About
"Back then it was all so spectacular. We were given a format and we did a lot of clothes and those dancers changed outfits sometimes eight times during a four-minute musical number, and they were all incredible looking. The costumes added an interesting element to the show. People now feel they get in the way of the show and I can understand that. That's why they don't do them anymore."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Ret Turner (1929-2016) describes his two-decade-long association with NBC that began in the mid-1950s. He talks about several of the shows he worked on in the early years, including The Spike Jones Show (where he was a dresser), The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, and The Andy Williams Show (where he was a costume designer). Turner recalls his work for other networks on many variety series and specials, describes the clothes he designed for the stars of Donny & Marie and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, and discusses some of the skits and guest stars from these shows. He remembers working with many other stars, including Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, Shirley Booth, Jean Stapleton, and scores of others. Additionally, he outlines his work on Mama's Family, Make Your Own Kind of Music, the pilot of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and numerous musical specials. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on June 17, 2003 in West Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Ret Turner on dressing Cher in her infamous Academy Awards dress
Ret Turner on costume designing for The Sonny & Cher Show after the couple's divorce
Ret Turner on how network Standards and Practices affected his wardrobe decisions
Ret Turner on Bob Mackie as someone he looks up to; on his work ethic
Ret Turner on dressing Billy Crystal for the Academy Awards
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe at NBC for 20 years
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on joining the wardrobe department at NBC and working on The Spike Jones Show
On doing wardrobe for The Pinky Lee Show; on working in live television; on doing wardrobe for Milton Berle, Perry Como, Bing Crosby and Judy Garland
Chapter 2
On doing wardrobe for The Dinah Shore Show; on working for NBC; on "wardrobe challenges"
On doing wardrobe for Andy Williams, Tallulah Bankhead, and Elizabeth Taylor; on dealing with Standards and Practices; on doing wardrobe for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Chapter 3
On the craft of costume designing; on costume designing for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and for various other Sonny and Cher shows
On what makes him a good costume designer; on designing costumes for the Osmond family; on being costume designer for Donny & Marie and for Mama's Family
Chapter 4
On costume design for Mama's Family; on costume design for Carol Burnett, Mitzi Gaynor, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, and Whoopi Goldberg
On costume design for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, The Jerry Lewis Show, and Bob Hope's television specials; on working with directors
Chapter 5
On costume design for Carol Burnett, Ann Jillian and Bonnie Hunt; on costume design and dressing people for the Academy Awards telecast; on the "Who are you wearing?" era
On Cher's infamous Oscars dress; on costume design for Barry Manilow and Suzanne Somers; on successful collaborations and then-current projects
Chapter 6
On his personal style; on advice to aspring costume designers; on the impact of television on fashion; on his work ethic and how he'd like to be remembered
On B-roll photos from his career: Drawing of the "Flying Down to Rio" number from Wow; sketch of the cast of Mama's Family; photo of him with Cher; photo of Cher at photo session; photo of him as Santa Claus; sketches of Marie Osmond, Barry Manilow, Kenny Rogers, Ethel Merman, Pia Zadora, Nell Carter, and Andy Williams; sketches of Tim Conway as "Dorff" and of Vicki Lawrence as "Mama"; sketches of Beverly Archer, Carol Burnett, Dorothy Lyman, Suzanne Somers, Carol Channing, Lucille Ball, Elton John, and Jim Nabors; photo of Bill Clinton; his Emmys
Shows
Academy Awards, The
Ret Turner on costume design for the Academy Awards
Ret Turner on dressing Cher in her infamous Academy Awards dress
Ret Turner on dressing Billy Crystal for the Academy Awards
Andy Williams Show, The
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Andy Williams Show
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Andy Williams Show
Bob Hope Specials
Ret Turner on costume design for Bob Hope's television specials
Bonnie Hunt Show, The
Ret Turner on costume design for The Bonnie Hunt Show
Carol & Company
Ret Turner on costume design for Carol & Company
Carol Burnett Show, The (1991)
Ret Turner on the attempted revival of The Carol Burnett Show
Cher
Ret Turner on Sonny and Cher's divorce and subsequent shows the pair worked on together
Dinah Shore Show, The
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Dinah Shore Show
Donny & Marie
Ret Turner on how he came to do costume design for Donny & Marie
Ret Turner on costume designing for the Osmond family
Ret Turner on costume designing for Donny & Marie
Ret Turner on getting fired from Donny & Marie
Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank, The
Ret Turner on costume design for The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank with Carol Burnett
Jennifer Slept Here
Ret Turner on costume design for Jennifer Slept Here
Jerry Lewis Show, The (1967-69)
Ret Turner on costume design for The Jerry Lewis Show
Judy Garland Show, The
Ret Turner on troubleshooting wardrobe on The Judy Garland Show
Lux Video Theatre
Ret Turner on working on the live Lux Video Theater show
Make Your Own Kind of Music
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Carpenters on Make Your Own Kind of Music
Mama's Family
Ret Turner on doing costume design for Mama's Family
Ret Turner on costume design for Mama's Family
Ret Turner on winning an Emmy for costume design on Mama's Family
NBC Matinee Theater
Ret Turner on a wardrobe mishap during Matinee Theater
Pinky Lee Show, The
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Pinky Lee Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Ret Turner on costume design for the pilot of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
She TV
Ret Turner on costume design for She TV
Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on how he came to do costume design for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on working with Bob Mackie on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on the collaboration for the wardrobe for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on working with Sonny Bono and Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on costume designing for Sonny and Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on costume designing for the sketches and dance numbers on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on costume designing for the characters on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on Sonny and Cher's divorce and subsequent shows the pair worked on together
