Ray Aghayan

Costume Designer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his two-hour interview, Ray Aghayan (1928-2011) speaks about designing costumes for Matinee Theatre while on staff with the NBC wardrobe department, the challenges of quick costume changes for live television, and his long association with Bob Mackie. He fondly recalls working on The George Gobel Show, winning the first ever awarded Emmy for costume design (along with Mackie) for Alice Through the Looking Glass, and designing costumes for The Judy Garland Show, many Academy Awards telecasts, and the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics. Karen Herman conducted the interview on August 26, 1998 in Studio City, CA.

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

"I think an excellent costume design is that which serves its purpose to the best possible degree. Gives the actor the character. Helps the actor grow into that human being … it helps the audience to be able to look at that and know what the hell it is they're looking at. That is the best costume. When it really serves as that complete thing that gives you all the information you need to have."

People Talking About ...
Ray Aghayan
Highlights
Ray Aghayan on costume design and winning the first costume design Emmy for Alice Through the Looking Glass
07:26
Ray Aghayan on his partnership with Bob Mackie
00:35
Ray Aghayan on designing for the Academy Awards, starting in 1968
02:14
Ray Aghayan on designing for the 1984 Olympics
04:24
Ray Aghayan on advice to aspiring costume designers
00:38
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his childhood in Iran and moving to the United States; on his childhood influences and learning sewing and design from his mother
On his recollections of early television; on his early costume design experiences for Matinee Theater

Chapter 2
On costume design and the production work week for Matinee Theater; on research for costume ideas and designing for quick changes for live television
On costume design for The George Gobel Show, Shirley Temple's Storybook, and The Judy Garland Show

Chapter 3
On costume design for The Judy Garland Show and Bob Mackie becoming his assistant; on working with Judy Garland
On his partnership with Bob Mackie; on working with directors and producers on The Judy Garland Show; on working on films and designing and winning the first costume design Emmy for Alice Through the Looking Glass; on designing for the Academy Awards, starting in 1968

Chapter 4
On costume design for the Academy Awards; on designing for the 1984 Olympics; on producing the 1975 Fashion Awards and Consenting Adult
On his then-current projects - running Elizabeth Courtney costumes; on designing for nightclub acts
On what makes great costume design and a great costume designer; on the evolution of costumes; on what constitues "bad" work in his mind; on advice to aspiring costume designers; on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked 

Chapter 5
On photographs of people with whom he's worked: Julie Andrews, Carol Channing, Doris Day, Judy Garland, and Bob Mackie
Shows

Academy Awards, The

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Ray Aghayan on designing for the Academy Awards, starting in 1968
02:14
Ray Aghayan on costume design for the Academy Awards
02:28

Alice Through the Looking Glass

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Ray Aghayan on costume design for Alice Through the Looking Glass
07:26

Consenting Adult

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Ray Aghayan on producing Consenting Adult
02:32

George Gobel Show, The

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Ray Aghayan on costume design for The George Gobel Show
06:40

Judy Garland Show, The

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Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show
01:08
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show and Bob Mackie becoming his assistant
18:57

Julie Andrews Specials

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Ray Aghayan on photos from a Julie Andrews Special
00:43

NBC Matinee Theater

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Ray Aghayan on his early costume design experiences for Matinee Theater
09:05
Ray Aghayan on costume design for Matinee Theater
17:56

Olympics

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Ray Aghayan on designing for the 1984 Olympics
04:24

Shirley Temple's Storybook

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Ray Aghayan on costume design for Shirley Temple's Storybook
02:49
Topics

Emmy Awards

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Ray Aghayan on getting an Emmy category for costume designers and winning the first Emmy for costume design with Bob Mackie in 1967
01:58

LGBTQIA+

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Ray Aghayan on producing Consenting Adult
02:32

Olympic Games

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Ray Aghayan on designing for the 1984 Olympics
07:15

Pivotal Career Moments

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Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show
01:08
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show and Bob Mackie becoming his assistant
18:57
Professions

Costume Designer

View Profession
Ray Aghayan on his early costume design experiences for Matinee Theater
09:05
Ray Aghayan what makes great costume design and a great costume designer
00:45
Ray Aghayan on advice to aspiring costume designers
00:38
Genres

Awards Shows

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Ray Aghayan on designing for the Academy Awards, starting in 1968
02:14

Children's Programming

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Ray Aghayan on costume design for Shirley Temple's Storybook
02:49

Classic Anthology Series

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Ray Aghayan on costume design for Matinee Theater
17:56

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Ray Aghayan on costume design for The George Gobel Show
06:40
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show
01:08
Ray Aghayan on his first impressions of Judy Garland; on her costume choices for The Judy Garland Show
05:03

Sports

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Ray Aghayan on designing for the 1984 Olympics
04:24
People

Alan Handley

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Ray Aghayan on working with Alan Handley
03:26

Angie Dickinson

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Ray Aghayan on working with Angie Dickinson
00:36

Arthur Hiller

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Ray Aghayan on working with Arthur Hiller
00:31

Barbra Streisand

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Ray Aghayan on working with Barbra Streisand
00:19

Bob Mackie

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Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show and Bob Mackie becoming his assistant
02:11
Ray Aghayan on his partnership with Bob Mackie
00:35
Ray Aghayan on costume design with Bob Mackie for Alice Through the Looking Glass
07:26
Ray Aghayan on working with Bob Mackie
00:27
Ray Aghayan on a photo of him with Bob Mackie
00:29

Carol Burnett

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Ray Aghayan on working with Carol Burnett
00:09

Carol Channing

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Ray Aghayan on working with Carol Channing
00:36
Ray Aghayan on a photo of him with Carol Channing
00:23

Danny Thomas

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Ray Aghayan on working with Danny Thomas
00:14

Diahann Carroll

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Ray Aghayan on working with Diahann Carroll
00:09

Diana Ross

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Ray Aghayan on working with Diana Ross
00:29

Doris Day

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Ray Aghayan on working with Doris Day
00:20
Ray Aghayan on a photo of him with Doris Day
00:39

George Schlatter

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Ray Aghayan on working with George Schlatter
00:21

Geraldine Page

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Ray Aghayan on designing for Geraldine Page on Matinee Theater
01:17

Judy Garland

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Ray Aghayan on his first impressions of Judy Garland; on her costume choices for The Judy Garland Show
05:03
Ray Aghayan on a photo of him with Judy Garland
00:27

Julie Andrews

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Ray Aghayan on photos from a Julie Andrews Special
00:43

Mitzi Gaynor

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Ray Aghayan on working with Mitzi Gaynor
00:12

Norman Jewison

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Ray Aghayan on working with Norman Jewison
00:14

Shirley Temple

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Ray Aghayan on costume design for Shirley Temple's Storybook
02:49
Ray Aghayan on working with Shirley Temple
00:23

All Interviews

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