Richard Lewis

Producer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his five-hour interview, Richard Lewis (1920-2009) discusses his early career as a director and later show creator in radio. He talks about his transition to television as a producer (which included Blind Date) and his role in the creation of the popular and long-running Western series Wagon Train, as well as his work on the acclaimed anthology series Alcoa Premiere. He describes producing several successful pilots for series including Leave It to Beaver, Bachelor Father, and McHale's Navy. Lewis recalls becoming the vice president of MCA's Revue Television, which later became Universal Television. He details producing one of the first television movies, The Borgia Stick, and his becoming an independent producer of feature films shortly thereafter. Karen Herman conducted the interview on March 8, 1999 in Brentwood, CA.

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

"Television was best represented by the early anthology series. We gave an awful lot to the public in terms of wonderful entertainment."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Richard Lewis on producing Blind Date with Arlene Francis

04:19

Richard Lewis on producing The General Electric Theater, hosted by Ronald Reagan

02:38

Richard Lewis on producing the pilot Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer

05:04

Richard Lewis on the DuMont television studios at Wannemaker's

01:41

Richard Lewis on television production moving from New York to Los Angeles, and developing the feature film "A Lovely Way to Die" for MCA and on various other projects

08:56

Richard Lewis on MCA's reputation when he joined the company, and on the structure of MCA/Revue Productions

01:30

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his early interest in theater and movies, and getting interested in the entertainment industry; on his early education and how the Great Depression affected his family

On radio he listened to growing up; on his experiences at Yale University and studying drama there; on writing radio plays while at Yale University

Chapter 2

On his overall experience at Yale; on the first time he saw television, at the 1939 World's Fair; on going to work for an advertising agency and working with Phillip Morris

On on doing work for Orson Welles' "Mercury Theater" on radio; on directing the radio show "Crime Doctor" and other early radio shows; on Jack Benny and other stars appearing on the radio quiz show "Take It or Leave It"

On working on the radio show "Let Yourself Go," hosted by Milton Berle; on creating the radio show "Quick as a Flash"

Chapter 3

On creating and directing the radio show "Quick as a Flash"; on his experience during World War II; on creating various pilots for radio

On how he starting working in television, producing Take a Chance and Two Girls Named Smith; on the DuMont television studios at Wannemaker's; on producing the early sitcom Two Girls Named Smith

On producing Blind Date with Arlene Francis; on Grace Kelly being rejected on Blind Date, and on selecting contestants for the show; on the production aspects of the show and on the difference between producing for television and producing for radio

Chapter 4

On producing Who's There, starring Arlene Francis and Melvyn Douglas, who was blacklisted; on producing the television version of Quick as a Flash; on producing the pilot Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer

On the character of "Mike Hammer" making the transition from radio to television on Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer and on William S. Paley refusing to air the show; on producing Crusader, starring Brian Keith

Chapter 5

On casting Brian Keith as "Mike Hammer" on Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer; on going to work for MCA/Revue as an executive producer; on MCA's reputation when he joined the company, and on the structure of MCA/Revue Productions

On working with Jules Stein and Lew Wasserman at MCA; on MCA's relationship with the television networks; on producing The General Electric Theater, hosted by Ronald Reagan; on producing The General Electric Theater's production of "Clown," starring Henry Fonda and "The Blond Dog," starring Cornell Wilde

Chapter 6

On producing Studio 57 and M Squad; on producing Leave it to Beaver and making the pilot

On producing Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars and Tales of Wells Fargo; on producing the pilot for Bachelor Father and various other pilots; on what distinguished Wagon Train from other Westerns

Chapter 7

On producing Wagon Train; on various pilots he produced that were not picked up, including Portrait, starring Ronald Colman, which aired as a Studio 57 episode; on the deals that get made between networks and studios and on producing the series Checkmate

On attempting to produce a series for Edward G. Robinson; on producing Riverboat and various other shows; on the power of the networks in the 1950s and early 1960s, and the networks wresting control from producers; on producing Laramie

Chapter 8

On Revue/MCA becoming Universal Televison; on testifying to Congress about violence in television Westerns; on producing Alcoa Premiere, including the episodes "End of a World" and "People Need People"

On producing the Alcoa Premiere episodes "The Fortress" and "Family Outing"; on Alcoa Premiere staying on the air while other anthology series got cancelled; on his week-to-week duties on Alcoa Premiere

On producing various episodes of Alcoa Premiere; on the title design for Alcoa Premiere; on producing a pilot for Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase

Chapter 9

On his involvement in the made-for-television movie concept; on the process of filming made-for-television movies as opposed to feature films and on networks' reaction to the concept; on television production moving from New York to Los Angeles, and developing the feature film "A Lovely Way to Die" for MCA and on various other projects

