About
"Everybody came in with a smile on their face. How can you not smile on Sesame Street?"
In his three-hour interview, Frank Biondo talks about his childhood in Brooklyn, joining the Navy, and being a bond clerk on Wall Street before going to school for TV production and learning to be a camera operator. He discusses his early jobs in production at WTTV in Washington, D.C. and WBZ in Boston before getting hired by NBC in New York. He describes being a camera operator at the 1964 World's Fair, at the United Nation's General Assembly sessions, on the show Supermarket Sweep, on the soap opera The Nurses, on Barbra Streisand's TV special A Happening in Central Park, and on the ABC show That's Life. He talks about evolving technology in cameras over the years, and differences between operating a Chapman and a jib. He details his then-fifty years as a camera operator on Sesame Street, recalling memorable episodes and songs, working with the cast and Muppeteers, changes to the set and the way the show is shot, and his role as emcee of the Sesame Street wrap parties for the last forty-five years. He also discusses being a camera operator on two other Children's Television Workshop programs -- The Best of Families and The Electric Company -- and on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He tells stories of interactions with people he's worked with over the years, including John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Andy Warhol, Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman, Diana Ross, and Michael Jackson. He shares what he enjoys about being a camera operator, offers advice to aspiring camera operators, and concludes with remarks about how he'd like to be remembered. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on October 2, 2019 in Long Island, NY.
Highlights
Frank Biondo on working the 1964 World's Fair color television display for NBC
Frank Biondo on how Sesame Street is shot
Frank Biondo on shooting the "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" episode of Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on the Sesame Street cast interacting with kids and fans of the show
Frank Biondo on competition for Sesame Street -- Barney & Friends -- and Sesame Street producing fewer episodes
Frank Biondo on advice to an aspiring camera operator
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early years and influences; on how he started to go by the name "Frank"; on his childhood in Brooklyn; on the first time he saw television; on going to school for radio and television repair; on joining the Navy; on being a bond clerk on Wall Street
On going to school for TV production and getting his first production job at WTTG in Washington, D.C.; on working at WBZ in Boston and turning down a full-time position there; on getting hired at NBC as a cameraman and working with color television at the 1964 World's Fair; on shooting the UN General Assembly sessions
On wanting to do summer relief shows at NBC; on getting a job as a cameraman on Supermarket Sweep; on shooting a three-camera setup on the soap opera The Nurses; on famous people he worked with in the '60s at NBC, including Andy Warhol
On differences between a Chapman crane and jib and becoming a Chapman operator; on shooting hockey games, Barbra Streisand's TV special A Happening in Central Park, That's Life, and shooting John Lennon in studio; on his interactions with Yoko Ono
Chapter 2
On how he became a camera operator on Sesame Street; on the original cast of Sesame Street; on the expansion of the show's set; on the Muppeteers
On how Sesame Street is shot; on the music and monitors on the show; on emceeing the Sesame Street wrap parties for the past forty-five years
On a typical week on Sesame Street; on the kids and guest stars on the show
On working on the Children's Television Workshop shows The Best of Families and The Electric Company
Chapter 3
On changes in how Sesame Street is shot over the years; on memorable songs on the show; on shooting the "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" episode of Sesame Street; on memorable episodes and Christmas specials; on the types of camera shots on Sesame Street and on the Christmas specials
On being a camera operator for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade; on Sesame Street getting a jib and the technical crew on the show; on the Muppet version of Frank Biondo; on writing a song for Sesame Street
On competition for Sesame Street -- Barney & Friends -- and Sesame Street producing fewer episodes; on production not changing on Sesame Street with the HBO first-run deal; on the legacy of Sesame Street and what it's meant to him to be a part of the show; on what he enjoys about being a camera operator; on advice to an aspiring camera operator
