Martin Manulis

Producer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his five-hour interview, Martin Manulis (1915-2007) talks about the Golden Age of Television and the challenges of producing live television anthologies, especially his greatest contribution to television, the critically acclaimed anthology, Playhouse 90. Manulis recalls celebrated teleplays like "Requiem for a Heavyweight" and "The Miracle Worker." He also talks about working with Jack Palance, Ed Wynn, Jack Lemmon, Claudette Colbert, Rod Serling, Tad Mosel, and JP Miller. B-roll consists of dozens of publicity photos taken for Playhouse 90. Morrie Gelman conducted the interview on June 17, 1997 in Los Angeles, CA.

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

"A producer must have more common sense than all the people working around you. You can't afford to be the artist. You may think you are, and you may truly be, but it's got to be the kind of artist who's inside somewhere. You can't be crazy. You can't suddenly be like a director who once said to me, when we were over-length, 'Martin, you've got to call New York and tell them there can't be any commercials this week.' Well, if you are the kind of idiot that would get on the phone and say 'No commercials this week,' you'd never see the inside of a studio again."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Martin Manulis on how he came to produce Playhouse 90

08:16

Martin Manulis on producing Best of Broadway, CBS's first regular color telecast

07:51

Martin Manulis on the casting of Playhouse 90's "Requiem for a Heavyweight"

05:41

Martin Manulis on his relationship with Noel Coward

02:10

Martin Manulis on producing James at 15

03:35

Martin Manulis on how he'd like to be remembered

01:08

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life an influences; on radio he listened to growing up; on movies he watched growing up

On attending Columbia University at the age of 16; on his mother being a musician; on his education at Columbia University and becoming interested in drama

Chapter 2

On his early experience with acting; on going to work for Broadway producer Max Gordon; on becoming an understudy on Broadway, and on appearing on stage in "They Walk Alone"

On quitting acting; on his earliest experience with television; on his experience during World War II, and on his relationship with Noel Coward

Chapter 3

On his personal and professional relationship with Noel Coward; on directing for theater; on being hired by CBS

On producing Crime Photographer; on producing Suspense; on producing Studio One

Chapter 4

On the logistics of live television in the 1950s; on producing the summer version of Studio One; on producing Best of Broadway, CBS's first regular color telecast

On working with the various casts of Best of Broadway, including Helen Hayes and Claudette Colbert; on producing the Best of Broadway episode "The Show-Off," starring Jackie Gleason and Thelma Ritter; on the challenge of producing Best of Broadway live, and on the end of the show

On moving to Los Angeles to produce Climax! at CBS Television City, and on a mishap during a live broadcast of the show; on John Frankenheimer directing Climax!, and on Frankenheimer's directing technique; on hiring Sidney Lumet to direct Climax!

Chapter 5

On producing Climax! with Sidney Lumet directing, and on the show being filmed at CBS's Television City in Los Angeles; on being brought in to produce Playhouse 90, and on working for CBS as a producer; on moving to Los Angeles and his accommodations

On how he came to produce Playhouse 90; on working for CBS executive Hubbell Robinson on Playhouse 90; on the budget for Playhouse 90, and on getting famous actors to appear on the show

Chapter 6

On attracting A-list actors to appear on Playhouse 90 and other anthology shows; on the first episode of Playhouse 90, "Forbidden Area," and second episode, "Requiem for a Heavyweight"; on the casting of Playhouse 90's "Requiem for a Heavyweight"

On the importance of casting and on troubleshooting as a producer; on the success of Playhouse 90's production of "Requiem for a Heavyweight"; on Rod Serling writing "Requiem for a Heavyweight" for Playhouse 90

Chapter 7

On the challenges of producing a weekly, live show like Playhouse 90, and on the quality of the episodes; on the work schedule of Playhouse 90; on the lack of diversity on Playhouse 90 and on television in the 1950s in general

On the advertisers of Playhouse 90, and on Playhouse 90's "Portrait of a Murderer"; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on network censorship and Playhouse 90, and on working with Rod Serling

Chapter 8

On the Playhouse 90 productions of "Days of Wine and Roses" and "The Comedian"; on leaving Playhouse 90, and on becoming Head of Television for 20th Century Fox Television; on developing The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis for 20th Century Fox Television

On developing Adventures in Paradise with James Michener; on developing the series Five Fingers; on leaving television to produce motion pictures

Chapter 9

On getting a Producers Guild award for Playhouse 90 and on receiving numerous Emmy Awards; on the legacy of Playhouse 90; on what represented the then-best of television, and on the then-future of television

On advice to aspiring television producers; on his philosophy as a television producer; on how he'd like to be remembered, and on various people with whom he's worked in his career

Chapter 10

On various people with whom he's worked in his career

On various people with whom he's worked in his career; on producing the series James at 15; on producing the miniseries Chiefs and Space

Chapter 11

On producing the miniseries Space and Harem; on producing the made-for-television movie Grass Roots; on his film and Broadway career

On b-roll pictures from his career- with Claudette Colbert on The Best of Broadway; with Diana Lynn and Gore Vidal; in the control room of Playhouse 90; on the set with the crew of Playhouse 90; with Rod Serling; with Desi Arnaz receiving an Emmy Award; with James Michener; with Nancy Reagan; with Ronald Reagan; with his wife

Shows

Adventures in Paradise

Martin Manulis on developing Adventures in Paradise with James Michener

10:53

Best of Broadway

Martin Manulis on producing Best of Broadway, CBS's first regular color telecast

07:51

Martin Manulis on working with the various casts of Best of Broadway, including Helen Hayes and Claudette Colbert

05:25

Martin Manulis on producing the Best of Broadway episode "The Show-Off," starring Jackie Gleason and Thelma Ritter

02:04

Martin Manulis on the challenge of producing Best of Broadway live, and on the end of the show

01:56

Chiefs

Martin Manulis on producing the miniseries Chiefs

02:35

Climax!

Martin Manulis on moving to Los Angeles to produce Climax! at CBS Television City, and on a mishap during a live broadcast of the show

03:41

Martin Manulis on John Frankenheimer directing Climax, and on Frankenheimer's directing technique

03:19

Martin Manulis on hiring Sidney Lumet to direct Climax!

01:16

Martin Manulis on producing Climax! with Sidney Lumet directing, and on the show being filmed at CBS's Television City in Los Angeles

03:56

Crime Photographer

Martin Manulis on producing Crime Photographer

03:29

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

Martin Manulis on receiving numerous Emmy awards

01:34

Five Fingers

Martin Manulis on developing the series Five Fingers

01:47

Grass Roots

Martin Manulis on producing the made-for-television movie Grass Roots

04:37

Harem

Martin Manulis on producing the miniseries Harem

02:08

James at 15

Martin Manulis on producing James at 15

03:33

Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The

Martin Manulis on developing The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis for 20th Century Fox Television

03:10

Playhouse 90

Martin Manulis on being brought in to produce Playhouse 90, and on working for CBS as a producer

05:40

Martin Manulis on how he came to produce Playhouse 90

08:16

Martin Manulis on working for CBS executive Hubbell Robinson on Playhouse 90

01:35

Martin Manulis on the budget for Playhouse 90, and on getting famous actors to appear on the show

05:11

Martin Manulis on attracting A-list actors to appear on Playhouse 90 and other anthology shows

02:25

Martin Manulis on the first episode of Playhouse 90, "Forbidden Area," and second episode, "Requiem for a Heavyweight"

07:02

Martin Manulis on the casting of Playhouse 90's "Requiem for a Heavyweight" by Ethel Winant

05:41

Martin Manulis on the success of Playhouse 90's production of "Requiem for a Heavyweight"

01:59

Martin Manulis on Rod Serling writing "Requiem for a Heavyweight" for Playhouse 90

03:53

Martin Manulis on the challenges of producing a weekly, live show like Playhouse 90, and on the quality of the episodes

07:58

Martin Manulis on the work schedule of Playhouse 90

03:31

Martin Manulis on the lack of diversity on Playhouse 90 and on television in the 1950s in general

01:55

Martin Manulis on the advertisers of Playhouse 90, and on Playhouse 90's "Portrait of a Murderer"

06:42

Martin Manulis on network censorship and Playhouse 90, and on working with Rod Serling

04:20

Martin Manulis on the Playhouse 90 productions of "Days of Wine and Roses" and "The Comedian"

02:03

Martin Manulis on leaving Playhouse 90, and on becoming Head of Television for 20th Century Fox Television

07:16

Martin Manulis on the legacy of Playhouse 90

04:54

Martin Manulis on getting a Producers Guild award for Playhouse 90

01:01

Playhouse 90: "Days of Wine and Roses"

Martin Manulis on the Playhouse 90 productions "Days of Wine and Roses" and "The Comedian"

02:03

Playhouse 90: "Requiem for a Heavyweight"

Martin Manulis on the casting of Playhouse 90's "Requiem for a Heavyweight" by Ethel Winant

05:41

Martin Manulis on the success of Playhouse 90's production of "Requiem for a Heavyweight"

01:59

Martin Manulis on Rod Serling writing "Requiem for a Heavyweight" for Playhouse 90

03:53

Playhouse 90: "The Comedian"

Martin Manulis on the Playhouse 90 productions "Days of Wine and Roses" and "The Comedian"

02:03

Space

Martin Manulis on producing the miniseries Space

00:40

Martin Manulis on producing the miniseries Space

05:28

Studio One

Martin Manulis on producing Studio One

05:37

Martin Manulis on producing the summer version of Studio One

01:59

Suspense

Martin Manulis on producing Suspense

03:47

Topics

Bloopers

Martin Manulis on a mishap during a live broadcast of Climax!, when an extra who was supposed to be playing dead got up and walked away in the middle of a scene

02:05

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Martin Manulis on network and sponsor objections to the Playhouse 90 episode "A Town Has Turned to Dust" (written by Rod Serling), and how they got around them

04:18

Emmy Awards

Martin Manulis on receiving numerous Emmys

01:34

First Big Break

Martin Manulis on being hired by CBS

08:45

Historic Events and Social Change

Martin Manulis on his experience during World War II

05:10

Hollywood Blacklist

Martin Manulis on the Hollywood Blacklist

04:12

Industry Crossroads

Martin Manulis on the Hollywood Blacklist

04:12

Pivotal Career Moments

Martin Manulis on being hired by CBS

08:45

Television Industry

Martin Manulis on the Hollywood Blacklist

04:12

Martin Manulis on network and sponsor objections to the Playhouse 90 episode "A Town Has Turned to Dust" (written by Rod Serling), and how they got around them

04:18

Martin Manulis on leaving television to produce motion pictures

04:13

Martin Manulis on the then-future of television

06:15

Martin Manulis on advice to aspiring television producers

03:33

War

Martin Manulis on his experience during World War II

05:10

World War II

Martin Manulis on his experience during World War II

05:10

Professions

Directors

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Martin Manulis on making the transition from directing theater to directing television

02:19

Producers

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Martin Manulis on the logistics of live television in the 1950s

01:13

Martin Manulis on the importance of casting and on troubleshooting as a producer

08:07

Martin Manulis on his philosophy as a television producer

04:04

Genres

Classic Anthology Series

Martin Manulis on producing Studio One

01:59

Martin Manulis on producing Best of Broadway

17:16

Martin Manulis on producing Climax!

08:17

Martin Manulis on producing Playhouse 90

24:45

Martin Manulis on producing Playhouse 90

29:08

Martin Manulis on producing Playhouse 90

28:39

Martin Manulis on the Playhouse 90 productions "Days of Wine and Roses" and "The Comedian"

02:03

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Martin Manulis on producing the miniseries Space and Harem, and the made-for-television movie Grass Roots

12:13

People

Arthur Penn

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Martin Manulis on working with Arthur Penn and William Gibson

01:49

Daniel Petrie, Sr.

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Martin Manulis on working with Daniel Petrie, Sr.

00:30

Delbert Mann

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Martin Manulis on Delbert Mann

02:10

Ethel Winant

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Martin Manulis on the casting of Playhouse 90's "Requiem for a Heavyweight" by Ethel Winant

05:41

Frank Stanton

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Martin Manulis on working with Frank Stanton

01:11

Fred Coe

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Martin Manulis on working with Fred Coe

01:57

Grace Kelly

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Martin Manulis on working with Grace Kelly

01:19

Helen Hayes

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Martin Manulis on working with the various casts of Best of Broadway, including Helen Hayes and Claudette Colbert

05:23

Hubbell Robinson

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Martin Manulis on working for CBS executive Hubbell Robinson on Playhouse 90

01:35

JP Miller

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Martin Manulis on working with JP Miller

01:13

Jackie Gleason

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Martin Manulis on producing the Best of Broadway episode "The Show-Off," starring Jackie Gleason and Thelma Ritter

02:06

John Frankenheimer

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Martin Manulis on John Frankenheimer directing Climax, and on Frankenheimer's directing technique

03:19

Kim Stanley

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Martin Manulis on working with Kim Stanley

00:59

Martin Ritt

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Martin Manulis on working with Martin Ritt

00:47

Noel Coward

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Martin Manulis on his relationship with Noel Coward

02:10

Martin Manulis on his personal and professional relationship with Noel Coward

01:14

Ralph Nelson

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Martin Manulis on working with Ralph Nelson

00:44

Reginald Rose

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Martin Manulis on working with Reginald Rose

00:30

Rod Serling

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Martin Manulis on Rod Serling writing "Requiem for a Heavyweight" for Playhouse 90

03:54

Martin Manulis on working with Rod Serling on "A Town Has Turned to Dust" on Playhouse 90

04:18

Sidney Lumet

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Martin Manulis on hiring Sidney Lumet to direct Climax!

01:16

Tad Mosel

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Martin Manulis on working with Tad Mosel

01:07

William S. Paley

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Martin Manulis on working with William S. Paley

04:48