Howard Anderson, Jr.

Visual Effects Specialist

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About

About this interview

In his three-hour Archive interview, Howard Anderson, Jr. (1920-2015) talks about joining his father's company, The Howard Anderson Company, where he and his brother Darrell continued the business of doing titles and special effects for movies. He discusses working on early television series including I Love Lucy and Dragnet. He elaborates on his special effects for Star Trek, where he devised a way to show the Enterprise speed through a field of stars and created the effect for the ship's "transporter." He discusses other shows he worked on until his retirement in 1990. He also talks about the then-current state of the industry and how optical effects compare with the newer digital effects. B-roll consists of photos of some of the optical equipment at the Howard Anderson Company and a photo of the Starship Enterprise. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 21, 2005 in Oxnard, CA.

"We had probably 18 weekly TV shows that we did the titles and optical work on, in addition to several features. It gets to be sort of a factory kind of an operation once the pilot is done and the approvals have been made on all the styles. But then you turn her over and let her run."

Highlights

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show

01:48

Howard Anderson Jr. on doing titles for I Love Lucy

02:45

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Dick Van Dyke Show

00:40

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening sequence for Star Trek

04:10

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian

02:19

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on the first time he saw television

On shooting inserts and titles for his father's movie company; on lettering in titles; on doing titles for I Love Lucy

Chapter 2

On working with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy; on editing with three cameras on I Love Lucy; on working on The Lucy Show

On creating the opening titles for The Addams Family, The Andy Griffith Show, and The Beverly Hillbillies; on creating the opening titles for Daniel Boone, Dragnet, and The Dick Van Dyke Show; on creating the opening titles for The Fugitive, Get Smart, and I Spy

Chapter 3

On creating the opening titles for The Invaders, Mission: Impossible, and Mod Squad; on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian, My Three Sons, and My World and Welcome to It

On creating the opening titles for That Girl, The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits; on creating the opening titles for The Untouchables and Star Trek

Chapter 4

On creating special effects and titles for Star Trek; on the opening sequence of Star Trek; on working with Gene Roddenberry on the show

On creating special effects for Star Trek; on creating the effects for the different planets on Star Trek

On working with the cast and crew of Star Trek; on the legacy of his work on Star Trek; on creating effects for the feature film "Jack the Giant Killer"

Chapter 5

On creating effects for the feature films "Jack the Giant Killer" and "Tobruk"; on creating opening titles for The Brady Bunch, Charlie's Angels and Happy Days

On creating opening titles for Kung Fu, Little House on the Prairi e and Bonanza; on creating the opening titles for Love Boat, Love American Style and Wonder Woman; on creating the opening titles for Cheers and Dynasty; on his retirement in 1990

Chapter 6

On advice to aspiring visual effects professionals; on his ability to work on many projects simultaneously; on how the business and audience expectations have changed since he started in the industry

On the difference between working in film and in television; on working with editors, cinematographers and directors; on career highlights and regrets and how he'd like to be remembered

On B-roll of pictures from Howard Anderson Jr's career: childhood picture, circa 1926; filming a miniature for a feature at Malibu Beach; in the Navy circa 1945; with an early optical printer circa 1946; with Paul Newman at Zuma Beach; photograph of Star Trek's Enterprise; a "line-up" person inspecting 35 millimeter film; projection room; optical printer with operator; line-up room at optical department; Anderson's son with an optical printer; Howard Anderson Jr. with a camera

Shows

Addams Family, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Addams Family

02:51

Andy Griffith Show, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show

01:48

Beverly Hillbillies, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Beverly Hillbillies

00:49

Bonanza

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Little House on the Prairie and working on Bonanza

02:13

Brady Bunch, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Brady Bunch

05:52

Charlie's Angels

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Charlie's Angels

01:19

Cheers

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Cheers

00:54

Daniel Boone

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Daniel Boone

00:56

Dick Van Dyke Show, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Dick Van Dyke Show

00:40

Dragnet

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dragnet

02:17

Dynasty

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dynasty

00:26

Fugitive, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Fugitive

01:34

George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and various other shows

