Paul Monash

Writer / Producer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half hour Archive 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. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview in Beverly Hills, CA on October 2, 2002.

"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 ...
Paul Monash
Highlights
Paul Monash on casting Mia Farrow as "Alison MacKenzie" on Peyton Place
Paul Monash on producing "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and various other features
Paul Monash on the cast of Peyton Place
Paul Monash on working with John Frankenheimer on the Playhouse 90 episode "The Death of Manolete"
Paul Monash on the end of Peyton Place, and on the legacy of the show
Paul Monash on his proudest career achievements and regrets
Full Interview

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

Atom Squad

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Paul Monash on writing Atom Squad
Paul Monash on writing for Atom Squad, and on writing features

Cain's Hundred

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Paul Monash on creating Cain's Hundred

Climax!

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

Foreign Intrigue

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

George Wallace

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Paul Monash on writing and producing George Wallace

Judd for the Defense

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Paul Monash on creating Judd for the Defense

Kraft Television Theatre

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

Peyton Place

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Paul Monash on creating Peyton Place for television
Paul Monash on casting Mia Farrow as "Alison MacKenzie" on Peyton Place, and on the concept of the show
Paul Monash on declining to bring Irna Phillips on to Peyton Place
Paul Monash on Peyton Place being groundbreaking in terms of being the first nighttime serial
Paul Monash on the subject matter of Peyton Place
Paul Monash on the casting of Peyton Place, and on losing Mia Farrow
Paul Monash on initial reaction to Peyton Place, and on the budget of the show
Paul Monash on trying new things later in the run of Peyton Place, and on the production process of the show
Paul Monash on the cast of Peyton Place
Paul Monash on juggling several characters on Peyton Place, and on later additions to the cast
Paul Monash on dealing with Standards & Practices on Peyton Place, and on planning the stories of the show
Paul Monash on the end of Peyton Place, and on the legacy of the show

Playhouse 90

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Paul Monash on writing Playhouse 90, and on working with Martin Manulis
Paul Monash on working with John Frankenheimer on the Playhouse 90 episode "The Death of Manolete"
Paul Monash on writing various episodes of Playhouse 90, and on working with various directors
Paul Monash on other writers of Playhouse 90, including Rod Serling

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"

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars aka Celebrity Playhouse

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

Untouchables, The

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Paul Monash on writing for Desilu, and on writing "The Scarface Mob," the pilot for The Untouchables
Paul Monash on writing "The Scarface Mob," the pilot for The Untouchables

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

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Paul Monash on writing for Westingtonhouse Desilu Playhouse
Topics

Advice

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Paul Monash on advice to aspiring television writers

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

Historic Events and Social Change

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Paul Monash on his experience during World War II

Hollywood Blacklist

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Paul Monash on the Hollywood Blacklist

Industry Crossroads

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Paul Monash on the Hollywood Blacklist

Television Industry

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Paul Monash on the Hollywood Blacklist
Paul Monash on dealing with Standards & Practices on Peyton Place, and on planning the stories of the show
Paul Monash on advice to aspiring television writers

War

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Paul Monash on his experience during World War III

World War II

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Paul Monash on his experience during World War II
Professions

Producers

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Paul Monash on working with an agent, and on taking on the role of producer
Paul Monash on being a producer
Paul Monash on how producing feature films and television was different

Writers

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Paul Monash on how he got work as a freelance writer in the 1950s, and on the challenge of writing for live television
Paul Monash on his writing style, and on his writing process
Paul Monash on working with an agent, and on taking on the role of producer
Paul Monash on advice to aspiring television writers
Genres

Children's Programming

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Paul Monash on writing Atom Squad
Paul Monash on writing for Atom Squad, and on writing features

Classic Anthology Series

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Paul Monash on writing "The Singing Idol" for Kraft Television Theatre
Paul Monash on writing "The Lonely Wizard" for Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Paul Monash on writing for Playhouse 90 and Climax!
Paul Monash on writing for Westingtonhouse Desilu Playhouse

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

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Paul Monash on writing Foreign Intrigue, his first writing job for television
Paul Monash on writing for Desilu, and on writing "The Scarface Mob," the pilot for The Untouchables
Paul Monash on writing "The Scarface Mob," the pilot for The Untouchables
Paul Monash on writing Cain's Hundred

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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Paul Monash on creating Peyton Place
Paul Monash on creating and writing Peyton Place

Legal Dramas

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Paul Monash on creating Judd for the Defense

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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Paul Monash on producing Stalin
Paul Monash on producing Kingfish
Paul Monash on writing and producing George Wallace
People

John Frankenheimer

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

Martin Manulis

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

Irna Phillips

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Paul Monash on declining to bring Irna Phillips on to Peyton Place

Rod Serling

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

All Interviews

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