
On the cancellation of Garroway at Large; on creating Studs' Place; on how Studs' Place was written
On the cast of Studs' Place; on the rehearsal process on Studs' Place; on Studs' Place's Studs Terkel
On rehearsing Studs' Place and its transition from NBC to ABC; on the cancellation of Studs' Place; on joining Today
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"
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
On leaving Today; on the decline in the quality of television from the 1950s to the 1960s
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
On freelance writing for $64,000 Question and producing The Morning Show on CBS with Dick Van Dyke
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
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
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
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
On how he'd like to be remembered; on various people he's worked with in his career
Shows
$64,000 Question
Charlie Andrews on freelance writing for $64,000 Question and The Morning Show
Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
Charlie Andrews on working with Arthur Godfrey on Arthur Godfrey Time and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
Arthur Godfrey Time
Charlie Andrews on working with Arthur Godfrey on Arthur Godfrey Time and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Charlie Andrews on the various acts on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Charlie Andrews on the directors of Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Caesar's Hour
Charlie Andrews on being hired to write for Caesar's Hour starring Sid Caesar
Charlie Andrews on the writing staff of Caesar's Hour
Charlie Andrews on the writing sessions of Caesar's Hour
Charlie Andrews on leaving Caesar's Hour
Candid Camera
Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey appearing on Candid Camera with Allen Funt
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Charlie Andrews on producing the 1969 Emmy Awards
Garroway at Large
Charlie Andrews on co-creating Garroway at Large with Dave Garroway
Charlie Andrews on working with Dave Garroway on Garroway at Large
Charlie Andrews on the various elements of Garroway at Large
Charlie Andrews on the studio of Garroway at Large
Charlie Andrews on rehearsing for Garroway at Large
Charlie Andrews on the atmosphere on the set of Garroway at Large and going live on the air
Charlie Andrews on working with producer Ted Mills on Garroway at Large and the directors on the show
Charlie Andrews on winning a Look Magazine Award for Garroway at Large in 1951
Charlie Andrews on Garroway at Large being distributed on kinescope
Charlie Andrews on the cancellation of Garroway at Large
Charlie Andrews on the cancellation of Garroway at Large
Miss USA
Charlie Andrews on producing the Miss U.S.A. pageant and other pageants
Morning Show, The
Charlie Andrews on freelance writing for $64,000 Question and producing The Morning Show with 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
Charlie Andrews on Salvador Dali appearing as a guest on The Morning Show
Studs' Place
Charlie Andrews on creating Studs' Place
Charlie Andrews on how Studs' Place was written
Charlie Andrews on the cast of Studs' Place
Charlie Andrews on the rehearsal process on Studs' Place
Charlie Andrews on Studs' Place's Studs Terkel
Charlie Andrews on rehearsing Studs' Places and its transition from NBC to ABC
Charlie Andrews on the cancellation of Studs' Place
Today
Charlie Andrews on joining Today
Charlie Andrews on how he came to work with Dave Garroway on Today
Charlie Andrews on "J. Fred Muggs," the monkey on Today
Charlie Andrews on moving from Chicago to New York to write for Today and writing for Dave Garroway's radio show "Dial Dave Garroway"
Charlie Andrews on working for Today creator Sylvester L. Weaver (Pat Weaver)
Charlie Andrews on the early format and staff of Today hosted by Dave Garroway
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
Charlie Andrews on working for Today producer Mort Werner
Charlie Andrews on leaving Today
Topics
'The Idiot Box'
Charlie Andrews on the decline in the quality of television from the 1950s to the 1960s
Advertising and Sponsorship
Charlie Andrews on the role of ad agencies in early television
Criticism of TV
Charlie Andrews on the decline in the quality of television from the 1950s to the 1960s
Emmy Awards
Charlie Andrews on producing the 1969 Emmy Awards
Historic Events and Social Change
Charlie Andrews on his service in World War II
Hollywood Blacklist
Charlie Andrews on working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Charlie Andrews on working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist
Pop Culture
Charlie Andrews on "J. Fred Muggs," the monkey on Today
Television Industry
Charlie Andrews on the role of ad agencies in early television
Charlie Andrews on what he learned working in Chicago television that prepared him for New York television
Charlie Andrews on the decline in the quality of television from the 1950s to the 1960s
Charlie Andrews on working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist
Charlie Andrews on what represents television at its best
Charlie Andrews on the then-future of television
War
Charlie Andrews on his service in World War II
World War II
Charlie Andrews on his service in World War II
Genres
Awards Shows
Charlie Andrews on producing the 1969 Emmy Awards show
Comedy Series
Charlie Andrews on being hired to write for Caesar's Hour starring Sid Caesar
Drama Series
Charlie Andrews on co-creating and writing Studs' Place
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
Charlie Andrews on producing the Miss U.S.A. pageant and other pageants
News and Documentary
Charlie Andrews on producing The Morning Show with Dick Van Dyke (Part 1)
Charlie Andrews on writing for Today
Charlie Andrews on writing and producing The Morning Show with Dick Van Dyke and Walter Cronkite
Talk Shows
Charlie Andrews on co-creating and writing for Garroway at Large
Charlie Andrews on co-creating and writing Garroway at Large (Part 2)
Charlie Andrews on co-creating and writing Garroway at Large
Charlie Andrews on writing for Today
People
Steve Allen
Charlie Andrews on leaving Arthur Godfrey to work for Steve Allen
Sid Caesar
Charlie Andrews on being hired to write for Caesar's Hour starring Sid Caesar
Walter Cronkite
Charlie Andrews on working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist
Salvador Dali
Charlie Andrews on Salvador Dali appearing as a guest on The Morning Show
Hugh Downs
Charlie Andrews on various people with whom he worked in Chicago radio including Mike Wallace and Hugh Downs
Allen Funt
Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey appearing on Candid Camera with Allen Funt
Dave Garroway
Charlie Andrews on working with Dave Garroway in Chicago
Charlie Andrews on co-creating Garroway at Large with Dave Garroway
Charlie Andrews on working with Dave Garroway on Garroway at Large
Charlie Andrews on the various elements of Garroway at Large
Charlie Andrews on rehearsing for Garroway at Large with Dave Garroway
Charlie Andrews on the cancellation of Garroway at Large
Charlie Andrews on his personal friendship with Dave Garroway
Charlie Andrews on how he came to work with Dave Garroway on Today
Charlie Andrews on moving from Chicago to New York to write for Today and writing for Dave Garroway's radio show "Dial Dave Garroway"
Charlie Andrews on the early format and staff of Today hosted by Dave Garroway
Charlie Andrews on the legacies of Dave Garroway and Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Godfrey
Charlie Andrews on working with Arthur Godfrey on Arthur Godfrey Time and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey's popularity
Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey's lung cancer diagnosis in 1959 and working on various shows
Charlie Andrews on the legacies of Dave Garroway and Arthur Godfrey
Ted Mills
Charlie Andrews on working with producer Ted Mills on Garroway at Large and the directors on the show
Studs Terkel
Charlie Andrews on creating Studs' Place starring Studs Terkel
Charlie Andrews on Studs' Place's Studs Terkel
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
Mike Wallace
Charlie Andrews on various people with whom he worked in Chicago radio including Mike Wallace and Hugh Downs
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Charlie Andrews on working for Today creator Sylvester L. Weaver (Pat Weaver)
Mort Werner
Charlie Andrews on working for Today producer Mort Werner