About
"There's something about handling the film that was part of it - part of the system. But it's gone, and it won't come back. The feel, the smell of the film. The solitude. It was a fabulous way to edit. I loved it."
In his nearly five-and-a-half-hour interview, Dann Cahn (1923-2012) talks about growing up in 1920s and '30's Hollywood and explains how he got his start in the entertainment industry as an assistant editor on several motion pictures. He details his first jobs for the small screen in 1949, on the critically acclaimed programs Your Show Time and Lucky Strike Showtime. Cahn discusses working at Desilu on I Love Lucy, Our Miss Brooks, The Untouchables, and The Loretta Young Show and shares his thoughts on Desilu's famed Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz and Jess Oppenheimer. Cahn also describes editing several other hit television shows including The Beverly Hillbillies, Police Woman, and Remington Steele. He recounts working at Glenn Larson Productions as head of Post Production, and speaks to the importance of one particularly prolific producer who he believes was the ideal collaborator in the editing room. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on August 18, 1999 in Cahn's home in Brentwood, CA.
Highlights
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the famous candy factory episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Job Switching"
On editing comedy
On the importance of imagination in editing
On the kinescope pilot of I Love Lucy - to prove that Lucy and Desi would work as the stars of the show, and to snag a sponsor
On watching the first aired episode of I Love Lucy -- with out of sync sound
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences - his uncle Edward Cahn and father, Philip Cahn, both editors at Universal
On how he got into the film business (as a child actor in B-movies); on his high school years
On wanting to get out of acting and into behind the scenes studio work
On how the depression affected his family and what Hollywood was like in the 1930s
Chapter 2
On the 1938 L.A. flood; on the origins of Universal Studios and the first sound movies
On the depression and 1930's Hollywood; on Anti-Semitism at the time
On his experiences as a young kid on the Universal lot and watching his dad edit film; on burning nitrate film for silver
On legendary sound man, Jack Foley - the man responsible for early background sound effects
Chapter 3
On sound man Jack Foley; on Cahn's path out of the Universal mail room and into the editing room
On film editing - serving as an apprentice and then assistant editor and working on the feature film Pittsburgh
On enlisting in the airforce for World War II and meeting Marlene Dietrich
On working for Paramount after the war; on his first chance editing for television on Lucky Strike Showtime
Chapter 4
On editing Your Show time (misquoted as Lucky Strike Showtime) - filmed television; on early commercials
On his first memories of and the rise of television; on working on Your Show Time (misquoted as Lucky Strike Showtime)
On his father's thoughts of his work in television; on being on a television set (Your Show Time)
On the path to his job on I Love Lucy by way of Republic Films
Chapter 5
On his film editing mentors
On his experience editing I Love Lucy
On the concept of I Love Lucy and show rehearsals; on the new technology developed for the show
On the filming of the first episode of I Love Lucy
Chapter 6
On the first completed (4th aired) episode of I Love Lucy; on editing
On watching the first aired episode of I Love Lucy -- with out of sync sound
On initial reviews and reception of I Love Lucy; on expanding the post-production crew
Chapter 7
On expanding the post-production team on I Love Lucy; on the Blacklist
On coordinating Lucille Ball's C-section with the birth of Little Ricky on I Love Lucy
On the I Love Lucy writers and the episodes where the cast drives across country to Hollywood
On editing and the production schedule at I Love Lucy and the growth of Desilu productions
Chapter 8
On working with directors
On editing I Love Lucy
On working on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
Chapter 9
On The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour and The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
On leaving Desilu and working on M Squad, Shotgun Slade, Coronado 9, The Beverly Hillbillies and The Guns of Will Sonnett
Chapter 10
On working on Aaron Spelling's The Most Deadly Game and on several Desi Arnaz productions including Land's End and The Mothers-In-Law
On working on the productions Branded, Hondo, Police Woman, The Man From Atlantis, Temperatures Rising, Remington Steele, and the TV Movies Bud and Lou and Tough Enough
Chapter 11
On the TV movie The Man Upstairs
On his current project on the history of Desilu
On advice to young editors; on thoughts about current editing technology
On his proudest achievements, frustrations
On people he's worked with and his family
Shows
Barney Miller
Dann Cahn on forming Charlie Chaplin, Jr. productions for a script written by Danny Arnold of That Girl and Barney Miller fame
Beverly Hillbillies, The
Editor Dann Cahn on editing The Beverly Hillbillies
Branded
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the Western Branded
Bud and Lou
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the TV movie Bud and Lou
Coronado 9
Editor Dann Cahn on directing Coronado 9
