About
"I think that everything that you do should somehow be authentic. There should be a connection to the world around. I've done 13 Oscar shows now and I've tried to connect as much as possible, the Oscar show with the emotional happening in the world … to try to find what that emotional connection is and see if we can graft that onto the movies."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Gilbert Cates (1934-2011) talks about getting hired as an NBC guide at Rockefeller Center. He describes the excitement of working in "live" television in the 1950s, and outlines his roles as director and producer on several game shows. He discusses his work as an associate producer on Dotto, the game show that ignited the Quiz Show Scandals. He describes how the show's less-than-fair practices were exposed and talks about the general nature of fixing game shows during the era. Cates discusses projects that he produced and directed in the 1960s, including the pilot for the music-variety series Hootenany, International Showtime (in which he filmed international circus acts), and Electric Showcase (including a show done at the 1965 World's Fair). He recalls his transition to producing Broadway shows, including I Never Sang for My Father, which he later filmed as a feature film with Melvyn Douglas and Gene Hackman. He comments on directing several TV movies, including Arthur Miller's After the Fall, and details his long association as producer of the Academy Awards broadcasts. He touches on the challenges of mounting the live broadcast and recounts several memorable moments from the shows he produced. He also talks about the creation of the Geffen Playhouse, where he served as producing director. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview on March 13, 2007 at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Gilbert Cates on selecting a host for the Academy Awards and loving Billy Crystal as host
Gilbert Cates on giving Billy Crystal an offer he couldn't refuse
Gilbert Cates on the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto
Gilbert Cates on the star power of the Academy Awards
Gilbert Cates on how the Quiz Show scandal was exposed - the fifth wheel
Gilbert Cates on being fired from Dotto and testifying before the Grand Jury
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences growing up in The Bronx; on attending Syracuse University and his involvement with fencing and directing dramas; on getting wounded in a fencing match; on getting an MFA
On working as an ABC page and moving to New York; on working as an NBC guide; on getting a job at the Broadway Theater; on working in game shows - Mother's Day with Dick Van Dyke, and directing Haggis Baggis; on moving up the ranks in the early days of television; on the pros and cons of live television
On daytime television in the 1950s; on the quiz show scandal surrounding Dotto
Chapter 2
On the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto (contd.); on being fired from Dotto and testifying before the Grand Jury; on television plugs for products in the 1950s; on sponsor pressure to select contestants on Dotto ; on looking back on the Quiz Show scandal now
On his career after Dotto; on Mark Goodsoon calling him after the Quiz Show scandals; on getting into producing; on what made him a good director; on working with his brother on International Showcase; on early videotape; on working on Hootenany and Electric Showcase; on working on Broadway with Robert Anderson
Chapter 3
On getting into movies and made-for-TV movies; on working on location; on the TV movie, All My Friends on Shore, with Bill Cosby; on adapting the works of Arthur Miller for TV - After the Fall
On specials he worked on with his brother; on the TV movie Consenting Adult, for which he was nominated for an Emmy; on the TV movie Absolute Strangers
Chapter 4
On his association with the Academy Awards; on producing 13 Oscar shows; on selecting Billy Crystal as a host for the Academy Awards; on the star power of the Oscars
On the teams he's assembled for the Oscars; on the Oscar Pre-show; on how technology has affected the Academy Awards; on the length of the Oscar shows and winners' acceptance speeches; on the "In Memoriam Reel" at the Oscars; on George Lucas receiving the Thalberg Award
Chapter 5
On Army Archerd figuring out there was an Oscar in space; on keeping things secret about the Oscar broadcasts; on the 75th Anniversary of the Oscars; on working with the networks and AMPAS; on where he is during the live show; on playing people off when acceptance speeches go long; on protests about the Oscars; on winning an Emmy for producing the Oscars
On his association with the Directors Guild of America; on his association with the Geffen Playhouse; on his brother, Joe Cates; on advice to aspiring producers and directors; on his family; on his proudest career achievement; on balancing career and family; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Absolute Strangers
Gilbert Cates on the TV movie Absolute Strangers
Academy Awards, The
Gilbert Cates on producing the Academy Awards
Gilbert Cates on memorable moments from Academy Awards that he's produced
Consenting Adult
Gilbert Cates on the TV movie Consenting Adult, for which he was nominated for an Emmy
Dotto
Gilbert Cates on the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto
Gilbert Cates on the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto (contd.)
Electric Showcase
Gilbert Cates on working on Electric Showcase
Haggis Baggis
Gilbert Cates on directing the game show Haggis Baggis
Hootenanny
Gilbert Cates on working on Hootenany
International Showcase
Gilbert Cates on working with his brother on International Showcase
Gilbert Cates on how International Showcase led to his first movie
Mother's Day
Gilbert Cates on working on Mother's Day with Dick Van Dyke
Topics
Emmy Awards
Gilbert Cates on winning an Emmy for producing the Oscars
Historic Events and Social Change
Gilbert Cates on the TV movie Consenting Adult, for which he was nominated for an Emmy
Industry Crossroads
Gilbert Cates on the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto
Gilbert Cates on the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto (contd.)
LGBTQIA+
Gilbert Cates on the TV movie Consenting Adult, for which he was nominated for an Emmy
Quiz Show Scandals
Gilbert Cates on the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto
Gilbert Cates on the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto (contd.)
Representation on Television
Gilbert Cates on the TV movie Consenting Adult, for which he was nominated for an Emmy
Technological Innovation
Gilbert Cates on how technology has affected the Academy Awards
Television Industry
Gilbert Cates on the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto
Gilbert Cates on the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto (contd.)
Professions
Directors
Gilbert Cates on directing the game show Haggis Baggis
Gilbert Cates on what made him a good director
Producers
Gilbert Cates on producing the Academy Awards and selecting a host
Gilbert Cates on working with the networks and AMPAS for the Academy Awards
Gilbert Cates on where he is during the live Academy Awards show
Genres
Awards Shows
Gilbert Cates on producing the Academy Awards
Gilbert Cates on memorable moments from Academy Awards that he's produced
Game Shows
Gilbert Cates on the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto
Gilbert Cates on the Quiz Show scandal surrounding Dotto (contd.)
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Gilbert Cates on the TV movie Consenting Adult, for which he was nominated for an Emmy
Gilbert Cates on the TV movie Absolute Strangers
People
Don Ameche
Gilbert Cates on working with his brother on International Showcase, with host Don Ameche
Gilbert Cates on how International Showcase led to his first movie
Robert G. Anderson
Gilbert Cates on working on Broadway with Robert Anderson
Army Archerd
Gilbert Cates on George Lucas receiving the Thalberg Award
Gilbert Cates on Army Archerd figuring out there was an Oscar in space
Kim Basinger
Gilbert Cates on Kim Basinger hosting the Academy Awards
Frank Capra
Gilbert Cates on his association with the Directors Guild of America
Roy Christopher
Gilbert Cates on the teams he's assembled for the Oscars - Art director Roy Christopher
Bill Conti
Gilbert Cates on the teams he's assembled for the Oscars - Musical Director Bill Conti
Bill Cosby
Gilbert Cates on the TV movie All My Friends on Shore with Bill Cosby
Billy Crystal
Gilbert Cates on selecting a host for the Academy Awards
Geena Davis
Gilbert Cates on the Academy Awards Pre-Show
Melvyn Douglas
Gilbert Cates on the play "I Never Sang for My Father," with actor Melvyn Douglas
Faye Dunaway
Gilbert Cates on adapting the works of Arthur Miller for TV - After the Fall - starring Faye Dunaway and Christopher Plummer
Leonard Goldberg
Gilbert Cates on the TV movie The Affair with Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner, for Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg
Mark Goodson
Gilbert Cates on Mark Goodsoon calling him after the Quiz Show scandals
Gene Hackman
Gilbert Cates on the play "I Never Sang for My Father," which Elia Kazan re-tooled from a screenplay to play; on the film version of the play starring Gene Hackman
Bob Hope
Gilbert Cates on television plugs for products in the 1950s
Louis J. Horvitz
Gilbert Cates on the teams he's assembled for the Oscars - Director Louis J. Horvitz
Gilbert Cates on Louis J. Horvitz and team during the live show
Elia Kazan
Gilbert Cates on the play "I Never Sang for My Father," which Elia Kazan re-tooled from a screenplay to play; on the film version of the play
Gilbert Cates on Elia Kazan's honorary Oscar
Martin Landau
Gilbert Cates on Louis J. Horvitz and team during the live show - and one of Martin Landau's acceptance speeches going long
George Lucas
Gilbert Cates on George Lucas receiving the Thalberg Award
Karl Malden
Gilbert Cates on Karl Malden becoming President of the Academy and asking Cates to produce the Academy Awards
Arthur Miller
Gilbert Cates on adapting the works of Arthur Miller for TV - After the Fall
Laurence Olivier
Gilbert Cates on how he'd like to be remembered
Christopher Plummer
Gilbert Cates on adapting the works of Arthur Miller for TV - After the Fall - starring Faye Dunaway and Christopher Plummer
Gilbert Cates on a memorable Christopher Plummer story
George Segal
Gilbert Cates on a memorable Christopher Plummer story
Fred Silverman
Gilbert Cates on teaching acting at Syracuse University, to student Fred Silverman
Aaron Spelling
Gilbert Cates on the TV movie The Affair with Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner, for Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg
Steven Spielberg
Gilbert Cates on George Lucas receiving the Thalberg Award
Dick Van Dyke
Gilbert Cates on working on Mother's Day with Dick Van Dyke
Robert Wagner
Gilbert Cates on The Affair with Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner
Natalie Wood
Gilbert Cates on The Affair with Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner