About
"You have to understand people before you can be in public relations, because what you're doing is trying to sell somebody on something that they may not like. It's basically a sales job."
In his two-hour interview, George Faber (1921-2011) talks about his early years breaking into the business in local television in Chicago, where he notably worked at the NBC and later CBS affiliates as a news writer. He describes in detail one of his most dramatic news stories, a fire at Our Lady of the Angels School, a tragedy that took the lives of over a hundred, for which a ten-minute remote was featured on the national Evening News with Douglas Edwards on CBS. Faber recalls some of the interviews he did, including an exclusive with President Truman. He speaks in great detail about the next phase of his career in publicity, as the director of client relations at CBS in Los Angeles. He details his work in this position, which entailed selling American shows to foreign markets, with an emphasis on the lucrative Japanese market. He recounts the techniques (as well as the contribution of the series stars) in selling shows, including Perry Mason, Rawhide, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Hogan's Heroes. He also talks about his transition to Viacom, and its creation due to the government rulings. Reba Merrill conducted the interview in a joint venture with the Publicists Guild of America on February 21, 2001 in Sherman Oaks, CA.
Highlights
George Faber on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
George Faber on dealing with the different customs of countries when doing overseas publicity
George Faber on the difficulty of selling The Twilight Zone overseas
George Faber on the process of publicizing a show like The Beverly Hillbillies in Japan
George Faber on joining the Publicists Guild
George Faber on selling I Love Lucy to overseas markets
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his experiences during World War II; on his earliest memories of television
On going to work for CBS; on the kinds of stories he covered for CBS, and on getting into publicity; on interviewing Harry S. Truman and Elvis Presley; on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
Chapter 2
On his duties while working in international publicity for CBS; on William S. Paley; on the initial reaction of overseas markets to American television programming
On how overseas press compares to the American press; on the process of publicizing a show like The Beverly Hillbillies in Japan; on why Raymond Burr of Perry Mason was his favorite person to interview
On his favorite and least favorite people to interview; on dealing with the different customs of countries when doing overseas publicity
On how his job performance was judged when doing overseas publicity; on dealing with different CBS offices and executives, and learning foreign languages; on how publicity has changed since he started his career
Chapter 3
On how the differences between foreign press and American press; on encountering anti-Americanism when he was promoting the Miss Universe Pageant in Peru; on selling I Love Lucy and The Twilight Zone to overseas markets
On creating campaigns for the shows he sold; on the cast of Hogan's Heroes and his task of selling the show to overseas markets; on promoting Perry Mason, and working with Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
On doing publicity for Cannon, Green Acres, and Gunsmoke; on Sumner Redstone and Viacom's ascent
Chapter 4
On how the divesture of CBS impacted his job, and on Sumner Redstone's role; on his decision to retire
On how the industry changed during his career; on then-current projects; on advice to aspiring publicists
On how audiences have changed since he started in the industry; on joining the Publicists Guild
On career highlights and regrets; on mentors he had in his career; on how he would like to be remembered
On b-roll highlights from his career- Harry S. Truman and friend; with William Welles; President Lyndon B. Johnson; Lucille Ball; cast of Rawhide; Raymond Burr; with Donna Douglas of The Beverly Hillbillies; with Melissa Joan Hart; Dick Van Dyke; Andy Griffith; Andy Griffith at Disney World
Shows
Beverly Hillbillies, The
George Faber on why Max Baer of The Beverly Hillbillies was his least favorite person to interview
George Faber on working with Donna Douglas of The Beverly Hillbillies
George Faber on the process of publicizing a show like The Beverly Hillbillies in Japan
Cannon
George Faber on doing publicity for Cannon starring William Conrad
Green Acres
George Faber on doing publicity for Green Acres
Gunsmoke
George Faber on doing publicity for Gunsmoke
Hogan's Heroes
George Faber on the cast of Hogan's Heroes and his task of selling the show to overseas markets
I Love Lucy
George Faber on selling I Love Lucy to overseas markets
Miss Universe
