About
"When I acquired ABC, everyone in the motion picture companies had refused to deal with television, but Walt Disney wanted to build Disneyland and he needed money. I made up my mind that I was going to do everything in our power to bring Disney into television. If I could crack Disney, then I could maybe crack the other motion picture companies."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, the first Archive of American Television interviewee, Leonard H. Goldenson (1905–1999) recalls his early days working for Paramount Theaters and talks extensively about the formation of ABC. He details ABC's programming and the competition it faced from NBC, CBS, and the Hollywood studios. He fondly recalls ABC's eventual rise to become one of television's formidable powers, despite doubts from CBS' William Paley and NBC's David Sarnoff. Goldenson also discusses ABC's long partnership with Walt Disney, and outlines his television deal with Jack Warner. He speaks of the creation of ABC Sports, the popularity of ABC's news anchors, and the very first broadcast of a television miniseries. He outlines several of ABC's hits, including The Fugitive, Charlie's Angels, The Love Boat, Roots, and Monday Night Football. B-roll consists of photos from his life and career - including pictures from events for the organization he helped found, United Cerebral Palsy. Marvin Wolf conducted the interview on May 14, 1996 in Long Boat Key, FL.
Highlights
Leonard H. Goldenson on getting into the movie business - working for Paramount Theaters
Leonard H. Goldenson his deal with Edward J. Noble (head of Lifesavers) to purchase NBC's Blue network, which became ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on his programming ideas for ABC and making a deal with Walt and Roy Disney
Leonard H. Goldenson on Roone Arledge's impact on ABC and sports
Leonard H. Goldenson on merging with Capital Cities and Disney acquiring ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on what represents television at its best - news
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on his interest in movies and radio; on attending Harvard University at 16 and going to law school
On getting into the movie business - working for Paramount Theaters; on becoming head of Paramount Theaters
On seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair; on Paramount's early association with DuMont; on seeing the potential of television; on ABC making a deal with Walt Disney
On his deal with Edward J. Noble (head of Lifesavers) to purchase NBC's Blue network, which became ABC
Chapter 2
On acquiring ABC and conversations with NBC's David Sarnoff and MGM's Nicholas Schenck; on convincing Paramount's board members to buy ABC; on the state of ABC when he purchased it
On ABC not merging with DuMont; on his programming ideas for ABC and making deals with Walt Disney and Jack Warner; on hiring talent
On his relationship with NBC's David Sarnoff and CBS' William Paley; on Frank Stanton's unsung achievements at CBS; on his relationship with Walt Disney; on others' attempts to take over ABC
On making a deal to merge with ITT (which fell through); on hiring young executives that would become instrumental to the television industry
On ABC's success with Westerns and action-adventure shows; on success with comedies and medical shows; on ABC's deal with Jerry Lewis
Chapter 3
On ABC's The Fugitive and The F.B.I.; on several other ABC hits and ABC's success with miniseries and movies of the week
On changing the sponsorship model for television; on Oliver E. Treyz's contributions to ABC; on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety
On the success of American Bandstand; on the payola scandal; on his management style, executives he hired, and grooming a successor; on ABC becoming the number one network
On Roone Arledge's impact on ABC, sports, and news; on the success of Monday Night Football
Chapter 4
On his most important decisions at ABC; on his career regrets; on his close relationships with several American presidents
On ABC being the last network to switch from 15 to 30-minute news broadcasts; on Peter Jennings becoming news anchor; on the ABC anchor team of Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters; on changes in network news
On ABC's successful movies of the week; on Roots; on believing in Aaron Spelling and shows he produced; on "jiggle television" at ABC
On getting into cable television; on acquiring ESPN and starting A&E and Lifetime; on the future of network television; on merging with Capital Cities and Disney acquiring ABC
Chapter 5
On what represents the best of television; on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
On thoughts on colleagues
On B-roll footage of photos from his life and career
Chapter 6
On B-roll footage of photos from his life and career: at ABC, at events supporting fundraising for Cerebral Palsy, at school, and playing high school football
On B-roll footage of photos with Richard Nixon, Dick Clark, Walt Disney, Eleanor Roosevelt, Adolph Zukor and others
Chapter 7
On B-roll footage of photos from his life and career, contd.: photos with Richard Nixon; on his working relationship with Nixon; on the Nixon-Kennedy debates; on photos with John F. Kennedy, Rupert Murdoch, and others
On his access to and relationships with American presidents; on his paintings; on photos of awards and letters
Shows
77 Sunset Strip
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with detective/action- adventure shows and westerns
All in the Family
Leonard H. Goldenson on asking Norman Lear to adapt the British show 'Til Death Do Us Part, in what became All in the Family, and passing it up
American Bandstand
Leonard H. Goldenson on the payola scandal surrounding American Bandstand
Batman
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with Batman
Charlie's Angels
Leonard H. Goldenson on "jiggle television" at ABC, personified by Charlie's Angels
Cheyenne
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with Westerns, particularly Cheyenne
FBI, The
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's The F.B.I.
Fugitive, The
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's The Fugitive
Hollywood Palace, The
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with The Hollywood Palace
King's Row
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with Westerns, particularly Cheyenne
Love Boat, The
Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Aaron Spelling's The Love Boat
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's Marcus Welby, M.D.
Mod Squad, The
Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Aaron Spelling's Mod Squad
Monday Night Football
Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
Roots
Leonard H. Goldenson on the decision to air Roots on consecutive nights
Soap
Leonard H. Goldenson on approving ABC's Soap
That Girl
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's That Girl
United States Steel Hour, The
Leonard H. Goldenson on changing the sponsorship model for television
Wonderful World of Disney, The aka Magical World of Disney, The
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC making a deal with Walt Disney to air "Disneyland" on Walt Disney's The Wonderful World of Color
Topics
1939-40 World's Fair
Leonard H. Goldenson on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair
Coverage
Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Leonard H. Goldenson on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair
Historic Events and Social Change
Leonard H. Goldenson on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair
Leonard H. Goldenson on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo of Richard Nixon; on his working relationship with Nixon and on the Nixon-Kennedy debates
Hollywood Blacklist
Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
Industry Crossroads
Leonard H. Goldenson on changing the sponsorship model for television
Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on his most important decisions at ABC
JFK Assassination and Funeral
Leonard H. Goldenson on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
John F. Kennedy
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - John F. Kennedy
Leonard H. Goldenson on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
Kennedy-Nixon Debates
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo of Richard Nixon; on his working relationship with Nixon and on the Nixon-Kennedy debates
Lyndon B. Johnson
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Lyndon B. Johnson
Media Consolidation
Leonard H. Goldenson on acquiring ESPN and starting A&E
Leonard H. Goldenson on merging with Capital Cities
Leonard H. Goldenson on Disney acquiring ABC
Memorable Moments on Television
Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
Network Creation
Leonard H. Goldenson his deal with Edward J. Noble (head of Lifesavers) to purchase NBC's Blue network, which became ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on convincing Paramount's board members to buy ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on acquiring ESPN and starting A&E
Pivotal Career Moments
Leonard H. Goldenson on seeing television for the first time at the 1939 World's Fair
Representation on Television
Leonard H. Goldenson on the impact of Roots
Richard M. Nixon
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Richard M. Nixon
Sports
Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
Television and the Presidency
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - John F. Kennedy
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Lyndon B. Johnson
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Richard M. Nixon
Leonard H. Goldenson on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
Television Industry
Leonard H. Goldenson his deal with Edward J. Noble (head of Lifesavers) to purchase NBC's Blue network, which became ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on convincing Paramount's board members to buy ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on his programming ideas for ABC and making a deal with Walt and Roy Disney
Leonard H. Goldenson on making a deal with Jack Warner
Leonard H. Goldenson on changing the sponsorship model for television
Leonard H. Goldenson on his most important decisions at ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on getting into cable television
Leonard H. Goldenson on acquiring ESPN and starting A&E
Leonard H. Goldenson on merging with Capital Cities
Leonard H. Goldenson on Disney acquiring ABC
Underrepresented Voices
Leonard H. Goldenson on the impact of Roots
We Considered
Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
Professions
Executives
Leonard H. Goldenson on his management style at ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on his most important decisions at ABC
Network Founder
Leonard H. Goldenson on his management style at ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on his most important decisions at ABC
Genres
News and Documentary
Leonard H. Goldenson on putting Roone Arledge in charge of news
Leonard H. Goldenson on changes in network news due to network ownership
Leonard H. Goldenson on the network aftermath of JFK's assassination
Leonard H. Goldenson on what represents television at its best - news
Sports
Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with miniseries and movies of the week
Leonard H. Goldenson on the decision to air Roots on consecutive nights
Western Series
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's success with Westerns
People
Roone Arledge
Leonard H. Goldenson on Roone Arledge's impact on ABC and sports
Leonard H. Goldenson on putting Roone Arledge in charge of news
Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Roone Arledge
Barney Balaban
Leonard H. Goldenson on Paramount head Barney Balaban and his early association with DuMont television
Jack Benny
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Jack Benny
Ted Bergmann
Leonard H. Goldenson on DuMont head Ted Bergmann and ABC not merging with DuMont
Dick Clark
Leonard H. Goldenson on the payola scandal surrounding American Bandstand
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Dick Clark
Howard Cosell
Leonard H. Goldenson on the success of Monday Night Football
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Howard Cosell
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Henry Kissinger and Howard Cosell at a United Cerebral Palsy event
Barry Diller
Leonard H. Goldenson on hiring young executives that would become instrumental to the television industry
Leonard H. Goldenson on heading up ABC's movies of the week
Walt Disney
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC making a deal with Walt Disney
Leonard H. Goldenson on his programming ideas for ABC and making a deal with Walt and Roy Disney
Leonard H. Goldenson on his relationship with Walt Disney
Leonard H. Goldenson on Walt Disney telling him he wanted to be number one
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Walt Disney
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Walt Disney and his wife
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Walt Disney and others after ABC's deal with Disney
Roy E. Disney
Leonard H. Goldenson on his programming ideas for ABC and making a deal with Walt and Roy Disney
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife
Michael Eisner
Leonard H. Goldenson on hiring young executives that would become instrumental to the television industry
Leonard H. Goldenson on his management style at ABC and managing Michael Eisner
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Michael Eisner
Billy Graham
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Billy Graham
Alger Hiss
Leonard H. Goldenson on Howard K. Smith wanting to do a story on Nixon
Bob Hope
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo of an award presented to Bob Hope
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo of a Christmas card of Bob Hope; on Hope's involvement with Goldenson's foundation for Cerebral Palsy
Roy Huggins
Leonard H. Goldenson on The Fugitive
Howard Hughes
Leonard H. Goldenson on others' attempts to take over ABC (including Howard Hughes)
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Howard Hughes
Peter Jennings
Leonard H. Goldenson on Peter Jennings becoming news anchor at ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Peter Jennings
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Peter Jennings
Lyndon B. Johnson
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Lyndon B. Johnson
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Lyndon B. Johnson
John F. Kennedy
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - John F. Kennedy; on his dealings with Joseph Kennedy
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with JFK and Jackie Kennedy in 1960
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with John F. Kennedy and others at a Boston Children's Hospital event
Henry Kissinger
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Henry Kissinger and Howard Cosell at a United Cerebral Palsy event
Ted Koppel
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Ted Koppel and Tom Murphy
Abe Lastfogel
Leonard H. Goldenson on William Morris' Abe Lastfogel helping ABC acquire talent
Norman Lear
Leonard H. Goldenson on asking Norman Lear to adapt the British show 'Til Death Do Us Part, in what became All in the Family, and passing it up
Jerry Lewis
Leonard H. Goldenson on ABC's deal with Jerry Lewis
Joseph McCarthy
Leonard H. Goldenson on airing the McCarthy Hearings in their entirety on ABC
Rupert Murdoch
Leonard H. Goldenson on a career regret - selling stock in Rupert Murdoch's company
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Rupert Murdoch
Thomas Murphy
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Ted Koppel and Tom Murphy
Richard M. Nixon
Leonard H. Goldenson on his close relationships with several American presidents - Richard M. Nixon
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Richard Nixon
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Richard M. Nixon
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo of Richard Nixon; on his working relationship with Nixon and on the Nixon-Kennedy debates
Edward J. Noble
Leonard H. Goldenson his deal with Edward J. Noble (head of Lifesavers) to purchase NBC's Blue network, which became ABC
William S. Paley
Leonard H. Goldenson on his relationship with NBC's David Sarnoff and CBS' William Paley
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with CBS' William Paley and NBC's David Sarnoff
Ronald Reagan
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Ronald Reagan
Harry Reasoner
Leonard H. Goldenson on the ABC anchor team of Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters
Eleanor Roosevelt
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Eleanor Roosevelt
Elton H. Rule
Leonard H. Goldenson on Elton Rule's contributions to ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Elton Rule
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Elton Rule
Anwar Sadat
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Anwar Sadat
David Sarnoff
Leonard H. Goldenson on acquiring ABC and having a conversation with NBC's David Sarnoff
Leonard H. Goldenson on his relationship with NBC's David Sarnoff and CBS' William Paley
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with CBS' William Paley and NBC's David Sarnoff
Edgar J. Scherick
Leonard H. Goldenson on Roone Arledge's impact on ABC and sports and recruiting Edgar Scherick
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Ed Scherick
Fred Silverman
Leonard H. Goldenson on the decision to air Roots on consecutive nights
Howard K. Smith
Leonard H. Goldenson on Howard K. Smith wanting to do a story on Nixon
Aaron Spelling
Leonard H. Goldenson on believing in Aaron Spelling
Frank Stanton
Leonard H. Goldenson on Frank Stanton's unsung achievements at CBS
Elizabeth Taylor
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Elizabeth Taylor
Danny Thomas
Leonard H. Goldenson on William Morris' Abe Lastfogel helping ABC acquire talent
Marlo Thomas
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Marlo Thomas
Laurence A. Tisch
Leonard H. Goldenson on making a deal to merge with ITT (which fell through)
Oliver E. Treyz
Leonard H. Goldenson on hiring young executives that would become instrumental to the television industry
Leonard H. Goldenson on Oliver E. Treyz's contributions to ABC
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Oliver Treyz
Donald J. Trump
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Donald Trump
Barbara Walters
Leonard H. Goldenson on the ABC anchor team of Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters
Jack L. Warner
Leonard H. Goldenson on making a deal with Jack Warner
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Jack Warner
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Jack Warner
Lew Wasserman
Leonard H. Goldenson on negotiating movies of the week with Lew Wasserman
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Lew Wasserman
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Leonard H. Goldenson on thoughts on colleagues - Pat Weaver
Lawrence Welk
Leonard H. Goldenson on getting Lawrence Welk on the air
Adolph Zukor
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with his wife and Adolph Zukor
Leonard H. Goldenson on a photo with Adolph Zukor and Barney Balaban