About
“The most rewarding thing for me was sitting in the office with George Burns as a person, not a boss or anything. He was a collaborator, and he made us feel that way. ‘Hiya boys- I don’t know about you guys, I’m going to the club.’ I loved him.”
In his over three-hour interview, Seaman Jacobs (1912-2008) talks about getting his start as a writer by writing copy for the Brazilian Pavilion at the 1939 World's Fair. He recalls how, after getting discharged from the army, he wrote for radio personalities including Jack Paar, Bing Crosby, Ed Wynn, and Henry Morgan. He talks about making his television writing debut in 1949 on The Ed Wynn Show. Jacobs recounts writing for Earn Your Vacation, Bachelor Father, The Real McCoys, the pilots for The Addams Family, F-Troop, The Lucy Show, The Jeffersons, and numerous George Burns and Bob Hope specials. He concludes by discussing career highlights and regrets, and how he would like to be remembered. Charles Davis conducted the interview on March 30, 1999 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Seaman Jacobs on his Here's Lucy writing partner Fred Fox, and on writing physical comedy for Lucille Ball
Seaman Jacobs on the format of The Ed Wynn Show, and on various bits that Ed Wynn did on his show
Seaman Jacobs on becoming involved with writing Bob Hope Specials
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Johnny Carson on Earn Your Vacation and Who Do You Trust?
Seaman Jacobs on being a freelance writer, and on writing with a partner
Seaman Jacobs on what makes a successful television comedy
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on attending the 1939 World's Fair, and on the first time he saw television
On writing for Fred Allen's radio show and for Ed Wynn's radio show, and later for The Ed Wynn Show on television; on the environment for the writers on The Ed Wynn Show with Hal Cantor
On writing for Johnny Carson on Earn Your Vacation and Who Do You Trust?; on the challenges of writing for 1950s sitcoms
Chapter 2
On how he met Ed Wynn; on the format of The Ed Wynn Show, and on various bits that Wynn did on his show; on being a freelance writer, and on writing with a partner
On the Hollywood Blacklist; on writing for Bachelor Father, starring John Forsythe; on writing for The Real McCoys
Chapter 3
On working with producers Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard on The Real McCoys; on writing for Oh! Those Bells; on writing for feature films starring Elvis Presley, and on writing other features
On writing the pilot for The Addams Family; on writing for No Time for Sergeants and Family Affair; on writing for F Troop
Chapter 4
On creating the characters for F Troop; on writing for The Mothers-In-Law; on writing for Here's Lucy and The Lucy Show
On favorite episodes of Here's Lucy; on writing for The Jeffersons; on writing for Maude
Chapter 5
On writing for George Burns' specials; on becoming involved with writing Bob Hope Specials; on the longevity of Bob Hope
On shooting several Bob Hope Specials on location; on the last Bob Hope special he wrote for, and on writing for high profile performers; on writing for George Burns and Pinky Lee
On writing for The Tim Conway Show; on then-current projects; on how audiences have changed since he started
Chapter 6
On mentors in his career; on the then-future of television, and on his writing process with his partner; on career highlights and regrets
On how television writers are treated, and on the importance of preserving television history; on how he would like to be remembered
On various people with whom he's worked in his career
Chapter 7
On various people with whom he's worked in his career; on his writing partner, Fred Fox, and on his wife, Vicki Benet Jacobs
On b-roll pictures from his career- on the set of The Ed Wynn Show; with Ed Wynn; with Bob Hope and his writing staff; with John Forsythe; with Lucille Ball; with George Burns; with Bing Crosby; with Bob Hope and George Burns
Shows
Addams Family, The
Seaman Jacobs on writing the pilot for The Addams Family
Seaman Jacobs on The Addams Family creator Charles Addams, and on inventing various aspects of the show
Bachelor Father
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Bachelor Father, starring John Forsythe
Seaman Jacobs on getting ideas for Bachelor Father scripts, and on various plots on the show
Bob Hope Specials
Seaman Jacobs on becoming involved with writing Bob Hope Specials
Seaman Jacobs on the longevity of Bob Hope
Seaman Jacobs on shooting several Bob Hope Specials on location
Seaman Jacobs on the last Bob Hope special he wrote for, and on writing for high profile performers
Earn Your Vacation
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Johnny Carson on Earn Your Vacation and Who Do You Trust?
Ed Wynn Show, The
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Fred Allen's radio show and for Ed Wynn's radio show, and later for The Ed Wynn Show on television
Seaman Jacobs on the environment for the writers on The Ed Wynn Show with Hal Cantor
Seaman Jacobs on the format of The Ed Wynn Show, and on various bits that Ed Wynn did on his show
F Troop
Seaman Jacobs on writing for F Troop
Seaman Jacobs on creating the characters for F Troop, and on the cast, including Larry Storch, Forrest Tucker, and Ken Berry
Family Affair
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Family Affair, and on the craft of writing for sitcoms
George Burns One-Man Show, The
Seaman Jacobs on writing for George Burns' specials
Here's Lucy
Seaman Jacobs on Lucille Ball's role in the writing and production of The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy, and on shooting the shows
Seaman Jacobs on his Here's Lucy writing partner Fred Fox, and on writing physical comedy for Lucille Ball
Seaman Jacobs on favorite episodes of Here's Lucy
Jeffersons, The
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Jeffersons
Lucy Show, The
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy, and on working with writers Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
Seaman Jacobs on Lucille Ball's role in the writing and production of The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy, and on shooting the shows
Maude
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Maude
Mothers-In-Law, The
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Mothers-In-Law
Oh! Those Bells
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Oh! Those Bells
Real McCoys, The
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Real McCoys
Seaman Jacobs on working with producers Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard on The Real McCoys
Tim Conway Show, The
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Tim Conway Show
United States Steel Hour, The: "No Time for Sergeants"
Seaman Jacobs on writing for No Time for Sergeants, and on Nat Hiken
Who Do You Trust?
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Johnny Carson on Earn Your Vacation and Who Do You Trust?
Topics
1939-40 World's Fair
Seaman Jacobs on attending the 1939 World's Fair, and on the first time he saw television
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Seaman Jacobs on mentors in his career
Historic Events and Social Change
Seaman Jacobs on attending the 1939 World's Fair, and on the first time he saw television
Hollywood Blacklist
Seaman Jacobs on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Seaman Jacobs on the Hollywood Blacklist
Pivotal Career Moments
Seaman Jacobs on mentors in his career
Television Industry
Seaman Jacobs on the then-future of television
Seaman Jacobs on how television writers are treated, and on the importance of preserving television history
Seaman Jacobs on the Hollywood Blacklist
Seaman Jacobs on how audiences have changed since he started
Professions
Writers
Seaman Jacobs on his writing process with his partner
Seaman Jacobs on being a freelance writer, and on writing with a partner
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Family Affair, and on the craft of writing for sitcoms
Seaman Jacobs on what makes a successful television comedy
Genres
Comedy Series
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Bachelor Father
Seaman Jacobs on working with producers Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard on The Real McCoys
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Oh! Those Bells
Seaman Jacobs on writing the pilot for The Addams Family
Seaman Jacobs on writing for No Time for Sergeants, and on Nat Hiken
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Family Affair, and on the craft of writing for sitcoms
Seaman Jacobs on writing for F Troop
Seaman Jacobs on creating the characters for F Troop
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Jeffersons
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Maude
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Seaman Jacobs on the format of The Ed Wynn Show, and on various bits that Ed Wynn did on his show
Seaman Jacobs on writing for George Burns' specials
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Bob Hope Specials
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Tim Conway Show
Western Series
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Real McCoys
People
Charles Addams
Seaman Jacobs on The Addams Family creator Charles Addams, and on inventing various aspects of the show
Fred Allen
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Fred Allen's radio show and for Ed Wynn's radio show, and later for The Ed Wynn Show on television
Eve Arden
Seaman Jacobs on Eve Arden
Lucille Ball
Seaman Jacobs on Lucille Ball
Seaman Jacobs on Lucille Ball's role in the writing and production of The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy, and on shooting the shows
Seaman Jacobs on his Here's Lucy writing partner Fred Fox, and on writing physical comedy for Lucille Ball
Ken Berry
Seaman Jacobs on created the characters for F Troop, and on the cast, including Larry Storch, Forrest Tucker, and Ken Berry
Joey Bishop
Seaman Jacobs on Joey Bishop
George Burns
Seaman Jacobs on George Burns
Seaman Jacobs on writing for George Burns' specials
Seaman Jacobs on writing for George Burns
Bob Carroll, Jr.
Seaman Jacobs on Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy, and on working with writers Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
Johnny Carson
Seaman Jacobs on Johnny Carson
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Johnny Carson on Earn Your Vacation
Bing Crosby
Seaman Jacobs on Bing Crosby
Don Fedderson
Seaman Jacobs on Don Fedderson and Eve Arden
John Forsythe
Seaman Jacobs on John Forsythe
Gale Gordon
Seaman Jacobs on Gale Gordon
Everett Greenbaum
Seaman Jacobs on Everett Greenbaum
Nat Hiken
Seaman Jacobs on writing for No Time for Sergeants, and on Nat Hiken
Bob Hope
Seaman Jacobs on Bob Hope
Seaman Jacobs on the talent of Bob Hope
Milt Josefsberg
Seaman Jacobs on Milt Josefsberg and Irving Fine
Pinky Lee
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Pinky Lee
Sheldon Leonard
Seaman Jacobs on working with producers Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard on The Real McCoys
Henry Morgan
Seaman Jacobs on Henry Morgan
Arthur Murray
Seaman Jacobs on Arthur Murray
Jack Paar
Seaman Jacobs on Jack Paar
Elvis Presley
Seaman Jacobs on writing for feature films starring Elvis Presley, and on writing other features
Madelyn Pugh Davis
Seaman Jacobs on Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy, and on working with writers Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
Sherwood Schwartz
Seaman Jacobs on Sherwood Schwartz
Mel Shavelson
Seaman Jacobs on Mel Shavelson
Phil Silvers
Seaman Jacobs on Phil Silvers
Red Skelton
Seaman Jacobs on Red Skelton
Larry Storch
Seaman Jacobs on created the characters for F Troop, and on the cast, including Larry Storch, Forrest Tucker, and Ken Berry
Danny Thomas
Seaman Jacobs on Danny Thomas
Seaman Jacobs on working with producers Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard on The Real McCoys
Ed Wynn
Seaman Jacobs on writing for Fred Allen's radio show and for Ed Wynn's radio show, and later for The Ed Wynn Show on television
Seaman Jacobs on how he met Ed Wynn