Haskell Boggs

Director of Photography
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour Archive interview, Haskell Boggs (1908-2003) talks about his early years and his early interest in photography. He describes moving to Los Angeles and working for Paramount Pictures, where he befriended Carole Lombard while acting as a camera operator on her film "True Confession." He discusses working on several other features as a cameraman, and working with stars like Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and others. He recounts becoming director of photography for Bonanza, the first regularly broadcast series to be in color. Boggs recalls the cast of Bonanza, including Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts, and Michael Landon. He discusses acting as director of photography on several of Landon's shows, including Little House on the Prairie, Father Murphy, and Highway to Heaven. He concludes by talking about his legacy in television, and discusses both his daughter and his wife, Evelyn. Kent McKray conducted the first part of the interview on June 25, 1997 in Los Angeles, CA. Sunny Parich conducted part two of the interview on March 25, 1998 in Los Angeles, CA.

“Find what you're interested in and go for it, you can't fail. I've been so lucky. I can't believe how these wonderful big people took an interest and helped me.”

People Talking About ...
Haskell Boggs
Highlights
Haskell Boggs on becoming a camera operator in 1942
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Little House on the Prairie
Haskell Boggs on the directors of Bonanza, and on what makes a good television director
Haskell Boggs on working with Michael Landon on a pilot while Landon was sick
Haskell Boggs on Bonanza shooting on location and shooting on the stages of Paramount
Haskell Boggs on his nickname, "Buzzy"
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his early interest in photography; on moving to Los Angeles in 1934 and going to work for Paramount
On working on the feature "True Confession," starring Carole Lombard and on various other features; on his earliest dealings with television; on becoming a camera operator in 1942 and his activities during World War II
On acting as camera operator for Bob Hope on the feature "Sorrowful Jones," and on various other features; on becoming a director of photography in 1955 and on being director of photography on various feature films; on acting as director of photography for Bonanza

Chapter 2
On how the major studios felt about television at its inception; on acting as director of photography on Bonanza; on acting as director of photography on 3-D feature films in the 1950s
On his work week on Bonanza and working with Dan Blocker who played "Hoss Cartwright" on the show; on new filming techniques that came about during the run of Bonanza and filming the episode "The Artist"; on location shooting on the show
On working with an "alternate cinematographer" on Bonanza, and on the episode "Bushwhacked"; on dealing with the weather and daylight when working on location on Bonanza; on how cinematography techniques changed during his time on Bonanza and moving to the Warner Bros. set; on the death of Dan Blocker and departure of Pernell Roberts from the show

Chapter 3
On working with the cast of Bonanza; on the technical aspects of shooting Bonanza; on the directors of Bonanza, and on what makes a good television director
On acting as director or photography on The High Chaparral; on working with Michael Landon as a director on Bonanza; on acting as director of photography for Little House on the Prairie, Father Murphy, and Highway to Heaven

Chapter 4
On acting as director of photography for Highway to Heaven; on acting as director of photography on Where Pigeons Go to Die; on working with Michael Landon on a pilot while Landon was sick
On acting as director of photography for Bonanza: The Return; on the number of hours of television he's worked on in his career; on the American Society of Cinematographers
On winning various awards including the Emmy Award and highlights of his career; on his legacy in television; on his daughter
On various people he's worked with in his career

Chapter 5
On his wife, Evelyn; on his cars
On b-roll pictures from Haskell Boggs' career- with a camera in 1931; on a movie set in 1936; with Bob Hope; with Bing Crosby; on the set of Teacher's Pet with Clark Gable; with Jerry Lewis; on the set in 1955; Michael Landon with his daughter Debbie; with his wife Evelyn

Chapter 6
On his nickname, "Buzzy"; on his early interest in photography and cameras; on working for Ramsey Productions
On his early duties at Paramount; on camera equipment in the 1940s; on seeing an early television test by Klaus Landsberg and shooting a feature film in 3-D
On his impressions of early television and the advent of color television, pioneered by David Sarnoff, and Thomas W. Sarnoff's work on Bonanza

Chapter 7
On working on a color VistaVision feature; on Bonanza being in color to sell color television sets for RCA and on moving into television; on Thomas W. Sarnoff and his involvement in Bonanza, and on Bonanza creator David Dortort
On the difference between acting as director of photography for features and acting as director of photography for Bonanza; on creating his own lighting techniques for Bonanza, and on working with Michael Landon on Highway to Heaven; on his camera operators and crew he worked with in his career
On shooting on videotape as opposed to film; on mishaps and close calls during his time as a director of photography; on the differences between shooting for television and shooting features, and on working with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope
On advice to aspiring directors of photography and on his friendship with Clark Gable; on various people he worked with in his career
Shows

