Paul Monash

Writer / Producer

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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 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.

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

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

05:31

Atom Squad

Paul Monash on writing Atom Squad

07:19

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

04:41

Cain's Hundred

Paul Monash on creating Cain's Hundred

07:05

Climax!

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

01:56

Foreign Intrigue

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

03:48

George Wallace

Paul Monash on writing and producing George Wallace

04:49

Judd for the Defense

Paul Monash on creating Judd for the Defense

02:42

Kraft Television Theatre

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

02:33

Peyton Place

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

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"

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

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

05:02

Untouchables, The

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

Paul Monash on writing for Westingtonhouse Desilu Playhouse

03:40

Topics

Advice

Paul Monash on advice to aspiring television writers

02:40

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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

Paul Monash on his experience during World War II

02:05

Hollywood Blacklist

Paul Monash on the Hollywood Blacklist

05:55

Industry Crossroads

Paul Monash on the Hollywood Blacklist

05:55

Television Industry

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

Paul Monash on his experience during World War III

02:05

World War II

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

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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

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

Paul Monash on writing Atom Squad

07:19

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

04:41

Classic Anthology Series

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

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

Paul Monash on creating Peyton Place

28:27

Paul Monash on creating and writing Peyton Place

11:37

Legal Dramas

Paul Monash on creating Judd for the Defense

02:42

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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

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

Irna Phillips

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

01:30

Rod Serling

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

01:27