Irma Kalish

In the 20-minute solo portion of her interview, Irma Kalish (1924-2021) talks about growing up in New York and being inspired to become a writer after her college dean told her she never would. She also recalls working for pulp magazine publisher Popular Publications and discusses her relationship with her husband and writing partner, Rocky Kalish. 

In the two-hour joint portion of their interview, Rocky Kalish (1921-2016) and Irma Kalish discuss their long career as television writers. They talk about their first gigs writing for Martin & Lewis on the radio, and for The Colgate Comedy Hour in the early days of live television. They chronicle their writing careers on shows such as Gilligan's Island (for which they co-wrote the pilot with Elroy Schwartz and conceived the characters), I Dream of Jeannie, My Three Sons, F Troop, Family Affair, The Flying Nun, The Reconversion of Sister Shapiro, Carter Country, Too Close for Comfort, and The Facts of Life. They speak in detail about several episodes of All in the Family they wrote, including an emotional story about Edith's character in "Edith's Christmas Story," and the controversial "Gloria the Victim" episode. They describe writing "Maude's Dilemma" on Maude, and working with Norman Lear. They discuss working with a largely Black cast on Good Times and the challenges of the show, and talk about various stars with whom they've worked, including Shelley Berman, Marilyn Monroe, and Fred MacMurray. They talk about creating the failed series Mason, and Irma speaks of writing books and her involvement with the Writers Guild and Motion Picture and Television Fund. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on December 21, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA.