Lewis Gomavitz

Director/Producer

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his four-hour Archive interview, Lewis Gomavitz (1912-2010) describes his involvement in the Chicago experimental station, W6XBK during World War II. He recalls being hired on to the station, renamed WBKB, and serving as a stage manager until he was tapped to direct a new show starring Burr Tillstrom's puppets and Fran Allison. The show, originally called Junior Jamboree, evolved into the classic, Kukla, Fran & Ollie. Gomavitz recounts directing the show for ten years, until it went off the air. He outlines moving to Los Angeles where he directed and associate-produced various specials. He speaks working as the prop master for Sanford and Son, and later directing several episodes of the series. He details acting as prop master for Dinah Shore's talk show Dinah!, as well as the Toni Tennille Show. Karen Herman conducted the interview in Northridge, California on February 2, 2000.

"I'd like to be remembered as one of the original pioneers. I would like to be remembered for my relationship with 'Kukla, Fran & Ollie' which in our day, without being bashful, I think we were one of the top shows to the American public. There have been times when I'm introduced to somebody and they say, 'he was the director of 'Kukla, Fran & Ollie' or the director of a part of 'Sanford and Son.' They say, 'Really?' Yes. Really. I've had a good life."

Highlights

On becoming a prop master for Sanford and Son and on his duties in that job; on the cast of Sanford and Son including Redd Foxx; on directing episodes of Sanford and Son

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences

On his early experiences in theater and on meeting Burr Tillstrom at the 1939 World's Fair; on going to work for Billy Rose; on his experience with World War II

Chapter 2

On his experiences with World War II, and on working at an experimental television station

On working at an experimental television station; on the kinds of cameras and other equipment used at the experimental television station he worked at

On the genesis of Kukla, Fran & Ollie created by Burr Tillstrom, including the casting of Fran Allison

Chapter 3

On his first meeting with Burr Tillstrom regarding Kukla, Fran & Ollie (orignally Junior Jamboree), and on the format of the show; on his duties as director of Kukla, Fran & Ollie working with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison, and on the show being ad libbed; on the early reviews of Kukla, Fran & Ollie and on the format and sponsorship of the show

On his duties as director of Kukla, Fran & Ollie and on the content of a typical episode with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison; on a typical day directing Kukla, Fran & Ollie; on working with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison on the set of Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Chapter 4

On the personality of Kukla, Fran & Ollie creator Burr Tillstrom, and on their friendship; on the death of Burr Tillstrom

On the puppets of Kukla, Fran & Ollie, created by Burr Tillstrom; on the personalities of the Kukla, Fran & Ollie puppets

Chapter 5

On the personalities of the puppets on Kukla, Fran & Ollie; on Fran Allison on Kukla, Fran & Ollie; on Kukla, Fran & Ollie moving networks, and on the studio where the show was produced

On Tallulah Bankhead being a big fan of Kukla, Fran & Ollie; on Kukla, Fran & Ollie being used for tests of color broadcasts

Chapter 6

On the color test episodes of Kukla, Fran & Ollie , and on Bud Yorkin being a stage manager; on Kukla, Fran & Ollie's productions of "St. George and the Dragon" and "The Mikado"; on the Kukla, Fran & Ollie theme song

On favorite episodes of Kukla, Fran & Ollie; on various guest stars who appeared on Kukla, Fran & Ollie

On the end of Kukla, Fran & Ollie in 1957; on working at the 1952, 1956, and 1960 Democratic National Conventions

Chapter 7

On the Hollywood Blacklist; on going to work at KNBC News in Los Angeles on getting into advertising; on working with Ernie Kovacs on The Ernie Kovacs Show

On going to work for North American Rockwell making instructional videos for the space program; on being in mission control during the Moon Landing

Chapter 8

On becoming a prop master for Sanford and Son and on his duties in that job; on the cast of Sanford and Son including Redd Foxx; on directing episodes of Sanford and Son

On acting as prop master for Dinah Shore's show Dinah!; on acting as prop master on The Toni Tennille Show, and on his retirement

On advice to aspiring television directors; on the legacy of Bill Eddy

Chapter 9

On the legacy of Bill Eddy; on how he'd like to be remembered

On b-roll pictures from his career- at WNBC in New York; with the cast and crew of Kukla, Fran & Ollie; Kukla, Fran & Ollie book; Burr Tillstrom and Fran Alison with the puppets "Kukla" and "Ollie"; painting that was the first color picture ever to be broadcast in the United States; Bill Eddy; the 1956 Democratic Convention; with Redd Foxx; with Loretta Lynn and Dinah Shore; with Dinah Shore

Shows

Dinah!

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Lewis Gomavitz on acting as prop master for Dinah Shore's show Dinah!

06:39

Ernie Kovacs Show, The

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Lewis Gomavitz on working with Ernie Kovacs on The Ernie Kovacs Show

06:53

Kukla, Fran & Ollie

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Lewis Gomavitz on the genesis of Kukla, Fran & Ollie created by Burr Tillstrom, including the casting of Fran Allison