On his proudest career achievement and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Barbra Streisand Specials
Frank Biondo on being a Chapman camera operator on Barbra Streisand's TV special, A Happening in Central Park
Barney & Friends
Frank Biondo on competition for Sesame Street -- Barney & Friends -- and Sesame Street producing fewer episodes
Best of Families, The
Frank Biondo on working on the Children's Television Workshop program The Best of Families
Electric Company, The
Frank Biondo on working on the Children's Television Workshop program The Electric Company, a show with difficult camera work
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Frank Biondo on being a camera operator for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Nurses, The
Frank Biondo on getting a job as a cameraman on the soap opera The Nurses -- a three-camera setup
Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on how he became a camera operator on Sesame Street, his early thoughts on the show, and how he came to like the program
Frank Biondo on the original Sesame Street cast
Frank Biondo on the expansion of the Sesame Street set and bringing senior citizens onto the cast
Frank Biondo on the Muppeteers on Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on how Sesame Street is shot
Frank Biondo on the music on Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on setting up the monitors for Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on Richard Hunt getting him to be in charge of the Sesame Street wrap parties; on emceeing the wrap parties
Frank Biondo on a typical week on Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on the kids on Sesame Street and meeting a young Whoopi Goldberg
Frank Biondo on the guest stars on Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on changes in how Sesame Street is shot over the years
Frank Biondo on memorable songs on Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on shooting the "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" episode of Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on the Sesame Street cast interacting with kids and fans of the show
Frank Biondo on Sesame Street episodes in response to 9/11 and to hurricanes
Frank Biondo on the wedding of "Maria" and "Luis" on Sesame Street and Christmas specials; on the types of camera shots on Sesame Street and the Christmas specials
Frank Biondo on Sesame Street getting a jib and on the technical crew on Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on the Muppet version of Frank Biondo
Frank Biondo on writing a song for Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on being a camera operator on Sesame Street for the last fifty years and all of the accomplishments of the show
Frank Biondo on competition for Sesame Street -- Barney & Friends -- and Sesame Street producing fewer episodes
Frank Biondo on production not changing on Sesame Street with the HBO first-run deal
Frank Biondo on his then-current thoughts on how much longer he'll continue to work at Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on the legacy of Sesame Street and what it's meant to him to be a part of the show
Sesame Street: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Frank Biondo on shooting the "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" episode of Sesame Street
Supermarket Sweep
Frank Biondo on getting a job as a cameraman on Supermarket Sweep, which shot on location
That's Life
Frank Biondo on being a camera operator on the ABC show That's Life
Frank Biondo on the studios where That's Life was shot
Topics
Advice
Frank Biondo on advice to an aspiring camera operator
Emmy Awards
Frank Biondo on winning Emmys
Historic Events and Social Change
Frank Biondo on working the 1964 World's Fair color television display for NBC
Pivotal Career Moments
Frank Biondo on going to school for TV production
Technological Innovation
Frank Biondo on the types of cameras he worked with in TV production in the 1960s
Frank Biondo on working on NBC's early color television work
Frank Biondo on differences between a Chapman crane and a jib
Frank Biondo on meeting the man who invented the jib
Television Industry
Frank Biondo on advice to an aspiring camera operator
Professions
Camera Operator
Frank Biondo on going to school for TV production
Frank Biondo on the types of cameras he worked with in TV production in the 1960s and working in early color television
Frank Biondo on the types of camera shots on Sesame Street Christmas specials and Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on what he enjoys about being a camera operator
Frank Biondo on advice to an aspiring camera operator
Frank Biondo on advice to an aspiring camera operator
Production Professionals
