About
"Someone on the US Steel Hour was leaving to go to WGBH in Boston... to an educational station. I said, 'what? There is educational television?' And I knew that I was born to be in educational television. I knew it; it was Saint Paul on the highway."
In her four-and-a-half-hour interview, Joan Ganz Cooney talks about her early involvement in public television in New York, where she worked as a producer for local station WNET. She discusses the creation of the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), and the academic hurdles she overcame in 1969 to create and produce the internationally acclaimed Sesame Street. She details additional CTW programs like the hugely successful Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact, and Square One TV, and discusses several of the lesser-known CTW programs targeted toward adults. Shirley Wershba conducted the interview on April 22 and April 27, 1998 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Joan Ganz Cooney on the use of Muppets on Sesame Street and initial reaction to the show
Joan Ganz Cooney on the importance of humor in Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
On results of testing done on pre-schoolers on the efficacy of Sesame Street
On being a woman in a male dominated business
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences
On religion; on entering the media and on moving to New York and working for RCA and The U.S. Steel Hour
Chapter 2
On David Sarnoff, William S. Paley, and Pat Weaver
On the New York intellectual crowd she spent time with whle in her 20s; on Partisan Review
On the beginnings of educational television in New York; on becoming a producer at Channel 13 New York
On her early work at Channel 13 and the struggle for the survival of public television
Chapter 3
On her documentary, A Chance at the Beginning, the formation of Head Start, and additional work at Channel 13
On the documentary format for television
On the creation of The Children's Television Workshop
Chapter 4
On hiring producers for The Children's Television Workshop
On bringing Jim Henson onto Sesame Street; on the creation of content for Sesame Street
On the creation of Big Bird, Oscar, and bringing in Gordon and Susan; on measuring the success of Sesame Street
On the music on Sesame Street and the joys of working with Jim Henson
Chapter 5
On the research conducted for Sesame Street
On Jim Henson and the Muppets on Sesame Street
On network interest in Sesame Street, humor and guest stars; on incorporating
On the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
On the format and topics covered on Sesame Street
On other programs she helped develop for the Children's Television Workshop: The Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact, Best of Families, Square One TV
Chapter 6
On The Electric Company
On the formation of the Children's Television Workshop in 1968 and its incorporation in 1970
On the financial structure of the Children's Television Workshop, Inc.
On the international success of Sesame Street
Chapter 7
On the grant from The Ford Foundation in the 1970s to help fund The Children's Television's Workshop; on cable investments
On The Children's Television Workshop's partnership with Atari and investment in theme parks
On The Children's Television Workshop's success with licensing; on digital ventures
On executive/consultant Mike Dann's contributions and how The Children's Television Workshop handled international productions - particularly those in Israel and Palestine
Chapter 8
On planning and testing of program to promote reading, The Electric Company
On the programs Feeling Good and Latin American Health Minutes
On the dramatic series, Best of Families
On the science program, 3-2-1 Contact and the math program, Square One TV
Chapter 9
On the format and funding of the science program, 3-2-1 Contact, on the math program, Square One TV, and on the reading program, Ghostwriter
On her reflections on her career and on her personal life
On how Sesame Street competes in the new marketplace; on the show's legacy
On her personal legacy; on her reflections on people with whom she's worked
Shows
3-2-1 Contact
Joan Ganz Cooney on the show, 3-2-1 Contact
Joan Ganz Cooney on the science show, 3-2-1 Contact
Joan Ganz Cooney on the science program, 3-2-1 Contact
Joan Ganz Cooney on the format and funding of the science program, 3-2-1 Contact
Joan Ganz Cooney on the success of 3-2-1 Contact versus that of Square One TV
Best of Families, The
Joan Ganz Cooney on the program, Best of Families
Joan Ganz Cooney on subsidizing the program, Best of Families
Joan Ganz Cooney on the dramatic program, Best of Familie s, a social history of New York at the turn of the 20th century
Captain Kangaroo
Joan Ganz Cooney on hiring producers from Captain Kangaroo for Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on Mike Dann helping her select executive producers from Captain Kangaroo
Court of Reason
Joan Ganz Cooney on Malcom X's appearance on the public television show, Court of Reason
Joan Ganz Cooney on the public television show, Court of Reason
Dateline
Joan Ganz Cooney on the documentary format and how she doesn't enjoy Dateline
Electric Company, The
Joan Ganz Cooney on the show, The Electric Company
Joan Ganz Cooney on the origin of the program to promote reading, The Electric Company
Joan Ganz Cooney on planning the program to promote reading, The Electric Company
Feeling Good
Joan Ganz Cooney on health series for adults, Feeling Good
Ghostwriter
Joan Ganz Cooney on the program to promote reading, Ghostwriter
Latin American Health Minutes
Joan Ganz Cooney on Latin American Health Minutes
Muppet Show, The
Joan Ganz Cooney on Jim Henson's fear of being typecast as a children's performer
Poverty, Anti-Poverty and the Poor
Joan Ganz Cooney on her documentary, Poverty, Anti-Poverty and the Poor
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Joan Ganz Cooney on wanting Sesame Street to be a Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In for kids
Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on the origin of the name for Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on the creation of Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on importance of research in the development of Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on the use of Muppets on Sesame Street and initial reaction to the show
Joan Ganz Cooney on the various Muppets on Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on the importance of humor in Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
Joan Ganz Cooney on the international versions of Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on how Sesame Street competes in the new marketplace; on the show's legacy
Sesame Street: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Joan Ganz Cooney on the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Square One TV
Joan Ganz Cooney on the math program, Square One TV for 8-12 year olds
Joan Ganz Cooney on the math program, Square One TV
Joan Ganz Cooney on the math program, Square One TV
Today
Joan Ganz Cooney on Pat Weaver's creation of and advertising structure on The Tonight Show and Today
Tonight Starring Jack Paar aka The Jack Paar Show
Joan Ganz Cooney on Pat Weaver's creation of and advertising structure on The Tonight Show and Today
United States Steel Hour, The
Joan Ganz Cooney on getting a job at The U.S. Steel Hour
Joan Ganz Cooney on publicizing The U.S. Steel Hour
Joan Ganz Cooney on live television and later taping on The U.S. Steel Hour
Your Show of Shows
Joan Ganz Cooney on live television, as on Your Show of Shows
Topics
Civil Rights Movement
Joan Ganz Cooney on how The Children's Television Network was a beacon of hope after the death of Martin Luther King Jr.
