About
"I have always been unafraid to accept a challenge and confident that somehow I could handle it. So stepping in front of the camera -- I'd already had so much experience in Nashville singing for every group there was, just being very extemporaneous and never having a script. So I could walk in front of a TV camera and just be myself. And it made me a natural kind of a host. I wasn't stilted. I didn't need cue cards. I could introduce people. I could introduce my own stuff. I could sing. I could even do a commercial."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Pat Boone describes his upbringing in Nashville and how winning a local singing contest led him to successful appearances on both Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour and on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. Boone details his success as a singer and how at 20 years old he became television's youngest host of a hit musical variety show, The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom. He discusses how he refused to represent products on the show that he did not personally use or recommend, and recalls the difficulties he encountered from sponsors and Southern television stations when he attempted to book African American guests on his show. Boone also talks about his television specials and speaks about his two subsequent television programs: The Pat Boone Show and Pat Boone in Hollywood. He shares tales of some of his favorite performances and guest stars, explains what it was like to sing on stage immediately following Elvis Presley, and divulges the impetus behind his surprisingly successful heavy metal album. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on September 10, 2010 in Boone's home in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Pat Boone on his wholesome image
Pat Boone on the time that Elvis Presley opened for him
Pat Boone on singing in public and becoming known as "Blue Moon Boone"
Pat Boone on rock and roll and R&B music
Pat Boone on how he got the nickname "Pat" from his given name Charles
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on singing in church
On his childhood sweetheart/wife, Shirley Foley, daughter of country singer Red Foley, and on how he was influenced by country music
On his path to Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour
On his work in local Fort Worth, Texas television and radio; on his earliest memories of television
On Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and the success of his first records
On moving to New York from Texas and on his song selections for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts; on early brushes with celebrity
Chapter 2
On his wholesome image and logistics of The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
On guests and rehearsals of The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
On overseas episodes of The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
On controversial performances on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and his view of race relations
On ending The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom after the third season and doing The Pat Boone Show and Pat Boone in Hollywood
Chapter 3
On performing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
On his involvement with Christian themed television and books
On his appearance on the 1997 American Music Awards and his heavy metal album
On advice to actors; on his legacy
Shows
American Music Awards
Pat Boone on his appearance with Alice Cooper on the 1997 American Music Awards
Andy Williams Show, The
Pat Boone on joking with Phil Harris on The Andy Williams Show
Arthur Godfrey Show, The
Pat Boone on Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Pat Boone on going on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Pat Boone on Arthur Godfrey
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Pat Boone on his love of The Ed Sullivan Show
Pat Boone on his most frightening moment on television - an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
Original Amateur Hour, The
Pat Boone on his path to Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour
Pat Boone on being disqualified from Original Amateur Hour after winning Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Pat Boone Chevy Showroom, The
Pat Boone on his show The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
Pat Boone in Hollywood
Pat Boone on Pat Boone in Hollywood
Pat Boone Show, The
Pat Boone on The Pat Boone Show from LA
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Pat Boone on performing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Topics
Fame and Celebrity
Pat Boone on his first experiences being mobbed by fans
Pop Culture
Pat Boone on rock and roll and R&B music
Representation on Television
Pat Boone on controversial performances on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and his view of race relations
Pat Boone on problems he got from sponsors when booking African-American performers on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
Rock 'n' Roll on TV (1950s & '60s)
Pat Boone on rock and roll and R&B music
Television Industry
Pat Boone on his first experiences being mobbed by fans
Underrepresented Voices
Pat Boone on controversial performances on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and his view of race relations
Pat Boone on problems he got from sponsors when booking African-American performers on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
Professions
Hosts
Pat Boone on qualities that make him a good host
Pat Boone on advice for hosting
Genres
Late Night
Pat Boone on performing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Pat Boone on his path to Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour
Pat Boone on going on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Pat Boone on his show The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and TV in the 1950s
People
Woody Allen
Pat Boone on his writers on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom - Woody Allen and Larry Gelbart
Harry Belafonte
Pat Boone on the difficulties of booking African-American artists on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
Johnny Carson
Pat Boone on performing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Pat Boone on milking a cow in front of Johnny Carson
Dick Clark
Pat Boone on his appearance with Alice Cooper on the 1997 American Music Awards and his heavy metal album
Nat King Cole
Pat Boone on his musical influences: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Vic Damone and Nat King Cole
Perry Como
Pat Boone on his musical influences: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Vic Damone and Nat King Cole
Pat Boone on being wary of taking over Perry Como's timeslot and having Chesterfield cigarettes or Schlitz beer as the sponsor
Bing Crosby
Pat Boone on his musical influences: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Vic Damone and Nat King Cole
Pat Boone on his admiration for idol Bing Crosby
Pat Boone on his favorite guests on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
Vic Damone
Pat Boone on his musical influences: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Vic Damone and Nat King Cole
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Pat Boone on his favorite guests on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
Doris Day
Pat Boone on his first professional record, a song also recorded by Frank Sinatra and Doris Day, among others
Fred de Cordova
Pat Boone on the most embarrassing moment of his career - on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Ella Fitzgerald
Pat Boone on his favorite guests on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
Larry Gelbart
Pat Boone on his writers on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom - Larry Gelbart and Woody Allen
Arthur Godfrey
Pat Boone on his impressions of Arthur Godfrey
Pat Boone on Arthur Godfrey's influence on him as a host
Pat Boone on his opinion of Arthur Godfrey
Phil Harris
Pat Boone on joking with Phil Harris on The Andy Williams Show
David Letterman
Pat Boone on the most embarrassing moment of his career - on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with David Letterman guest hosting
Ann-Margret
Pat Boone on Ann-Margret not making it to the second round of Original Amateur Hour
Johnny Mathis
Pat Boone on his controversial performance with Johnny Mathis on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
Marilyn Monroe
Pat Boone on turning down a movie with Marilyn Monroe because he felt it was immoral
Ozzy Osbourne
Pat Boone on his friendship with Ozzy Osbourne
Elvis Presley
Pat Boone on the time that Elvis Presley opened for him
Richard Pryor
Pat Boone on giving Richard Pryor his first television break on The Pat Boone Show
Doc Severinsen
Pat Boone on milking a cow in front of Johnny Carson
Frank Sinatra
Pat Boone on his musical influences: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Vic Damone and Nat King Cole
Pat Boone on his first professional record, a song also recorded by Frank Sinatra and Doris Day, among others
Dick Van Dyke
Pat Boone on helping Dick Van Dyke and Andy Williams get their first television hosting gigs
Andy Williams
Pat Boone on helping Dick Van Dyke and Andy Williams get their first television hosting gigs