06:21

Get Smart

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Get Smart

01:29

Happy Days

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Happy Days

00:59

I Love Lucy

Howard Anderson Jr. on doing titles for I Love Lucy

02:45

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy

11:31

Howard Anderson Jr. on editing with three cameras on I Love Lucy

01:52

I Spy

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for I Spy

01:48

Invaders, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Invaders

01:36

Kung Fu

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Kung Fu

01:55

Little House on the Prairie

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Little House on the Prairie and working on Bonanza

02:14

Love Boat, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Love Boat

00:58

Love, American Style

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Love, American Style

01:51

Lucy Show, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening for The Lucy Show

01:44

Mission: Impossible

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mission: Impossible

01:29

Mod Squad, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mod Squad

02:06

My Favorite Martian

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian

02:19

My Three Sons

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Three Sons

01:14

My World ... and Welcome to it

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My World and Welcome to It

01:46

Outer Limits, The (1963-65)

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone

03:11

Star Trek

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Star Trek (Part 1)

08:01

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating special effects and titles for Star Trek

04:19

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening sequence for Star Trek

04:10

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek

01:23

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating special effects for Star Trek

04:03

Howard Anderson Jr. on the biggest challenge of creating Star Trek special effects

04:01

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the effects for the different planets on Star Trek

01:52

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with the cast and crew of Star Trek

02:08

Howard Anderson Jr. on the legacy of his work on Star Trek

00:59

That Girl

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for That Girl

00:51

Twilight Zone, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone

03:11

Untouchables, The

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Untouchables

02:08

Wonder Woman

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Wonder Woman

00:52

Topics

Advice

Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals

00:52

Historic Events and Social Change

Howard Anderson Jr. on his military service

02:05

Pop Culture

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening sequence for Star Trek

03:40

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Brady Bunch

05:52

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Cheers

00:54

Technological Innovation

Howard Anderson Jr. on the advent of color

01:22

Television Industry

Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals

00:52

Howard Anderson Jr. on how the business changed since he started

01:58

War

Howard Anderson Jr. on his military service

02:05

World War II

Howard Anderson Jr. on his military service

02:05

Professions

Post-Production Professionals

View Profession

Howard Anderson Jr. on his process for making a title card

01:09

Howard Anderson Jr. on his style

00:27

Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals

00:52

Howard Anderson Jr. on the epitome of a special effect

00:48

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with editors, cinematographers, and directors

02:29

Special Effects Creator

View Profession

Howard Anderson Jr. on his style

00:27

Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals

00:52

Howard Anderson Jr. on the epitome of a special effect

00:48

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with editors, cinematographers, and directors

02:29

Title Designer

View Profession

Howard Anderson Jr. on his process for making a title card

01:09

Howard Anderson Jr. on his style

00:27

Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals

00:52

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with editors, cinematographers, and directors

02:29

Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Wonder Woman

00:52

Comedy Series

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and various other shows

06:21

Howard Anderson Jr. on doing titles for I Love Lucy

02:45

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy (Part 2)

13:23

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening for The Lucy Show

01:44

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Addams Family

02:51

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show

01:48

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Beverly Hillbillies

00:49

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Dick Van Dyke Show

00:40

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Get Smart

01:29

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian

02:19

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Three Sons

01:14

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My World and Welcome to It

01:46

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for That Girl

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Brady Bunch

05:52

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Happy Days

00:59

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Love, American Style

01:51

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Love Boat

00:58

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Cheers

00:54

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dragnet

02:17

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Fugitive

01:34

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for I Spy

01:48

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mission: Impossible

01:29

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mod Squad

02:06

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Untouchables

02:08

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Charlie's Angels

01:19

Daytime/Primetime Serials

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dynasty

00:26

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Invaders

01:36

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone

03:11

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Star Trek (Part 1)

08:01

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating special effects and titles for Star Trek (Part 2)

22:57

Western Series

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Daniel Boone

00:56

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Little House on the Prairie and working on Bonanza

02:13

People

Desi Arnaz

View Person Page

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy

11:37

Lucille Ball

View Person Page

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy

11:37

Dann Cahn

View Interview Page

Howard Anderson Jr. on editing with three cameras on I Love Lucy

01:52

Sheldon Leonard

View Interview Page

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show

01:48

Jess Oppenheimer

View Person Page

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy

11:37

Gene Roddenberry

View Person Page

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek

01:23

Jack Webb

View Person Page

Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dragnet

02:17

Billy Wilder

View Person Page

Howard Anderson Jr. on working with the director Billy Wilder

01:06