About
"I didn't know this for a long time but, I'm greatly admired by my own people. I didn't know this because we don't have a tradition of writing fan letters. That's not something we do. When I found out, just a few years ago, that Spanish Harlem practically went on fire when I got my Oscar, that windows were opening, almost like in 'West Side Story', I get goose bumps. People yelling, 'she got it! She did it!' It makes me want to cry."
In her over three-hour interview, Rita Moreno talks about spending her early childhood in Puerto Rico before coming to the United States at the age of five. Moreno chronicles her early stage, film, and radio work, all done before her television debut in 1952. She speaks about her work on G.E. Theatre, Fireside Theatre, Climax, Matinee Theatre, Playhouse 90, and other live programs. She also speaks freely about her encounters with racism. Moreno discusses her many successes in theater and film, including an Oscar win for West Side Story, and continuing to work in television as a guest star on many programs afterward. She talks about how, in 1971, she began her five-year run as a regular on The Electric Company, a PBS children's program. She also details her then-recent work as a regular on HBO's drama series, Oz. Marla Miller conducted the interview on June 22, 2000 in San Francisco, CA.
Highlights
Rita Moreno on appearing in the Playhouse 90 production of "Alas Babylon" and on working with Burt Reynolds on B.L. Stryker
Rita Moreno on appearing in The 20th Century-Fox Hour production of "Broken Arrow"
Rita Moreno on appearing in the classic feature film "West Side Story" and working with directors Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins
Rita Moreno on why The Electric Company was a special show, and important for her to do
Rita Moreno on being a role model for latino actors and actresses
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on The Nanny and doing a tag scene which referenced "West Side Story"
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on starting to appear on radio at age 10, and on her mother being a stage mother; on dubbing American films in Spanish
On appearing on Broadway at age thirteen, and on people confusing her with Chita Rivera; on appearing on various television shows at a young age; on her earliest memories of seeing television
On moving to Hollywood to appear in feature films, and being signed by MGM; on appearing in various feature films after being dropped by MGM; on appearing in various live television shows including Climax!
Chapter 2
On appearing in the Climax! production of "The Chinese Game" directed by Buzz Kulik; on various mishaps that happened during live broadcasts; on appearing on Lux Video Theatre
On appearing on Fireside Theatre and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and on her early ethnic roles
On appearing on The Ezio Pinza Show assistant directed by John Rich, and on working with Ray Bolger; on appearing in The New Adventures of China Smith; on appearing in The 20th Century-Fox Hour production of "Broken Arrow"
Chapter 3
On appearing in the classic feature film Singin' in the Rain; on appearing in the classic feature film "The King and I" and on working with Jerome Robbins
On appearing in the classic feature film "West Side Story"; on how winning an Oscar for "West Side Story" changed her career
On how her roles changed in the '60s including westerns; on appearing in the Playhouse 90 production of "Alas Babylon" and on working with Burt Reynolds on B.L. Stryker
Chapter 4
On how acting for television is different than acting for films, and appearing in Oz; on having the "EGOT" (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) and on studying acting; on guest-starring on various series including The Jack Benny Program and on comedic timing
On doing theater after giving birth to her child; on appearing as a regular cast member on The Electric Company; on appearing on On the Rocks
Chapter 5
On the pilot for The Rita Moreno Show; on her Emmy-winning guest appearances as "Rita Capkovic" on The Rockford Files; on what it is like for an actor to guest-star on a show
On guest-starring on The Love Boat with Ted Knight; on guest-starring on Miami Vice, and on starring in 9 to 5 and dealing with network notes
On appearing in The Golden Girls episode which was a pilot for the spinoff Empty Nest; on briefly on appearing on an episode of The Larry Sanders Show
On guest-starring on The Nanny and doing a tag scene which referenced "West Side Story"; on guest-starring on Murphy Brown; on the graphic nature of her then-current series, Oz
Chapter 6
On how the television industry changed since she started; on breaking ground as a Latina actress; on being a role model for latino actors and actresses
Shows
20th Century-Fox Hour, The
Rita Moreno on appearing in The 20th Century-Fox Hour production of "Broken Arrow"
9 to 5
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on Miami Vice, and on starring in 9 to 5 and dealing with network notes
China Smith
Rita Moreno on appearing in The New Adventures of China Smith and Ford Television Theatre
Climax!
Rita Moreno on appearing in various live television shows including Climax!
Rita Moreno on appearing in the Climax! production of "The Chinese Game" directed by Buzz Kulik
Electric Company, The
Rita Moreno on appearing as a regular cast member on The Electric Company
Rita Moreno on why The Electric Company was a special show, and important for her to do
Empty Nest
Rita Moreno on appearing in The Golden Girls episode which was a pilot for the spinoff Empty Nest
Ezio Pinza Show, The
Rita Moreno on appearing on The Ezio Pinza Show assistant directed by John Rich, and on working with Ray Bolger
Fireside Theatre
Rita Moreno on appearing on Fireside Theatre and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and on her early ethnic roles
Golden Girls, The
Rita Moreno on appearing in The Golden Girls episode which was a pilot for the spinoff Empty Nest
Jack Benny Program, The
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on various series including The Jack Benny Program and on comedic timing
Larry Sanders Show, The
Rita Moreno briefly on appearing on an episode of The Larry Sanders Show
Love Boat, The
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on The Love Boat with Ted Knight
Lux Video Theatre
Rita Moreno on appearing on Lux Video Theatre
Murphy Brown
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on Murphy Brown
Nanny, The
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on The Nanny and doing a tag scene which referenced "West Side Story"
Oz
Rita Moreno on how acting for television is different than acting for films, and appearing in Oz
Rita Moreno on the graphic nature of her then-current series, Oz
Playhouse 90
Rita Moreno on appearing in the Playhouse 90 production of "Alas Babylon" and on working with Burt Reynolds on B.L. Stryker
Rockford Files, The
Rita Moreno on her Emmy-winning guest appearances as "Rita Capkovic" on The Rockford Files
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars aka Celebrity Playhouse
Rita Moreno on appearing on Fireside Theatre and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and on her early ethnic roles
Topics
Bloopers
Rita Moreno on various mishaps that happened during live broadcasts
Emmy Awards
Rita Moreno on having the "EGOT" (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) and on studying acting
Rita Moreno on her Emmy-winning guest appearances as "Rita Capkovic" on The Rockford Files
Historic Events and Social Change
Rita Moreno on appearing in The 20th Century-Fox Hour production of "Broken Arrow" and having to put on a Native American accent
Rita Moreno on breaking ground as a Latina actress
Rita Moreno on being a role model for latino actors and actresses
Representation on Television
Rita Moreno on appearing in The 20th Century-Fox Hour production of "Broken Arrow" and having to put on a Native American accent
Rita Moreno on breaking ground as a Latina actress
Rita Moreno on being a role model for latino actors and actresses
Television Industry
Rita Moreno on how the television industry changed since she started
Underrepresented Voices
Rita Moreno on appearing in The 20th Century-Fox Hour production of "Broken Arrow" and having to put on a Native American accent
Rita Moreno on breaking ground as a Latina actress
Rita Moreno on being a role model for latino actors and actresses
Professions
Actress
Rita Moreno on how acting for television is different than acting for films, and appearing in Oz
Rita Moreno on having the "EGOT" (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) and on studying acting
Rita Moreno on what it is like for an actor to guest-star on a show
Performers
Rita Moreno on how acting for television is different than acting for films, and appearing in Oz
Rita Moreno on having the "EGOT" (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) and on studying acting
Rita Moreno on what it is like for an actor to guest-star on a show
Genres
Children's Programming
Rita Moreno on appearing as a regular cast member on The Electric Company
Classic Anthology Series
Rita Moreno on appearing in the Climax! production of "The Chinese Game" directed by Buzz Kulik
Rita Moreno on appearing on Lux Video Theatre
Rita Moreno on appearing on Fireside Theatre and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and on her early ethnic roles
Rita Moreno on appearing in The 20th Century-Fox Hour production of "Broken Arrow"
Rita Moreno on appearing in the Playhouse 90 production of "Alas Babylon" and on working with Burt Reynolds on B.L. Stryker
Comedy Series
Rita Moreno on appearing on On the Rocks
Rita Moreno on the pilot for The Rita Moreno Show
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on The Love Boat with Ted Knight
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on Miami Vice, and on starring in 9 to 5 and dealing with network notes
Rita Moreno on appearing in The Golden Girls episode which was a pilot for the spinoff Empty Nest
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on The Nanny and doing a tag scene which referenced "West Side Story"
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on Murphy Brown
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Rita Moreno on appearing in The New Adventures of China Smith
Rita Moreno on appearing in the Playhouse 90 production of "Alas Babylon" and on working with Burt Reynolds on B.L. Stryker
Rita Moreno on her Emmy-winning guest appearances as "Rita Capkovic" on The Rockford Files
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on Miami Vice, and on starring in 9 to 5 and dealing with network notes
Drama Series
Rita Moreno on how acting for television is different than acting for films, and appearing in Oz
Rita Moreno on the graphic nature of her then-current series, Oz
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Rita Moreno on appearing on The Ezio Pinza Show assistant directed by John Rich, and on working with Ray Bolger
People
Jack Benny
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on various series including The Jack Benny Program and on comedic timing
Ray Bolger
Rita Moreno on appearing on The Ezio Pinza Show assistant directed by John Rich, and on working with Ray Bolger
Fran Drescher
Rita Moreno on guest-starring on The Nanny and doing a tag scene which referenced West Side Story
Tom Fontana
Rita Moreno on the graphic nature of her then-current series, Oz
James Garner
Rita Moreno on her Emmy-winning guest appearances as "Rita Capkovic" on The Rockford Files
Susan Harris
Rita Moreno on appearing in The Golden Girls episode which was a pilot for the spinoff Empty Nest
Buzz Kulik
Rita Moreno on appearing in the Climax! production of "The Chinese Game" directed by Buzz Kulik
Ezio Pinza
Rita Moreno on appearing on The Ezio Pinza Show assistant directed by John Rich, and on working with Ray Bolger
Burt Reynolds
Rita Moreno on appearing in the Playhouse 90 production of "Alas Babylon" and on working with Burt Reynolds on B.L. Stryker
John Rich
Rita Moreno on appearing on The Ezio Pinza Show assistant directed by John Rich, and on working with Ray Bolger