About
"We couldn't get Black people on the air until Julia came along to prove that White people will watch Black people on television. I feel some gratification when I see that."
In his three-hour interview, Hal Kanter (1918-2011) talks extensively about his first television work as a writer for famed comedian Ed Wynn on The Ed Wynn Show. He discusses how he ultimately wrote and directed The George Gobel Show. Kanter recalls his pioneering sitcom, Julia, which starred Diahann Carroll, and featured the first Black female lead on television. He recounts his short time as executive producer on All in the Family, which was cut short due to arguments with Norman Lear, as well as writing for Chico and the Man starring Freddie Prinze and Jack Albertson. He briefly touches on his work in feature film, where he wrote movies for Elvis Presley, Doris Day, Bob Hope, James Garner, and others. Kanter also talks of writing for Academy Awards shows and dozens of feature films. Sam Denoff conducted the interview on May 22, 1997 in Encino, CA.
Highlights
Hal Kanter on the process of producing a live episode of The Ed Wynn Show each week
Hal Kanter on writing for Kraft Music Hall featuring Milton Berle
Hal Kanter on creating Julia starring Diahann Carroll, the first series with an African-American female in a starring role
Hal Kanter on Buster Keaton and Lucille Ball appearing on The Ed Wynn Show
Hal Kanter on being executive producer during All in the Family's 1975-1976 season; on his difficulties working with Norman Lear
Hal Kanter on working on Chico and the Man and on the death of the show's star Freddie Prinze
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on moving to Los Angeles to be a "ghostwriter for a ghostwriter" on a comic strip
On his first big break writing for Eddie Cantor and other comedians on radio; on his experience of World War II with Bob Hope
Chapter 2
On writing for "The Alan Young Show" on radio; on writing for "The Danny Kaye Show" on radio
On his very first television writing job on The Ed Wynn Show; on his earliest experiences with television, and on how television writers were regarded; on the production of The Ed Wynn Show, and on phone calls from Fanny Brice
On the guest-stars of The Ed Wynn Show including The Three Stooges, Victor Moore and on attempting to get Al Jolson; on Buster Keaton and Lucille Ball appearing on The Ed Wynn Show; on Gloria Swanson and Gary Cooper appearing as a guest-stars on The Ed Wynn Show
Chapter 3
On Ann Sheridan filling in for Gary Cooper on The Ed Wynn Show; on Dinah Shore appearing on The Ed Wynn Show; on the process of producing a live episode of The Ed Wynn Show each week, and on the show's Emmy Awards
On writing for The George Gobel Show; on working on The George Gobel Show with Bud Yorkin and Everett Greenbaum; on the sketches of The George Gobel Show
On the commercials of The George Gobel Show; on the big success of The George Gobel Show, and on some standards and practices issues with the show; on The George Gobel Show winning Emmy Awards
Chapter 4
On leaving The George Gobel Show; on writing for Kraft Music Hall featuring Milton Berle
On creating Julia starring Diahann Carroll, the first series with an African-American female in a starring role
On getting another Emmy nomination for Julia; on creating The Jimmy Stewart Show
Chapter 5
On being executive producer during All in the Family's 1975-1976 season and on his difficulties working with Norman Lear; on working on Chico and the Man and on the death of the show's star Freddie Prinze; on working on the Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy for the show in 1991
On directing and writing various feature films with Elvis Presley, Doris Day, and James Garner; on his contributions to television history through his writing
On the then-current state of comedy on television; on how he'd like to be remembered; on various people he worked with in his career
Chapter 6
On some of the people he worked with; on photos illustrating points in his career
