About
"We had probably 18 weekly TV shows that we did the titles and optical work on, in addition to several features. It gets to be sort of a factory kind of an operation once the pilot is done and the approvals have been made on all the styles. But then you turn her over and let her run."
In his three-hour interview, Howard Anderson, Jr. (1920-2015) talks about joining his father's company, The Howard Anderson Company, where he and his brother Darrell continued the business of doing titles and special effects for movies. He discusses working on early television series including I Love Lucy and Dragnet. He elaborates on his special effects for Star Trek, where he devised a way to show the Enterprise speed through a field of stars and created the effect for the ship's "transporter." He discusses other shows he worked on until his retirement in 1990. He also talks about the then-current state of the industry and how optical effects compare with the newer digital effects. B-roll consists of photos of some of the optical equipment at the Howard Anderson Company and a photo of the Starship Enterprise. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 21, 2005 in Oxnard, CA.
Highlights
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show
Howard Anderson Jr. on doing titles for I Love Lucy
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Dick Van Dyke Show
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening sequence for Star Trek
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on the first time he saw television
On shooting inserts and titles for his father's movie company; on lettering in titles; on doing titles for I Love Lucy
Chapter 2
On working with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy; on editing with three cameras on I Love Lucy; on working on The Lucy Show
On creating the opening titles for The Addams Family, The Andy Griffith Show, and The Beverly Hillbillies; on creating the opening titles for Daniel Boone, Dragnet, and The Dick Van Dyke Show; on creating the opening titles for The Fugitive, Get Smart, and I Spy
Chapter 3
On creating the opening titles for The Invaders, Mission: Impossible, and Mod Squad; on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian, My Three Sons, and My World and Welcome to It
On creating the opening titles for That Girl, The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits; on creating the opening titles for The Untouchables and Star Trek
Chapter 4
On creating special effects and titles for Star Trek; on the opening sequence of Star Trek; on working with Gene Roddenberry on the show
On creating special effects for Star Trek; on creating the effects for the different planets on Star Trek
On working with the cast and crew of Star Trek; on the legacy of his work on Star Trek; on creating effects for the feature film "Jack the Giant Killer"
Chapter 5
On creating effects for the feature films "Jack the Giant Killer" and "Tobruk"; on creating opening titles for The Brady Bunch, Charlie's Angels and Happy Days
On creating opening titles for Kung Fu, Little House on the Prairi e and Bonanza; on creating the opening titles for Love Boat, Love American Style and Wonder Woman; on creating the opening titles for Cheers and Dynasty; on his retirement in 1990
Chapter 6
On advice to aspiring visual effects professionals; on his ability to work on many projects simultaneously; on how the business and audience expectations have changed since he started in the industry
On the difference between working in film and in television; on working with editors, cinematographers and directors; on career highlights and regrets and how he'd like to be remembered
On B-roll of pictures from Howard Anderson Jr's career: childhood picture, circa 1926; filming a miniature for a feature at Malibu Beach; in the Navy circa 1945; with an early optical printer circa 1946; with Paul Newman at Zuma Beach; photograph of Star Trek's Enterprise; a "line-up" person inspecting 35 millimeter film; projection room; optical printer with operator; line-up room at optical department; Anderson's son with an optical printer; Howard Anderson Jr. with a camera
Shows
Addams Family, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Addams Family
Andy Griffith Show, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show
Beverly Hillbillies, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Beverly Hillbillies
Bonanza
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Little House on the Prairie and working on Bonanza
Brady Bunch, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Brady Bunch
Charlie's Angels
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Charlie's Angels
Cheers
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Cheers
Daniel Boone
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Daniel Boone
Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Dick Van Dyke Show
Dragnet
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dragnet
Dynasty
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dynasty
Fugitive, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Fugitive
George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and various other shows
Get Smart
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Get Smart
Happy Days
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Happy Days
I Love Lucy
Howard Anderson Jr. on doing titles for I Love Lucy
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy
Howard Anderson Jr. on editing with three cameras on I Love Lucy
I Spy
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for I Spy
Invaders, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Invaders
Kung Fu
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Kung Fu
Little House on the Prairie
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Little House on the Prairie and working on Bonanza
Love Boat, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Love Boat
Love, American Style
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Love, American Style
Lucy Show, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening for The Lucy Show
Mission: Impossible
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mission: Impossible
Mod Squad, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mod Squad
My Favorite Martian
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian
My Three Sons
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Three Sons
My World ... and Welcome to it
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My World and Welcome to It
Outer Limits, The (1963-65)
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone
Star Trek
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Star Trek (Part 1)
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating special effects and titles for Star Trek
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening sequence for Star Trek
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating special effects for Star Trek
Howard Anderson Jr. on the biggest challenge of creating Star Trek special effects
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the effects for the different planets on Star Trek
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with the cast and crew of Star Trek
Howard Anderson Jr. on the legacy of his work on Star Trek
That Girl
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for That Girl
Twilight Zone, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone
Untouchables, The
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Untouchables
Wonder Woman
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Wonder Woman
Topics
Advice
Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals
Historic Events and Social Change
Howard Anderson Jr. on his military service
Pop Culture
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening sequence for Star Trek
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Brady Bunch
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Cheers
Technological Innovation
Howard Anderson Jr. on the advent of color
Television Industry
Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals
Howard Anderson Jr. on how the business changed since he started
War
Howard Anderson Jr. on his military service
World War II
Howard Anderson Jr. on his military service
Professions
Post-Production Professionals
Howard Anderson Jr. on his process for making a title card
Howard Anderson Jr. on his style
Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals
Howard Anderson Jr. on the epitome of a special effect
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with editors, cinematographers, and directors
Special Effects Creator
Howard Anderson Jr. on his style
Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals
Howard Anderson Jr. on the epitome of a special effect
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with editors, cinematographers, and directors
Title Designer
Howard Anderson Jr. on his process for making a title card
Howard Anderson Jr. on his style
Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with editors, cinematographers, and directors
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Wonder Woman
Comedy Series
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and various other shows
Howard Anderson Jr. on doing titles for I Love Lucy
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy (Part 2)
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening for The Lucy Show
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Addams Family
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Beverly Hillbillies
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Dick Van Dyke Show
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Get Smart
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Three Sons
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My World and Welcome to It
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for That Girl
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Brady Bunch
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Happy Days
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Love, American Style
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Love Boat
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Cheers
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dragnet
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Fugitive
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for I Spy
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mission: Impossible
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mod Squad
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Untouchables
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Charlie's Angels
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dynasty
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Invaders
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Star Trek (Part 1)
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating special effects and titles for Star Trek (Part 2)
Western Series
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Daniel Boone
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Little House on the Prairie and working on Bonanza
People
Desi Arnaz
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy
Lucille Ball
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy
Dann Cahn
Howard Anderson Jr. on editing with three cameras on I Love Lucy
Sheldon Leonard
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show
Jess Oppenheimer
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy
Gene Roddenberry
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek
Jack Webb
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dragnet
Billy Wilder
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with the director Billy Wilder