Janis Paige with Emerson College

In her hour-and-a-half interview for the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, Janis Paige talks about her early life and discovering she had the ability to make people laugh at a young age. She recalls her first feature film, “Hollywood Canteen,” and soon after moving to New York to pursue a career on stage. She describes a stint in vaudeville, which lead to being cast on Broadway in “Remains to be Seen,” and later as the lead in “The Pajama Game.” She recounts appearing in several feature films, including “Silk Stockings” with Fred Astaire, and “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies” with Doris Day. Paige speaks of her many roles on television, including playing the lead in the sitcom It’s Always Jan, guest shots on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Happy Days, and an infamous appearance on All in the Family in which she kissed “Archie Bunker,” much to his wife “Edith’s” dismay. She concludes by discussing her stints on the daytime dramas Capitol and Santa Barbara, and how she’d like to be remembered. Robert Fleming conducted the interview on May 27, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA.