Kirk Browning

Director
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his four-and-a-half-hour interview, Kirk Browning (1921-2008) speaks of his early days in television working on live broadcasts at NBC-TV. Next, he describes his work for NBC Opera Theater, working with Samuel Chotzinoff on productions such as "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and "Billy Budd," as well as telecasts featuring Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra. He also talks about directing the NBC Opera Theater production of "Carmen," the first color broadcast for NBC, and shows including Producers Showcase, Shirley Temple's Storybook, and the Christmas special Once Upon a Christmas Time. Browning recalls leaving NBC and moving to the New York PBS affiliate WNET, where he directed shows including NET Opera, Theater in America, and Great Performances. He discusses in detail his work for PBS' Live from the Met and Live from Lincoln Center, a series which he has directed since 1975. He also recalls his work on PBS' American Playhouse, including presentations of "Fifth of July" and "The House of Blue Leaves." Henry Colman conducted the interview on May 13, 2000 in New York, NY.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"If I wanted to be known for anything, it's never forgetting that somewhere hidden in this diabolic assemblage of elements, there is a specific television art form. I would like to think that perhaps I've used it as often and as much as I could."

People Talking About ...
Kirk Browning
Highlights
Kirk Browning on working with Arturo Toscanini on NBC Opera Theatre
07:21
Kirk Browning on working with choreographer George Balanchine on NBC Opera Theatre, and on some of his favorite episodes
05:06
Kirk Browning on working with Frank Sinatra on the first episode of The Frank Sinatra Show
07:15
Kirk Browning on directing the Play of the Week adaptation of "Damn Yankees" with Lee Remick
02:58
Kirk Browning on directing on Great Performances
03:54
Kirk Browning on trying various different programs for Live from Lincoln Center, and on adapting his visual style as a director
06:58
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his experience in World War II; on his uncle Worthington "Tony" Miner, and on his earliest memories of television
On his wife, and on getting into television; on his first job at NBC, and on NBC executive Warren Wade; on his early duties at NBC as a stage manager, and on working with Yul Brynner

Chapter 2
On the NBC studios in the 1950s, and on the logistics of how they operated; on the person who taught him the ropes of stage managing, and on working on NBC Opera Theatre
On working on Kraft Television Theatre; on working at NBC in the 1950s, and on working on Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti; on the technical aspects of bringing opera to television with NBC Opera Theatre

Chapter 3
On his work on the NBC Opera Theatre production of "Salome" with non-singers John Cassavetes and Sal Mineo; on the rehearsal process for NBC Opera Theatre
On casting for NBC Opera Theatre; on the staging of NBC Opera Theatre and on miking the actors
On how operas were chosen for NBC Opera Theatre and on the translations; on the evolution of the camera technique on NBC Opera Theatre, and on the notion of television as a true art form

Chapter 4
On doing the first color and videotaped shows for NBC Opera Theatre; on the sponsors of NBC Opera Theatre, and on audience reaction to the show; on favorite productions of NBC Opera Theatre including "Trouble in Tahiti" by Leonard Bernstein
On putting on "Carmen" and "Magic Flute" for NBC Opera Theatre ; on working with choreographer George Balanchine on NBC Opera Theatre, and on some of his favorite episodes
On the end of NBC Opera Theatre; on directing The Bell Telephone Hour and Producers' Showcase

Chapter 5
On working with Arturo Toscanini on NBC Opera Theatre; on directing various episodes of The Alcoa Hour and Hallmark Hall of Fame with a young Richard Thomas; on directing "Antony and Cleopatra" for Producers' Showcase
On directing the Samuel Beckett play "Krapp's Last Tape" for Omnibus; on directing "Beauty and the Beast" for Shirley Temple's Storybook; on working with Frank Sinatra on the first episode of The Frank Sinatra Show

Chapter 6
On directing the first episode of The Frank Sinatra Show; on not being interested in directing feature films, and on directing Noah and the Flood; on working with Bob Fosse on The Rosalind Russell Show
On directing various specials including the Miss America Pageant with Bert Parks; on leaving NBC to direct Play of the Week; on directing the Play of the Week adaptation of "Damn Yankees" with Lee Remick
On directing various musical specials; on directing NET Opera Theatre

