About
"I have always been a stickler of not wanting the crew to do anything that I would not do. If lighting was started at 3:00 A.M., which it did, I would be there no later than 3:30."
In his over two-and-a-half-hour interview, Lynwood King talks about breaking into television in 1949 at Chicago's WNBQ. He describes the famous Chicago School of Television pioneered by such legends as Dave Garroway and Studs Terkel. King talks about his work as a stage manager on network series that originated in Chicago, including Studs' Place; Garroway at Large; Zoo Parade; and Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. He recalls working as a director on series including Hawkins Falls, and in New York, Tonight! America After Dark -- the late-night series that ran in between the Steve Allen and Jack Paar Tonight shows. He also discusses his work in public broadcasting and on documentary series, including Project 20. He speaks in great detail about his work as a director on the Today show, which reunited him with Dave Garroway. King also discusses his later freelance work on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and on soap operas, including Ryan's Hope and One Life to Live. Jeff Kisseloff conducted the interview on November 20, 2002 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Lynwood King on how he came to direct Today with Dave Garroway, and on Garroway's difficulties doing a show in the morning
Lynwood King on the crew of Dave Garroway's Garroway at Large, and on the popularity of the show
Lynwood King on filling in as director of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and on working with Carson, Ed McMahon, and Doc Severinsen
Lynwood King on working on Studs Terkel's Stud's Place
Lynwood King on the various features of Today during his tenure, including the chimp J. Fred Muggs
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On the crew of Dave Garroway's Garroway at Large, and on the popularity of the show; on what made Dave Garroway's Garroway at Large special; on stage managing for Burr Tillstrom's Kukla, Fran & Ollie
On the routines of Burr Tillstrom's Kukla, Fran & Ollie, and on Fran Allison; on working on Hawkins Falls
On working on Studs Terkel's Stud's Place; on stage managing Marlin Perkins' Zoo Parade
Chapter 2
On Hugh Downs; on leaving NBC in Chicago to do The Breakfast Club with Don McNeill in New York
On directing Tonight! America After Dark; on working freelance for public television; on working with columnist Dorsey Connors
Chapter 3
On on-air troubles he had with musician Herbie Mintz, and a live blooper involving Sid Caesar; on how he came to direct Today with Dave Garroway, and on Garroway's difficulties doing a show in the morning; on how the Today format changed over the years, from Dave Garroway's tenure to the then-present
On the various features of Today during his tenure; on his schedule directing Today, on some of the most memorable guests during his tenure, and on Dave Garroway's skills as an interviewer; on on producer Robert Bendick being fired from the show, and on Dave Garroway being replaced as host
Chapter 4
On Dave Garroway being replaced as the host of Today by John Chancellor, and on leaving the show himself to direct Project XX; on directing the NBC News documentary series Exploring, and also NBC's Sunday afternoon newscast
On directing The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; on directing The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon; on becoming a freelance director for daytime dramas like Ryan's Hope
Chapter 5
On directing daytime dramas like One Life to Live and Ryan's Hope; on directing a Christian daytime drama for Pat Robertson; on his retirement
Shows
Breakfast Club, The
Lynwood King on leaving NBC in Chicago to do The Breakfast Club with Don McNeill in New York
Exploring
Lynwood King on directing the NBC News documentary series Exploring
Garroway at Large
Lynwood King on the crew of Dave Garroway's Garroway at Large, and on the popularity of the show
Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon
Lynwood King on directing the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon
Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lynwood King on working on Kukla, Fran & Ollie
NBC News
Lynwood King on directing NBC News' Sunday afternoon newscast
One Life to Live
Lynwood King on directing daytime dramas like One Life to Live and Ryan's Hope
Project XX
Lynwood King on being dismissed from Today, and moving on to the NBC News documentary series Project XX
Ryan's Hope
Lynwood King on how he came to be a freelance director for daytime dramas such as The Doctors and Ryan's Hope
Lynwood King on directing daytime dramas like One Life to Live and Ryan's Hope
Studs' Place
Lynwood King on working on Studs Terkel's Stud's Place
Today
Lynwood King on how he came to direct Today with Dave Garroway, and on Garroway's difficulties doing a show in the morning
Lynwood King on how the Today format changed over the years, from Dave Garroway's tenure to the then-present
Lynwood King on the various features of Today during his tenure, including the chimp J. Fred Muggs
Lynwood King on his schedule directing Today, and on some of the most memorable guests during his tenure including Dick Van Dyke, Lucille Ball, Dirk Bogarde, Harpo Marx, and Arlene Francis
Lynwood King on Dave Garroway's skill as an interviewer on Today
Lynwood King on on producer Robert Bendick being fired from Today, and on Dave Garroway being replaced as host
Lynwood King on Dave Garroway being replaced as the host of Today with John Chancellor
Lynwood King on being dismissed from Today, and moving on to direct the NBC News documentary series Project XX
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Lynwood King on filling in as director of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and on working with Carson, Ed McMahon, and Doc Severinsen
Lynwood King on some of his favorite moments of directing The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Tonight! America After Dark
Lynwood King on directing Tonight! America After Dark
Topics
Bloopers
Lynwood King on on a live television blooper involving Sid Caesar
Professions
Directors
Lynwood King on directing NBC News' Sunday afternoon newscast
Genres
Children's Programming
Lynnwood King on stage managing Marlin Perkins' Zoo Parade
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Lynwood King on how he came to be a freelance director for daytime dramas such as The Doctors and Ryan's Hope
Lynwood King on directing daytime dramas
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Lynwood King on directing the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon
News and Documentary
Lynwood King on leaving NBC in Chicago to do The Breakfast Club with Don McNeill in New York
Lynwood King on directing Today during Dave Garroway's tenure as host
Lynwood King on directing various NBC News programming including Today, Project XX, Exploring, and their Sunday afternoon newscast
Talk Shows
Lynwood King on directing Tonight! America After Dark
Lynwood King on filling in as director for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
People
Fran Allison
Lynwood King on the routines of Burr Tillstrom's Kukla, Fran & Ollie, and on Fran Allison
Lucille Ball
Lynwood King on his schedule directing Today, and on some of the most memorable guests during his tenure including Dick Van Dyke, Lucille Ball, Dirk Bogarde, Harpo Marx, and Arlene Francis
Sid Caesar
Lynwood King on on a live television blooper involving Sid Caesar
Johnny Carson
Lynwood King on filling in as director of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and on working with Carson, Ed McMahon, and Doc Severinsen
John Chancellor
Lynwood King on Dave Garroway being replaced as the host of Today with John Chancellor
Hugh Downs
Lynwood King on Hugh Downs
Arlene Francis
Lynwood King on his schedule directing Today, and on some of the most memorable guests during his tenure including Dick Van Dyke, Lucille Ball, Dirk Bogarde, Harpo Marx, and Arlene Francis
Dave Garroway
Lynwood King on the crew of Dave Garroway's Garroway at Large, and on the popularity of the show
Lynwood King on what made Dave Garroway's Garroway at Large special
Lynwood King on how he came to direct Today with Dave Garroway, and on Garroway's difficulties doing a show in the morning
Lynwood King on how the Today format changed over the years, from Dave Garroway's tenure to the then-present
Lynwood King on Dave Garroway's skill as an interviewer on Today
Lynwood King on on producer Robert Bendick being fired from Today, and on Dave Garroway being replaced as host
Lynwood King on Dave Garroway being replaced as the host of Today with John Chancellor
Jerry Lewis
Lynwood King on directing the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon
Harpo Marx
Lynwood King on his schedule directing Today, and on some of the most memorable guests during his tenure including Dick Van Dyke, Lucille Ball, Dirk Bogarde, Harpo Marx, and Arlene Francis
Ed McMahon
Lynwood King on filling in as director of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and on working with Carson, Ed McMahon, and Doc Severinsen
Don McNeill
Lynwood King on leaving NBC in Chicago to do The Breakfast Club with Don McNeill in New York
Pat Robertson
Lynwood King on directing the Christian daytime drama Another Life for Pat Robertson, and on his retirement
Doc Severinsen
Lynwood King on filling in as director of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and on working with Carson, Ed McMahon, and Doc Severinsen
Studs Terkel
Lynwood King on working on Studs Terkel's Stud's Place
Burr Tillstrom
Lynwood King on stage managing for Burr Tillstrom's Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Lynwood King on the routines of Burr Tillstrom's Kukla, Fran & Ollie, and on Fran Allison
Dick Van Dyke
Lynwood King on his schedule directing Today, and on some of the most memorable guests during his tenure including Dick Van Dyke, Lucille Ball, Dirk Bogarde, Harpo Marx, and Arlene Francis