About
"We wanted {our characters} to be as close to ourselves as we could get so it would be effective. Some people liked us, some people hated us."
In the two-hour joint portion of their interview, Johnny Stearns (1916-2001) and Mary Kay Stearns (1925-2018) describe how they met and their work together. They discuss their television debut, including Mary Kay’s debut on the DuMont network on a show called J.J. Juniors, in which she modeled junior fashions. They detail their work on the very first television situation comedy, Mary Kay and Johnny (1947-50), on which they co-starred. They talk about the week-by-week production of the show, storylines used, format, premise, production, and crew of the program, as well as its run on three different networks (Dumont, NBC, CBS). They discuss Mary Kay’s later show, Mary Kay’s Nightcap (1951-52), on which she “signed off” for NBC by telling the viewers what would be on television the following day and doing occasional interviews. They also talk about serving as the spokespeople for U.S. Steel in the 1950s, appearing in commercials during the U.S. Steel Hour. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on August 25, 1999 in Corona del Mar, CA.
In the one-hour solo portion of his interview, Johnny Stearns talks about growing up with a theater background (his mother founded the "Petersborough Players" in Petersborough, NH - the model town for Thorton Wilder's Our Town). He describes how Wilder staged Our Town there himself, making the Petersborough summer theater production the first after the play's Broadway run. Stearns recalls his days in the theater on the New York stage and his entrance into television on the experimental Philadelphia station WPTZ-TV. He discusses his work on stage and in film (Boomerang with Elia Kazan), and speaks of other series he produced and directed, including The Steve Allen Show (the WNBC show which would later become the Tonight show), Faye and Skitch (1953-54), Make Me Laugh (1958), Music Bingo (1958-59), and Seven Keys (1961-64). He also details producing the long-running agricultural program AG, USA, which began in 1961.
Highlights
Johnny Stearns on the Golden Age of Television
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on how they met
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Johnny producing the local version of The Steve Allen Show
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on incorporating Mary Kay's pregnancy into Mary Kay and Johnny; on what they could and couldn't say on the show
Johnny Stearns on writing the first script and dressing the set for Mary Kay and Johnny
Full Interview
Chapter 1
START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH MARY KAY STEARNS: On how they met and their first date; on getting engaged
On their television debut and thoughts on early television; on writing the first script and dressing the set for Mary Kay and Johnny
On theater people looking down on television; on Mary Kay and Johnny getting picked up as a series for Dumont
Chapter 2
On getting a half-hour version of Mary Kay and Johnny; on typical story ideas and production
On the format, premise, and characters on Mary Kay and Johnny
On the comedy on the program; on the challenges of acting in live television; on sets and locations on Mary Kay and Johnny
Chapter 3
On the directors of Mary Kay and Johnny; on the cameras used on the show; on getting recognized by fans and working with Standards and Practices
On the comedy on the show; on what it was like during the early years of television
On what they did after Mary Kay and Johnny went off the air; on Mary Kay getting an interview show called Mary Kay's Nightcap; on why Mary Kay and Johnny went off the air
Chapter 4
On problems getting writers for Mary Kay and Johnny; on the show going off the air
On becoming spokespeople for The U.S. Steel Hour and U.S. Steel; on Johnny producing the local version of The Steve Allen Show
On their commercials as spokespeople for The U.S. Steel Hour; on additional television appearances together
Chapter 5
START OF SOLO INTERVIEW WITH JOHNNY STEARNS: On his childhood and early influences; on his early interest in theater; on his mother forming the "Petersborough Players" and the theater's connection to "Our Town"
On moving to California; on being a spokesperson for U.S. Steel and creating the agricultural program AG, USA; on getting a job as a grip at Paramount and his friendship with Leif Erickson; on his memorable movie moments
Chapter 6
On a memorable moment from a movie set, contd.