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Joan Ganz Cooney on her high school teachers that influenced her
Criticism of TV
Joan Ganz Cooney on the use of Muppets on Sesame Street and initial reaction to the show
Joan Ganz Cooney on the criticism of the health series for adults, Feeling Good
Emmy Awards
Joan Ganz Cooney on her documentary, Poverty, Anti-Poverty and the Poor and winning an area Emmy for the program
Joan Ganz Cooney on Emmy awards for Sesame Street
John F. Kennedy
Joan Ganz Cooney on a program she produced on Cuba shortly before the Cuban Missile Crisis
Pop Culture
Joan Ganz Cooney on the pop culture phenomenon of the Talking Big Bird toy - a sample of what was to come with the Tickle Me Elmo mania
Technological Innovation
Joan Ganz Cooney on color television
Joan Ganz Cooney on struggling public TV stations -relegated to the undesirable UHF (Ultra High Frequency) range of the broadcast spectrum
Joan Ganz Cooney on The Children's Television Workshop's investments in cable systems
Joan Ganz Cooney on the online services of The Children's Television Workshop and the digital channel in the works with Nickelodeon
We Cried
Joan Ganz Cooney on the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
Women
Joan Ganz Cooney on how the character of Susan on Sesame Street was problematic for NOW (National Organization for Women)
Joan Ganz Cooney on the initial lack of female puppeteers on Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on being a woman in a male dominated business
Professions
Producers
Joan Ganz Cooney on "volume producing" for Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on becoming a producer at Channel 13 New York
Joan Ganz Cooney on her early days as a producer at Channel 13 New York
Joan Ganz Cooney on Dave Connell's role producing the math program, Square One TV
Puppeteer
Joan Ganz Cooney on the initial lack of female puppeteers on Sesame Street
Genres
Children's Programming
Joan Ganz Cooney on the creation of Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on Louis Friedman and the creation of The Children's Television Network
Joan Ganz Cooney on the use of Muppets on Sesame Street and initial reaction to the show
Joan Ganz Cooney on the importance of humor in Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
Joan Ganz Cooney on the international versions of Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on Joan Ganz Cooney on Jim Henson's request to run licensing of the Sesame Street Muppets
Joan Ganz Cooney on the reading program, The Electric Company
Joan Ganz Cooney on the math program, Square One TV
Joan Ganz Cooney on the science program, 3-2-1 Contact
Joan Ganz Cooney on the science program, 3-2-1 Contact
Joan Ganz Cooney on the math program, Square One TV
Joan Ganz Cooney on the program to promote reading, Ghostwriter
Drama Series
Joan Ganz Cooney on The Golden Age of Television
News and Documentary
Joan Ganz Cooney on the importance of documentaries
People
David Britt
Joan Ganz Cooney on her reflections on The Children's Television Workshop's David Britt
Karen Carpenter
Joan Ganz Cooney on The Carpenters popularizing the song, "Sing" from Sesame Street
Dick Cavett
Joan Ganz Cooney on Dick Cavett hosting 3-2-1 Contact
Joan Ganz Cooney on getting Dick Cavett to host the health program, Feeling Good
Bruce Christensen
Joan Ganz Cooney on her reflections on public television's Bruce Christensen
Dave Connell
Joan Ganz Cooney on Dave Connell from Captain Kangaroo executive producing for The Children's Television Workshop
Joan Ganz Cooney on contributing to The Electric Company
Joan Ganz Cooney on Dave Connell's role as producer on the reading program, The Electric Company
Joan Ganz Cooney on Dave Connell's involvement with producing the science program, 3-2-1 Contact
Joan Ganz Cooney on Dave Connell's role producing the math program, Square One TV
Bill Cosby
Joan Ganz Cooney on contributing to The Electric Company
Joan Ganz Cooney on her reflections on working with Bill Cosby
Michael Dann
Joan Ganz Cooney on Mike Dann helping to find an Executive Producer for The Children's Television Workshop
Joan Ganz Cooney on Mike Dann's involvement with The Children's Television Workshop
Joan Ganz Cooney on Mike Dann leaving CBS to become an executive at The Children's Television Workshop
Joan Ganz Cooney on Mike Dann's early assistance with The Children's Television Workshop
