About
"I’ve had the opportunity of working with probably more stars than anyone else. I don’t know anybody who’s had that unique experience of being with so many different talented people. I just hope that I got from most of them a positive thought. And that they thought of me in a positive way."
In the two-and-a-half-hour solo portion of his interview, Dwight Hemion (1926–2008) talks about his early television career at ABC in the late 1940s. He discusses in detail the beginnings of the ABC network and his early directing work on the television series The Rootie Kazootie Club and The Tonight Show with Steve Allen. He discusses his collaboration with Gary Smith on Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall and their subsequent company collaborations in producing and directing television musical variety specials. Hemion finishes the solo portion of the interview discussing the stars of these specials, particularly Barbra Streisand.
In the joint portion of their interview, Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion recall their long-running partnership and the founding of their production company. They discuss their working relationship, and how they complemented each other as producing and directing partners. They conclude by mentioning some of their proudest company achievements and stars they've enjoyed working with over the years. Michael Rosen conducted the interviews on July 9, 2001 in Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Dwight Hemion on directing Christmas in Washington
Dwight Hemion on the first year of directing Tonight with Steve Allen, and on the show's transition from local to national
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on choosing projects to work on, and on their production company
Dwight Hemion on directing Barbra Streisand's first special, My Name is Barbra
Dwight Hemion on winning Emmy Awards
Dwight Hemion on how he'd like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his hobbies growing up, including music, movies, and listening to radio
On going to work for ABC as a gofer; on the scene at ABC when he was a gofer in the 1950s; on his first jobs, assistant directing and directing sports telecasts for ABC
Chapter 2
On directing early live boxing telecasts and on how he came to direct The Steve Allen Show and Tonight; on his early impressions of Steve Allen as host of Tonight; on the first year of directing Tonight with Steve Allen, and on the show's transition from local to national
On the logistics and challenges of directing Tonight with Steve Allen live and on the show traveling to Florida; on directing The Rootie Kazootie Club
On directing Timex All-Star Jazz Show; on directing The Perry Como Show; on directing various specials and how he came to direct My Name is Barbra for Barbra Streisand
Chapter 3
On directing Barbra Streisand's first special, My Name is Barbra; on directing Barbra Streisand's Color Me Barbra special
On directing the Frank Sinatra Specials; on starting his production company with Gary Smith; on producing and directing The Kraft Music Hall
On the logistics and the camera equipment of shooting The Kraft Music Hall and other specials
Chapter 4
On his television directing style and on the basic duties of a television director; on various people he worked with in his career; on directing Disney's American Teacher Awards
On directing Christmas in Washington; on directing the Television Academy Hall of Fame; on directing The People's Choice Awards
On directing specials for Ann-Margret; on favorite projects he worked on; on working with technical people as a director
Chapter 5
On winning Emmy Awards; on advice to an aspiring director; on then-recent projects and how he'd like to be remembered
Chapter 7
START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH DWIGHT HEMION AND GARY SMITH: On forming their partnership at Perry Como's The Kraft Music Hall; on the importance of Gary's art design background and on their communication with each other; on choosing projects to work on, and on their production company
On the highlights of their partnership, including the special Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass; on working together as producing partners and on coming up with ideas; on dealing with pressure and working with luminaries like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Chapter 8
On how performers like Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand regarded the medium of television; on the atmosphere on the set of their productions and how they collaborate on set; on the elements of a successful producing and directing partnership and on why theirs worked
On staffing their projects and keeping their collaborations fresh; on their proudest company achievements, including Rockette: A Holiday Tribute to Radio City Music Hall; on performers they enjoyed working with over the years, including Bette Davis
Shows
Barbra Streisand Specials
Dwight Hemion on directing various specials and how he came to direct My Name is Barbra for Barbra Streisand
Dwight Hemion on directing Barbra Streisand's first special, My Name is Barbra
Dwight Hemion on directing Barbra Streisand's Color Me Barbra special
Christmas in Washington
Dwight Hemion on directing Christmas in Washington
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Dwight Hemion on winning Emmys
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on dealing with performers like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. and on winning Emmys
Frank Sinatra Specials
Dwight Hemion on directing the Frank Sinatra Specials
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on dealing with performers like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. and on winning Emmy Awards
Kraft Music Hall, The
Dwight Hemion on producing and directing The Kraft Music Hall
Dwight Hemion on the logistics and the camera equipment of shooting The Kraft Music Hall and other specials
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on forming their partnership at Perry Como's The Kraft Music Hall
People's Choice Awards
Dwight Hemion on directing The People's Choice Awards
Perry Como Show, The
Dwight Hemion on directing The Perry Como Show
Rootie Kazootie Club, The
Dwight Hemion on directing The Rootie Kazootie Club
Steve Allen Show, The (1953-54)
Dwight Hemion on directing early live boxing telecasts and on how he came to direct The Steve Allen Show and Tonight
Tonight
Dwight Hemion on directing early live boxing telecasts and on how he came to direct The Steve Allen Show and Tonight
Dwight Hemion on his early impressions of Steve Allen as host of Tonight and on directing Tonight
Dwight Hemion on the first year of directing Tonight with Steve Allen, and on the show's transition from local to national
Dwight Hemion on the logistics and challenges of directing Tonight with Steve Allen live and on the show traveling to Florida
Topics
Advice
Dwight Hemion on advice to an aspiring director
Emmy Awards
Dwight Hemion on winning Emmys
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on dealing with performers like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. and on winning Emmys
Television Industry
Dwight Hemion on advice to an aspiring director
Professions
Directors
Dwight Hemion on his television directing style
Dwight Hemion on the basic duties of a television director
Dwight Hemion on working with technical people as a director
Dwight Hemion on advice to an aspiring director
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on the importance of Gary's art design background, and on their communication with each other
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on choosing projects to work on, and on their production company
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on dealing with performers like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on dealing with pressure when working on a project
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on working together as producing partners and on coming up with ideas
Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion on the atmosphere on the set of their productions and how they collaborate on set
Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion on the elements of a successful producing and directing partnership and on why theirs worked
Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion on staffing their projects
Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion on keeping their collaborations fresh
Producers
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on working together as producing partners and on coming up with ideas
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on dealing with pressure when working on a project
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on dealing with performers like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on choosing projects to work on and on their production company
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on the importance of Gary's art design background, and on their communication with each other
Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion on the atmosphere on the set of their productions and how they collaborate on set
Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion on the elements of a successful producing and directing partnership and on why theirs worked
Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion on staffing their projects
Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion on keeping their collaborations fresh
Genres
Awards Shows
Dwight Hemion on directing Disney's American Teacher Awards
Dwight Hemion on directing the Television Academy Hall of Fame
Dwight Hemion on winning Emmy Awards
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Dwight Hemion on directing Timex All-Star Jazz Show
Dwight Hemion on producing and directing Kraft Music Hall
Dwight Hemion on directing the Barbra Streisand Specials
Dwight Hemion on directing the Frank Sinatra Specials
Dwight Hemion on directing The Kraft Music Hall
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on the highlights of their partnership, including the special Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
Sports
Dwight Hemion on directing early live boxing telecasts and on how he came to direct The Steve Allen Show and Tonight
Dwight Hemion on his first jobs, assistant directing and directing sports telecasts for ABC
Talk Shows
Dwight Hemion on directing early live boxing telecasts and on how he came to direct The Steve Allen Show and Tonight
People
Steve Allen
Dwight Hemion on his early impressions of Steve Allen as host of Tonight and on directing Tonight
Jack Burns
Dwight Hemion on Jack Burns
Perry Como
Dwight Hemion on directing The Perry Como Show
Bette Davis
Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion on performers they enjoyed working with over the years, including Bette Davis
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on dealing with performers like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Ian Fraser
Dwight Hemion on Ian Fraser, Jack Parnell, and Marty Farrell
Buz Kohan
Dwight Hemion on Buz Kohan
Ann-Margret
Dwight Hemion on directing specials for Ann-Margret
Frank Sinatra
Dwight Hemion on directing the Frank Sinatra Specials
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on dealing with performers like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion on how performers like Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand regarded the medium of television
Gary Smith
Dwight Hemion on starting his production company with Gary Smith
Barbra Streisand
Dwight Hemion on directing Barbra Streisand's first special, My Name is Barbra
Dwight Hemion on directing Barbra Streisand's Color Me Barbra special
Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion on how performers like Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand regarded the medium of television