Danny Thomas Show, The aka Make Room for Daddy
Film editor Dann Cahn on editing The Danny Thomas Show
DEA
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the pilot of DEA and being nominated for an Emmy and winning the American Cinema Editors Eddie Award
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Dann Cahn on doing a movie with Ed Sullivan
Fireside Theatre
Dann Cahn on filmed versus live television
Guns of Will Sonnett, The
Editor Dann Cahn on working for Aaron Spelling in The Guns of Will Sonnett
Hondo
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the series Hondo and subsequently several Movies of the Week
I Love Lucy
Dann Cahn on his path to getting a job on I Love Lucy by way of Republic Films
Film editor Dann Cahn on the beginnings of I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on the production aspects of the first episodes of I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on editing I Love Lucy
Editor Dann Cahn on leaving I Love Lucy after Jess Oppenheimer left
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the famous candy factory episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Job Switching"
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the famous Vitameatavegamin episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Lucy Does a TV Commercial"
I Love Lucy: "Job Switching"
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the famous candy factory episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Job Switching"
I Love Lucy: "Lucy Does a TV Commercial"
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the famous Vitameatavegamin episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Lucy Does a TV Commercial"
I Love Lucy: "Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her"
Film editor Dann Cahn on the production aspects of the first episodes of I Love Lucy
Jimmy Durante Show, The
Editor Dann Cahn on editing The Jimmy Durante Show
Land's End
Editor Dann Cahn on reuniting with Desi Arnaz for Land's End
Loretta Young Show, The
Film editor Dann Cahn on editing Letters to Loretta
Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The
Editor Dann Cahn on the one hour Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
Editor Dann Cahn on shooting The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
Editor Dann Cahn on not cutting The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour down and consulting with CBS executives to take time from The U.S. Steel Hour
M Squad
Editor Dann Cahn on directing M Squad
Man From Atlantis
Editor Dann Cahn on working on Man from Atlantis
Man Upstairs, The
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the TV movie The Man Upstairs starring Katharine Hepburn and Ryan O'Neal
Most Deadly Game, The
Editor Dann Cahn on working on Aaron Spelling's The Most Deadly Game
Mothers-In-Law, The
Editor Dann Cahn on The Mothers-In-Law
Our Miss Brooks
Film editor Dann Cahn on Desilu's commitment to Our Miss Brooks
Film editor Dann Cahn on editing Desilu's Our Miss Brooks
Police Woman
Editor Dann Cahn on editing Police Woman
Remington Steele
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the pilot for Remington Steele
Shotgun Slade
Editor Dann Cahn on directing Shotgun Slade
Temperatures Rising
Editor Dann Cahn on working on Temperatures Rising with Bill Asher
That Girl
Dann Cahn on forming Charlie Chaplin, Jr. productions for a script written by Danny Arnold of That Girl and Barney Miller fame
Tough Enough
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the TV movie Tough Enough starring Dennis Quaid
United States Steel Hour, The
Editor Dann Cahn on not cutting The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour down and consulting with CBS executives to take time from The U.S. Steel Hour
Untouchables, The
Editor Dann Cahn on The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse episode of The Untouchables becoming its own series
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Editor Dann Cahn on The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse: "The Untouchables"
Editor Dann Cahn on The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse episode of The Untouchables becoming its own series
Your Show Time
Dann Cahn on editing the show Lucky Strike Showtime for Dumont
Dann Cahn on editing Lucky Strike Showtime (actually Your Show Time)
Dann Cahn on, "The Necklace," the Emmy Award winning episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime)
Dann Cahn on, "The Necklace," the Emmy Award winning episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime)
Dann Cahn on, "The Real Thing" episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime)
Dann Cahn on, "The Invisible Wound" episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime) - the first show he edited
Dann Cahn on the sets of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime)
Your Show Time: "The Invisible Wound"
Dann Cahn on, "The Invisible Wound" episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime) - the first show he edited
Your Show Time: "The Necklace"
Dann Cahn on, "The Necklace," the Emmy Award winning episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime)
Dann Cahn on "The Necklace," the Emmy Award winning episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime)
Your Show Time: "The Real Thing"
Dann Cahn on, "The Real Thing" episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime)
Topics
Emmy Awards
Dann Cahn on Lucky Strike Showtime winning one of the first Emmy awards
Dann Cahn on, "The Necklace," the Emmy-winning episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime)
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the pilot of DEA and being nominated for an Emmy and winning the American Cinema Editors Eddie Award
Hollywood Blacklist
Film editor Dann Cahn on the Blacklist era and Lucille Ball facing accusations of being a communist
Industry Crossroads
Film editor Dann Cahn on the Blacklist era and Lucille Ball facing accusations of being a communist
Pop Culture
Dann Cahn on the construction of the Hollywoodland sign down the street from where he was born
Technological Innovation
Dann Cahn on film editing in the 1930s and burning nitrate film for silver
Film editor Dann Cahn on the new technology developed for I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on the new technology developed for I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on the new technology (multiple moviola) developed for editing I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on going from optical to magnetic soundtracks and using the "monster" moviola
Film editor Dann Cahn on the first process shot for television -- and his first time directing
Editor Dann Cahn on his preference for the moviola over flatbed editing system
Editor Dann Cahn on nonlinear editing and computer editing and how they compare to older methods of editing
Television Industry
Film editor Dann Cahn on the Blacklist era and Lucille Ball facing accusations of being a communist
We Laughed
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the famous candy factory episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Job Switching"
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the famous Vitameatavegamin episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Lucy Does a TV Commercial"
Professions
Directors
Dann Cahn on wanting to direct television and observing directors
Editor
Dann Cahn on film editing in the 1930s and burning nitrate film for silver
Dann Cahn on editing Macbeth for Republic Films
Film editor Dann Cahn on the beginnings of I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on editing I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on the role of the supervising editor
Editor Dann Cahn on editing I Love Lucy
Sound Editor
Dann Cahn on sound man Jack Foley and early sound for film - the creation of the Foley stage
Dann Cahn on sound editing
Dann Cahn on moviolas
Sound Professionals
Dann Cahn on legendary sound man, Jack Foley - the man responsible for early background sound effects
Genres
Comedy Series
Film editor Dann Cahn on the beginnings of I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on the production aspects of the first episodes of I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on editing I Love Lucy
On editing I Love Lucy
People
Harry Ackerman
Editor Dann Cahn on not cutting The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour down and consulting with CBS executives
George Amy
Film editor Dann Cahn on mentors Louis Lindsay and George Amy
Desi Arnaz
Film editor Dann Cahn on the beginnings of I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on network resistance to hiring Desi Arnaz for I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on Desi Arnaz's involvement after Jess Oppenheimer's departure from I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on Desi Arnaz's thoughts on the post-production crew of I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on why Marc Daniels left I Love Lucy after the first year
Film editor Dann Cahn on befriending Desi Arnaz
Editor Dann Cahn on Desi Arnaz giving him greater management responsibilities on I Love Lucy
Editor Dann Cahn on Desi Arnaz
Editor Dann Cahn on Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball
Editor Dann Cahn on Desi Arnaz
Editor Dann Cahn on reuniting with Desi Arnaz
Editor Dann Cahn on Desi Arnaz
Danny Arnold
Dann Cahn on forming Charlie Chaplin, Jr. productions for a script written by Danny Arnold of That Girl and Barney Miller fame
William Asher
Film editor Dann Cahn on editor William Asher asking him to join I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on Desilu's commitment to Our Miss Brooks and bringing in William Asher as an I Love Lucy director
Editor Dann Cahn on William Asher
Editor Dann Cahn on friend and director William Asher
Lucille Ball
Film editor Dann Cahn on the beginnings of I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on editing I Love Lucy and screening it with Al Simon, Jess Oppenheimer and Lucille Ball
Film editor Dann Cahn on the Blacklist era and Lucille Ball facing accusations of being a communist
Editor Dann Cahn on cutting to maximize Lucille Ball's talent
Editor Dann Cahn on Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball
Editor Dann Cahn on trying to edit Lucille Ball's comedy
Editor Dann Cahn on Lucille Ball and on Desi Arnaz's funeral
Bob Banner
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the TV movie Bud and Lou, with Bob Banner as executive producer
Milton Berle
Dann Cahn on his early impressions of television and Milton Berle
Pierce Brosnan
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the pilot for Remington Steele, starring Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist
Robert Butler
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the pilot for Remington Steele, directed by Bob Butler
Bob Carroll, Jr.
Film editor Dann Cahn on I Love Lucy writers Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
Film editor Dann Cahn on I Love Lucy writers Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
Carol Channing
Editor Dann Cahn on working on a Carol Channing film
Richard Crenna
Editor Dann Cahn on Richard Crenna
Marc Daniels
Film editor Dann Cahn on director Marc Daniels of I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on editing I Love Lucy with director Marc Daniels
Film editor Dann Cahn on anxiety suffered by I Love Lucy director Marc Daniels
Film editor Dann Cahn on editing I Love Lucy and purchasing the "monster" moviola
Film editor Dann Cahn on why Marc Daniels left I Love Lucy after the first year
Fred de Cordova
Editor Dann Cahn on Fred De Cordova
Marlene Dietrich
Dann Cahn on meeting Marlene Dietrich
Deanna Durbin
Dann Cahn on actress Deanna Durbin "saving" Universal Studios in the 1930s
Jack Foley
Dann Cahn on legendary sound man, Jack Foley - the man responsible for early background sound effects
Dann Cahn on sound man Jack Foley and the Foley stage
George Fox
Film editor Dann Cahn on the new technology created by film operations manager George Fox for shooting I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on editing I Love Lucy and purchasing the "monster" moviola
William Frawley
Film editor Dann Cahn on I Love Lucy's "Fred Mertz" William Frawley
Karl Freund
Film editor Dann Cahn on I Love Lucy camera man Karl Freund
Eva Gabor
Dann Cahn on Eva Gabor's role on "The Necklace," the Emmy Award winning episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime)
David Gerber
Editor Dann Cahn on getting him onto Police Woman
Michael Gleason
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the pilot for Remington Steele, produced by Michael Gleason
Bert Granet
Editor Dann Cahn on Bert Granet producing The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
Claudio Guzman
Editor Dann Cahn on The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Paul Henning
Editor Dann Cahn on Paul Henning of The Beverly Hillbillies
Katharine Hepburn
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the TV movie The Man Upstairs starring Katharine Hepburn and Ryan O'Neal
Bob Hope
Editor Dann Cahn on reuniting with Jess Oppenheimer
John Huston
Dann Cahn on John Huston
DeForest Kelley
Editor Dann Cahn on working with actor DeForest Kelley
Gene Kelly
Editor Dann Cahn on working on a Gene Kelly project Going My Way
Carl Laemmle
Dann Cahn on the origins of Universal Studios and founder Carl Laemmle
Louis Lantz
Dann Cahn on Your Show Time (misquoted as Lucky Strike Showtime) producers Louis Lantz and Stanley Rubin
Sheldon Leonard
Film editor Dann Cahn on Sheldon Leonard on The Danny Thomas Show
Louis Lindsay
Film editor Dann Cahn on mentors Louis Lindsay and George Amy
Quinn Martin
Film editor Dann Cahn on sound effects editor/producer Quinn Martin
Film editor Dann Cahn on bringing sound editor Quinn Martin onto I Love Lucy
Editor Dann Cahn on Quinn Martin and The Untouchables episode of The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Sobey Martin
Dann Cahn on Your Show Time director Sobey Martin
Lee Marvin
Editor Dann Cahn on The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Editor Dann Cahn on Lee Marvin giving him his next job
Roddy McDowall
Dann Cahn on working with Roddy McDowall in MacBeth for Republic Films
Bud Molin
Film editor Dann Cahn on Bud Molin, his assistant, taking over editing I Love Lucy