James Day
Joan Ganz Cooney on James Day, who ran local San Francisco PBS station, KQED, and served on the board of The Children's Television Workshop
Paul Dooley
Joan Ganz Cooney on The Electric Company's head writer, Paul Dooley
Paul Firstenberg
Joan Ganz Cooney on executive Paul Firstenberg's push to sell the company's investments in cable
Joan Ganz Cooney on the end of Paul Firstenberg's term at the Children's Television Workshop
Lewis Freedman
Joan Ganz Cooney on Louis Friedman and the creation of The Children's Television Network
Morgan Freeman
Joan Ganz Cooney on contributing to The Electric Company as "Easy Reader"
Fred Friendly
Joan Ganz Cooney on Fred Friendly's disapproval of an Arabic version of Sesame Street
Sam Gibbon
Joan Ganz Cooney on hiring Sam Gibbon from Captain Kangaroo for The Children's Television Workshop
Joan Ganz Cooney on contributing to The Electric Company
Joan Ganz Cooney on Sam Gibbons role as producer on the reading program, The Electric Company
Joan Ganz Cooney on Sam Gibbon's involvement with producing the science program, 3-2-1 Contact
Linda Gottlieb
Joan Ganz Cooney on hiring Linda Gottlieb and creating show ideas that would make their way into Sesame Street
Jack Gould
Joan Ganz Cooney on meeting with New York Times television critic Jack Gould and having him in her corner
Lawrence K. Grossman
Joan Ganz Cooney on her reflections on Larry Grossman and his contributions to news and public affairs
Hartford Gunn
Joan Ganz Cooney on her reflections on public television's Hartford Gunn
Jim Henson
Joan Ganz Cooney on bringing Jim Henson into The Children's Television Workshop
Joan Ganz Cooney on meeting Jim Henson
Joan Ganz Cooney on Jim Henson
Joan Ganz Cooney on the initial lack of female puppeteers on Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on Jim Henson's Muppets on Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on Jim Henson's request to the run licensing of the Sesame Street Muppets
Joan Ganz Cooney on a story Jim Henson told her about someone passing on Sesame Street toys to a daughter
Joan Ganz Cooney on her reflections on Jim Henson
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Joan Ganz Cooney on how The Children's Television Network was a beacon of hope after the death of Martin Luther King Jr.
Will Lee
Joan Ganz Cooney on the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
Loretta Long
Joan Ganz Cooney on Sesame Street's "Susan," Loretta Long
Kathy Mendoza
Joan Ganz Cooney on Kathy Mendoza's involvement with producing the science program, 3-2-1 Contact
Rita Moreno
Joan Ganz Cooney on contributing to The Electric Company
Sheila Nevins
Joan Ganz Cooney on Sheila Nevins' work on the health program, Feeling Good
Frank Oz
Joan Ganz Cooney on Jim Henson's Muppets and Frank Oz's puppeteering on Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on her reflections on puppeteer Frank Oz
William S. Paley
Joan Ganz Cooney on William S. Paley, founder of CBS
Joe Raposo
Joan Ganz Cooney on bringing in Joe Raposo to do the music on Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on Joe Raposo's musical genius on Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney on doing the music for The Electric Company
Matt Robinson
Joan Ganz Cooney on Sesame Street's original "Gordon," Matt Robinson
Carl Sagan
Joan Ganz Cooney on Carl Sagan's input on the creation of the science program, 3-2-1 Contact
David Sarnoff
Joan Ganz Cooney on meeting David Sarnoff and starting at RCA
Joan Ganz Cooney on David Sarnoff (founder of NBC) and William S. Paley (founder of CBS)
Joan Ganz Cooney on why David Sarnoff fired Pat Weaver
Fred Silverman
Joan Ganz Cooney on Fred Silverman helping to find an Executive Producer for The Children's Television Workshop
Frank Sinatra
Joan Ganz Cooney on Joe Raposo's friendship with Frank Sinatra and taking Sesame Street music mainstream
Jon Stone
Joan Ganz Cooney on hiring John Stone from Captain Kangaroo for The Children's Television Workshop
Joan Ganz Cooney on John Stone suggesting the stage be a street on what would become Sesame Street
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Joan Ganz Cooney on wanting to work for Pat Weaver at NBC
Joan Ganz Cooney on why David Sarnoff fired Pat Weaver
Ethel Winant
Joan Ganz Cooney on casting agent Ethel Winant's involvement in producing the dramatic program, Best of Families
Malcolm X
Joan Ganz Cooney on Malcom X