Horton Foote

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Horton Foote (1916-2009) discusses writing for "live" television dramatic anthology series. He talks about his relationship with producer Fred Coe, who started him in television and with whom he later worked on the Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse. Foote describes in detail several of his benchmark television efforts during the Golden Age of Television, including Goodyear Television Playhouse: "The Trip to Bountiful," Philco Television Playhouse: "A Young Lady of Property," 1st Person Playhouse: "Death of the Old Man," Studio One: "The Traveling Lady," Playhouse 90: "The Old Man," and Playhouse 90: "Tomorrow." He speaks of the many talented actors who appeared in these productions, including Kim Stanley, Lillian Gish, Dorothy Gish, Eva Marie Saint, Steven Hill, Sterling Hayden, and Geraldine Page, as well as the creative directors of these shows, including Vincent Donehue, Delbert Mann, Arthur Penn, John Frankenheimer, and Robert Mulligan. He also talks about his later television work for PBS, including adaptations from The Orphans' Home Cycle (his series of 9 plays), writing for cable television, his feature film work and close association with actor Robert Duvall, and his continuous writing for the stage. Foote also fondly remembers his childhood in Wharton, TX, which had a lifelong influence on his writing. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on June 26, 1999 in Hartford, CT.