Paul Monash

Writer / Producer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Paul Monash (1917-2003) speaks about his writing career that began in the 1950s and included such acclaimed series as Playhouse 90. He discusses in great detail the 1960s series Peyton Place, which he created and executive-produced. He then talks about his work in feature films and television movies including CarrieSalem's Lot, Stalin, Kingfish, and George Wallace. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on October 2, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.

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

"My biggest regret? That I found television and films so easy, I didn't stick with writing novels. On the other hand, I might not have written the novels anyway."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Paul Monash on casting Mia Farrow as "Alison MacKenzie" on Peyton Place
05:06
Paul Monash on producing "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and various other features
04:00
Paul Monash on the cast of Peyton Place
06:22
Paul Monash on working with John Frankenheimer on the Playhouse 90 episode "The Death of Manolete"
01:59
Paul Monash on the end of Peyton Place, and on the legacy of the show
04:15
Paul Monash on his proudest career achievements and regrets
01:48
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early years and influences; on his experience during World War II
On the first time he saw television, and on his early interest in writing; on writing Foreign Intrigue, his first writing job for television; on writing Atom Squad

Chapter 2

On writing for Atom Squad, and on writing features; on writing "The Singing Idol" for Kraft Television Theatre; on writing "The Lonely Wizard" for Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
On writing Playhouse 90, and on working with Martin Manulis; on writing "Bailout at 43,000 Feet" for Climax!; on working with John Frankenheimer on the Playhouse 90 episode "The Death of Manolete"
On other writers of Playhouse 90, including Rod Serling; on writing for Westingtonhouse Desilu Playhouse

Chapter 3

On writing for Desilu, and on writing "The Scarface Mob," the pilot for The Untouchables; on his time as an executive at MGM and CBS; on how he got work as a freelance writer in the 1950s, and on the challenge of writing for live television
On the Hollywood Blacklist; on producing a number of feature films, and on getting involved in casting; on writing Cain's Hundred

Chapter 4

On creating Peyton Place for television; on casting Mia Farrow as "Alison MacKenzie" on Peyton Place; on declining to bring Irna Phillips on to Peyton Place
On Peyton Place being groundbreaking in terms of being the first nighttime serial; on the subject matter of Peyton Place; on the casting of the show, and on losing Mia Farrow
On initial reaction to Peyton Place, and on the budget of the show; on trying new things later in the run of Peyton Place, and on the production process of the show; on the cast of the show

Chapter 5

On juggling several characters on Peyton Place, and on later additions to the cast; on dealing with Standards & Practices, and on planning the stories of the show; on the end of Peyton Place, and on the legacy of the show
On creating Judd for the Defense; on his writing style, and on his writing process; on working with an agent

Chapter 6

On being a producer; on how producing feature films and television was different; on producing the feature films "Carrie," "Salem's Lot," and various other feature films
On producing "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and various other features; on writing and/or producing several made-for-television movies
On producing Stalin; on producing Kingfish; on writing and producing George Wallace

Chapter 7

On summing up; on his advice to aspiring writers; on his opinion of modern television; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows

All Quiet On The Western Front

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Paul Monash on writing and/or producing several made-for-television movies, including All Quiet on the Western Front
05:31

Atom Squad

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Paul Monash on writing Atom Squad
07:19
Paul Monash on writing for Atom Squad, and on writing features
04:41

Cain's Hundred

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Paul Monash on creating Cain's Hundred
07:05

Climax!

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Paul Monash on writing "Bailout at 43,000 Feet" for Climax!
01:56

Foreign Intrigue

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Paul Monash on writing Foreign Intrigue, his first writing job for television
03:48

George Wallace

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Paul Monash on writing and producing George Wallace
04:49

Judd for the Defense

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Paul Monash on creating Judd for the Defense
02:42

Kraft Television Theatre

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Paul Monash on writing "The Singing Idol" for Kraft Television Theatre
02:33

