Charlie Andrews

Show Creator / Producer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
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.

"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."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Charlie Andrews on how Studs' Place was written
02:33
Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey appearing on Candid Camera with Allen Funt
05:00
Charlie Andrews on the legacies of Dave Garroway and Arthur Godfrey
01:09
Charlie Andrews on what represents television at its best
02:08
Charlie Andrews on "J. Fred Muggs," the monkey on Today
02:18
Charlie Andrews on working in Chicago television in the early 1950s
01:49
Full Interview

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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

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Charlie Andrews on freelance writing for $64,000 Question and The Morning Show
12:57

Arthur Godfrey Time

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Charlie Andrews on working with Arthur Godfrey on Arthur Godfrey Time and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
07:12

Arthur Godfrey and His Friends

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Charlie Andrews on working with Arthur Godfrey on Arthur Godfrey Time and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
07:21

Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts

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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

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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

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Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey appearing on Candid Camera with Allen Funt
05:00

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Charlie Andrews on producing the 1969 Emmy Awards
03:10

Garroway at Large

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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

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Charlie Andrews on producing the Miss U.S.A. pageant and other pageants
05:19

Morning Show, The

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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

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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

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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
Topics

'The Idiot Box'

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Charlie Andrews on the decline in the quality of television from the 1950s to the 1960s
05:41

Advertising and Sponsorship

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Charlie Andrews on the role of ad agencies in early television
00:50

Criticism of TV

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Charlie Andrews on the decline in the quality of television from the 1950s to the 1960s
05:41

Emmy Awards

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Charlie Andrews on producing the 1969 Emmy Awards
03:10

Historic Events and Social Change

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Charlie Andrews on his service in World War II
01:49

Hollywood Blacklist

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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

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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

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Charlie Andrews on "J. Fred Muggs," the monkey on Today
02:18

Television Industry

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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

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Charlie Andrews on his service in World War II
01:49

World War II

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Charlie Andrews on his service in World War II
01:49
Genres

Awards Shows

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Charlie Andrews on producing the 1969 Emmy Awards show
03:10

Comedy Series

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Charlie Andrews on being hired to write for Caesar's Hour starring Sid Caesar
11:29

Drama Series

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Charlie Andrews on co-creating and writing Studs' Place
15:35

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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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

View Genre
Charlie Andrews on writing for Today
01:31
Charlie Andrews on producing The Morning Show with Dick Van Dyke (Part 1)
12:57
Charlie Andrews on writing and producing The Morning Show with Dick Van Dyke and Walter Cronkite
08:25

Talk Shows

View Genre
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
People

Steve Allen

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Charlie Andrews on leaving Arthur Godfrey to work for Steve Allen
00:50

Sid Caesar

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Charlie Andrews on being hired to write for Caesar's Hour starring Sid Caesar
05:03

Walter Cronkite

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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

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Charlie Andrews on Salvador Dali appearing as a guest on The Morning Show
04:42

Hugh Downs

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Charlie Andrews on various people with whom he worked in Chicago radio including Mike Wallace and Hugh Downs
03:27

Dick Van Dyke

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Charlie Andrews on working with Walter Cronkite and Dick Van Dyke on The Morning Show and his experience with the Hollywood Blacklist
03:43

Allen Funt

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Charlie Andrews on Arthur Godfrey appearing on Candid Camera with Allen Funt
05:07

Dave Garroway

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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

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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

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Charlie Andrews on working with producer Ted Mills on Garroway at Large and the directors on the show
04:02

Studs Terkel

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Charlie Andrews on creating Studs' Place starring Studs Terkel
02:32
Charlie Andrews on Studs' Place's Studs Terkel
04:01

Mike Wallace

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Charlie Andrews on various people with whom he worked in Chicago radio including Mike Wallace and Hugh Downs
03:27

Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver

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Charlie Andrews on working for Today creator Sylvester L. Weaver (Pat Weaver)
01:58

Mort Werner

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Charlie Andrews on working for Today producer Mort Werner
02:24

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