About
"I wanted to do a medical show. I hadn't been able to do it because CBS said, as the other networks did, 'who wants to go to a hospital? That's the last place...a person comes home from their job and they're going to turn on television and see sick people?' But in radio, I did plenty of them."
In his four-and-a-half-hour interview, Norman Felton (1913-2012) discusses his role in radio and in early television in Chicago, as part of the distinguished Chicago School of Television with Charlie Andrews and Paul Rhymer. He describes directing live dramas for Robert Montgomery Presents and producing shows for Studio One. He talks extensively about his role as executive producer on the hit series Dr. Kildare and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and the formation of his production company, Arena Productions. Felton also shares his thoughts on colleagues Gene Roddenberry, Sam Rolfe, Grant Tinker and many others. Lee Goldberg conducted the interview on September 12, 1997 in Woodland Hills, CA.
Highlights
Norman Felton on censorship on Playhouse 90's "Judgment at Nuremberg"
Norman Felton on going to the University of Iowa with classmate Tennessee Williams
Norman Felton on Ian Fleming coming up with the name "Napoleon Solo" for The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Norman Felton on the creation of the Norman Felton Television Producer of the Year Award
Director Norman Felton on meeting Pat Weaver
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on growing up in London; on regular trips to the library on Saturdays; on leaving school at 13 to go to work; on moving to America when he was 15 and the various jobs and experiences he had as a teenager
On his start in radio KJR and theater productions in Seattle; on joining the Teamsters and getting into scenery work; on his big break writing plays and going to the University of Iowa with classmate Tennessee Williams
Chapter 2
On the Living Newspaper he worked on at the University of Iowa; on directing the St. Paul Civic Theater; on moving to Chicago; on arena theater and getting into NBC radio; on directing "Office Playhouse" on the radio
On troubles working with advertising agencies; on taking a leave of absence to pursue television; on going to New York to direct television; on directing a painting show
Chapter 3
On the first television program he directed; on joining the Directors Guild
On the "Chicago School" of Television - Garroway-at-Large, Stud's Place; on TV's first soap opera These Are My Children; on Crisis
Chapter 4
On his long association with Robert Montgomery Presents; on the show's format; on the writing on the show; on studio space for Robert Montgomery Presents
On directing his first episode of Robert Montgomery Presents: "The Letter"
Chapter 5
On the "Kitty Foyle" episode of Robert Montgomery Presents; on an actress getting sick on live television
On network and sponsor involvement on Robert Montgomery Presents; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on Robert Montgomery Presents winning its first Emmy
On leaving Robert Montgomery Presents; on directing and becoming associate producer on Studio One
Chapter 6
On Studio One writers and the show moving from New York to Hollywood; on going from live to video tape; on becoming Executive Producer of Playhouse 90
On working for CBS; on producing Pursuit; on working for MGM Television and forming his own production company; on executive producing Dr. Kildare; on casting Raymond Massey and Richard Chamberlain for Dr. Kildare
Chapter 7
On NBC Executive David Levy approving Dr. Kildare; on doing a spinoff of Dr. Kildare; on The Lieutenant with Gene Roddenberry
On executive producing The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and its spin-off, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.; on working in British television
Chapter 8
On leaving MGM Television and setting up Arena Productions at Universal; on working with Steven Spielberg; on the series Hawkins; on a TV movie of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.; on joining the writer's strike, against himself
On the creation of the Norman Felton Television Producer of the Year Award; on media literacy
On colleagues Jerry Goldsmith, Sam Rolfe and Grant Tinker
Chapter 9
On people with whom he's worked; on photographs of productions on which he's worked; on a photograph of his lovely wife
Shows
Dr. Kildare
Norman Felton on executive producing Dr. Kildare
Norman Felton on executive producing Dr. Kildare
Eleventh Hour, The
Norman Felton on executive producing Dr. Kildare and its spinoff The Eleventh Hour
Garroway at Large
Director Norman Felton on the "Chicago School" of Broadcasting, which included shows Garroway-at-Large and Studs' Place, crediting the philosophy to writers Charlie Andrews and Paul Rhymer
Director Norman Felton on Garroway-at-Large
Girl From U.N.C.L.E., The
Norman Felton on the spin-off of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.