Bonanza

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Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on his workweek on Bonanza and working with Dan Blocker who played "Hoss Cartwright" on the show
Haskell Boggs on new filming techniques that came about during the run of Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for the Bonanza episode "The Artist" and on the interior shots of the show
Haskell Boggs on learning to deal with the smaller sized television screen during his time as director of photography on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on Bonanza shooting on location and shooting on the stages of Paramount
Haskell Boggs on working with an "alternate cinematographer" on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for the Bonanza episode "Bushwhacked," and on the importance of a director of photography knowing the script
Haskell Boggs on dealing with the weather and daylight when working on location on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on how cinematography techniques changed during his time on Bonanza, and moving to the Warner Bros. set
Haskell Boggs on the death of Dan Blocker who played "Hoss Cartwright" on Bonanza and the loss of Pernell Roberts as "Adam Cartwright" on the show
Haskell Boggs on Pernell Roberts as "Adam Cartwright" on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on working with Lorne Greene as "Ben Cartwright" on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on working with Dan Blocker as "Hoss Cartwright" on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on working with Michael Landon as "Joe Cartwright" on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on the technical aspects of shooting Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on the directors of Bonanza, and on what makes a good television director
Haskell Boggs on working with Michael Landon as a director on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza: The Return
Haskell Boggs on Bonanza being in color to sell color television sets for RCA and on moving into television
Haskell Boggs on the difference between acting as director of photography for features and acting as director of photography for Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on creating his own lighting techniques for Bonanza and on working with Michael Landon

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Haskell Boggs on winning various awards including the Emmy Award and highlights of his career

High Chaparral, The

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Haskell Boggs on acting as director or photography on The High Chapparal 

Highway to Heaven

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Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Father Murphy and Highway to Heaven
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Highway to Heaven

Little House on the Prairie

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Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Little House on the Prairie
Topics

Advice

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Haskell Boggs on advice to aspiring directors of photography

Bloopers

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Haskell Boggs on mishaps and close calls during his time as a director of photography

Emmy Awards

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Haskell Boggs on winning various awards including the Emmy Award and highlight of his career

Historic Events and Social Change

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Haskell Boggs on his activities during World War II

Technological Innovation

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Haskell Boggs on his impressions of early television and the advent of color television, pioneered by David and Tom Sarnoff

Television Industry

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Haskell Boggs on advice to aspiring directors of photography

War

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Haskell Boggs on his activities during World War II

World War II

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Haskell Boggs on his activities during World War II
Professions

Cinematographer

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Haskell Boggs on new filming techniques that came about during the run of Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on learning to deal with the smaller sized television screen during his time was director of photography on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for the Bonanza episode "Bushwhacked," and on the importance of a director of photography knowing the script
Haskell Boggs on dealing with the weather and daylight when working on location on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on how cinematography techniques changed during his time on Bonanza and moving to the Warner Bros. set
Haskell Boggs on the differences between shooting for television and shooting features and on working with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope
Haskell Boggs on advice to aspiring directors of photography

Production Professionals

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Haskell Boggs on new filming techniques that came about during the run of Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on learning to deal with the smaller sized television screen during his time was director of photography on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for the Bonanza episode "Bushwhacked, and on the importance of a director of photography knowing the script
Haskell Boggs on dealing with the weather and daylight when working on location on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on how cinematography techniques changed during his time on Bonanza and moving to the Warner Bros. set
Haskell Boggs on the differences between shooting for television and shooting features and on working with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope
Haskell Boggs on advice to aspiring directors of photography
Genres

Drama Series

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Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Little House on the Prairie
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Father Murphy and Highway to Heaven
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Highway to Heaven
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza and on working with Michael Landon on Highway to Heaven

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Where Pigeons Go to Die
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza: The Return

Western Series

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Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on acting as director or photography on The High Chaparral
Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza and on working with Michael Landon on Highway to Heaven
People

Robert Altman

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Haskell Boggs on various people he's worked with in his career: Robert Altman

Jack Benny

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Haskell Boggs on working on the feature "Man About Town" starring Jack Benny

Dan Blocker

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Haskell Boggs on his workweek on Bonanza and working with Dan Blocker who played "Hoss Cartwright" on the show
Haskell Boggs on the death of Dan Blocker who played "Hoss Cartwright" on Bonanza and the loss of Pernell Roberts as "Adam Cartwright" on the show
Haskell Boggs on working with Dan Blocker as "Hoss Cartwright" on Bonanza

Bing Crosby

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Haskell Boggs on the differences between shooting for television and shooting features, and on working with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope

Cecil B. DeMille

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Haskell Boggs on working with Cecil B. DeMille and other directors at Paramount

David Dortort

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Haskell Boggs on various people he's worked with in his career: David Dortort
Haskell Boggs on Bonanza creator David Dortort 

Clark Gable

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Haskell Boggs on his friendship with Clark Gable

Lorne Greene

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Haskell Boggs on working with Lorne Greene as "Ben Cartwright" on Bonanza

Bob Hope

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Haskell Boggs on the differences between shooting for television, and shooting features, and on working with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope

Pernell Roberts

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Haskell Boggs on the death of Dan Blocker who played "Hoss Cartwright" on Bonanza and the loss of Pernell Roberts as "Adam Cartwright" on the show
Haskell Boggs on Pernell Roberts as "Adam Cartwright" on Bonanza

Thomas W. Sarnoff

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Haskell Boggs on various people he's worked with in his career: Thomas W. Sarnoff
Haskell Boggs on his impressions of early television and the advent of color television, pioneered by David Sarnoff, and Thomas W. Sarnoff's work on Bonanza
Haskell Boggs on Thomas W. Sarnoff Sarnoff and his involvement in Bonanza

David Sarnoff

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Haskell Boggs on his impressions of early television and the advent of color television, pioneered by David Sarnoff, and Thomas W. Sarnoff's work on Bonanza

David Victor

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Haskell Boggs on various people he's worked with in his career: David Victor

All Interviews

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