On creating the series Mama Malone with playwright Terrence McNally; on producing shows with Jack Barry and Dan Enright; on then-recent activities

On the key to making a successful series and on what represents the best of television; on the then-future of television and how he'd like to be remembered; on various people with whom he's worked in his career

Chapter 10

On various people with whom he worked in his career

On various people with whom he worked in his career; on his family

On b-roll pictures from his career- on stage at Yale; newspaper clipping about "Quick as a Flash"; with Brian Keith; with Mickey Spillane; receiving an award for Wagon Train; with Jack Benny; with Fred Astaire and John Wayne; article about Mama Malone;; letter informing Richard Lewis he was a Vice President of Revue Productions

Shows

Alcoa Premiere

Richard Lewis on producing Alcoa Premiere, including the episodes "End of a World" and "People Need People"

05:29

Richard Lewis on producing the Alcoa Premiere episodes "The Fortress" and "Family Outing"

02:07

Richard Lewis on Alcoa Premiere staying on the air while other anthology series got cancelled

02:37

Richard Lewis on his week-to-week duties on Alcoa Premiere

02:26

Richard Lewis on the Alcoa Premiere episode "Seven Against the Sea," which served as the pilot for McHale's Navy

03:04

Richard Lewis on the Alcoa Premiere episode "Flashing Spikes," directed by John Ford

03:25

Richard Lewis on the title design for Alcoa Premiere

00:45

Bachelor Father

Richard Lewis on producing the pilot for Bachelor Father and various other pilots

02:19

Blind Date

Richard Lewis on producing Blind Date with Arlene Francis

04:19

Richard Lewis on Grace Kelly being rejected on Blind Date, and on selecting contestants for the show

02:49

Richard Lewis on the production aspects of Blind Date

02:24

Checkmate

Richard Lewis on the deals that get made between networks and studios and on producing the series Checkmate

06:21

Crusader

Richard Lewis on producing Crusader, starring Brian Keith

07:52

General Electric Theater, The

Richard Lewis on producing The General Electric Theater, hosted by Ronald Reagan

02:38

Richard Lewis on producing The General Electric Theater's production of "Clown," starring Henry Fonda and "The Blond Dog," starring Cornell Wilde

04:22

Laramie

Richard Lewis on producing Laramie, Riverboat, and various other shows

05:03

Richard Lewis on producing Laramie

01:08

Leave it to Beaver

Richard Lewis on producing Leave it to Beaver and making the pilot

02:40

Richard Lewis on Leave it to Beaver writers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher

02:44

M Squad

Richard Lewis on producing Studio 57 and M Squad

04:21

Richard Lewis on the cast of M Squad, including Lee Marvin, and the directors of the show

03:04

Richard Lewis on the premise of M Squad

00:56

McHale's Navy

Richard Lewis on the Alcoa Premiere episode "Seven Against the Sea," which served as the pilot for McHale's Navy

03:04

Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer

Richard Lewis on producing the pilot Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer

05:04

Richard Lewis on the character of "Mike Hammer" making the transition from radio to television on Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer and on William S. Paley refusing to air the show

05:30

Richard Lewis on casting Brian Keith as "Mike Hammer" on Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer

01:24

Riverboat

Richard Lewis on producing Laramie, Riverboat, and various other shows

05:03

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars aka Celebrity Playhouse

Richard Lewis on producing Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars and Tales of Wells Fargo

02:04

Studio 57

Richard Lewis on producing Studio 57 and M Squad

04:21

Richard Lewis on various pilots he produced that were not picked up, including Portrait, starring Ronald Colman which aired as a Studio 57 episode

04:07

Tales of Wells Fargo

Richard Lewis on producing Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars and Tales of Wells Fargo

02:04

Wagon Train

Richard Lewis on producing Wagon Train, starring Ward Bond

08:02

Richard Lewis on the directors of Wagon Train

01:39

Richard Lewis on what distinguished Wagon Train from other Westerns

01:14

Richard Lewis on leaving Wagon Train and the death of star Ward Bond

02:49

Richard Lewis on the guest stars of Wagon Train

01:18

Richard Lewis on the budget of Wagon Train

01:56

Topics

1939-40 World's Fair

Richard Lewis on the first time he saw television, at the 1939 World's Fair

02:34

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Richard Lewis on testifying to Congress about violence in television Westerns

02:33

Criticism of TV

Richard Lewis on testifying to Congress about violence in television Westerns

02:33

Historic Events and Social Change

Richard Lewis on the first time he saw television, at the 1939 World's Fair

02:34

Richard Lewis on his experience during World War II

02:20

Hollywood Blacklist

Richard Lewis on producing Who's There, starring Arlene Francis and Melvyn Douglas, who was blacklisted

07:44

Industry Crossroads

Richard Lewis on producing Who's There, starring Arlene Francis and Melvyn Douglas, who was blacklisted

07:44

Media Consolidation

Richard Lewis on Revue/MCA becoming Universal Televison

02:38

Ronald Reagan

Richard Lewis on producing The General Electric Theater, hosted by Ronald Reagan

02:36

Sex & Violence

Richard Lewis on testifying to Congress about violence in television Westerns

02:33

Technological Innovation

Richard Lewis on the advent of color television and producing feature films

01:52

Television Industry

Richard Lewis on producing Who's There, starring Arlene Francis and Melvyn Douglas, who was blacklisted

07:44

Richard Lewis on the different between television production in New York and in Los Angeles in the 1950s

02:30

Richard Lewis on MCA's relationship with the television networks

02:59

Richard Lewis on the deals that get made between networks and studios, and on producing the series Checkmate

06:11

Richard Lewis on the power of the networks in the 1950s and early 1960s, and the networks wresting control from producers

04:48

Richard Lewis on Revue/MCA becoming Universal Televison

02:38

Richard Lewis on testifying to Congress about violence in television Westerns

02:33

Richard Lewis on the then-future of television

01:23

Television and the Presidency

Richard Lewis on producing The General Electric Theater, hosted by Ronald Reagan

02:36

War

Richard Lewis on his experience during World War II

02:20

World War II

Richard Lewis on his experience during World War II

02:20

Professions

Producers

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Richard Lewis on the differences between producing for radio and producing for television

02:23

Richard Lewis on the deals that get made between networks and studios and on producing the series Checkmate

06:11

Richard Lewis on the key to making a sucessful series and on what represents the best of television

01:57

Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

Richard Lewis on producing Crusader

07:52

Classic Anthology Series

Richard Lewis on producing The General Electric Theater

07:00

Richard Lewis on producing Studio 57

04:21

Richard Lewis on producing Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars and Tales of Wells Fargo

02:04

Richard Lewis on producing Alcoa Premiere

19:57

Comedy Series

Richard Lewis on how he starting working in television producing Take a Chance and Two Girls Named Smith

07:00

Richard Lewis on producing Leave it to Beaver

05:25

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Richard Lewis on producing the pilot Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer

10:35

Richard Lewis on producing M Squad

03:04

Richard Lewis on the deals that get made between networks and studios and on producing the series Checkmate

06:21

Game Shows

Richard Lewis on producing Blind Date

09:33

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Richard Lewis on his involvement in the made-for-television movie concept

05:30

Richard Lewis on the process of filming made-for-television movies as opposed to feature films and on networks' reaction to the concept

01:54

Western Series

Richard Lewis on producing Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars and Tales of Wells Fargo

02:04

Richard Lewis on producing Wagon Train

10:55

Richard Lewis on producing Wagon Train

06:03

Richard Lewis on producing Laramie, Riverboat and various other shows

11:28

Richard Lewis on testifying to Congress about violence in television Westerns

02:33

People

Alfred Hitchcock

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Richard Lewis on Alfred Hitchcock, Joan Harrison, and Ray Milland

01:16

Arlene Francis

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Richard Lewis on producing Blind Date with Arlene Francis

04:19

Richard Lewis on producing Who's There, starring Arlene Francis and Melvyn Douglas, who was blacklisted

07:44

Richard Lewis on Bernard Schubert and Arlene Francis

00:50

Barbara Billingsley

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Richard Lewis on Barbara Billingsley, Jerry Mathers, and Boris Ingster

01:21

Bill Cullen

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Richard Lewis on Bill Cullen and Lew Lahr

00:55

Bob Mosher

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Richard Lewis on Leave it to Beaver writers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher

02:44

Brian Keith

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Richard Lewis on producing Crusader, starring Brian Keith

07:52

Burt Reynolds

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Richard Lewis on producing Laramie, Riverboat starring Burt Reynolds and various other series and pilots

05:03

Richard Lewis on Burt Reynolds, John Willams, and James T. Aubrey

01:24

Charles Laughton

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Richard Lewis on Charles Laughton, Howard Christy, and Darren McGavin

01:00

Charles S. Dubin

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Richard Lewis on Charles Dubin and William S. Paley

00:40

Dale Robertson

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Richard Lewis on Dale Robertson, John Payne, and David Dortort

00:43

Dan Enright

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Richard Lewis on producing shows with Jack Barry and Dan Enright