Frank Biondo on going to school for TV production
Frank Biondo on the types of cameras he worked with in TV production in the 1960s and working in early color television
Frank Biondo on the types of camera shots on Sesame Street Christmas specials and Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on what he enjoys about being a camera operator
Genres
Children's Programming
Frank Biondo on being a camera operator on Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on being a camera operator on The Best of Families
Frank Biondo on being a camera operator on The Electric Company
Frank Biondo on memorable songs and episodes of Sesame Street and types of camera shots on the show
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Frank Biondo on getting a job as a cameraman on the soap opera The Nurses -- a three-camera setup
Game Shows
Frank Biondo on getting a job as a cameraman on Supermarket Sweep, which shot on location
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Frank Biondo on being a camera operator on the ABC show That's Life
Frank Biondo on being a Chapman camera operator on Barbra Streisand's TV special, A Happening in Central Park
Sports
Frank Biondo on being a Chapman camera operator for hockey games at the old Madison Square Garden
People
Bill Barretta
Frank Biondo on seeing Yoko Ono again thirty years after he first met her (while at dinner with Kevin Clash and puppeteer Bill Barretta)
Northern Calloway
Frank Biondo on the many talents of Northern Calloway
Kevin Clash
Frank Biondo on seeing Yoko Ono again thirty years after he first met her (while at dinner with Kevin Clash and puppeteer Bill Barretta)
Bill Cosby
Frank Biondo on Bill Cosby on The Electric Company
Danny DeVito
Frank Biondo on guest stars on Sesame Street - Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman
Jill Eikenberry
Frank Biondo on working with Jill Eikenberry on the Children's Television Workshop show The Best of Families
Morgan Freeman
Frank Biondo on Morgan Freeman on The Electric Company
Whoopi Goldberg
Frank Biondo on the kids on Sesame Street and meeting a young Whoopi Goldberg
Jim Henson
Frank Biondo on first seeing Jim Henson and Kermit on the ABC show That's Life
Frank Biondo on Jim Henson and Frank Oz not being there for the day-to-day of Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on Jim Henson staying for one of the Sesame Street wrap parties
Gregory Hines
Frank Biondo on being camera operator for the televised production of the play "Eubie," featuring Hines, Hines and Dad
Richard Hunt
Frank Biondo on the Muppeteers on Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on Muppeteer Richard Hunt on Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on Richard Hunt getting him to be in charge of the Sesame Street wrap parties; on emceeing the wrap parties
William Hurt
Frank Biondo on working with William Hurt on the Children's Television Workshop show The Best of Families
Michael Jackson
Frank Biondo on Michael Jackson on a Sesame Street Christmas special
Van Johnson
Frank Biondo on an experience working with Van Johnson
Will Lee
Frank Biondo on Sesame Street's "Mr. Hooper," played by Will Lee
John Lennon
Frank Biondo on shooting John Lennon mix a record and on Yoko Ono treating the crew to a late-night/early morning meal
Loretta Long
Frank Biondo on Loretta Long on Sesame Street
Joey Mazzarino
Frank Biondo on Joey Mazzarino writing sketches for the Sesame Street wrap parties and how kids began coming to the parties
Rita Moreno
Frank Biondo on Rita Moreno on The Electric Company
Robert Morse
Frank Biondo on becoming good friends with Robert Morse while working on the ABC show That's Life
Jerry Nelson
Frank Biondo on the Muppeteers on Sesame Street
Yoko Ono
Frank Biondo on shooting John Lennon mix a record and on Yoko Ono treating the crew to a late-night/early morning meal
Frank Biondo on seeing Yoko Ono again thirty years after he first met her (while at dinner with Kevin Clash and puppeteer Bill Barretta)
Roscoe Orman
Frank Biondo on the actors who played "Gordon" on Sesame Street
Frank Oz
Frank Biondo on Jim Henson and Frank Oz not being there for the day-to-day of Sesame Street
Rhea Perlman
Frank Biondo on guest stars on Sesame Street - Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman
Diana Ross
Frank Biondo on guest stars on Sesame Street - Diana Ross
Caroll Spinney
Frank Biondo on the many talents of Caroll Spinney
Frank Biondo on shooting the "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" episode of Sesame Street
Frank Biondo on Caroll Spinney always being gracious with kids and fans
Barbra Streisand
Frank Biondo on being a Chapman camera operator on Barbra Streisand's TV special A Happening in Central Park
Andy Warhol
Frank Biondo on doing a blue screen test with Andy Warhol