Marilyn Monroe
Dann Cahn on Marilyn Monroe's almost role on "The Necklace," the Emmy Award winning episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime)
Argyle Nelson
Film editor Dann Cahn on Argyle Nelson replacing Al Simon on I Love Lucy
Ryan O'Neal
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the TV movie The Man Upstairs starring Katharine Hepburn and Ryan O'Neal
Jess Oppenheimer
Film editor Dann Cahn on the beginnings of I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on meeting Jess Oppenheimer
Film editor Dann Cahn on Jess Oppenheimer
Film editor Dann Cahn on editing I Love Lucy and screening it with Al Simon, Jess Oppenheimer and others
Film editor Dann Cahn on Jess Oppenheimer's departure from I Love Lucy
Film editor Dann Cahn on why Marc Daniels left I Love Lucy after the first year
Editor Dann Cahn on editing I Love Lucy with Jess Oppenheimer
Editor Dann Cahn on reuniting with Jess Oppenheimer
Editor Dann Cahn on Jess Oppenheimer
William S. Paley
Editor Dann Cahn on not cutting The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour down and consulting with CBS executives
Sydney Pollack
Editor Dann Cahn on Sydney Pollack as alternating director on Shotgun Slade
Madelyn Pugh Davis
Film editor Dann Cahn on I Love Lucy writers Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
Film editor Dann Cahn on I Love Lucy writers Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
Dennis Quaid
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the TV movie Tough Enough starring Dennis Quaid
Rick Rosner
Editor Dann Cahn on Rick Rosner
Stanley Rubin
Dann Cahn on friend Stanley Rubin getting him a job editing the show Lucky Strike Showtime for Dumont
Dann Cahn on Your Show Time (misquoted as Lucky Strike Showtime) producers Louis Lantz and Stanley Rubin
Dann Cahn on Eva Gabor's role on "The Necklace," the Emmy Award winning episode of Your Show Time (misquoted as part of Lucky Strike Showtime)
Bob Schiller
Film editor Dann Cahn on I Love Lucy writers Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis and getting help from Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf
Al Simon
Film editor Dann Cahn on I Love Luc y Associate Producer Al Simon
Film editor Dann Cahn on screening I Love Lucy with Al Simon, Jess Oppenheimer and others
Herbert F. Solow
Editor Dann Cahn on returning to Desilu to work for producer Herbert F. Solow after Desi Arnaz left
Aaron Spelling
Film editor Dann Cahn on Aaron Spelling's bit part on I Love Lucy
Editor Dann Cahn on working for Aaron Spelling
Editor Dann Cahn on working on Aaron Spelling's The Most Deadly Game
Ed Sullivan
Dann Cahn on doing a movie with Ed Sullivan
Elizabeth Taylor
Dann Cahn on meeting Elizabeth Taylor
Jerry Thorpe
Editor Dann Cahn on Jerry Thorpe directing The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
Vivian Vance
Film editor Dann Cahn on I Love Lucy's "Ethel Mertz" Vivian Vance
Bob Weiskopf
Film editor Dann Cahn on I Love Lucy writers Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis and getting help from Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf
Orson Welles
Dann Cahn on working with Orson Welles in MacBeth for Republic Films
Loretta Young
Film editor Dann Cahn on his father's work with Loretta Young and Letters to Loretta
Stephanie Zimbalist
Editor Dann Cahn on editing the pilot for Remington Steele, starring Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist