George Faber

Publicist


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his two-hour interview, George Faber (1921-2011) talks about his early years breaking into the business in local television in Chicago, where he notably worked at the NBC and later CBS affiliates as a news writer. He describes in detail one of his most dramatic news stories, a fire at Our Lady of the Angels School, a tragedy that took the lives of over a hundred, for which a ten-minute remote was featured on the national Evening News with Douglas Edwards on CBS. Faber recalls some of the interviews he did, including an exclusive with President Truman. He speaks in great detail about the next phase of his career in publicity, as the director of client relations at CBS in Los Angeles. He details his work in this position, which entailed selling American shows to foreign markets, with an emphasis on the lucrative Japanese market. He recounts the techniques (as well as the contribution of the series stars) in selling shows, including Perry Mason, Rawhide, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Hogan's Heroes. He also talks about his transition to Viacom, and its creation due to the government rulings. Reba Merrill conducted the interview in a joint venture with the Publicists Guild of America on February 21, 2001 in Sherman Oaks, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"You have to understand people before you can be in public relations, because what you're doing is trying to sell somebody on something that they may not like. It's basically a sales job."  

People Talking About ...
Highlights
George Faber on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
04:16
George Faber on dealing with the different customs of countries when doing overseas publicity
01:49
George Faber on the difficulty of selling The Twilight Zone overseas
04:16
George Faber on the process of publicizing a show like The Beverly Hillbillies in Japan
04:43
George Faber on joining the Publicists Guild
01:02
George Faber on selling I Love Lucy to overseas markets
01:14
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his experiences during World War II; on his earliest memories of television
On going to work for CBS; on the kinds of stories he covered for CBS, and on getting into publicity; on interviewing Harry S. Truman and Elvis Presley; on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale

Chapter 2

On his duties while working in international publicity for CBS; on William S. Paley; on the initial reaction of overseas markets to American television programming
On how overseas press compares to the American press; on the process of publicizing a show like The Beverly Hillbillies in Japan; on why Raymond Burr of Perry Mason was his favorite person to interview
On his favorite and least favorite people to interview; on dealing with the different customs of countries when doing overseas publicity
On how his job performance was judged when doing overseas publicity; on dealing with different CBS offices and executives, and learning foreign languages; on how publicity has changed since he started his career

Chapter 3

On how the differences between foreign press and American press; on encountering anti-Americanism when he was promoting the Miss Universe Pageant in Peru; on selling I Love Lucy and The Twilight Zone to overseas markets
On creating campaigns for the shows he sold; on the cast of Hogan's Heroes and his task of selling the show to overseas markets; on promoting Perry Mason, and working with Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
On doing publicity for Cannon, Green Acres, and Gunsmoke; on Sumner Redstone and Viacom's ascent

Chapter 4

On how the divesture of CBS impacted his job, and on Sumner Redstone's role; on his decision to retire
On how the industry changed during his career; on then-current projects; on advice to aspiring publicists
On how audiences have changed since he started in the industry; on joining the Publicists Guild
On career highlights and regrets; on mentors he had in his career; on how he would like to be remembered
On b-roll highlights from his career- Harry S. Truman and friend; with William Welles; President Lyndon B. Johnson; Lucille Ball; cast of Rawhide; Raymond Burr; with Donna Douglas of The Beverly Hillbillies; with Melissa Joan Hart; Dick Van Dyke; Andy Griffith; Andy Griffith at Disney World
Shows

Beverly Hillbillies, The

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George Faber on why Max Baer of The Beverly Hillbillies was his least favorite person to interview
00:52
George Faber on working with Donna Douglas of The Beverly Hillbillies
02:06
George Faber on the process of publicizing a show like The Beverly Hillbillies in Japan
04:43

Cannon

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George Faber on doing publicity for Cannon starring William Conrad
01:01

Green Acres

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George Faber on doing publicity for Green Acres
00:55

Gunsmoke

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George Faber on doing publicity for Gunsmoke
00:28

Hogan's Heroes

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George Faber on the cast of Hogan's Heroes and his task of selling the show to overseas markets
04:05

I Love Lucy

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George Faber on selling I Love Lucy to overseas markets
01:14

Miss Universe

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George Faber on encountering anti-Americanism when he was promoting the Miss Universe Pageant in Peru
02:29

Perry Mason

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George Faber on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
04:16
George Faber on why Raymond Burr of Perry Mason was his favorite person to interview
02:45
George Faber on promoting Perry Mason, and working with Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
06:28

Twilight Zone, The

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George Faber on the difficulty of selling The Twilight Zone overseas
04:16
Topics

Advice

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George Faber on advice to aspiring publicists
00:57

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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George Faber on mentors in his career
00:42

Harry S. Truman

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George Faber on interviewing Harry S. Truman
06:41

Historic Events and Social Change

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George Faber on his experiences during World War II
03:01

Media Consolidation

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George Faber on Sumner Redstone and Viacom's ascent 
06:03

Pivotal Career Moments

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George Faber on mentors in his career
00:43

Television Industry

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George Faber on the initial reaction of overseas markets to American television programming
02:19
George Faber on how overseas press compares to the American press
00:54
George Faber on Sumner Redstone and Viacom's ascent 
06:03
George Faber on the divesture of CBS and Sumner M. Redstone's role
04:50
George Faber on how the divesture of CBS impacted his job
01:32
George Faber on how the industry changed during his career
00:55
George Faber on how audiences have changed since he started in the industry
01:03
George Faber on advice to aspiring publicists
00:57

Television and the Presidency

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George Faber on interviewing Harry S. Truman
06:41

War

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George Faber on his experiences during World War II
03:01

World War II

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George Faber on his experiences during World War II
03:01
Professions

Publicist

View Profession
George Faber on his first international publicity job on Perry Mason
04:01
George Faber on his duties while working for CBS in international publicity
05:34
George Faber on the process of publicizing a show like The Beverly Hillbillies in Japan
04:43
George Faber on the biggest challenge of publicizing shows in a foreign market
01:11
George Faber on dealing with the different customs of countries when doing overseas publicity
01:49
George Faber on how his job performance was judged while doing overseas publicity
01:44
George Faber on dealing with different CBS offices and executives, and learning foreign languages
02:16
George Faber on how publicity has changed since he started his career
02:41
George Faber on creating campaigns for the shows he sold
01:40
George Faber on advice to aspiring publicists
00:57

Representatives

View Profession
George Faber on his duties while working for CBS in international publicity
05:34
George Faber on the process of publicizing a show like The Beverly Hillbillies in Japan
04:43
George Faber on the biggest challenge of publicizing shows in a foreign market
01:11
George Faber on dealing with the different customs of countries when doing overseas publicity
01:49
George Faber on how his job performance was judged while doing overseas publicity
01:44
George Faber on dealing with different CBS offices and executives, and learning foreign languages
02:16
George Faber on how publicity has changed since he started his career
02:41
George Faber on creating campaigns for the shows he sold
01:40
George Faber on advice to aspiring publicists
00:57
Genres

Classic Anthology Series

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George Faber on the difficulty of selling The Twilight Zone overseas
04:16

Comedy Series

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George Faber on interivewing Max Baer of The Beverly Hillbillies
00:52
George Faber on working with Donna Douglas of The Beverly Hillbillies
02:06
George Faber on selling I Love Lucy to overseas markets
01:14
George Faber on the cast of Hogan's Heroes and his task of selling the show to overseas markets
04:05
George Faber on doing publicity for Green Acres
00:55

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

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George Faber on doing publicity for Cannon starring William Conrad
01:01

Legal Dramas

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George Faber on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason
04:16
George Faber on interviewing Raymond Burr of Perry Mason
02:45

Western Series

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George Faber on doing publicity for Gunsmoke
00:28
People

Max Baer

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George Faber on why Max Baer of The Beverly Hillbillies was his least favorite person to interview
00:52

Raymond Burr

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George Faber on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
04:16
George Faber on why Raymond Burr of Perry Mason was his favorite person to interview
02:45
George Faber on promoting Perry Mason, and working with Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
06:28

William Conrad

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George Faber on doing publicity for Cannon starring William Conrad
01:02

Donna Douglas

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George Faber on working with Donna Douglas of The Beverly Hillbillies
02:06

Barbara Hale

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George Faber on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
04:16
George Faber on promoting Perry Mason, and working with Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
06:28

William S. Paley

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George Faber on William S. Paley
01:50

Elvis Presley

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George Faber on interviewing Elvis Presley
01:52

Sumner Redstone

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George Faber on Sumner M. Redstone and Viacom's ascent 
06:03
George Faber on the divesture of CBS and Sumner M. Redstone's role
04:51

Rod Serling

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George Faber on the difficulty of selling Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone overseas
04:16

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