George Faber on encountering anti-Americanism when he was promoting the Miss Universe Pageant in Peru
Perry Mason (1957-66)
George Faber on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
George Faber on why Raymond Burr of Perry Mason was his favorite person to interview
George Faber on promoting Perry Mason, and working with Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
Twilight Zone, The
George Faber on the difficulty of selling The Twilight Zone overseas
Topics
Advice
George Faber on advice to aspiring publicists
Creative Influences and Inspiration
George Faber on mentors in his career
Harry S. Truman
George Faber on interviewing Harry S. Truman
Historic Events and Social Change
George Faber on his experiences during World War II
Media Consolidation
George Faber on Sumner Redstone and Viacom's ascent
Pivotal Career Moments
George Faber on mentors in his career
Television and the Presidency
George Faber on interviewing Harry S. Truman
Television Industry
George Faber on the initial reaction of overseas markets to American television programming
George Faber on how overseas press compares to the American press
George Faber on Sumner Redstone and Viacom's ascent
George Faber on the divesture of CBS and Sumner M. Redstone's role
George Faber on how the divesture of CBS impacted his job
George Faber on how the industry changed during his career
George Faber on how audiences have changed since he started in the industry
George Faber on advice to aspiring publicists
War
George Faber on his experiences during World War II
World War II
George Faber on his experiences during World War II
Professions
Publicist
George Faber on his duties while working for CBS in international publicity
George Faber on the process of publicizing a show like The Beverly Hillbillies in Japan
George Faber on the biggest challenge of publicizing shows in a foreign market
George Faber on dealing with the different customs of countries when doing overseas publicity
George Faber on how his job performance was judged while doing overseas publicity
George Faber on dealing with different CBS offices and executives, and learning foreign languages
George Faber on how publicity has changed since he started his career
George Faber on creating campaigns for the shows he sold
George Faber on advice to aspiring publicists
Representatives
George Faber on his duties while working for CBS in international publicity
George Faber on the process of publicizing a show like The Beverly Hillbillies in Japan
George Faber on the biggest challenge of publicizing shows in a foreign market
George Faber on dealing with the different customs of countries when doing overseas publicity
George Faber on how his job performance was judged while doing overseas publicity
George Faber on dealing with different CBS offices and executives, and learning foreign languages
George Faber on how publicity has changed since he started his career
George Faber on creating campaigns for the shows he sold
George Faber on advice to aspiring publicists
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
George Faber on the difficulty of selling The Twilight Zone overseas
Comedy Series
George Faber on interivewing Max Baer of The Beverly Hillbillies
George Faber on working with Donna Douglas of The Beverly Hillbillies
George Faber on selling I Love Lucy to overseas markets
George Faber on the cast of Hogan's Heroes and his task of selling the show to overseas markets
George Faber on doing publicity for Green Acres
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
George Faber on doing publicity for Cannon starring William Conrad
Legal Dramas
George Faber on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason
George Faber on interviewing Raymond Burr of Perry Mason
Western Series
George Faber on doing publicity for Gunsmoke
People
Max Baer
George Faber on why Max Baer of The Beverly Hillbillies was his least favorite person to interview
Raymond Burr
George Faber on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
George Faber on why Raymond Burr of Perry Mason was his favorite person to interview
George Faber on promoting Perry Mason, and working with Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
William Conrad
George Faber on doing publicity for Cannon starring William Conrad
Donna Douglas
George Faber on working with Donna Douglas of The Beverly Hillbillies
Barbara Hale
George Faber on his first international publicity job, on Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
George Faber on promoting Perry Mason, and working with Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
William S. Paley
George Faber on William S. Paley
Elvis Presley
George Faber on interviewing Elvis Presley
Sumner Redstone
George Faber on Sumner M. Redstone and Viacom's ascent
George Faber on the divesture of CBS and Sumner M. Redstone's role
Rod Serling
George Faber on the difficulty of selling Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone overseas