"The set always has to tell a story. It always has to further what the subject is. It has to help make the show not only entertaining to look at, but tell you something about what the show is about."  

    About This Interview

    In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Charles Lisanby (1924-2013) talks about how, at age ten, he built a scale model of Radio City Music Hall based on an article he read that included plans of the stage. Additionally, he describes how he would listen to radio broadcasts of the operas that originated from the Met and design sets for them. He talks about his studies in art school and about one of his first jobs in New York, painting a mural at the Friars Club, and how this led to his work in television at CBS (through Friar member Ralph Levy). He recalls joining the television stage designers union and details the test that was required of all applicants. Lisanby discusses his work in the early 1950s for ABC and, soon thereafter, for CBS, where he worked on the game show The $64,000 Challenge and the cultural series Camera Three. He speaks about his continued work at CBS, notably on the nighttime version of The Garry Moore Show, where he came up with several unusual designs. He recounts his association with the NBC variety series The Kraft Music Hall and lists several shows that featured his signature large block lettering, notably the use of Robert Indiana's "LOVE" on Kraft Music Hall and the word "SMILE" as a backdrop to the Candid Camera set. He also describes his innovative use of lights on the risers of steps as well as the use of neon on television (initially on the Emmy Awards). He speaks of his later work on the 1974 Benjamin Franklin miniseries (creating an enormous Versailles set) and the 1988 60th anniversary of the Academy Awards that featured the large Oscar statuettes as set pieces (and shares how they were shown to be helicoptered over the Hollywood sign). He details his friendship with artist Andy Warhol: how they met, their trip to Japan together (that led to Warhol's interest in gold leaf), and their estrangement due to Lisanby's disinterest in the "factory" lifestyle. Among other subjects he comments on are: appearing as a child in a TV demonstration by Philo T. Farnsworth, working on the 1951 Broadway revival of Romeo and Juliet, early CBS color television, creating the set for the television version of Applause (which he based on Lauren Bacall's real apartment), his special Baryshnikov on Broadway, and his work as the principal designer at Radio City Music Hall for many years. B-roll consists of several photos and production sketches from such series as The Kraft Music Hall, Camera Three, and Baryshnikov on Broadway. Karen Herman conducted the interview on March 22, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA.

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

    Charles Lisanby on his approach to production design

    18:54
    Thumbnail of Charles Lisanby

    Charles Lisanby on his design work for the miniseries Benjamin Franklin

    07:36
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    Charles Lisanby on his work on Baryshnikov on Broadway

    01:10
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    Charles Lisanby on a set photo of Baryshnikov and Liza Minnelli taken during Baryshnikov on Broadway

    00:13
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    Charles Lisanby on his design work on the 60th Annual Academy Awards and his idea to helicopter a giant Oscar statue over the "Hollywood sign"

    02:50
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    Charles Lisanby on how he'd like to be remembered

    00:47
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    Charles Lisanby on his advice to aspiring art directors and production designers

    02:14
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early years and family

    03:03

    On his early interest in art and set design; on his move to New York City and his work painting murals for The Friars Club; on getting his first job in television for CBS

    08:17

    On his work designing sets on the CBS ballet Billy the Kid and having to join the new union; on his first job at ABC

    14:38

    On meeting Philo Farnsworth and seeing television for the first time at the Kentucky State Fair

    03:12

    Chapter 2

    On his start in television creating sets for John Daly's news show; on designing for The $64,000 Question, Dotto, and working with Cecil Beaton

    10:56

    On his innovative design work for Camera Three

    01:50

    On his work on The Garry Moore Show; on working with Neil Simon and Carol Burnett

    11:26

    On his work doing color tests for CBS

    04:25

    Chapter 3

    On color tests for CBS

    02:41

    On working on Candid Camera

    01:42

    On his approach to production design

    18:54

    On doing production design for Kraft Music Hall and The Red Skelton Show

    03:50

    Chapter 4

    On working with Barbra Streisand

    04:05

    On working on The Red Skelton Show; on his design work for the Benjamin Franklin miniseries; on his work on magic acts for Paul Henning and David Copperfield; on his design for a Crystal Cathedral Christmas show

    11:29

    On working with Alan King; on designing sets for Diana Ross's Diana; on designing sets for PBS' Working based on Studs Terkel's book; on designing The Barry Manilow Special (1987)

    05:46

    On designing sets for commercials including Merrill Lynch and Dr. Pepper

    03:46

    On working on Miss America Pageants (1989-1992); on his many Emmy nominations and wins; on his work on Baryshnikov on Broadway

    02:54

    Chapter 5

    On designing the first MTV Music Awards; on his design work on the 60th Annual Academy Awards and his idea to helicopter a giant Oscar statue over the "Hollywood sign"

    03:51

    On his design work for Disney live stage shows; his work at the Metropolitan Opera; and his own writing 

    07:54

    On his close friendship with Andy Warhol

    15:48

    On his retirement

    00:59

    Chapter 6

    On his design style

    03:10

    On his advice to aspiring art directors and how he'd like to be remembered 

    03:07

    On photos and sketches of some of his design work

    04:09

    $64,000 Question

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for the $64,000 Question

    01:46

    Academy Awards, The

    Charles Lisanby on his design work on the 60th Annual Academy Awards and his idea to helicopter a giant Oscar statue over the "Hollywood sign"

    02:47

    American Playhouse: "Working"

    Charles Lisanby on art directing the PBS musical Working, based on Studs Terkel's book

    01:44

    Barry Manilow Specials

    Charles Lisanby on art directing The Barry Manilow Special (1987)

    01:11

    Baryshnikov on Broadway

    Charles Lisanby on his multiple Emmy wins for production design

    01:15

    Charles Lisanby on a set photo of Baryshnikov and Liza Minnelli taken during Baryshnikov on Broadway

    00:13

    Benjamin Franklin

    Charles Lisanby on designing the sets for the miniseries Benjamin Franklin

    07:36

    Camera Three

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for Camera Three

    01:45

    Charles Lisanby on a photo of one of the sets he designed for a drama presented on Camera Three

    00:12

    Candid Camera

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for Candid Camera

    01:41

    Cos

    Charles Lisanby on working with Bill Cosby on Cos

    00:17

    Diana Ross: Live in Central Park

    Charles Lisanby on art directing Diana Ross' 1981 concert film Diana Ross: Live in Central Park

    01:30

    Dotto

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for Dotto

    00:50

    Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

    Charles Lisanby on his multiple Emmy wins for production design

    01:15

    Garry Moore Show, The

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for The Garry Moore Show

    14:15

    Charles Lisanby on designing a set for Barbra Streisand on The Garry Moore Show

    02:45

    Hour of Power

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for Hour of Power Christmas shows

    01:09

    John Charles Daly and the News

    Charles Lisanby on designing an early news set for John Charles Daly and the News

    01:13

    Kraft Music Hall, The

    Charles Lisanby on moving to NBC to work on The Kraft Music Hall

    57:46

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets on The Kraft Music Hall

    02:45

    Charles Lisanby on a set photo from The Kraft Music Hall featuring Johnny Cash

    00:20

    Charles Lisanby on a set photo from The Kraft Music Hall featuring his trademark use of small lights

    00:15

    Charles Lisanby on a photo of the impromptu winter wonderland set created for The Kraft Music Hall

    00:11

    Miss America Pageant

    Charles Lisanby on working on set design for Miss America Pageants (1989-1992)

    01:33

    MTV Video Music Awards

    Charles Lisanby on designing the first MTV Music Awards show

    00:46

    Red Skelton Show, The

    Charles Lisanby on doing production design for The Red Skelton Show

    01:00

    Charles Lisanby on working on The Red Skelton Show

    00:44

    Emmy Awards

    Charles Lisanby on his multiple Emmy wins for production design

    01:15

    Industry Crossroads

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for Dotto

    00:50

    Pop Culture

    Charles Lisanby on his close friendship with Andy Warhol

    15:48

    Quiz Show Scandals

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for Dotto

    00:50

    Technological Innovation

    Charles Lisanby on designing color tests for CBS

    04:25

    Art Director Charles Lisanby on CBS' early experimentation with color

    01:34

    Television Industry

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for Dotto

    00:50

    Art Director/Set Decorator

    Charles Lisanby on the differences between an art director and a production designer

    00:56

    Charles Lisanby on his advice to aspiring art directors and production designers

    02:14

    Designers

    Charles Lisanby on his approach to production design

    18:54

    Charles Lisanby on the differences between an art director and a production designer

    00:56

    Production Designer

    Charles Lisanby on his approach to production design

    18:54

    Charles Lisanby on his advice to aspiring art directors and production designers

    02:14

    Awards Shows

    Charles Lisanby on his design work on the 60th Annual Academy Awards and his idea to helicopter a giant Oscar statue over the "Hollywood sign"

    02:47

    Commercials

    Charles Lisanby on some of the commercials he art directed including Merrill Lynch and Dr. Pepper

    03:52

    Game Shows

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for the $64,000 Question

    01:46

    Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets on The Kraft Music Hall

    02:45

    Lauren Bacall

    Charles Lisanby on designing the stage production of Applause

    03:05

    Bob Banner

    Charles Lisanby on working with Barbra Streisand

    03:55

    Mikhail Baryshnikov

    Charles Lisanby on a set photo of Baryshnikov and Liza Minnelli taken during Baryshnikov on Broadway

    00:13

    Cecil Beaton

    Charles Lisanby on Cecil Beaton

    03:29

    Charles Lisanby on working on a project for the Met

    02:47

    Carol Burnett

    Charles Lisanby on recommending Carol Burnett for The Garry Moore Show

    02:31

    Johnny Cash

    Charles Lisanby on a set photo from The Kraft Music Hall featuring Johnny Cash

    00:20

    David Copperfield

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for magic acts

    01:11

    Bill Cosby

    Charles Lisanby briefly on working with Bill Cosby on Cos

    00:17

    Philo T. Farnsworth

    Charles Lisanby on meeting Philo Farnsworth at an early television demonstration at a Kentucky State Fair

    03:12

    Lewis Freedman

    Charles Lisanby on designing the sets for the miniseries Benjamin Franklin

    07:36

    Allen Funt

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for Candid Camera

    01:42

    Dwight Hemion

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets on The Kraft Music Hall

    02:45

    Doug Henning

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for magic acts

    01:11

    Alan King

    Charles Lisanby on his friendship with Alan King and their work on a failed pilot for Ethel Merman

    01:16

    Madonna

    Charles Lisanby on designing the first MTV Music Awards show

    00:54

    Barry Manilow

    Charles Lisanby on art directing The Barry Manilow Special (1987)

    01:11

    Ethel Merman

    Charles Lisanby on his friendship with Alan King and their work on a failed pilot for Ethel Merman

    01:16

    Marilyn Monroe

    Charles Lisanby on Cecil Beaton

    03:29

    Garry Moore

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for The Garry Moore Show

    14:15

    Diana Ross

    Charles Lisanby on art directing Diana Ross' 1981 concert film Diana Ross: Live in Central Park

    01:30

    Robert Schuller

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for Hour of Power Christmas shows

    01:09

    Nancy Sinatra

    Charles Lisanby on a set he designed for Nancy Sinatra using his trademark block letter style

    00:12

    Red Skelton

    Charles Lisanby on doing production design for The Red Skelton Show

    01:00

    Gary Smith

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets on The Kraft Music Hall

    02:45

    Barbra Streisand

    Charles Lisanby on designing sets for Barbra Streisand 

    03:55

    Studs Terkel

    Charles Lisanby on art directing the PBS musical Working, based on Studs Terkel's book

    01:44

    Andy Warhol

    Charles Lisanby on his close friendship with Andy Warhol

    15:48

    Ken Welch

    Charles Lisanby on working with Barbra Streisand

    03:55

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