"So, in making things more lively, I took along a hot plate and a big copper bowl and a great big balloon whisk, and I beat up some egg whites, which is something people hadn't seen very much. I also made an omelet. A lot of people saw this show and they wrote into the station and said, 'why can't we have a cooking show?'"

    About This Interview

    In her three-hour interview, Julia Child (1912-2004) discusses her early years in Pasadena, CA, and details her time with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS, forerunner to the CIA) during World War II. She describes moving to France after the war and becoming interested in French cooking, which led to her first book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking: Volume One. She describes her early television appearances, including a stint on Today, which kicked off a tour of local stations and led to her first PBS program, The French Chef. Child discusses her preparations for the show, what she hoped to accomplish with it, and how she viewed herself as a teacher. She recalls subsequent PBS series including Baking with Julia and Dinner at Julia's, reacts to the advent of The Food Network, and outlines what she feels is her influence on cooking in America. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on June 25, 1999 in Cambridge, MA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Julia Child

    Julia Child on writing her first book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking"

    06:28
    Thumbnail of Julia Child

    Julia Child on how her PBS show, The French Chef, came about

    05:38
    Thumbnail of Julia Child

    Julia Child on being a female chef

    01:28
    Thumbnail of Julia Child

    Julia Child on her time in the OSS during World War II (continued)

    06:46
    Thumbnail of Julia Child

    Julia Child on The Food Network and keeping up the standards of good cooking

    02:33
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On her early life; on moving to New York City

    11:44

    On her time in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II

    15:23

    Chapter 2

    On serving in the OSS during World War II; on moving to Paris and her early interest in cooking

    11:35

    On attending Le Cordon Bleu; on authoring her first book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking"

    13:30

    Chapter 3

    On her early appearance on Today; on traveling around the country promoting her first book; on how her PBS show, The French Chef, came about

    10:16

    Chapter 4

    On the origins of The French Chef; on the format and budget of The French Chef; on the utensils used on the show

    15:58

    On preparing for The French Chef; on the educational and entertainment value of The French Chef; on reaction to the show

    10:32

    Chapter 5

    On The French Chef switching from black and white to color; on the second version of The French Chef; on the cancellation of the show; on subsequent cooking programs

    14:35

    On her series Cooking with the Master Chefs; on The Food Network and "teaching" her audience

    09:38

    Chapter 6

    On Baking with Julia; on the key to her success; on her influence; on advice and the importance of public television

    15:49

    On various people with whom she has worked

    03:58

    B-roll of Julia showing her kitchen and various cooking implements 

    08:08

    French Chef, The

    Julia Child on how her PBS show, The French Chef, came about

    05:38

    Julia Child on the origins of her popular cooking show, The French Chef

    06:15

    Julia Child on the format of her cooking show, The French Chef  

    04:13

    Julia Child on the budget of The French Chef and the audience

    03:40

    Julia Child on the utensils used on The French Chef

    01:50

    Julia Child on preparing for The French Chef

    03:31

    Julia Child on the educational and entertainment value of The French Chef

    01:16

    Julia Child on sponsors for The French Chef

    01:50

    Julia Child on critical reaction and awards for The French Chef

    02:27

    Julia Child on The French Chef's switch from black and white to color

    02:31

    Julia Child on the return of The French Chef in 1970

    03:40

    Julia Child on the cancellation of The French Chef

    00:55

    Good Morning America

    Julia Child on appearing on Good Morning America

    01:21

    Today

    Julia Child on her appearance on the Today show while promoting her book

    02:20

    Network Creation

    Julia Child on the advent of The Food Network and her "teaching" her audience

    03:52

    Representation on Television

    Julia Child on being a female chef

    01:28

    Technological Innovation

    Julia Child on The French Chef's switch from black and white to color

    02:00

    Television Industry

    Julia Child on the advent of The Food Network and her "teaching" her audience

    03:52

    War

    Julia Child on her time in the OSS during World War II (continued)

    06:46

    Julia Child on her time in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II

    15:23

    Women

    Julia Child on being a female chef

    01:28

    World War II

    Julia Child on her time in the OSS during World War II (continued)

    06:46

    Julia Child on her time in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II

    15:23

    Service Shows

    Julia Child on her popular cooking show, The French Chef  on PBS

    26:30

    Julia Child on The French Chef's switch from black and white to color

    02:00

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