About
"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."
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.
Highlights
Ray Aghayan on costume design and winning the first costume design Emmy for Alice Through the Looking Glass
Ray Aghayan on his partnership with Bob Mackie
Ray Aghayan on designing for the Academy Awards, starting in 1968
Ray Aghayan on designing for the 1984 Olympics
Ray Aghayan on advice to aspiring costume designers
Full Interview
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
Ray Aghayan on designing for the Academy Awards, starting in 1968
Ray Aghayan on costume design for the Academy Awards
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Ray Aghayan on costume design for Alice Through the Looking Glass
Consenting Adult
Ray Aghayan on producing Consenting Adult
George Gobel Show, The
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The George Gobel Show
Judy Garland Show, The
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show and Bob Mackie becoming his assistant
Julie Andrews Specials
Ray Aghayan on photos from a Julie Andrews Special
NBC Matinee Theater
Ray Aghayan on his early costume design experiences for Matinee Theater
Ray Aghayan on costume design for Matinee Theater
Olympics
Ray Aghayan on designing for the 1984 Olympics
Shirley Temple's Storybook
Ray Aghayan on costume design for Shirley Temple's Storybook
Topics
Emmy Awards
Ray Aghayan on getting an Emmy category for costume designers and winning the first Emmy for costume design with Bob Mackie in 1967
LGBTQIA+
Ray Aghayan on producing Consenting Adult
Olympic Games
Ray Aghayan on designing for the 1984 Olympics
Pivotal Career Moments
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show and Bob Mackie becoming his assistant
Professions
Costume Designer
Ray Aghayan on his early costume design experiences for Matinee Theater
Ray Aghayan what makes great costume design and a great costume designer
Ray Aghayan on advice to aspiring costume designers
Genres
Awards Shows
Ray Aghayan on designing for the Academy Awards, starting in 1968
Children's Programming
Ray Aghayan on costume design for Shirley Temple's Storybook
Classic Anthology Series
Ray Aghayan on costume design for Matinee Theater
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The George Gobel Show
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show
Ray Aghayan on his first impressions of Judy Garland; on her costume choices for The Judy Garland Show
Sports
Ray Aghayan on designing for the 1984 Olympics
People
Julie Andrews
Ray Aghayan on photos from a Julie Andrews Special
Carol Burnett
Ray Aghayan on working with Carol Burnett
Diahann Carroll
Ray Aghayan on working with Diahann Carroll
Carol Channing
Ray Aghayan on working with Carol Channing
Ray Aghayan on a photo of him with Carol Channing
Doris Day
Ray Aghayan on working with Doris Day
Ray Aghayan on a photo of him with Doris Day
Angie Dickinson
Ray Aghayan on working with Angie Dickinson
Judy Garland
Ray Aghayan on his first impressions of Judy Garland; on her costume choices for The Judy Garland Show
Ray Aghayan on a photo of him with Judy Garland
Mitzi Gaynor
Ray Aghayan on working with Mitzi Gaynor
Alan Handley
Ray Aghayan on working with Alan Handley
Arthur Hiller
Ray Aghayan on working with Arthur Hiller
Norman Jewison
Ray Aghayan on working with Norman Jewison
Bob Mackie
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show and Bob Mackie becoming his assistant
Ray Aghayan on his partnership with Bob Mackie
Ray Aghayan on costume design with Bob Mackie for Alice Through the Looking Glass
Ray Aghayan on working with Bob Mackie
Ray Aghayan on a photo of him with Bob Mackie
Geraldine Page
Ray Aghayan on designing for Geraldine Page on Matinee Theater
Diana Ross
Ray Aghayan on working with Diana Ross
George Schlatter
Ray Aghayan on working with George Schlatter
Barbra Streisand
Ray Aghayan on working with Barbra Streisand
Shirley Temple
Ray Aghayan on costume design for Shirley Temple's Storybook
Ray Aghayan on working with Shirley Temple
Danny Thomas
Ray Aghayan on working with Danny Thomas