Lewis Gomavitz

Director / Producer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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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 on February 2, 2000 in Northridge, CA.

"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."

Interviewee(s)
Lewis Gomavitz
Highlights
Lewis Gomavitz on the genesis of Kukla, Fran & Ollie created by Burr Tillstrom, including the casting of Fran Allison
Lewis Gomavitz on acting as prop master for Dinah Shore's show Dinah!
Lewis Gomavitz on the cast of Sanford and Son including Redd Foxx
Lewis Gomavitz on his early experiences in theater and on meeting Burr Tillstrom at the 1939 World's Fair
Lewis Gomavitz on working with Ernie Kovacs on The Ernie Kovacs Show
Lewis Gomavitz on the legacy of Bill Eddy
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!

Ernie Kovacs Show, The

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

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
Lewis Gomavitz on his first meeting with Burr Tillstrom regarding Kukla, Fran & Ollie (orignally Junior Jamboree), and on the format of the show
Lewis Gomavitz on his duties as director of Kukla, Fran & Ollie working with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison, and on the show being ad libbed
Lewis Gomavitz on the early reviews of Kukla, Fran & Ollie and on the format and sponsorship of the show
Lewis Gomavitz on his duties as director of Kukla, Fran & Ollie and on the content of a typical episode with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison
Lewis Gomavitz on a typical day directing Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on working with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison on the set of Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on Kukla, Fran & Ollie creator Burr Tillstrom
Lewis Gomavitz on the personality of Kukla, Fran & Ollie creator Burr Tillstrom, and on their friendship
Lewis Gomavitz on the puppets of Kukla, Fran & Ollie, created by Burr Tillstrom
Lewis Gomavitz on the personalities of the Kukla, Fran & Ollie puppets
Lewis Gomavitz on the personalities of the puppets on Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on Fran Allison on Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on Kukla, Fran & Ollie moving networks, and on the studio where the show was produced
Lewis Gomavitz on Tallulah Bankhead being a big fan of Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on Kukla, Fran & Ollie being used for tests of color broadcasts
Lewis Gomavitz on the color test episodes of Kukla, Fran & Ollie , and on Bud Yorkin being a stage manager
Lewis Gomavitz on Kukla, Fran & Ollie's productions of "St. George and the Dragon" and "The Mikado"
Lewis Gomavitz on the Kukla, Fran & Ollie theme song
Lewis Gomavitz on favorite episodes of Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on June Lockhart appearing on Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on Raymond Scott and Dorothy Collins appearing on Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on Studs Terkel appearing on Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on Marlin Perkins appearing on Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on the end of Kukla, Fran & Ollie in 1957

Sanford and Son

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Lewis Gomavitz on becoming a prop master for Sanford and Son
Lewis Gomavitz on his duties as prop master on Sanford and Son
Lewis Gomavitz on the cast of Sanford and Son including Redd Foxx
Lewis Gomavitz on directing episodes of Sanford and Son
Topics

1939-40 World's Fair

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Lewis Gomavitz on his early experiences in theater and on meeting Burr Tillstrom at the 1939 World's Fair

Advertising and Sponsorship

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Lewis Gomavitz on getting into advertising

Historic Events and Social Change

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Lewis Gomavitz on his early experiences in theater and on meeting Burr Tillstrom at the 1939 World's Fair
Lewis Gomavitz on his experience with World War II
Lewis Gomavitz on his experiences with World War II and on working at an experimental television station
Lewis Gomavitz on being in mission control during the Moon Landing

Hollywood Blacklist

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Lewis Gomavitz on the Hollywood Blacklist

Industry Crossroads

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Lewis Gomavitz on the Hollywood Blacklist

Moon Landing

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Lewis Gomavitz on being in mission control during the Moon Landing

Pop Culture

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Lewis Gomavitz on the Kukla, Fran & Ollie theme song

TV Theme Songs

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Lewis Gomavitz on the Kukla, Fran & Ollie theme song

Technological Innovation

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Lewis Gomavitz on working at an experimental television station
Lewis Gomavitz on the kinds of cameras and other equipment used at the experimental television station he worked at
Lewis Gomavitz on Kukla, Fran & Ollie being used for tests of color broadcasts

Television Industry

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Lewis Gomavitz on the Hollywood Blacklist
Lewis Gomavitz on getting into advertising

Television and the Presidency

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Lewis Gomavitz on working at the 1952, 1956, and 1960 Democratic National Conventions

War

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Lewis Gomavitz on his experience with World War II
Lewis Gomavitz on his experiences with World War II and on working at an experimental television station

World War II

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Lewis Gomavitz on his experience with World War II
Lewis Gomavitz on his experiences with World War II and on working at an experimental television station
Professions

Directors

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Lewis Gomavitz on advice to aspiring television directors
Genres

Children's Programming

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

Comedy Series

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Lewis Gomavitz on working with Ernie Kovacs on The Ernie Kovacs Show
Lewis Gomavitz on acting as prop master for Sanford and Son

News and Documentary

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Lewis Gomavitz on going to work at KNBC News in Los Angeles

Talk Shows

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Lewis Gomavitz on acting as prop master on The Toni Tennille Show, and on his retirement
Lewis Gomavitz on acting as prop master for Dinah!
People

Fran Allison

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Lewis Gomavitz on the genesis of Kukla, Fran & Ollie created by Burr Tillstrom, including the casting of Fran Allison
Lewis Gomavitz on his duties as director of Kukla, Fran & Ollie working with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison, and on the show being ad libbed
Lewis Gomavitz on his duties as director of Kukla, Fran & Ollie and on the content of a typical episode with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison
Lewis Gomavitz on working with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison on the set of Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on Fran Allison on Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Tallulah Bankhead

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Lewis Gomavitz on Tallulah Bankhead being a big fan of Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Dorothy Collins

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Lewis Gomavitz on Raymond Scott and Dorothy Collins appearing on Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Redd Foxx

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Lewis Gomavitz on the cast of Sanford and Son including Redd Foxx

Ernie Kovacs

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

June Lockhart

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Lewis Gomavitz on June Lockhart appearing on Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Dinah Shore

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

Toni Tennille

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Lewis Gomavitz on acting as prop master on The Toni Tennille Show, and on his retirement

Studs Terkel

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Lewis Gomavitz on Studs Terkel appearing on Kukla, Fran & Ollie

Burr Tillstrom

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Lewis Gomavitz on his early experiences in theater and on meeting Burr Tillstrom at the 1939 World's Fair
Lewis Gomavitz on the genesis of Kukla, Fran & Ollie created by Burr Tillstrom, including the casting of Fran Allison
Lewis Gomavitz on his first meeting with Burr Tillstrom regarding Kukla, Fran & Ollie (orignally Junior Jamboree, and on the format of the show
Lewis Gomavitz on his duties as director of Kukla, Fran & Ollie working with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison, and on the show being ad libbed
Lewis Gomavitz on his duties as director of Kukla, Fran & Ollie and on the content of a typical episode with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison
Lewis Gomavitz on working with Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison on the set of Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lewis Gomavitz on Kukla, Fran & Ollie creator Burr Tillstrom
Lewis Gomavitz on the personality of Kukla, Fran & Ollie creator Burr Tillstrom, and on their friendship
Lewis Gomavitz on the death of Burr Tillstrom
Lewis Gomavitz on the puppets of Kukla, Fran & Ollie, created by Burr Tillstrom

Bud Yorkin

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Lewis Gomavitz on the color test episodes of Kukla, Fran & Ollie , and on Bud Yorkin being a stage manager

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