Ret Turner on Jean Stapleton guest-starring on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Sonny Comedy Review, The
Ret Turner on Sonny and Cher's divorce and subsequent shows the pair worked on together
Spike Jones
Ret Turner on how he came work as a dresser for the The Spike Jones Show
Ret Turner on his duties on The Spike Jones Show
Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, The
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
Texaco Star Theater
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for Milton Berle on Texaco Star Theater
Topics
Advice
Ret Turner on advice to aspiring costume designers; on the role of television on fashion
Bloopers
Ret Turner on a wardrobe mishap during Matinee Theater
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Ret Turner on how network Standards and Practices affected his wardrobe decisions
Emmy Awards
Ret Turner on where he keeps his Emmys
Historic Events and Social Change
Ret Turner on wardrobe challenges like pregnancy
Memorable Moments on Television
Ret Turner on dressing Cher in her infamous Academy Awards dress
Pop Culture
Ret Turner on the impact of television on fashion; on the changing standard of beauty
Representation on Television
Ret Turner on wardrobe challenges like pregnancy
Technological Innovation
Ret Turner on advances in camera and lighting technology in regards to wardrobe for television
Television Industry
Ret Turner on how network Standards and Practices affected his wardrobe decisions
Ret Turner on advice to aspiring costume designers; on the role of television on fashion
Women
Ret Turner on wardrobe challenges like pregnancy
Professions
Costume Designer
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for live television
Ret Turner on the craft of costume design
Ret Turner on the craft of designing
Ret Turner on what makes him a good costume designer
Ret Turner on working with directors
Ret Turner on his personal design style
Ret Turner on advice to aspiring costume designers; on the role of television on fashion
Designers
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for live television
Ret Turner on the craft of costume design
Ret Turner on the craft of designing
Ret Turner on what makes him a good costume designer
Ret Turner on working with directors
Ret Turner on his personal design style
Ret Turner on advice to aspiring costume designers; on the role of television on fashion
Genres
Awards Shows
Ret Turner on costume design for the Academy Awards
Comedy Series
Ret Turner on costume designing for Mama's Family
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Ret Turner on how he came to do costume design for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on costume designing for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on costume designing for Donny & Marie
People
Debbie Allen
Ret Turner on costume design for Debbie Allen
Ret Turner on costume design for Cool Women
Don Ameche
Ret Turner on dressing Cher in her infamous Academy Awards dress
Julie Andrews
Ret Turner on costume design for Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett
Beatrice Arthur
Ret Turner on costume design for Beatrice Arthur
Lucille Ball
Ret Turner on costume design for the Academy Awards
Tallulah Bankhead
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for Tallulah Bankhead on The Andy Williams Show
Ret Turner on costume design for the Academy Awards
Milton Berle
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for Milton Berle on Texaco Star Theater
Ken Berry
Ret Turner on costume design for Mama's Family
Sonny Bono
Ret Turner on working with Sonny Bono and Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on costume designing for Sonny and Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on Sonny and Cher's divorce and subsequent shows
Ret Turner on costume designing for The Sonny & Cher Show after the couple's divorce
Shirley Booth
Ret Turner on costume design for Shirley Booth
Carol Burnett
Ret Turner on costume design for The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank with Carol Burnett
Ret Turner on costume design for Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett
Cher
Ret Turner on Cher's costume issues with network Standards and Practices
Ret Turner on working with Sonny Bono and Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on costume designing for Sonny and Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on Sonny and Cher's divorce and subsequent shows
Ret Turner on costume designing for The Sonny & Cher Show after the couple's divorce
Ret Turner on dressing Cher in her infamous Academy Awards dress
Perry Como
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for Perry Como and Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for Perry Como and Bing Crosby
Billy Crystal
Ret Turner on dressing Billy Crystal for the Academy Awards
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for Sammy Davis, Jr.
Neil Diamond
Ret Turner on costume design for Neil Diamond's 1986 television special
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
Judy Garland
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for Judy Garland
Mitzi Gaynor
Ret Turner on costume design for Mitzi Gaynor
Whoopi Goldberg
Ret Turner on costume design for Whoopi Goldberg
Bob Hope
Ret Turner on costume design for Bob Hope's television specials
Bonnie Hunt
Ret Turner on costume design for The Bonnie Hunt Show
Vicki Lawrence
Ret Turner on costume design for Mama's Family
Pinky Lee
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Pinky Lee Show
Jerry Lewis
Ret Turner on costume design for The Jerry Lewis Show
Dorothy Lyman
Ret Turner on costume design for Mama's Family
Bob Mackie
Ret Turner on working with Bob Mackie on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on costume designing for Sonny and Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ret Turner on Bob Mackie as someone he looks up to
Barry Manilow
Ret Turner on costume design for Barry Manilow
Steve Martin
Ret Turner on costume designing for the sketches and dance numbers on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Donny Osmond
Ret Turner on costume designing for Donny & Marie
Marie Osmond
Ret Turner on costume designing for Donny & Marie
Martha Raye
Ret Turner on costume designing for the Academy Awards
Joan Rivers
Ret Turner on Joan Rivers and the "Who are you wearing?" era
Diana Ross
Ret Turner on costume design for Diana Ross
Dinah Shore
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Dinah Shore Show
Suzanne Somers
Ret Turner on costume design for Suzanne Somers
Jean Stapleton
Ret Turner on Jean Stapleton guest-starring on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Elizabeth Taylor
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for Elizabeth Taylor
Lily Tomlin
Ret Turner on costume designing for the Academy Awards
Andy Williams
Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Andy Williams Show