On b-roll pictures from his career - with Danny Kaye; with Carl Sandberg; with Cary Grant; with Elvis Presley; with his daughter Abigail
Shows
Academy Awards, The
Hal Kanter on working on the Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy for the show in 1991
All in the Family
Hal Kanter on being executive producer during All in the Family's 1975-1976 season; on his difficulties working with Norman Lear
Chico and the Man
Hal Kanter on working on Chico and the Man and on the death of the show's star Freddie Prinze
Ed Wynn Show, The
Hal Kanter on his very first television writing job on The Ed Wynn Show
Hal Kanter on the production of The Ed Wynn Show, and on phone calls from Fanny Brice
Hal Kanter on the guest-stars of The Ed Wynn Show including The Three Stooges, Victor Moore and on attempting to get Al Jolson
Hal Kanter on Buster Keaton and Lucille Ball appearing on The Ed Wynn Show
Hal Kanter on Gloria Swanson and Gary Cooper appearing as a guest-stars on The Ed Wynn Show
Hal Kanter on Ann Sheridan filling in for Gary Cooper on The Ed Wynn Show
Hal Kanter on Dinah Shore appearing on The Ed Wynn Show
Hal Kanter on the process of producing a live episode of The Ed Wynn Show each week
Hal Kanter on The Ed Wynn Show winning Emmy Awards
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Hal Kanter on The Ed Wynn Show winning Emmys
Hal Kanter on The George Gobel Show winning Emmys
Hal Kanter on working on the Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy for the show in 1991
George Gobel Show, The
Hal Kanter on writing for The George Gobel Show
Hal Kanter on working on The George Gobel Show with Bud Yorkin and Everett Greenbaum
Hal Kanter on the sketches of The George Gobel Show
Hal Kanter on the commercials of The George Gobel Show and on the success of the show
Hal Kanter on the big success of The George Gobel Show, and on some standards and practices issues with the show
Hal Kanter on The George Gobel Show winning Emmy Awards
Hal Kanter on leaving The George Gobel Show
Jimmy Stewart Show, The
Hal Kanter on creating The Jimmy Stewart Show
Julia (1968-71)
Hal Kanter on creating Julia starring Diahann Carroll, the first series with an African-American female in a starring role
Hal Kanter on getting another Emmy nomination for Julia
Kraft Music Hall, The
Hal Kanter on writing for Kraft Music Hall featuring Milton Berle
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Hal Kanter on the big success of The George Gobel Show, and on some standards and practices issues with the show
Emmy Awards
Hal Kanter on The Ed Wynn Show winning Emmys
Hal Kanter on The George Gobel Show winning Emmys
Hal Kanter on getting another Emmy nomination for Julia
Hal Kanter on working on the Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy for the show in 1991
First Big Break
Hal Kanter on his first big break writing for Eddie Cantor and other comedians on radio
Historic Events and Social Change
Hal Kanter on his experience of World War II with Bob Hope
Hal Kanter on creating Julia starring Diahann Carroll, the first series with an African-American female in a starring role
Pivotal Career Moments
Hal Kanter on his first big break writing for Eddie Cantor and other comedians on radio
Representation on Television
Hal Kanter on creating Julia starring Diahann Carroll, the first series with an African-American female in a starring role
Television Industry
Hal Kanter on his earliest experiences with television, and on how television writers were regarded
Hal Kanter on the big success of The George Gobel Show, and on some standards and practices issues with the show
Hal Kanter on the then-current state of comedy on television
Underrepresented Voices
Hal Kanter on creating Julia starring Diahann Carroll, the first series with an African-American female in a starring role
War
Hal Kanter on his experience of World War II with Bob Hope
World War II
Hal Kanter on his experience of World War II with Bob Hope
Professions
Writers
Hal Kanter on his contributions to television history thought his writing
Genres
Awards Shows
Hal Kanter on working on the Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy for the show in 1991
Comedy Series
Hal Kanter on creating Julia starring Diahann Carroll
Hal Kanter on being executive producer during All in the Family's 1975-1976 season; on his difficulties working with Norman Lear
Hal Kanter on working on Chico and the Man and on the death of the show's star Freddie Prinze
Drama Series
Hal Kanter on creating The Jimmy Stewart Show
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Hal Kanter on his first television writing job on The Ed Wynn Show
Hal Kanter on writing for The Ed Wynn Show
Hal Kanter on The George Gobel Show winning Emmy Awards
Hal Kanter on writing for Kraft Music Hall featuring Milton Berle
People
Goodman Ace
Hal Kanter on Goodman Ace
Fred Allen
Hal Kanter on Fred Allen
Lucille Ball
Hal Kanter on Buster Keaton and Lucille Ball appearing on The Ed Wynn Show
Hal Kanter on Milton Berle, Bob Hope, and Lucille Ball
Jack Benny
Hal Kanter on certain shows not translating well from radio to television including Jack Benny
Milton Berle
Hal Kanter on writing for Kraft Music Hall featuring Milton Berle
Hal Kanter on Milton Berle, Bob Hope, and Lucille Ball
Fanny Brice
Hal Kanter on the production of The Ed Wynn Show, and on phone calls from Fanny Brice
Diahann Carroll
Hal Kanter on creating Julia starring Diahann Carroll, the first series with an African-American female in a starring role
Hal Kanter on Diahann Carroll
Gary Cooper
Hal Kanter on Gloria Swanson and Gary Cooper appearing as a guest-stars on The Ed Wynn Show
Bing Crosby
Hal Kanter on Bing Crosby
George Gobel
Hal Kanter on writing for The George Gobel Show
Hal Kanter on the big success of The George Gobel Show, and on some standards and practices issues with the show
Hal Kanter on Ed Wynn and George Gobel
Hal Kanter on Ed Wynn and George Gobel
Everett Greenbaum
Hal Kanter on working on The George Gobel Show with Bud Yorkin and Everett Greenbaum
Hal Kanter on Everett Greenbaum
Bob Hope
Hal Kanter on his experience of World War II with Bob Hope
Hal Kanter on Milton Berle, Bob Hope, and Lucille Ball
Seaman Jacobs
Hal Kanter on Seaman Jacobs
Al Jolson
Hal Kanter on the guest-stars of The Ed Wynn Show including The Three Stooges, Victor Moore and on attempting to get Al Jolson
Milt Josefsberg
Hal Kanter on Milt Josefsberg
Danny Kaye
Hal Kanter on writing for "The Danny Kaye Show" on radio
Hal Kanter on Danny Kaye
Buster Keaton
Hal Kanter on Buster Keaton and Lucille Ball appearing on The Ed Wynn Show
Norman Lear
Hal Kanter on being executive producer during All in the Family's 1975-1976 season; on his difficulties working with Norman Lear
Ralph Levy
Hal Kanter on Ralph Levy
Dick Martin
Hal Kanter on Dan Rowan and Dick Martin
Groucho Marx
Hal Kanter on Groucho Marx
Carroll O'Connor
Hal Kanter on being executive producer at the behest of Carroll O'Connor during All in the Family's 1975-1976 season; on his difficulties working with Norman Lear
Jack Paar
Hal Kanter on Jack Paar
William S. Paley
Hal Kanter on William S. Paley
Elvis Presley
Hal Kanter on Elvis Presley
Freddie Prinze
Hal Kanter on working on Chico and the Man and on the death of the show's star Freddie Prinze
Dan Rowan
Hal Kanter on Dan Rowan and Dick Martin
Sherwood Schwartz
Hal Kanter on Sherwood Schwartz
Dinah Shore
Hal Kanter on Dinah Shore
Jimmy Stewart
Hal Kanter on creating The Jimmy Stewart Show
Gloria Swanson
Hal Kanter on Gloria Swanson and Gary Cooper appearing as a guest-stars on The Ed Wynn Show
Jack Webb
Hal Kanter on Jack Webb
Ed Wynn
Hal Kanter on his very first television writing job on The Ed Wynn Show
Hal Kanter on the production of The Ed Wynn Show, and on phone calls from Fanny Brice
Bud Yorkin
Hal Kanter on working on The George Gobel Show with Bud Yorkin and Everett Greenbaum
Hal Kanter on Bud Yorkin
Alan Young
Hal Kanter on writing for "The Alan Young Show" on radio