Haskell Boggs

Director of Photography

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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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.”

Highlights

Haskell Boggs on becoming a camera operator in 1942

00:46

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

04:44

Haskell Boggs on the directors of Bonanza, and on what makes a good television director

07:26

Haskell Boggs on working with Michael Landon on a pilot while Landon was sick

02:17

Haskell Boggs on Bonanza shooting on location and shooting on the stages of Paramount

03:33

Haskell Boggs on his nickname, "Buzzy"

00:43

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

11:06

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

09:53

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

07:22

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

06:54

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

11:29

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

10:41

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

14:50

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

13:39

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

08:11

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

04:35

On winning various awards including the Emmy Award and highlights of his career; on his legacy in television; on his daughter

04:58

On various people he's worked with in his career

10:34

Chapter 5

On his wife, Evelyn; on his cars

08:42

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

08:00

Chapter 6

On his nickname, "Buzzy"; on his early interest in photography and cameras; on working for Ramsey Productions

10:32

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

12:26

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

05:44

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

07:43

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

06:11

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

04:44

On advice to aspiring directors of photography and on his friendship with Clark Gable; on various people he worked with in his career

07:21

Shows

Bonanza

Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza

01:42

Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography on Bonanza

04:26

Haskell Boggs on his workweek on Bonanza and working with Dan Blocker who played "Hoss Cartwright" on the show

02:28

Haskell Boggs on new filming techniques that came about during the run of Bonanza

01:14

Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for the Bonanza episode "The Artist" and on the interior shots of the show

02:34

Haskell Boggs on learning to deal with the smaller sized television screen during his time as director of photography on Bonanza

01:45

Haskell Boggs on Bonanza shooting on location and shooting on the stages of Paramount

03:22

Haskell Boggs on working with an "alternate cinematographer" on Bonanza

02:11

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

03:31

Haskell Boggs on dealing with the weather and daylight when working on location on Bonanza

01:49

Haskell Boggs on how cinematography techniques changed during his time on Bonanza, and moving to the Warner Bros. set

01:22

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

01:44

Haskell Boggs on Pernell Roberts as "Adam Cartwright" on Bonanza

02:41

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

00:57

Haskell Boggs on working with Dan Blocker as "Hoss Cartwright" on Bonanza

01:03

Haskell Boggs on working with Michael Landon as "Joe Cartwright" on Bonanza

00:37

Haskell Boggs on the technical aspects of shooting Bonanza

02:06

Haskell Boggs on the directors of Bonanza, and on what makes a good television director

07:26

Haskell Boggs on working with Michael Landon as a director on Bonanza

02:48

Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza: The Return

00:52

Haskell Boggs on Bonanza being in color to sell color television sets for RCA and on moving into television

01:38

Haskell Boggs on the difference between acting as director of photography for features and acting as director of photography for Bonanza

01:41

Haskell Boggs on creating his own lighting techniques for Bonanza and on working with Michael Landon

02:51

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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

02:01

High Chaparral, The

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

01:21

Highway to Heaven

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

04:46

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

01:36

Little House on the Prairie

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

04:44

Topics

Advice

Haskell Boggs on advice to aspiring directors of photography

02:21

Bloopers

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

00:41

Emmy Awards

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

02:01

Historic Events and Social Change

Haskell Boggs on his activities during World War II

03:06

Technological Innovation

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

05:44

Television Industry

Haskell Boggs on advice to aspiring directors of photography

02:21

War

Haskell Boggs on his activities during World War II

03:06

World War II

Haskell Boggs on his activities during World War II

03:06

Professions

Cinematographer

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Haskell Boggs on new filming techniques that came about during the run of Bonanza

01:14

Haskell Boggs on learning to deal with the smaller sized television screen during his time was director of photography on Bonanza

01:45

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

03:31

Haskell Boggs on dealing with the weather and daylight when working on location on Bonanza

01:49

Haskell Boggs on how cinematography techniques changed during his time on Bonanza and moving to the Warner Bros. set

01:23

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

02:57

Haskell Boggs on advice to aspiring directors of photography

02:21

Production Professionals

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Haskell Boggs on new filming techniques that came about during the run of Bonanza

01:14

Haskell Boggs on learning to deal with the smaller sized television screen during his time was director of photography on Bonanza

01:45

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

03:31

Haskell Boggs on dealing with the weather and daylight when working on location on Bonanza

01:49

Haskell Boggs on how cinematography techniques changed during his time on Bonanza and moving to the Warner Bros. set

01:23

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

02:57

Haskell Boggs on advice to aspiring directors of photography

02:21

Genres

Drama Series

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

04:44

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

04:46

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

01:36

Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza and on working with Michael Landon on Highway to Heaven

12:16

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Where Pigeons Go to Die

04:16

Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza: The Return

00:52

Western Series

Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza

01:42

Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography on Bonanza

27:41

Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography on Bonanza

14:50

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

01:21

Haskell Boggs on acting as director of photography for Bonanza and on working with Michael Landon on Highway to Heaven

12:16

People

Robert Altman

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

01:19

Jack Benny

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

01:04

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

02:28

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

01:46

Haskell Boggs on working with Dan Blocker as "Hoss Cartwright" on Bonanza

01:03

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

02:57

Cecil B. DeMille

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

02:01

David Dortort

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

01:42

Haskell Boggs on Bonanza creator David Dortort

02:20

Clark Gable

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Haskell Boggs on his friendship with Clark Gable

02:48

Lorne Greene

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

00:57

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

02:57

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

01:44

Haskell Boggs on Pernell Roberts as "Adam Cartwright" on Bonanza

02:40

Thomas W. Sarnoff

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Haskell Boggs on various people he's worked with in his career: Thomas W. Sarnoff

00:33

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

05:44

Haskell Boggs on Thomas W. Sarnoff Sarnoff and his involvement in Bonanza

01:27

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

05:44

David Victor

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

01:42