"The main thing is to remain truthful. To heck with the audience, you're doing it for yourself."

    About This Interview

    In the two-hour joint portion of their interview, Johnny Stearns (1916-2001) and Mary Kay Stearns (1925-2018) how they met and their work together. They discuss their television debut, including Mary Kay’s debut on the DuMont network on a show called J.J. Juniors, in which she modeled junior fashions. They detail their work on the very first television situation comedy, Mary Kay and Johnny (1947-50), on which they co-starred. They talk about the week-by-week production of the show, storylines used, format, premise, production, and crew of the program, as well as its run on three different networks (Dumont, NBC, CBS). They discuss Mary Kay’s later show, Mary Kay’s Nightcap (1951-52), on which she “signed off” for NBC by telling the viewers what would be on television the following day and doing occasional interviews. They also talk about serving as the spokespeople for U.S. Steel in the 1950s, appearing in commercials during the U.S. Steel Hour. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on August 25, 1999 in Corona del Mar, CA.

    In the half-hour solo portion of her interview, Mary Kay Stearns describes her stage debut as a toddler at the Pasadena Playhouse in California. She talks about her appearances on stage and in film on the West Coast before moving to New York to appear on Broadway. She recalls appearances on live television shows such as Armstrong Circle Theatre and Kraft Television Theatre

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Mary Kay Stearns

    Mary Kay Stearns on taking ballet lessons from Cyd Charisse's husband

    00:29
    Thumbnail of Mary Kay Stearns

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on writing Mary Kay's pregnancy into Mary Kay and Johnny

    02:02
    Thumbnail of Mary Kay Stearns

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Mary Kay getting an interview show called Mary Kay's Nightcap

    04:15
    Thumbnail of Mary Kay Stearns

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Alan Handley wanting to use Mary Kay's sign-off from Mary Kay's Nightcap for Dinah Shore's show

    01:23
    Thumbnail of Mary Kay Stearns

    Johnny Stearns on writing the first script and dressing the set for Mary Kay and Johnny

    03:13
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH JOHNNY STEARNS: On how they met and their first date; on getting engaged

    05:29

    On their television debut and thoughts on early television; on writing the first script and dressing the set for Mary Kay and Johnny

    16:27

    On theater people looking down on television; on Mary Kay and Johnny getting picked up as a series for Dumont

    05:16

    Chapter 2

    On getting a half-hour version of Mary Kay and Johnny; on typical story ideas and production

    12:37

    On the format, premise, and characters on Mary Kay and Johnny

    06:06

    On the comedy on the program; on the challenges of acting in live television; on sets and locations on Mary Kay and Johnny

    09:40

    Chapter 3

    On the directors of Mary Kay and Johnny; on the cameras used on the show; on getting recognized by fans and working with Standards and Practices

    06:52

    On the comedy on the show; on what it was like during the early years of television

    12:53

    On what they did after Mary Kay and Johnny went off the air; on Mary Kay getting an interview show called Mary Kay's Nightcap; on why Mary Kay and Johnny went off the air

    07:38

    Chapter 4

    On problems getting writers for Mary Kay and Johnny; on the show going off the air

    08:25

    On becoming spokespeople for The U.S. Steel Hour and U.S. Steel; on Johnny producing the local version of The Steve Allen Show

    07:20

    On their commercials as spokespeople for The U.S. Steel Hour; on additional television appearances together

    09:54

    Chapter 5

    START OF SOLO INTERVIEW WITH MARY KAY STEARNS: On her early years and influences; on wanting to be an actress from a young age; on The Actor's Lab

    09:33

    On moving to New York; on her film debut in "Our Hearts Were Growing Up"; on becoming an understudy on the play "Dear Ruth"

    07:40

    On getting over her stage fright; on her role in "Heart Song" and in other plays and films

    04:53

    On several television appearances including Kraft Television Theatre's "A Kiss For Cinderella"; on the challenges of playing a character based on herself on Mary Kay and Johnny; on how she approaches a role

    06:11

    Kraft Television Theatre

    Mary Kay Stearns on appearing in Kraft Television Theatre's "A Kiss For Cinderella"

    01:26

    Mary Kay and Johnny

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on how Mary Kay and Johnny (one of TV's earliest sitcoms) came about

    03:12

    Johnny Stearns on writing the first script and dressing the set for Mary Kay and Johnny

    03:13

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on rehearsal and production of the first episode of Mary Kay and Johnny

    02:26

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting a contract to continue Mary Kay and Johnny beyond one episode

    01:41

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on writing Mary Kay's pregnancy into Mary Kay and Johnny

    02:22

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the half-hour NBC version of Mary Kay and Johnny and the birth of their son

    02:02

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on a typical production week on Mary Kay and Johnny

    01:16

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on story ideas for Mary Kay and Johnny

    02:06

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the half-hour NBC version of Mary Kay and Johnny and temporarily filling the time slot for Kukla, Fran and Ollie

    02:33

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on moving their show from Dumont to NBC, to CBS, and back to NBC; on having a fallout with the sponsor

    02:08

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the format, premise, and characters of Mary Kay and Johnny

    06:06

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the comedy of Mary Kay and Johnny

    01:49

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on production of Mary Kay and Johnny at NBC

    01:30

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television; on sets and locations on Mary Kay and Johnny

    04:12

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on problems getting writers for Mary Kay and Johnny

    03:52

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on NBC's reaction to Mary Kay and Johnny wanting to end Mary Kay and Johnny

    01:56

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on problems with studio space on Mary Kay and Johnny

    01:23

    Mary Kay Stearns on the challenges of playing a character based on herself on Mary Kay and Johnny   

    01:37

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the directors and floor managers of Mary Kay and Johnny

    02:05

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on their infant son appearing on Mary Kay and Johnny

    00:35

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting recognized from Mary Kay and Johnny

    01:10

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on incorporating Mary Kay's pregnancy into Mary Kay and Johnny; on what they could and couldn't say on the show

    03:02

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the laughter heard on Mary Kay and Johnny coming from the crew

    01:04

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on kinescopes of Mary Kay and Johnny

    02:13

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the physical comedy and type of humor on Mary Kay and Johnny

    02:03

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on rehearsals and improvisation on Mary Kay and Johnny

    01:45

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on using their real identities on Mary Kay and Johnny; on not wanting celebrity

    02:22

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on their show being on television at the birth of the medium, and experiencing the growth of the industry

    01:27

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Mary Kay and Johnny moving to CBS and then returning to NBC

    00:50

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on similarities between Mary Kay and Johnny and later sitcoms

    01:10

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on why Mary Kay and Johnny went off the air

    02:27

    Steve Allen Show, The (1956-61)

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Johnny producing the local version of The Steve Allen Show

    03:28

    United States Steel Hour, The

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on becoming spokespeople for The U.S. Steel Hour and U.S. Steel

    03:52

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on their commercials as spokespeople for The U.S. Steel Hour

    03:27

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the directors of their commercials for The U.S. Steel Hour

    00:47

    Censorship / Standards & Practices

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on incorporating Mary Kay's pregnancy into Mary Kay and Johnny; on what they could and couldn't say on the show

    03:02

    Comedy

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on how Mary Kay and Johnny (one of TV's earliest sitcoms) came about

    03:12

    Comedy-Variety

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television; on sets and locations on Mary Kay and Johnny

    04:12

    Fame and Celebrity

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting recognized from Mary Kay and Johnny

    01:10

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on using their real identities on Mary Kay and Johnny; on not wanting celebrity

    02:22

    Television Industry

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting recognized from Mary Kay and Johnny

    01:10

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on incorporating Mary Kay's pregnancy into Mary Kay and Johnny; on what they could and couldn't say on the show

    03:02

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on using their real identities on Mary Kay and Johnny; on not wanting celebrity

    02:22

    TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on how Mary Kay and Johnny (one of TV's earliest sitcoms) came about

    03:12

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television; on sets and locations on Mary Kay and Johnny

    04:12

    Actor

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television

    00:40

    Actress

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television

    00:40

    Mary Kay Stearns on how she conquers stage fright

    01:46

    Mary Kay Stearns on how she approaches a role

    02:02

    Performers

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the challenges of acting in live television

    00:40

    Mary Kay Stearns on how she conquers stage fright

    01:46

    Mary Kay Stearns on how she approaches a role

    02:02

    Comedy Series

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on how Mary Kay and Johnny (one of TV's earliest sitcoms) came about

    03:12

    Johnny Stearns on writing the first script and dressing the set for Mary Kay and Johnny

    03:13

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on rehearsal and production of the first episode of Mary Kay and Johnny

    02:26

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting a contract to continue Mary Kay and Johnny beyond one episode

    01:41

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the premise and production of Mary Kay and Johnny

    28:23

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the humor, censorship, and end of Mary Kay and Johnny

    27:23

    Commercials

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on commercials they appeared in

    03:27

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on their commercials as spokespeople for The U.S. Steel Hour

    00:36

    Steve Allen

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Johnny producing the local version of The Steve Allen Show

    03:28

    Cyd Charisse

    Mary Kay Stearns on taking ballet lessons from Cyd Charisse's husband

    00:29

    Jack Gilford

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Jack Gilford as the local grocer on Mary Kay and Johnny

    00:50

    Alan Handley

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Alan Handley wanting to use Mary Kay's sign-off from Mary Kay's Nightcap for Dinah Shore's show

    01:23

    Dwight Hemion

    Johnny Stearns on working with director Dwight Hemion

    02:09

    Delbert Mann

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the directors and floor managers of Mary Kay and Johnny

    00:35

    Howard Morris

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Howard Morris of Mary Kay and Johnny

    00:35

    Garry Simpson

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on the directors and floor managers of Mary Kay and Johnny

    00:08

    Bud Yorkin

    Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on Bud Yorkin as cameraman of Mary Kay and Johnny

    00:11

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