On productions he was in on Broadway; on not getting stage fright
On producing and directing Make Me Laugh; on his work on Music Bingo and his recollections of the Quiz Show Scandals
On the craft of acting; on writing comedy and eventually writing for Mary Kay and Johnny; on the Golden Age of Television
Shows
Colgate Comedy Hour, The
Johnny Stearns on producing the "Autumn Crocus" episode of The Colgate Comedy Hour
Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on how Mary Kay and Johnny (one of TV's earliest sitcoms) came about
Johnny Stearns on writing the first script and dressing the set for Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on rehearsal and production of the first episode of Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting a contract to continue Mary Kay and Johnny beyond one episode
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on writing Mary Kay's pregnancy into Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the half-hour NBC version of Mary Kay and Johnny and the birth of their son
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on a typical production week on Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on story ideas for Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the half-hour NBC version of Mary Kay and Johnny and temporarily filling the time slot for Kukla, Fran and Ollie
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on moving their show from Dumont to NBC, to CBS, and back to NBC; on having a fallout with the sponsor
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the format, premise, and characters of Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the comedy of Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on production of Mary Kay and Johnny at NBC
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television; on sets and locations on Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on problems getting writers for Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on NBC's reaction to Mary Kay and Johnny wanting to end Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on problems with studio space on Mary Kay and Johnny
Johnny Stearns on writing comedy and eventually writing for Mary Kay and Johnny
Johnny Stearns on how Mary Kay and Johnny reflected the era in which it was made; on how it was made
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the directors and floor managers of Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on their infant son appearing on Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting recognized from Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on incorporating Mary Kay's pregnancy into Mary Kay and Johnny; on what they could and couldn't say on the show
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the laughter heard on Mary Kay and Johnny coming from the crew
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on kinescopes of Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the physical comedy and type of humor on Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on rehearsals and improvisation on Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on using their real identities on Mary Kay and Johnny; on not wanting celebrity
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on their show being on television at the birth of the medium, and experiencing the growth of the industry
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Mary Kay and Johnny moving to CBS and then returning to NBC
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on similarities between Mary Kay and Johnny and later sitcoms
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on why Mary Kay and Johnny went off the air
Steve Allen Show, The (1956-61)
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Johnny producing the local version of The Steve Allen Show
United States Steel Hour, The
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on becoming spokespeople for The U.S. Steel Hour and U.S. Steel
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on their commercials as spokespeople for The U.S. Steel Hour
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the directors of their commercials for The U.S. Steel Hour
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on incorporating Mary Kay's pregnancy into Mary Kay and Johnny; on what they could and couldn't say on the show
Comedy
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on how Mary Kay and Johnny (one of TV's earliest sitcoms) came about
Comedy-Variety
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television; on sets and locations on Mary Kay and Johnny
Fame and Celebrity
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting recognized from Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on using their real identities on Mary Kay and Johnny; on not wanting celebrity
Industry Crossroads
Johnny Stearns on the Quiz Show Scandals
Quiz Show Scandals
Johnny Stearns on the Quiz Show Scandals
Television Industry
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting recognized from Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on incorporating Mary Kay's pregnancy into Mary Kay and Johnny; on what they could and couldn't say on the show
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on using their real identities on Mary Kay and Johnny; on not wanting celebrity
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on how Mary Kay and Johnny (one of TV's earliest sitcoms) came about
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television; on sets and locations on Mary Kay and Johnny
Johnny Stearns of Mary Kay and Johnny on the Golden Age of Television
Professions
Actor
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television
Johnny Stearns on the craft of acting
Actress
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television
Performers
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television
Johnny Stearns on the craft of acting
Genres
Comedy Series
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on how Mary Kay and Johnny (one of TV's earliest sitcoms) came about
Johnny Stearns on writing the first script and dressing the set for Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on rehearsal and production of the first episode of Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting a contract to continue Mary Kay and Johnny beyond one episode
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the premise and production of Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the humor, censorship, and end of Mary Kay and Johnny
Commercials
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on commercials they appeared in
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on their commercials as spokespeople for The U.S. Steel Hour
People
Steve Allen
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Johnny producing the local version of The Steve Allen Show
Jack Gilford
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Jack Gilford as the local grocer on Mary Kay and Johnny
Alan Handley
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Alan Handley wanting to use Mary Kay's sign-off from Mary Kay's Nightcap for Dinah Shore's show
Dwight Hemion
Johnny Stearns on working with director Dwight Hemion
Elia Kazan
Johnny Stearns on appearing in the play "Night Music" with Elia Kazan and Lee J. Cobb
Delbert Mann
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the directors and floor managers of Mary Kay and Johnny
Howard Morris
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Howard Morris of Mary Kay and Johnny
Garry Simpson
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the directors and floor managers of Mary Kay and Johnny
Mary Kay Stearns
Johnny Stearns on writing comedy and eventually writing for Mary Kay and Johnny
Bud Yorkin
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Bud Yorkin as cameraman of Mary Kay and Johnny