Skitch Henderson

Music Director

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his two-and-a-half hour Archive interview, Lyle “Skitch” Henderson (1918-2005) talks about his early years, and working as musical director with such luminaries as Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Tommy Dorsey, and Bing Crosby. He recalls being hired by NBC, first for radio, and working with Arturo Toscanini. He recounts his years as musical director on Tonight with Steve Allen, and staying on when the show was taken over by Johnny Carson in 1962. Henderson describes appearing on other shows like Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle, The Kate Smith Hour, Captain Kangaroo, and The Mike Douglas Show. He concludes with a discussion of then-recent activities including a stint with the New York Pops, and of his advice to aspiring television musicians. Karen Herman conducted the interview in New York City, New York on July 25, 2002.

"Bing Crosby used to say to me, 'never say no, always say, yes, and do what the hell you want.' I think that’s a very good philosophy."

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his first job at a radio station; on working with Judy Garland early in his career; on taking various jobs in Hollywood

14:33

On working with Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey at the NBC radio studios on Sunset and Vine; on working with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in nightclubs and on radio, and on getting his nickname from Bing Crosby; on the first time he saw television, and on the state of the NBC television network when he joined

13:19

Chapter 2

On being a "morning man" for NBC radio, on working with Arturo Toscanini as a musician for NBC, and on Toscanini's vision of television; on David Sarnoff dismantling the NBC Symphony, and on becoming music director for NBC

10:31

On becoming the musical director of Tonight, and on working with Steve Allen on Tonight; on a typical day putting together Tonight in the '50s when Steve Allen was host

11:17

On the end of Steve Allen's stint as the host of Tonight; on deciding the music that was to be performed on Tonight, and on Tonight announcer Gene Rayburn; on rehearsing with musical guests of Tonight

07:28

Chapter 3

On the popularity of Steve Allen's Tonight, and on network interference or censorship with the show; on the style of music on Tonight, and on changing the music up for Jack Paar and Johnny Carson; on the sponsors influence over the music of Tonight, and on working with Dave Garroway on Garroway at Large

12:18

On returning to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; on working with Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; on how the music on Steve Allen's Tonight differed from the music on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and on being involved with the sketches on the show

12:38

Chapter 4

On the "Stump the Band" segment from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and on other recurring segments featuring the band on the show; on dealing with sound on television as opposed to a live performance; on doing The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from 11:15pm to 11:30pm with Ed McMahon in the early years, and on the wardrobe of the band

08:33

On leaving The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1966; on the legacy of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; on the legacy of Steve Allen and his version of Tonight

07:00

On working with Victor Borge; on working on Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar; on working on Wonderful Town, U.S.A.

04:48

On working on Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle and The Kate Smith Hour; on working on Captain Kangaroo starring Bob Keeshan, and To Tell the Truth; on working on The Jonathan Winters Show

09:15

Chapter 5

On Steve Allen's man on the street segments on Tonight; on appearing on various talk shows; on ending his association with NBC

10:20

On the Hollywood Blacklist; on heading up the New York Pops; on his then-recent projects

07:31

On his proudest career achievement, and on his playing for three hour live on NBC the evening of the Kennedy assassination; on career regrets; on advice to aspiring television musicians

10:14

Shows

Captain Kangaroo

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on Captain Kangaroo starring Bob Keeshan

02:14

Garroway at Large

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the sponsors influence over the music of Tonight, and on working with Dave Garroway on Garroway at Large

03:28

Jonathan Winters Show, The (1956-57)

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on The Jonathan Winters Show

02:33

Kate Smith Hour

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on the Kate Smith Hour

01:40

Lawrence Welk Show, The

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Lawrence Welk Show

00:53

Merv Griffin Show, The

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Merv Griffin Show

01:11

Mike Douglas Show, The

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Mike Douglas Show

00:57

Texaco Star Theater

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle

01:16

To Tell the Truth

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on To Tell the Truth

01:30

Tonight

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on becoming the musical director of Tonight, and on working with Steve Allen

06:36

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on a typical day putting together Tonight in the '50s when Steve Allen was host

04:41

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the end of Steve Allen's stint as the host of Tonight

02:39

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on deciding the music that was to be performed on Tonight, and on Tonight announcer Gene Rayburn

02:50

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on rehearsing with musical guests of Tonight

01:59

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the popularity of Steve Allen's Tonight, and on network interference or censorship with the show

05:30

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the style of music on Tonight, and on changing the music up for Jack Paar and Johnny Carson

03:22

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the sponsors influence over the music of Tonight, and on working with Dave Garroway on Garroway at Large

03:28

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on how the music on Steve Allen's Tonight differed from the music on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

01:12

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the legacy of Steve Allen and his version of Tonight

02:04

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on Steve Allen's man on the street segments on Tonight

03:38

Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on returning to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

03:32

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

04:30

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on how the music on Steve Allen's Tonight differed from the music on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

01:12

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on being involved in sketches on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

03:12

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the "Stump the Band" segment from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and on other recurring segments featuring the band on the show

03:53

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on dealing with sound on television as opposed to a live performance

01:11

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on doing The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from 11:15pm to 11:30pm with Ed McMahon in the early years, and on the wardrobe of the band

03:29

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on leaving The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1966

01:56

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the legacy of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

03:00

Wonderful Town, U.S.A.

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on Wonderful Town, U.S.A.

01:35

Your Show of Shows

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar

01:35

Topics

Advice

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on advice to aspiring musicians to desire to work in television

01:21

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the popularity of Steve Allen's Tonight, and on network interference or censorship with the show

05:28

Historic Events and Social Change

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on his proudest career achievement, and on his playing for three hour live on NBC the evening of the Kennedy assassination

03:25

Hollywood Blacklist

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the Hollywood Blacklist

03:55

Industry Crossroads

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the Hollywood Blacklist

03:55

JFK Assassination and Funeral

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on his proudest career achievement, and on his playing for three hour live on NBC the evening of the Kennedy assassination

03:25

Television Industry

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the popularity of Steve Allen's Tonight, and on network interference or censorship with the show

05:28

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the Hollywood Blacklist

03:55

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on advice to aspiring musicians to desire to work in television

01:21

Professions

Music Director

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on hiring musicians for NBC, and on hiring Doc Severinsen

02:44

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on dealing with sound on television as opposed to a live performance

01:11

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on his musical style

01:50

Music Professionals

View Profession

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on hiring musicians for NBC, and on hiring Doc Severinsen

02:44

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on dealing with sound on television as opposed to a live performance

01:11

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on his musical style

01:50

Genres

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Lawrence Welk Show

00:53

Talk Shows

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on being musical director for Steve Allen's Tonight

18:45

Lyle "Skich" Henderson on acting as music director on Steve Allen's Tonight and on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

25:35

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on Steve Allen's man on the street segments on Tonight

03:38

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Mike Douglas Show

00:57

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Merv Griffin Show

01:11

People

Steve Allen

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on becoming the musical director of Tonight, and on working with Steve Allen on Tonight

06:35

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on a typical day putting together Tonight in the '50s when Steve Allen was host

04:40

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the popularity of Steve Allen's Tonight, and on network interference or censorship with the show

05:28

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on Steve Allen's man on the street segments on Tonight

03:38

Victor Borge

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Victor Borge

01:41

Sid Caesar

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar

01:35

Johnny Carson

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on returning to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

03:33

Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

04:30

Bing Crosby

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in nightclubs and on radio, and on getting his nickname from Bing Crosby

03:52

Mike Douglas

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Mike Douglas Show

00:57

Judy Garland

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Judy Garland early in his career

02:31

Dave Garroway

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the sponsors influence over the music of Tonight, and on working with Dave Garroway on Garroway at Large

03:27

Merv Griffin

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Merv Griffin Show

01:11

Bob Hope

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in nightclubs and on radio, and on getting his nickname from Bing Crosby

03:52

Ed McMahon

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

04:30

Gene Rayburn

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on deciding the music that was to be performed on Tonight, and on Tonight announcer Gene Rayburn

02:51

David Sarnoff

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on David Sarnoff dismantling the NBC Symphony, and on becoming music director for NBC

02:15

Doc Severinsen

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on hiring musicians for NBC, and on hiring Doc Severinsen

02:44

Frank Sinatra

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey at the NBC radio studios on Sunset and Vine

05:57

Arturo Toscanini

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on being a "morning man" for NBC radio, on working with Arturo Toscanini as a musician for NBC, and on Toscanini's vision of television

05:32

Lawrence Welk

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Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Lawrence Welk Show

00:53