Peyton Place

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Paul Monash on creating Peyton Place for television
02:21
Paul Monash on casting Mia Farrow as "Alison MacKenzie" on Peyton Place, and on the concept of the show
05:06
Paul Monash on declining to bring Irna Phillips on to Peyton Place
01:30
Paul Monash on Peyton Place being groundbreaking in terms of being the first nighttime serial
03:26
Paul Monash on the subject matter of Peyton Place
03:06
Paul Monash on the casting of Peyton Place, and on losing Mia Farrow
02:07
Paul Monash on initial reaction to Peyton Place, and on the budget of the show
02:44
Paul Monash on trying new things later in the run of Peyton Place, and on the production process of the show
01:39
Paul Monash on the cast of Peyton Place
06:25
Paul Monash on juggling several characters on Peyton Place, and on later additions to the cast
02:58
Paul Monash on dealing with Standards & Practices on Peyton Place, and on planning the stories of the show
04:24
Paul Monash on the end of Peyton Place, and on the legacy of the show
04:15

Playhouse 90

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Paul Monash on writing Playhouse 90, and on working with Martin Manulis
02:07
Paul Monash on working with John Frankenheimer on the Playhouse 90 episode "The Death of Manolete"
01:41
Paul Monash on writing various episodes of Playhouse 90, and on working with various directors
04:55
Paul Monash on other writers of Playhouse 90, including Rod Serling
01:27

Playhouse 90: "The Death of Manolete"

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Paul Monash on working with John Frankenheimer on the Playhouse 90 episode "The Death of Manolete"
01:59

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars aka Celebrity Playhouse

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Paul Monash on writing "The Lonely Wizard" for Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
05:02

Untouchables, The

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Paul Monash on writing for Desilu, and on writing "The Scarface Mob," the pilot for The Untouchables
01:32
Paul Monash on writing "The Scarface Mob," the pilot for The Untouchables
01:33

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

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Paul Monash on writing for Westingtonhouse Desilu Playhouse
03:40
Topics

Advice

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Paul Monash on advice to aspiring television writers
02:40

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Paul Monash on dealing with Standards & Practices on Peyton Place, and on planning the stories of the show
04:24

Historic Events and Social Change

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Paul Monash on his experience during World War II
02:05

Hollywood Blacklist

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Paul Monash on the Hollywood Blacklist
05:55

Industry Crossroads

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Paul Monash on the Hollywood Blacklist
05:55

Television Industry

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Paul Monash on the Hollywood Blacklist
05:55
Paul Monash on dealing with Standards & Practices on Peyton Place, and on planning the stories of the show
04:24
Paul Monash on advice to aspiring television writers
02:40

War

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Paul Monash on his experience during World War III
02:05

World War II

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Paul Monash on his experience during World War II
02:05
Professions

Producers

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Paul Monash on working with an agent, and on taking on the role of producer
05:10
Paul Monash on being a producer
02:19
Paul Monash on how producing feature films and television was different
04:04

Writers

View Profession
Paul Monash on how he got work as a freelance writer in the 1950s, and on the challenge of writing for live television
01:42
Paul Monash on his writing style, and on his writing process
09:45
Paul Monash on working with an agent, and on taking on the role of producer
05:10
Paul Monash on advice to aspiring television writers
02:40
Genres

Children's Programming

View Genre
Paul Monash on writing Atom Squad
07:19
Paul Monash on writing for Atom Squad, and on writing features
04:41

Classic Anthology Series

View Genre
Paul Monash on writing "The Singing Idol" for Kraft Television Theatre
02:33
Paul Monash on writing "The Lonely Wizard" for Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
05:02
Paul Monash on writing for Playhouse 90 and Climax!
12:24
Paul Monash on writing for Westingtonhouse Desilu Playhouse
03:40

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

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Paul Monash on writing Foreign Intrigue, his first writing job for television
03:48
Paul Monash on writing for Desilu, and on writing "The Scarface Mob," the pilot for The Untouchables
01:32
Paul Monash on writing "The Scarface Mob," the pilot for The Untouchables
01:33
Paul Monash on writing Cain's Hundred
07:06

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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Paul Monash on creating Peyton Place
28:27
Paul Monash on creating and writing Peyton Place
11:37

Legal Dramas

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Paul Monash on creating Judd for the Defense
02:42

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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Paul Monash on producing Stalin
02:37
Paul Monash on producing Kingfish
01:09
Paul Monash on writing and producing George Wallace
04:49
People

Irna Phillips

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Paul Monash on declining to bring Irna Phillips on to Peyton Place
01:30

John Frankenheimer

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Paul Monash on working with John Frankenheimer on the Playhouse 90 episode "The Death of Manolete"
01:59

Martin Manulis

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Paul Monash on writing Playhouse 90, and on working with Martin Manulis
02:07

Rod Serling

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Paul Monash on other writers of Playhouse 90, including Rod Serling
01:27

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