About
"I did some things that were widely imitated. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. That was flattering to me. 'Maverick' was imitated, 'The Fugitive' was imitated. I did all right. I had a great time."
In his five-hour interview, Roy Huggins (1914-2002) talks about his early years as a novelist and member of the Communist Party. He recalls getting into screenwriting at Columbia Pictures with films like Hangman's Knot, and subsequently being blacklisted. He describes testifying in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee, where he confirmed the names of several suspected communists. He recounts his early years with Warner Bros. Television, where he wrote for shows like King's Row and Cheyenne, as well as creating the smash hit Western series Maverick starring James Garner and Jack Kelly. Huggins discusses creating 77 Sunset Strip for Warner Bros. before leaving for Universal Television where he wrote and produced The Virginian and created the smash hit The Fugitive. He speaks of creating the movie of the week concept, which he claims was stolen from him, and outlines having a hand in creating several hit 1970s shows including Toma, The Rockford Files, and Baretta. He concludes by talking about the many television and feature film revivals of his shows, and recalling several people with whom he has worked in his career. Lee Goldberg conducted the interview on July 21, 1998 in Brentwood, CA.
Highlights
Roy Huggins on meeting with ABC's Leonard Goldenson about The Fugitive
Roy Huggins on the Maverick episode "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres"
Roy Huggins on writing and producing Cheyenne
Roy Huggins on co-creating The Rockford Files with Stephen J. Cannell
Roy Huggins on his career and his biggest contribution to television
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his early interest in writing and the entertainment industry; on going to UCLA
On getting into politics; on joining the Communist Party
On his activities during World War II; on becoming a writer
Chapter 2
On writing his first novel; on how his communist leanings impacted the work he was doing as a novelist
On his career as a novelist; on getting into writing for television
Chapter 3
On learning to write for the screen; on writing various screenplays; on being under contract at Columbia
On writing unused narration for the feature film "Stromboli"; on writing the feature film "Hangman's Knot"; on being placed on the Hollywood Blacklist
Chapter 4
On writing and directing the feature "Hangman's Knot" despite being blacklisted; on being subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and naming names
On getting into television; on writing and producing King's Row at Warner Bros. Television; on writing and producing Cheyenne
Chapter 5
On coming up with stories and producing for television; on a typical workweek on Cheyenne; on Leonard Goldenson and Jack L. Warner's role in shaping television; on working with Cheyenne star Clint Walker and the success of Cheyenne
On creating Maverick; on the pilot of Maverick; on casting James Garner as "Bret Maverick" on Maverick
Chapter 6
On the production schedule of Maverick, which necessitated the addition of a second "Maverick" brother; on casting Jack Kelly as "Bart Maverick" on Maverick; on the writers and directors of the show
On Maverick being a different kind of western and the public reaction to the show; on interference from the studio and network on Maverick and Budd Boetticher directing the show; on the Maverick episode "Guy-Shy," which was a spoof of Gunsmoke
On the Maverick episode "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres"; on Maverick winning an Emmy; on creating 77 Sunset Strip
Chapter 7
On the creation of 77 Sunset Strip; on casting Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Edd Byrnes and Roger Smith on 77 Sunset Strip; on leaving Maverick in its third season
On leaving Warner Bros. Television
On his post-Warner Bros. career and pitching The Fugitive
Chapter 8
On The Fugitive and initial reaction to his concept; on leaving Twentieth Century Fox; on writing and producing The Virginian
On meeting with ABC's Leonard Goldenson about The Fugitive; on casting The Fugitive; on going to Universal Television
On creating Run For Your Life; on The Outsider; on creating The Bold Ones
Chapter 9
On creating the movie of the week concept; on meeting Stephen J. Cannell and creating Toma; on co-creating The Rockford Files with Stephen J. Cannell
On his relationship with Stephen J. Cannell and the other writers of The Rockford Files; on writing Baretta and working with Robert Blake; on leaving Universal Television in 1980
On revivals of Maverick; on briefly on serving as executive producer on Hunter; on how changes in television led to him leaving Universal Television; on various feature film and television revivals of shows he created
Chapter 10
On being invited to work on the feature film version of Maverick; on his career and his biggest contribution to television
On various people with whom he worked in his career
Shows
77 Sunset Strip
Roy Huggins on creating 77 Sunset Strip
Roy Huggins on the creation of 77 Sunset Strip
Roy Huggins on casting Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Edd Byrnes and Roger Smith on 77 Sunset Strip
Baretta
Roy Huggins on writing Baretta and working with Robert Blake
Bold Ones, The
Roy Huggins on The Outsider and The Bold Ones
Cheyenne
Roy Huggins on writing and producing Cheyenne
Roy Huggins on a typical workweek on Cheyenne
Roy Huggins on working with Cheyenne star Clint Walker and the success of Cheyenne
Conflict
Roy Huggins on writing and producing Conflict
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Roy Huggins on Maverick winning an Emmy
Fugitive, The
Roy Huggins on creating The Fugitive
Roy Huggins on The Fugitive and initial reaction to his concept
Roy Huggins on meeting with ABC's Leonard Goldenson about The Fugitive
Roy Huggins on developing The Fugitive with ABC and bringing in Quinn Martin to produce
Roy Huggins on casting The Fugitive
Gunsmoke
Roy Huggins on the Maverick episode "Guy-Shy," which was a spoof of Gunsmoke
Hunter
Roy Huggins on briefly on serving as executive producer on Hunter
King's Row
Roy Huggins on writing and producing King's Row at Warner Bros. Television
Maverick
Roy Huggins on creating Maverick
Roy Huggins on the pilot of Maverick
Roy Huggins on casting James Garner as "Bret Maverick" on Maverick
Roy Huggins on the production schedule of Maverick which necessitated the addition of a second "Maverick" brother
