About
"I never wrote early. I never wrote on time. Until it was almost too late, I never wrote anything. Bob Hope once said: 'if Mort Lachman could ever write one day ahead of time, he would own the world.'"
In his three-hour interview, Mort Lachman (1918-2009) talks about his early years becoming a writer in network radio for Eddie Cantor and Bob Hope. He describes, in detail, his work as a writer and later head writer/director/producer on the Bob Hope television specials. He vividly recalls Bob Hope's topical humor and gift for ad-libbing. He speaks about his work as a writer for several Ralph Edwards series. He also describes his work as a producer and writer on All in the Family (for which he won an Emmy award), Archie Bunker's Place, One Day at a Time, Sanford, Gimme a Break, Kate & Allie, and Bagdad Café. Jeff Abraham conducted the interview on January 26, 2004 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Mort Lachman on becoming a gag writer for Bob Hope's radio show
Mort Lachman on Bob Hope hosting the The Colgate Comedy Hour and his discomfort with TV cameras
Mort Lachman on Frank Sinatra appearing on the Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on working with Bing Crosby on The Bob Hope Chevy Show
Mort Lachman on working with Redd Foxx on Sanford
Mort Lachman on writing the pilot for One Day at a Time, and on moving over to All in the Family
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on going to write gags for Eddie Cantor's radio show; on becoming a gag writer for Bob Hope's radio show
On the experience of writing for Bob Hope's radio show; on Bob Hope changing up the writing staff for his radio show, and on his friendship with Hope
Chapter 2
On being fired by Bob Hope; on Bob Hope hosting the The Colgate Comedy Hour and his discomfort with TV cameras; on doing warmup on Truth or Consequences hosted by Ralph Edwards
On working on This is Your Life; with Roy Rogers as a guest; on Bob Hope's daytime radio show; on writing for the Bob Hope Specials and on learning the technical aspects of television
On working around fame and celebrity, and on Bob Hope's demanding schedule; on working with the writing staff of the Bob Hope Specials ; on playing golf with Bob Hope
Chapter 3
On writing to the guidelines of standards and practices for the Bob Hope Specials and on writing political material for Hope; on keeping files of all the gags he's written; on writing monologues for Bob Hope Specials
On traveling with Bob Hope to various cities, and on adjusting his writing for location; on writing for Bob Hope's USO shows; on becoming a producer of the Bob Hope Specials
On the many guest-stars of the Bob Hope Specials, including Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, and Frank Sinatra
Chapter 4
On Phyllis Diller appearing on the Bob Hope Specials ; on Barbara Eden on the Bob Hope Specials; on traveling to Vietnam with Bob Hope
On various sketches from the Bob Hope Specials; on Bob Hope's ability to ad lib; on leaving the employ of Bob Hope
On writing the pilot for One Day at a Time, and on moving over to All in the Family; on how the writers worked on All in the Family; on Carrol O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family and on O'Connor's relationship with Norman Lear
Chapter 5
On the process of shooting an episode of All in the Family; on classic episodes of All in the Family; on working with the cast and crew of All in the Family, and on losing the characters of "Mike" and "Gloria"
On Carroll O'Connor continuing the character of "Archie Bunker" on Archie Bunker's Place; on the legacy of All in the Family; on working with Redd Foxx on Sanford
On writing Gimme A Break! with Nell Carter; on writing Kate & Allie with Jane Curtin and Susan Saint James; on writing a pilot for Oprah Winfrey
Chapter 6
On writing Bagdad Cafe with Whoopi Goldberg and Jean Stapleton
On various people with whom he's worked in his career
On writing for The Hank McCune Show; on his writing style; on not being humble
Shows
All in the Family
Mort Lachman on writing the pilot for One Day at a Time, and on moving over to All in the Family
Mort Lachman on how the writers worked on All in the Family
Mort Lachman on Norman Lear's relationship with the writing staff of All in the Family
Mort Lachman on Carrol O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family and on O'Connor's relationship with Norman Lear
Mort Lachman on the process of shooting an episode of All in the Family
Mort Lachman on classic episodes of All in the Family
Mort Lachman on working with the cast and crew of All in the Family, and on losing the characters of "Mike" and "Gloria"
Mort Lachman on the legacy of All in the Family
Archie Bunker's Place
Mort Lachman on Carroll O'Connor continuing the character of "Archie Bunker" on Archie Bunker's Place
Bagdad Café
Mort Lachman on writing Bagdad Cafe with Whoopi Goldberg and Jean Stapleton
Bob Hope Chevy Show, The
Mort Lachman on working with Bing Crosby on The Bob Hope Chevy Show
Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on writing for the Bob Hope Specials and on learning the technical aspects of television
Mort Lachman on working with the writing staff of the Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on writing to the guidelines of standards and practices for the Bob Hope Specials and on writing political material for Hope
Mort Lachman on writing monologues for Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on becoming a producer of the Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on working with Jerry Colonna on the Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on Jack Benny appearing on the Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on Frank Sinatra appearing on the Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on Phyllis Diller appearing on the Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on Barbara Eden on the Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on various sketches from the Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on writing the pilot for One Day at a Time, and on moving over to All in the Family
Colgate Comedy Hour, The
Mort Lachman on Bob Hope hosting the The Colgate Comedy Hour (airdate: December 24, 1950) and his discomfort with TV cameras
Gimme A Break!
Mort Lachman on writing Gimme A Break! with Nell Carter
Hank McCune Show, The
Mort Lachman on writing for The Hank McCune Show
Kate & Allie
Mort Lachman on writing Kate & Allie with Jane Curtin and Susan Saint James
Sanford
Mort Lachman on working with Redd Foxx on Sanford
This Is Your Life
Mort Lachman on working on This is Your Life; on Roy Rogers as a guest; on writing a spoof of the series for Bob Hope
Truth or Consequences
Mort Lachman on doing warmup on Truth or Consequences hosted by Ralph Edwards
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Mort Lachman on writing for network shows, like the Bob Hope Specials , and the restrictions from the network S&P
Fame and Celebrity
Mort Lachman on working around fame and celebrity, and on Bob Hope's demanding schedule
Historic Events and Social Change
Mort Lachman on writing for Bob Hope's USO shows
Mort Lachman on traveling to Vietnam with Bob Hope
Pop Culture
Mort Lachman on working around fame and celebrity, and on Bob Hope's demanding schedule
Television Industry
Mort Lachman on writing for network shows, like the Bob Hope Specials , and the restrictions from the network S&P
Vietnam War
Mort Lachman on traveling to Vietnam with Bob Hope
War
Mort Lachman on writing for Bob Hope's USO shows
Mort Lachman on traveling to Vietnam with Bob Hope
Professions
Writers
Mort Lachman on keeping files of all the gags he's written
Mort Lachman on his writing style
Genres
Comedy Series
Mort Lachman on writing and producing the Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on writing the pilot for One Day at a Time, and on moving over to All in the Family
Mort Lachman on writing for All in the Family and Archie Bunker's Place
Mort Lachman on working with Redd Foxx on Sanford
Mort Lachman on writing Gimme A Break! with Nell Carter
Mort Lachman on writing Kate & Allie with Jane Curtin and Susan Saint James
Mort Lachman on writing Bagdad Cafe with Whoopi Goldberg and Jean Stapleton
Mort Lachman on writing for The Hank McCune Show
Game Shows
Mort Lachman on doing warmup on Truth or Consequences hosted by Ralph Edwards
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Mort Lachman on Bob Hope hosting the The Colgate Comedy Hour and his discomfort with TV cameras
Mort Lachman on writing for the Bob Hope Specials
Mort Lachman on the Bob Hope Specials
Talk Shows
Mort Lachman on working on This is Your Life; with Roy Rogers as a guest and on writing a spoof of the series for Bob Hope
People
Lucille Ball
Mort Lachman on working with Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball in "Yours, Mine, and Ours"
Jack Benny
Mort Lachman on Jack Benny appearing on the Bob Hope Specials
Les Brown
Mort Lachman on working with Les Brown
Eddie Cantor
Mort Lachman on going to write gags for Eddie Cantor's radio show
Rosemary Clooney
Mort Lachman on Rosemary Clooney
Bing Crosby
Mort Lachman on working with Bing Crosby on The Bob Hope Chevy Show
Phyllis Diller
Mort Lachman on Phyllis Diller appearing on the Bob Hope Specials
Barbara Eden
Mort Lachman on Barbara Eden on the Bob Hope Specials
Ralph Edwards
Mort Lachman on working on This is Your Life; on Roy Rogers as a guest; on writing a spoof of the series for Bob Hope
Henry Fonda
Mort Lachman on working with Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball in "Yours, Mine, and Ours"
Redd Foxx
Mort Lachman on working with Redd Foxx on Sanford
Cary Grant
Mort Lachman on working with Cary Grant
Bob Hope
Mort Lachman on becoming a gag writer for Bob Hope's radio show
Mort Lachman on the experience of writing for Bob Hope's radio show
Mort Lachman on Bob Hope changing up the writing staff for his radio show, and on his friendship with Hope
Mort Lachman on Bob Hope hosting the The Colgate Comedy Hour (airdate: December 24, 1950) and his discomfort with TV cameras
Mort Lachman on being fired by Bob Hope, and on various other jobs he did
Mort Lachman on working around fame and celebrity, and on Bob Hope's demanding schedule
Mort Lachman on playing golf with Bob Hope
Mort Lachman on traveling with Bob Hope to various cities, and on adjusting his writing for location
Mort Lachman on writing for Bob Hope's USO shows
Mort Lachman on Bob Hope's ability to ad lib
Mort Lachman on Bob Hope hosting the Academy Awards
Mort Lachman on leaving the employ of Bob Hope
Linda Hope
Mort Lachman on Linda Hope
Norman Lear
Mort Lachman on Norman Lear's relationship with the writing staff of All in the Family
Mort Lachman on Carrol O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family and on O'Connor's relationship with Norman Lear
Jayne Mansfield
Mort Lachman on Jayne Mansfield
Steve McQueen
Mort Lachman on Steve McQueen
Carroll O'Connor
Mort Lachman on Carrol O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family and on O'Connor's relationship with Norman Lear
Mort Lachman on Carroll O'Connor continuing the character of "Archie Bunker" on Archie Bunker's Place
Janis Paige with Emerson College
Mort Lachman on Janis Paige
Larry Rhine
Mort Lachman on Larry Rhine
Roy Rogers
Mort Lachman on working on This is Your Life; on Roy Rogers as a guest; on writing a spoof of the series for Bob Hope
Sy Rosen
Mort Lachman on Sy Rosen
Eva Marie Saint
Mort Lachman on Eva Marie Saint
Bob Schiller
Mort Lachman on Bob Schiller
Mel Shavelson
Mort Lachman on Mel Shavelson
Frank Sinatra
Mort Lachman on Frank Sinatra appearing on the Bob Hope Specials
Sally Struthers
Mort Lachman on Sally Struthers
Mel Tolkin
Mort Lachman on Mel Tolkin
Bob Weiskopf
Mort Lachman on Bob Weiskopf
Flip Wilson
Mort Lachman on Flip Wilson
Oprah Winfrey
Mort Lachman on writing a pilot for Oprah Winfrey