01:18

Richard Lewis on Jack Barry, Dan Enright, and Lila Kaye

01:03

David Dortort

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Richard Lewis on Dale Robertson, John Payne, and David Dortort

00:44

Earl Holliman

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Richard Lewis on Earl Holliman, Michael Landon, and Clifton Fadiman

01:18

Edward G. Robinson

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Richard Lewis on attempting to produce a series for Edward G. Robinson

01:41

Richard Lewis on Edward G. Robertson, Fred Astaire, and George Schaeffer

03:39

Fred Astaire

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Richard Lewis on producing a pilot for Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase

03:46

Richard Lewis on Edward G. Robertson, Fred Astaire, and George Schaeffer

03:39

Grace Kelly

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Richard Lewis on Grace Kelly being rejected on Blind Date, and on selecting contestants for the show

02:48

Henry Fonda

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Richard Lewis on producing The General Electric Theater's production of "Clown," starring Henry Fonda and "The Blond Dog," starring Cornell Wilde

04:22

Hume Cronyn

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Richard Lewis on Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, and Norman Lloyd

01:07

Jack Barry

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Richard Lewis on producing shows with Jack Barry and Dan Enright

01:18

Richard Lewis on Jack Barry, Dan Enright, and Lila Kaye

01:03

Jack Benny

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Richard Lewis on Jack Benny and other stars appearing on the radio quiz show "Take It or Leave It"

02:01

James T. Aubrey

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Richard Lewis on Burt Reynolds, John Willams, and James T. Aubrey

01:24

Jerry Mathers

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Richard Lewis on Barbara Billingsley, Jerry Mathers, and Boris Ingster

01:21

Jessica Tandy

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Richard Lewis on Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, and Norman Lloyd

01:07

Joan Harrison

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Richard Lewis on Alfred Hitchcock, Joan Harrison, and Ray Milland

01:16

Joe Connelly

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Richard Lewis on Leave it to Beaver writers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher

02:44

John Ford

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Richard Lewis on the Alcoa Premiere episode "Flashing Spikes," directed by John Ford

03:25

John Forsythe

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Richard Lewis on Taft Schreiber, Cornel Wilde, and John Forsythe

01:25

John Williams

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Richard Lewis on Burt Reynolds, John Willams, and James T. Aubrey

01:24

Jules Stein

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Richard Lewis on working with Jules Stein and Lew Wasserman at MCA

05:29

Kim Hunter

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Richard Lewis on MacDonald Carey, Kim Hunter, and Brian Aherne

00:41

Lee Marvin

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Richard Lewis on the cast of M Squad, including Lee Marvin, and the directors of the show

03:04

Lew Wasserman

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Richard Lewis on working with Jules Stein and Lew Wasserman at MCA

05:29

Richard Lewis on Oscar Millard, Lew Wasserman, and Alan Miller

01:16

Macdonald Carey

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Richard Lewis on MacDonald Carey, Kim Hunter, and Brian Aherne

00:40

Mel Tolkin

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Richard Lewis on Mel Tolkin, Prudence Fraser, and Paul Bogart

01:50

Melvyn Douglas

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Richard Lewis on producing Who's There, starring Arlene Francis and Melvyn Douglas, who was blacklisted

07:44

Michael Landon

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Richard Lewis on Earl Holliman, Michael Landon, and Clifton Fadiman

01:18

Milton Berle

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Richard Lewis on working on the radio show "Let Yourself Go" hosted by Milton Berle

04:58

Norman Lloyd

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Richard Lewis on Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, and Norman Lloyd

01:07

Orson Welles

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Richard Lewis on doing work for Orson Welles' "Mercury Theater" on radio

06:50

Paul Bogart

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Richard Lewis on Mel Tolkin, Prudence Fraser, and Paul Bogart

01:50

Ray Milland

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Richard Lewis on Alfred Hitchcock, Joan Harrison, and Ray Milland

01:17

Ronald Colman

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Richard Lewis on various pilots he produced that were not picked up, including Portrait, starring Ronald Colman which aired as a Studio 57 episode

04:07

Ronald Reagan

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Richard Lewis on producing The General Electric Theater, hosted by Ronald Reagan

02:36

Ward Bond

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Richard Lewis on producing Wagon Train, starring Ward Bond

08:00

Richard Lewis on leaving Wagon Train and the death of star Ward Bond

02:49

William S. Paley

View Person Page

Richard Lewis on the character of "Mike Hammer" making the transition from radio to television on Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer and on William S. Paley refusing to air the show

05:30

Richard Lewis on Charles Dubin and William S. Paley

00:41