Roy Huggins on casting Jack Kelly as "Bart Maverick" on Maverick
Roy Huggins on the writers and directors of Maverick
Roy Huggins on Maverick being a different kind of western and the public reaction to the show
Roy Huggins on interference from the studio and network on Maverick and Budd Boetticher directing the show
Roy Huggins on the Maverick episode "Guy-Shy," which was a spoof of Gunsmoke
Roy Huggins on the Maverick episode "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres"
Roy Huggins on Maverick winning an Emmy
Roy Huggins on leaving Maverick in its third season
Roy Huggins on the various revivals of Maverick
Roy Huggins on being invited to work on the feature film version of Maverick
Rockford Files, The
Roy Huggins on co-creating The Rockford Files with Stephen J. Cannell
Run For Your Life
Roy Huggins on creating Run For Your Life
Toma
Roy Huggins on meeting Stephen J. Cannell and creating Toma
Virginian, The
Roy Huggins on writing and producing The Virginian
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Roy Huggins on casting Jack Kelly as "Bart Maverick" on Maverick
Classic TV Series Episodes
Roy Huggins on the Maverick episode "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres"
Emmy Awards
Roy Huggins on Maverick winning an Emmy
Historic Events and Social Change
Roy Huggins on his activities during World War II
Hollywood Blacklist
Roy Huggins on joining the Communist Party
Roy Huggins on how his communist leanings impacted the work he was doing as a novelist
Roy Huggins on writing the feature film "Hangman's Knot" and being placed on the Hollywood Blacklist
Roy Huggins on writing and directing the feature "Hangman's Knot" despite being blacklisted
Roy Huggins on being subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and naming names
Industry Crossroads
Roy Huggins on joining the Communist Party
Roy Huggins on how his communist leanings impacted the work he was doing as a novelist
Roy Huggins on writing the feature film "Hangman's Knot" and being placed on the Hollywood Blacklist
Roy Huggins on writing and directing the feature "Hangman's Knot" despite being blacklisted
Roy Huggins on being subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and naming names
Pop Culture
Roy Huggins on casting Jack Kelly as "Bart Maverick" on Maverick
Roy Huggins on the Maverick episode "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres"
Television Industry
Roy Huggins on joining the Communist Party
Roy Huggins on how his communist leanings impacted the work he was doing as a novelist
Roy Huggins on writing the feature film "Hangman's Knot" and being placed on the Hollywood Blacklist
Roy Huggins on writing and directing the feature "Hangman's Knot" despite being blacklisted
Roy Huggins on being subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and naming names
Roy Huggins on the pilot of Maverick
Roy Huggins on going to Universal Television
Roy Huggins on how changes in television led to him leaving Universal Television
Roy Huggins on his career and his biggest contribution to television
War
Roy Huggins on his activities during World War II
World War II
Roy Huggins on his activities during World War II
Professions
Show Creators
Roy Huggins on coming up with stories and producing for television
Writers
Roy Huggins on learning to write for the screen
Genres
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Roy Huggins on creating 77 Sunset Strip
Roy Huggins on creating 77 Sunset Strip
Roy Huggins on creating The Fugitive
Roy Huggins on writing Baretta
Roy Huggins on co-creating The Rockford Files with Stephen J. Cannell
Drama Series
Roy Huggins on writing and producing King's Row at Warner Bros.Television
Roy Huggins on creating Run For Your Life
Legal Dramas
Roy Huggins on The Outsider and The Bold Ones
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Roy Huggins on creating the movie of the week concept
Western Series
Roy Huggins on writing and producing Cheyenne
Roy Huggins on writing Cheyenne
Roy Huggins on creating Maverick
Roy Huggins on creating Maverick (Part 2)
Roy Huggins on leaving Maverick
Roy Huggins on creating The Fugitive
Roy Huggins on writing and producing The Virginian
People
Richard L. Bare
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Richard Bare
Juanita Bartlett
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Juanita Bartlett
Robert Blake
Roy Huggins on writing Baretta and working with Robert Blake
Edd Byrnes
Roy Huggins on casting Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Edd Byrnes and Roger Smith on 77 Sunset Strip
Stephen J. Cannell
Roy Huggins on meeting Stephen J. Cannell and creating Toma
Roy Huggins on his relationship with Stephen J. Cannell and the other writers of The Rockford Files
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Stephen J. Cannell
Harry Cohn
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Harry Cohn
James Garner
Roy Huggins on casting James Garner as "Bret Maverick" on Maverick
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: James Garner
Leonard H. Goldenson
Roy Huggins on Leonard H. Goldenson and Jack L. Warner's role in shaping television
Roy Huggins on meeting with ABC's Leonard H. Goldenson about The Fugitive
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Leonard H. Goldenson
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.
Roy Huggins on casting Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Edd Byrnes and Roger Smith on 77 Sunset Strip
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.
Jack Kelly
Roy Huggins on casting Jack Kelly as "Bart Maverick" on Maverick
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Jack Kelly
Quinn Martin
Roy Huggins on developing The Fugitive with ABC and bringing in Quinn Martin to produce
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Quinn Martin
Meta Rosenberg
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Meta Rosenberg
Jane Russell
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Jane Russell
Herbert S. Schlosser
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Herbert S. Schlosser
Sid Sheinberg
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Sid Sheinberg
Clint Walker
Roy Huggins on working with Cheyenne star Clint Walker and the success of Cheyenne
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Clint Walker
Jack L. Warner
Roy Huggins on Leonard H. Goldenson and Jack L. Warner's role in shaping television
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Jack L. Warner
Lew Wasserman
Roy Huggins on various people with whom he worked in his career: Lew Wasserman