Chapter 7
On the schedule of directing the NET Opera Theatre; on directing Theater in America
On directing on Great Performances; on directing Live from Lincoln Center

Chapter 8
On trying various different programs for Live from Lincoln Center, and on adapting his visual style as a director; on the "Tribute to Billy Wilder" and "Aaron Copeland's 85th Birthday" on Live from Lincoln Center, and on picking the program of that show; on his favorite productions from Live from Lincoln Center
On Live from the Met; on American Playhouse; on then-current projects and advice to an aspiring director

Chapter 9
On the then-future of technology on television; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows

Alcoa Hour, The

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Kirk Browning on directing various episodes of The Alcoa Hour and Hallmark Hall of Fame with a young Richard Thomas
01:43

Amahl and the Night Visitors

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Kirk Browning on working at NBC in the 1950s, and on working on Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti
08:33

American Playhouse

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Kirk Browning on American Playhouse
06:33

Bell Telephone Hour, The

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Kirk Browning on directing The Bell Telephone Hour and Producers' Showcase
04:46

Frank Sinatra Show, The (1957-58)

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Kirk Browning on working with Frank Sinatra on the first episode of The Frank Sinatra Show
07:15
Kirk Browning on directing the first episode of The Frank Sinatra Show
06:01

Great Performances

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Kirk Browning on directing on Great Performances
03:54

Kraft Television Theatre

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Kirk Browning on working on Kraft Television Theatre
03:26

Live from Lincoln Center

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Kirk Browning on directing Live from Lincoln Center
09:10
Kirk Browning on trying various different programs for Live from Lincoln Center, and on adapting his visual style as a director
06:58
Kirk Browning on the "Tribute to Billy Wilder" and "Aaron Copeland's 85th Birthday" on Live from Lincoln Center, and on picking the program of that show
04:18
Kirk Browning on his favorite productions from Live from Lincoln Center
02:54

Live from the Met

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Kirk Browning on Live from the Met
01:32

Miss America Pageant

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Kirk Browning on directing various specials including the Miss America Pageant with Bert Parks
01:43

NBC Opera Theatre

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Kirk Browning on the technical aspects of bringing opera to television with NBC Opera Theatre
03:16
Kirk Browning on the person who taught him the ropes of stage managing, and on working on NBC Opera Theatre
08:48
Kirk Browning on his work on the NBC Opera Theatre production of "Salome" with non-singers John Cassavetes and Sal Mineo
06:52
Kirk Browning on the rehearsal process for NBC Opera Theatre
01:48
Kirk Browning on casting for NBC Opera Theatre
00:48
Kirk Browning on the staging of NBC Opera Theatre, and on miking the actors
04:13
Kirk Browning on how operas were chosen for NBC Opera Theatre, and on the translations
03:23
Kirk Browning on the evolution of the camera technique on NBC Opera Theatre, and on the notion of television as a true art form
11:51
Kirk Browning on doing the first color and videotaped shows for NBC Opera Theatre
05:14
Kirk Browning on the sponsors of NBC Opera Theatre, and on audience reaction to the show
01:54
Kirk Browning on favorite productions of NBC Opera Theatre including "Trouble in Tahiti" by Leonard Bernstein
05:31
Kirk Browning on putting on "Carmen" and "Magic Flute" for NBC Opera Theatre
05:39
Kirk Browning on working with choreographer George Balanchine on NBC Opera Theatre, and on some of his favorite episodes
05:06
Kirk Browning on the end of NBC Opera Theatre
00:52
Kirk Browning on working with Arturo Toscanini on NBC Opera Theatre
07:21

NET Opera Theatre

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Kirk Browning on directing NET Opera Theatre
08:47
Kirk Browning on the schedule of directing the NET Opera Theatre
14:14

Omnibus

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Kirk Browning on directing the Samuel Beckett play "Krapp's Last Tape" for Omnibus
02:45

Play of the Week

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Kirk Browning on leaving NBC to direct Play of the Week
04:20
Kirk Browning on directing the Play of the Week adaptation of "Damn Yankees" with Lee Remick
02:58

Producers' Showcase

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Kirk Browning on directing The Bell Telephone Hour and Producers' Showcase
04:46
Kirk Browning on directing "Antony and Cleopatra" for Producers' Showcase
04:19

Shirley Temple's Storybook

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Kirk Browning on directing "Beauty and the Beast" for Shirley Temple's Storybook
03:03

Theater in America

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Kirk Browning on directing Theater in America
03:57
Topics

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Kirk Browning on his first job at NBC, and on NBC executive Warren Wade
02:31
Kirk Browning on the person who taught him the ropes of stage managing, and on working on NBC Opera Theatre
08:48

Pivotal Career Moments

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Kirk Browning on his first job at NBC, and on NBC executive Warren Wade
02:31
Kirk Browning on the person who taught him the ropes of stage managing, and on working on NBC Opera Theatre
08:48

Technological Innovation

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Kirk Browning on doing the first color and videotaped shows for NBC Opera Theatre
05:14
Kirk Browning on the then-future of technology on television
04:14

Television Industry

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Kirk Browning on the NBC studios in the 1950s, and on the logistics of how they operated
05:41
Professions

Directors

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Kirk Browning on advice to an aspiring director
03:28
Kirk Browning on trying various different programs for Live from Lincoln Center, and on adapting his visual style as a director
06:58
Kirk Browning on how technology might put directors like him out of business
Genres

Classic Anthology Series

View Genre
Kirk Browning on directing Bell Telephone Hour and Producers' Showcase
05:52
Kirk Browning on directing various episodes of The Alcoa Hour and Hallmark Hall of Fame
01:43
Kirk Browning on directing "Antony and Cleopatra" for Producers' Showcase
04:19
Kirk Browning on directing the Samuel Beckett play "Krapp's Last Tape" for Omnibus
02:45
Kirk Browning on directing "Beauty and the Beast" for Shirley Temple's Storybook
03:03
Kirk Browning on leaving NBC to direct Play of the Week
07:18
Kirk Browning on the schedule of directing the NET Opera Theatre
14:14
Kirk Browning on directing Theater in America
03:57
Kirk Browning on directing on Great Performances
03:54
Kirk Browning on directing Live from Lincoln Center
09:10

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
Kirk Browning on working on NBC Opera Theatre
24:02
Kirk Browning on directing NBC Opera Theatre
28:57
Kirk Browning on directing NBC Opera Theatre
24:16
Kirk Browning on working with Arturo Toscanini on NBC Opera Theatre
07:21
Kirk Browning on directing TV Recital Hall
03:13
Kirk Browning on working with Frank Sinatra on the first episode of The Frank Sinatra Show
07:13
Kirk Browning on directing various musical specials
03:00
Kirk Browning on directing the first episode of The Frank Sinatra Show
06:01
Kirk Browning on directing various specials including the Miss America Pageant with Bert Parks
01:43
Kirk Browning on directing NET Opera Theatre
08:47
People

Arturo Toscanini

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Kirk Browning on working with Arturo Toscanini on NBC Opera Theatre
07:21

Bob Fosse

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Kirk Browning on working with Bob Fosse on The Rosalind Russell Show
01:04

David Mamet

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Kirk Browning on directing Theater in America including works by David Mamet
03:57

Frank Sinatra

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Kirk Browning on working with Frank Sinatra on the first episode of The Frank Sinatra Show
07:14

George Balanchine

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Kirk Browning on working with choreographer George Balanchine on NBC Opera Theatre
05:06

John Goberman

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Kirk Browning on directing Live from Lincoln Center for producer John Goberman
09:10

Lee Remick

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Kirk Browning on directing the Play of the Week adaptation of "Damn Yankees" with Lee Remick
02:58

Leonard Bernstein

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Kirk Browning on favorite productions of NBC Opera Theatre including "Trouble in Tahiti" by Leonard Bernstein
05:31

Richard Thomas

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Kirk Browning on directing an episode of Hallmark Hall of Fame with a young Richard Thomas
00:57

Sal Mineo

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Kirk Browning on his work on the NBC Opera Theatre production of "Salome" with non-singers John Cassavetes and Sal Mineo
06:52

Shirley Temple

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Kirk Browning on directing "Beauty and the Beast" for Shirley Temple's Storybook
03:03

Worthington Miner

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Kirk Browning on his uncle Worthington "Tony" Miner, and on his earliest memories of television
03:08
Kirk Browning on his uncle Worthington "Tony" Miner
02:31

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