Hawkins
Norman Felton on getting Jimmy Stewart to play the lead in the series Hawkins
Humor of Vic 'N' Sade, The
Director Norman Felton on bringing Paul Rhymer's The Humor of Vic 'N' Sade to television
Lieutenant, The
Norman Felton on a photo from The Lieutenant
Norman Felton on executive producing The Lieutenant, created by Gene Roddenberry
Man From U.N.C.L.E., The
Norman Felton on a photo from The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Norman Felton on executive producing The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Norman Felton on a TV movie of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Playhouse 90
Norman Felton on becoming Executive Producer of Playhouse 90
Pursuit
Norman Felton on producing Pursuit
Robert Montgomery Presents
Norman Felton on a photo of Helen Hayes in a production of Robert Montgomery Presents
Director Norman Felton on his long association with Robert Montgomery Presents [Part 1]
Director Norman Felton on his long association with Robert Montgomery Presents
Director Norman Felton on the "Kitty Foyle" episode of Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents: "Kitty Foyle"
Director Norman Felton on the "Kitty Foyle" episode of Robert Montgomery Presents
Studio One
Norman Felton on a photo from Studio One
Director Norman Felton on directing and becoming associate producer on Studio One
Norman Felton on Studio One writers and the show moving from New York to Hollywood; on going from live to video tape
Studs' Place
Director Norman Felton on the "Chicago School" of Broadcasting, which included shows Garroway-at-Large and Studs' Place, crediting the philosophy to writers Charlie Andrews and Paul Rhymer
These Are My Children
Director Norman Felton on bringing These Are My Children to television- TV's first soap opera - with creator Irna Phillips
United States Steel Hour, The
Director Norman Felton on working on The U.S. Steel Hour
Topics
'The Idiot Box'
Norman Felton on the need for media literacy
Anthology Drama
Director Norman Felton on his long association with Robert Montgomery Presents (Part 1)
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Norman Felton on his experiences with sponsor censorship on Robert Montgomery Presents
Norman Felton on censorship on Playhouse 90's "Judgment at Nuremberg"
Characters & Catchphrases
Norman Felton on Ian Fleming coming up with the name "Napoleon Solo" for The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Emmy Awards
Director Norman Felton on Robert Montgomery Presents winning its first Emmy
Hollywood Blacklist
Norman Felton on his experiences with the Blacklist
Technological Innovation
Norman Felton on Studio One going from live to video tape and live television falling out of favor
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Director Norman Felton on the "Chicago School" of Broadcasting, which included shows Garroway-at-Large and Studs' Place, crediting the philosophy to writers Charlie Andrews and Paul Rhymer
Director Norman Felton on his long association with Robert Montgomery Presents (Part 1)
Professions
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Director Norman Felton on his long association with Robert Montgomery Presents [Part 1]
Director Norman Felton on his long association with Robert Montgomery Presents
Director Norman Felton on directing and becoming associate producer on Studio One
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Norman Felton on executive producing The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Director Norman Felton on bringing These Are My Children to television- TV's first soap opera - with creator Irna Phillips; on working in radio
Medical Dramas
Norman Felton on executive producing Dr. Kildare
People
Charlie Andrews
Director Norman Felton on the "Chicago School" of Broadcasting, which included shows Garroway-at-Large and Studs' Place, crediting the philosophy to writers Charlie Andrews and Paul Rhymer
Bob Banner
Director Norman Felton on working with Ted Mills and Bob Banner in Chicago television
Herbert Brodkin
Norman Felton on working with Herb Brodkin
Norman Felton on a photo with Herb Brodkin
Director Norman Felton on working with Herbert Brodkin and becoming a producer
Norman Felton on censorship on Playhouse 90's "Judgment at Nuremberg"
Richard Chamberlain
Norman Felton on working with Richard Chamberlain
Norman Felton on casting Raymond Massey and Richard Chamberlain for Dr. Kildare
Fred Coe
Director Norman Felton on Fred Coe's response to the "Kitty Foyle" episode of Robert Montgomery Presents
Bob Finkel
Norman Felton on working with Bob Finkel
Ian Fleming
Norman Felton on meeting with Ian Fleming and executive producing The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Dave Garroway
Director Norman Felton on Garroway-at-Large
Director Norman Felton on the "Chicago School" of Broadcasting, which included shows Garroway-at-Large and Studs' Place, crediting the philosophy to writers Charlie Andrews and Paul Rhymer
Jerry Goldsmith
Norman Felton on working with composr Jerry Goldsmith at Universal
Helen Hayes
Norman Felton on a photo of Helen Hayes in a production of Robert Montgomery Presents
David Karp
Norman Felton on writer David Karp's series Hawkins
David Levy
Norman Felton on working with David Levy
Norman Felton on showing David Levy, NBC's head of programming, dailies for Dr. Kildare
Norman Felton on David Levy watching dailies of Dr. Kildare
Sidney Lumet
Norman Felton on working with Sidney Lumet
Raymond Massey
Norman Felton on casting Raymond Massey and Richard Chamberlain for Dr. Kildare
David McCallum
Norman Felton on casting two short men as the leads in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Ted Mills
Norman Felton on working with Ted Mills
Director Norman Felton on working with Ted Mills in Chicago television
Director Norman Felton on working with Ted Mills and Bob Banner in Chicago television
Robert Montgomery
Norman Felton on working with Robert Montgomery
Director Norman Felton on his long association with Robert Montgomery Presents; on working with Robery Montgomery
Director Norman Felton on his long association with Robert Montgomery Presents
William S. Paley
Norman Felton on working with Bill Paley
Daniel Petrie, Sr.
Norman Felton on working with Dan Petrie
Irna Phillips
Director Norman Felton on bringing These Are My Children to television- TV's first soap opera - with creator Irna Phillips; on working in radio
Paul Rhymer
Director Norman Felton on the "Chicago School" of Broadcasting, which included shows Garroway-at-Large and Studs' Place, crediting the philosophy to writers Charlie Andrews and Paul Rhymer
Director Norman Felton on bringing Paul Rhymer's Vic and Sade to television and crafting the Chicago School
Gene Roddenberry
Norman Felton on working with Gene Roddenberry
Norman Felton on executive producing The Lieutenant, created by Gene Roddenberry
Sam Rolfe
Norman Felton on a photo with Sam Rolfe
Norman Felton on Sam Rolfe coming up with the premise for The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Norman Felton on working with Sam Rolfe
David Sarnoff
Norman Felton on working with David Sarnoff
Steven Spielberg
Norman Felton on executive producing The Psychiatrist, with episodes directed by Steven Spielberg
Frank Stanton
Norman Felton on working with Frank Stanton
Jimmy Stewart
Norman Felton on getting Jimmy Stewart to play the lead in the series Hawkins
Studs Terkel
Director Norman Felton on getting Studs Terkel onto television
Grant Tinker
Norman Felton on working with Grant Tinker at MGM
Robert Vaughn
Norman Felton on working with Robert Vaughn
Norman Felton on a photo from The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Norman Felton on casting two short men as the leads in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Director Norman Felton on meeting Pat Weaver
Tennessee Williams
Norman Felton on going to the University of Iowa with classmate Tennessee Williams
Norman Felton on the newspaper he worked on at the University of Iowa
Ethel Winant
Norman Felton on working with Ethel Winant