Marty Pasetta

In his three-hour interview, Marty Pasetta (1932-2015) talks about his early interest in theater, which culminated in his first job in television at San Francisco's KGO-TV in 1952. He discusses his long association with KGO, where he moved up the ranks from a stage manager to a multifaceted producer. He describes his move to Los Angeles where, because of his hands-on experience at KGO, he soon became a director for several variety series, including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. Pasetta speaks of his long association with the Grammy Awards (from 1971-78), where he was hired for the show's first live telecast. He outlines the growth of the show's success, some key performances, and the challenges of directing a live awards show. He details his long stint as director of the Academy Awards (from 1972-88), where he instituted the live nominee screenshots and the use of seat-fillers. He relates some historical moments from the show, including the 1970s streaker, Charlie Chaplin's appearance, and John Wayne's final appearance. He speaks in great detail about his favorite project, Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii, which was Elvis's 1973 comeback special. Pasetta also cites various specials, presidential inaugurations (Carter's and Reagan's), and the many variety stars he worked with through the years. Jeff Abraham conducted the interview on January 18, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA.