About
"Learn as you go along, listen to and watch people. Watch performers who are good performers. And don't rely on idiot cards and teleprompters and so forth. Have it in your head."
In her nearly three-hour interview, Doris Singleton (1919-2012) talks about her early career as a ballet dancer in New York. She describes her work as a singer and actress in network radio, where she appeared on many of the medium's now-classic shows. She speaks in great detail about her recurring role as "Carolyn Appleby" on I Love Lucy. She talks about the production of the series, Lucille Ball's working style, and the show's frequent famous guest stars, including Harpo Marx, Van Johnson, and George Reeves. Singleton discusses several of her other memorable guest roles on television through the years, including her appearances on My Three Sons, The Twilight Zone, Hazel, and Hogan's Heroes. She also speaks frequently about her late husband, comedy writer Charlie Isaacs, to whom she was married for 60 years. Jennifer Howard conducted the interview on April 21, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Doris Singleton on working on Lucille Ball's radio show My Favorite Husband
Doris Singleton on her character "Carolyn Appleby" on I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on working with Lucille Ball and on a typical work week on I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on the invention of the three camera technique on I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on appearing on Hogan's Heroes
Doris Singleton on advice to actors just starting out
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences; on finishing high school at age sixteen; on her first professional role in a theater production; on being a singer for WNEW; on joining the American Ballet Theatre (ABT)
On why she left ABT; on singing with Art Jarrett; on returning to California; on meeting her future husband, Charlie Isaacs; on becoming active in radio, being introduced to writer Sanford Barnett, and auditioning for Lever Brothers commercials for Lux Radio Theatre
Chapter 2
On working in radio programs with Alan Young, Jack Benny, Frank Sinatra, and others; on performing in front of an audience on radio shows; on the first time she saw television and her early impressions of television
On doing early television commercials; on working on Lucille Ball's radio show, My Favorite Husband and on I Love Lucy, its television successor; on the importance of the audience feedback on I Love Lucy and the challenges of performing for three cameras; on the basic premise of I Love Lucy
Chapter 3
On playing "Carolyn Appleby" on I Love Lucy; on working with the cast; on a typical work week on I Love Lucy; on the I Love Lucy episode with Harpo Marx and other favorite episodes
On working on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy; on still being recognized as "Carolyn Appleby" from I Love Lucy
Chapter 4
On I Love Lucy fans, fandom, and the popularity of the show; on working on Adventures of Superman, The Great Gildersleeve, The Bob Cummings Show, The People's Choice, and NBC Matinee Theater
On working on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Perry Mason, Frontier Doctor, Angel, The Ann Sothern Show, and The Loretta Young Show
Chapter 5
On working as a guest performer on 1960's television shows -- Gunsmoke, The Real McCoys, Hazel, The Twilight Zone, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Colgate Comedy Hour, The Munsters, and The Fugitive
On appearing on The F.B.I., The Red Skelton Show, Hogan's Heroes, and My Three Sons; on working on the TV movie The Boy Who Stole the Elephant
On working on 1970's television, including All in the Family and Phyllis
Chapter 6
On her role on Days of Our Lives; on how acting for soap operas differed from acting for sitcoms; on her role on Dynasty; on wearing her own clothes on a lot of the shows she worked on
On her acting style, advice to aspiring actors, and acting for television, stage, and radio; on McCarthyism and the Hollywood Blacklist; on her retirement; on her husband, the late television writer Charlie Isaacs; on career highlights and how she'd like to be remembered
On B-roll photos from her career: performing with Art Jarrett's band; as a pin-up girl during her radio days; with I Love Lucy cast members in the episode "Lucy Tells the Truth"; with Harpo Marx on I Love Lucy; with Norm Alden on My Three Sons; with Shirley Booth on Hazel; with John Banner on Hogan's Heroes; with Walter Brennan on The Tycoon; on Gunsmoke; with Betty Lynn on The Boy Who Stole the Elephant; and with her late husband, Charlie Isaacs
Shows
Adventures of Superman
Doris Singleton on working on Adventures of Superman
Alan Young Show, The
Doris Singleton on working on Alan Young's radio show, The Alan Young Show, and transitioning with the show from radio to television
Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Doris Singleton on working on Alfred Hitchcock Presents
All in the Family
Doris Singleton on working on All in the Family
Angel (1960-61)
Doris Singleton on working on the Jess Oppenheimer sitcom Angel
Ann Sothern Show, The
Doris Singleton on working on The Ann Sothern Show
Bob Cummings Show, The aka Love That Bob
Doris Singleton on working on The Bob Cummings Show
Boy Who Stole the Elephant, The
Doris Singleton on working on a TV movie The Boy Who Stole the Elephant
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with Betty Lynn on The Boy Who Stole the Elephant
Colgate Comedy Hour, The
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs, being the head writer of Colgate Comedy Hour and working with Jimmy Durante and many others
Days of Our Lives
Doris Singleton on her role on the soap opera Days of Our Lives
December Bride
Doris Singleton on working on the radio program, December Bride, but not working on the television version
Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Doris Singleton on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Doris Singleton on coming into an established ensemble cast on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Duffy's Tavern
Doris Singleton on working on the radio and TV versions of Duffy's Tavern
Dynasty
Doris Singleton on her role on Dynasty
FBI, The
Doris Singleton on working on The F.B.I. with Charles Bronson
Frank Sinatra Show, The (1957-58)
Doris Singleton on her role in The Frank Sinatra Show on radio
Frontier Doctor
Doris Singleton on working on Frontier Doctor with Rex Allen
Fugitive, The
Doris Singleton on working on The Fugitive
Great Gildersleeve, The
Doris Singleton on working on The Great Gildersleeve
Gunsmoke
Doris Singleton on working on Gunsmoke
Doris Singleton on a photo of her on Gunsmoke
Hazel
Doris Singleton on working on Hazel with Shirley Booth
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with Shirley Booth on Hazel
Here's Lucy
Doris Singleton on working on Here's Lucy
Hogan's Heroes
Doris Singleton on appearing on Hogan's Heroes
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with John Banner on Hogan's Heroes
I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on her salary for her role in I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on her role in I Love Lucy and the start of the three-camera technique
Doris Singleton on the importance of the audience feedback on I Love Lucy and the challenges of performing for three cameras
Doris Singleton on the basic premise of I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on her character "Carolyn Appleby" on I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on working with Lucille Ball and on the process of filming an episode of I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on working with the cast, writers, and guest stars on I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on memorable episodes and her favorite episodes of I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on still being recognized as "Carolyn Appleby" from I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on the popularity of I Love Lucy and Lucille Ball
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with I Love Lucy cast members in the episode "Lucy Tells the Truth"
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with Harpo Marx on I Love Lucy
Jack Benny Program, The
Doris Singleton on working on the radio program, The Jack Benny Program
Loretta Young Show, The
Doris Singleton on working on The Loretta Young Show
Lucy Show, The
Doris Singleton on working on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy
Lux Video Theatre
Doris Singleton on becoming active in radio, being introduced to writer Sanford Barnett, and auditioning for Lever Brothers commercials for Lux Radio Theatre
Doris Singleton on working on Lux Radio Theatre (pre-Lux Video Theatre) with host Cecil B. DeMille
Doris Singleton on doing early radio and television commercials on Lux Radio Theatre and Lux Video Theatre
Munsters, The
Doris Singleton on working on The Munsters
My Favorite Husband
Doris Singleton on working on Lucille Ball's radio show My Favorite Husband
My Three Sons
Doris Singleton on appearing on My Three Sons
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with Norm Alden on My Three Sons
NBC Matinee Theater
Doris Singleton on working on three episodes of NBC Matinee Theater
Our Miss Brooks
Doris Singleton on working on Our Miss Brooks
People's Choice, The
Doris Singleton on playing a glamorous character on The People's Choice with Jackie Cooper and on the part getting her a movie role
Perry Mason (1957-66)
Doris Singleton on working on Perry Mason
Phyllis
Doris Singleton on working on Phyllis with Cloris Leachman
Real McCoys, The
Doris Singleton on working on The Real McCoys
Red Skelton Show, The
Doris Singleton on hitting Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Show
Twilight Zone, The
Doris Singleton on working on The Twilight Zone episode, "A Kind of Stopwatch"
Twilight Zone, The: "A Kind of Stopwatch"
Doris Singleton on working on The Twilight Zone episode, "A Kind of Stopwatch"
Tycoon, The
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with Walter Brennan on The Tycoon
Topics
Advertising and Sponsorship
Doris Singleton on becoming active in radio, being introduced to writer Sanford Barnett, and auditioning for Lever Brothers commercials for Lux Radio Theatre
Doris Singleton on her role in The Frank Sinatra Show on radio
Doris Singleton on sponsor spots on several of Dinah Shore's shows
Advice
Doris Singleton on the most important advice anyone ever gave her about acting
Doris Singleton on advice to actors just starting out
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Doris Singleton on censorship on I Love Lucy
Characters & Catchphrases
Doris Singleton on her character "Carolyn Appleby" on I Love Lucy
Classic TV Series Episodes
Doris Singleton on the Harpo Marx episode of I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy "Baby Pictures" episode
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy "Lucy Tells the Truth" episode
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy episode "The Dancing Star" with Van Johnson
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy episode, "Lucy and Superman"
Doris Singleton on the "Edith Has Jury Duty" episode of All in the Family
Comedy
Doris Singleton on the Harpo Marx episode of I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy "Baby Pictures" episode
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy "Lucy Tells the Truth" episode
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy episode "The Dancing Star" with Van Johnson
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy episode, "Lucy and Superman"
Doris Singleton on the "Edith Has Jury Duty" episode of All in the Family
Fame and Celebrity
Doris Singleton on still being recognized as "Carolyn Appleby" from I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on the popularity of I Love Lucy and Lucille Ball
Historic Events and Social Change
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs, volunteering for service in World War II
Hollywood Blacklist
Doris Singleton on the Hollywood Blacklist and Red Channels
Industry Crossroads
Doris Singleton on the Hollywood Blacklist and Red Channels
Pop Culture
Doris Singleton on her character "Carolyn Appleby" on I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on the Harpo Marx episode of I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy "Baby Pictures" episode
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy "Lucy Tells the Truth" episode
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy episode "The Dancing Star" with Van Johnson
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy episode, "Lucy and Superman"
Doris Singleton on still being recognized as "Carolyn Appleby" from I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on the popularity of I Love Lucy and Lucille Ball
Doris Singleton on the "Edith Has Jury Duty" episode of All in the Family
Technological Innovation
Doris Singleton on the differences between working in radio and television
Doris Singleton on the invention of the three camera technique on I Love Lucy
Television Industry
Doris Singleton on becoming active in radio, being introduced to writer Sanford Barnett, and auditioning for Lever Brothers commercials for Lux Radio Theatre
Doris Singleton on her role in The Frank Sinatra Show on radio
Doris Singleton on censorship on I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on sponsor spots on several of Dinah Shore's shows
Doris Singleton on the most important advice anyone ever gave her about acting
Doris Singleton on advice to actors just starting out
Doris Singleton on the Hollywood Blacklist and Red Channels
War
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs, volunteering for service in World War II
World War II
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs, volunteering for service in World War II
Professions
Actor
Doris Singleton on advice to actors just starting out
Actress
Doris Singleton on honing her acting skills in radio
Doris Singleton on learning comedic timing from her work in radio
Doris Singleton on performing in front of an audience on radio shows
Doris Singleton on how acting for soap operas differed from acting for sitcoms
Doris Singleton on her acting style
Doris Singleton on the most important advice anyone ever gave her about acting
Doris Singleton on acting for television, stage, radio
Performers
Doris Singleton on honing her acting skills in radio
Doris Singleton on learning comedic timing from her work in radio
Doris Singleton on performing in front of an audience on radio shows
Doris Singleton on how acting for soap operas differed from acting for sitcoms
Doris Singleton on her acting style
Doris Singleton on the most important advice anyone ever gave her about acting
Doris Singleton on advice to actors just starting out
Doris Singleton on acting for television, stage, radio
Genres
Comedy Series
Doris Singleton on working on Lucille Ball's radio show, My Favorite Husband and on I Love Lucy, its television successor
Doris Singleton on playing "Carolyn Appleby" on I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on working on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy
Doris Singleton on working on dramas and comedies
Doris Singleton on the popularity of I Love Lucy and Lucille Ball
Doris Singleton on working on Adventures of Superman, The Great Gildersleeve, The Bob Cummings Show, and The People's Choice
Doris Singleton on working on the Jess Oppenheimer sitcom Angel
Doris Singleton on working on The Ann Sothern Show
Doris Singleton on working on The Real McCoys
Doris Singleton on working on Hazel with Shirley Booth
Doris Singleton on working on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Doris Singleton on coming into an established ensemble cast on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Doris Singleton on working on The Munsters
Doris Singleton on appearing on Hogan's Heroes
Doris Singleton on appearing on My Three Sons
Doris Singleton on working on All in the Family
Doris Singleton on working on Phyllis with Cloris Leachman
Commercials
Doris Singleton on becoming active in radio, being introduced to writer Sanford Barnett, and auditioning for Lever Brothers commercials for Lux Radio Theatre
Doris Singleton on doing early television commercials
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Doris Singleton on her role on the soap opera Days of Our Lives
Doris Singleton on her role on Dynasty
Drama Series
Doris Singleton on working on dramas and comedies
Doris Singleton on working on NBC Matinee Theater, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Perry Mason
Doris Singleton on working on The Loretta Young Show
Doris Singleton on working on The Fugitive
Doris Singleton on working on The F.B.I. with Charles Bronson
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs, being the head writer of Colgate Comedy Hour and working with Jimmy Durante and many others
Doris Singleton on hitting Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Show
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Doris Singleton on working on The Twilight Zone episode, "A Kind of Stopwatch"
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Doris Singleton on working on a TV movie The Boy Who Stole the Elephant
Western Series
Doris Singleton on working on Frontier Doctor with Rex Allen
Doris Singleton on working on Gunsmoke
People
Fred Allen
Doris Singleton on her late husband, writer Charlie Isaacs, and Fred Allen
Rex Allen
Doris Singleton on working on Frontier Doctor with Rex Allen
Desi Arnaz
Doris Singleton on Desi Arnaz's involvement with the production of I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on working with Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy
Lucille Ball
Doris Singleton on her working relationship with Lucille Ball when December Bride transitioned to television
Doris Singleton on working on Lucille Ball's radio show, My Favorite Husband and on I Love Lucy, its television successor
Doris Singleton on working with Lucille Ball and on a typical work week on I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on the "Baby Pictures" episode of I Love Lucy
Doris Singleton on working with Lucille Ball in The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy
Doris Singleton on the popularity of I Love Lucy and Lucille Ball
Doris Singleton on Lucille Ball being affected by the Hollywood Blacklist
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with I Love Lucy cast members in the episode "Lucy Tells the Truth"
Sanford Barnett
Doris Singleton on becoming active in radio, being introduced to writer Sanford Barnett, and auditioning for Lever Brothers commercials for Lux Radio Theatre
Shirley Booth
Doris Singleton on working on Hazel with Shirley Booth
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with Shirley Booth on Hazel
Walter Brennan
Doris Singleton on working on The Real McCoys
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with Walter Brennan on The Tycoon
Charles Bronson
Doris Singleton on working on The F.B.I. with Charles Bronson
Eddie Cantor
Doris Singleton on working with Eddie Cantor
Johnny Carson
Doris Singleton on her late husband, television writer Charlie Isaacs, working for Johnny Carson
Jackie Cooper
Doris Singleton on playing a glamorous character on The People's Choice with Jackie Cooper and the part getting her a movie role
Bob Crane
Doris Singleton on working with the cast of Hogan's Heroes
Cecil B. DeMille
Doris Singleton on working on Lux Radio Theatre (pre-Lux Video Theatre) with host Cecil B. DeMille
Kate Drain Lawson
Doris Singleton on working with NBC costume designer Kate Drain Lawson
Jimmy Durante
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs, being the head writer of Colgate Comedy Hour and working with Jimmy Durante
William Frawley
Doris Singleton on the working relationship between I Love Lucy's William Frawley and Vivian Vance
Gale Gordon
Doris Singleton on working with actor Gale Gordon on Here's Lucy
Cary Grant
Doris Singleton on adoring Cary Grant and playing his girlfriend on The Burns & Allen Show (radio)
Bob Hope
Doris Singleton on working with Bob Hope on radio and television
Doris Singleton on working with Bob Hope on his radio show
Charles Isaacs
Doris Singleton on meeting her future husband, Charlie Isaacs
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs, playing a joke on her about Cary Grant
Doris Singleton on a scene that her husband, Charlie Isaacs, wrote for NBC that was similar to an I Love Lucy episode
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs, knowing Carl Reiner from Dinah Shore's shows
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs, being the head writer of Colgate Comedy Hour and working with Jimmy Durante
Doris Singleton on being told that her husband, Charlie Isaacs, was listed in Red Channels
Doris Singleton on her late husband, television writer Charlie Isaacs
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with her late husband, Charlie Isaacs
Seaman Jacobs
Doris Singleton on attending a party at writer Seaman Jacob's house and on Lucille Ball's love of backgammon
David Janssen
Doris Singleton on working on The Fugitive
Van Johnson
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy episode, "The Dancing Star," with guest star Van Johnson
Don Keefer
Doris Singleton on working with her Angel co-star, Don Keefer
Cloris Leachman
Doris Singleton on working on Phyllis with Cloris Leachman
Norman Lear
Doris Singleton on working on All in the Family and getting direction from Norman Lear
Parke Levy
Doris Singleton on working on the radio program December Bride, but not working on the television version
Betty Lynn
Doris Singleton on working with Betty Lynn in the TV movie The Boy Who Stole the Elephant
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with Betty Lynn on The Boy Who Stole the Elephant
Fred MacMurray
Doris Singleton on the unconventional shooting style on My Three Sons
Harpo Marx
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy episode with Harpo Marx
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with Harpo Marx on I Love Lucy
Butterfly McQueen
Doris Singleton on working on the radio program, The Jack Benny Program
Mary Tyler Moore
Doris Singleton on how The Dick Van Dyke Show got its hairdresser
Doris Singleton on coming into an established ensemble cast on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Jess Oppenheimer
Doris Singleton on I Love Lucy's writer, Jess Oppenheimer
Doris Singleton on working on the Jess Oppenheimer sitcom Angel
George Reeves
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy episode, "Lucy and Superman" with guest star George Reeves
Carl Reiner
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs, knowing Carl Reiner from Dinah Shore's shows
Doris Singleton on coming into an established ensemble cast on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Dinah Shore
Doris Singleton on sponsor spots on several of Dinah Shore's shows
Red Skelton
Doris Singleton on hitting Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Show
Everett Sloane
Doris Singleton on working with Everett Sloane on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and on him having an allergic reaction to pancake makeup
Bob Sweeney
Doris Singleton on her role on Dynasty, working with director Bob Sweeney, and bringing her own clothes for her role
Vivian Vance
Doris Singleton on the working relationship between I Love Lucy's William Frawley and Vivian Vance
Doris Singleton on a photo of her with I Love Lucy cast members in the episode "Lucy Tells the Truth"
Cara Williams
Doris Singleton on not enjoying working with Cara Williams
Loretta Young
Doris Singleton on working on The Loretta Young Show
Doris Singleton on Loretta Young not allowing swearing on her set
Alan Young
Doris Singleton on working on Alan Young's radio show, The Alan Young Show, and transitioning with the show from radio to television