About
"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."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Lyle “Skitch” Henderson (1918-2005) talks about his early years, and working as a 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 on July 25, 2002 in New York, NY.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
On working with Victor Borge; on working on Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar; on working on Wonderful Town, U.S.A.
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
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
On the Hollywood Blacklist; on heading up the New York Pops; on his then-recent projects
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
Shows
Captain Kangaroo
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on Captain Kangaroo starring Bob Keeshan
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
Jonathan Winters Show, The (1956-57)
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on The Jonathan Winters Show
Kate Smith Hour
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on the Kate Smith Hour
Lawrence Welk Show, The
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Lawrence Welk Show
Merv Griffin Show, The
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Merv Griffin Show
Mike Douglas Show, The
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Mike Douglas Show
Texaco Star Theater
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle
To Tell the Truth
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on To Tell the Truth
Tonight
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on becoming the musical director of Tonight, and on working with Steve Allen
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on a typical day putting together Tonight in the '50s when Steve Allen was host
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the end of Steve Allen's stint as the host of Tonight
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on deciding the music that was to be performed on Tonight, and on Tonight announcer Gene Rayburn
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on rehearsing with musical guests of Tonight
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the popularity of Steve Allen's Tonight, and on network interference or censorship with the show
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the style of music on Tonight, and on changing the music up for Jack Paar and Johnny Carson
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the sponsors influence over the music of Tonight, and on working with Dave Garroway on Garroway at Large
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on how the music on Steve Allen's Tonight differed from the music on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the legacy of Steve Allen and his version of Tonight
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on Steve Allen's man on the street segments on Tonight
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on returning to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on how the music on Steve Allen's Tonight differed from the music on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on being involved in sketches on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
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
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on dealing with sound on television as opposed to a live performance
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
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on leaving The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1966
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the legacy of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Wonderful Town, U.S.A.
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on Wonderful Town, U.S.A.
Your Show of Shows
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar
Topics
Advice
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on advice to aspiring musicians to desire to work in television
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the popularity of Steve Allen's Tonight, and on network interference or censorship with the show
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
Hollywood Blacklist
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the Hollywood Blacklist
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
Television Industry
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the popularity of Steve Allen's Tonight, and on network interference or censorship with the show
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the Hollywood Blacklist
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on advice to aspiring musicians to desire to work in television
Professions
Music Director
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on hiring musicians for NBC, and on hiring Doc Severinsen
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on dealing with sound on television as opposed to a live performance
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on his musical style
Music Professionals
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on hiring musicians for NBC, and on hiring Doc Severinsen
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on dealing with sound on television as opposed to a live performance
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on his musical style
Genres
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Lawrence Welk Show
Talk Shows
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on being musical director for Steve Allen's Tonight
Lyle "Skich" Henderson on acting as music director on Steve Allen's Tonight and on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on Steve Allen's man on the street segments on Tonight
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Mike Douglas Show
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Merv Griffin Show
People
Steve Allen
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on becoming the musical director of Tonight, and on working with Steve Allen on Tonight
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on a typical day putting together Tonight in the '50s when Steve Allen was host
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the popularity of Steve Allen's Tonight, and on network interference or censorship with the show
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on Steve Allen's man on the street segments on Tonight
Victor Borge
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Victor Borge
Sid Caesar
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working on Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar
Johnny Carson
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on returning to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Bing Crosby
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in nightclubs and on radio, and on getting his nickname from Bing Crosby
Mike Douglas
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Mike Douglas Show
Judy Garland
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Judy Garland early in his career
Dave Garroway
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on the sponsors influence over the music of Tonight, and on working with Dave Garroway on Garroway at Large
Merv Griffin
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Merv Griffin Show
Bob Hope
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in nightclubs and on radio, and on getting his nickname from Bing Crosby
Ed McMahon
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Gene Rayburn
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on deciding the music that was to be performed on Tonight, and on Tonight announcer Gene Rayburn
David Sarnoff
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on David Sarnoff dismantling the NBC Symphony, and on becoming music director for NBC
Doc Severinsen
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on hiring musicians for NBC, and on hiring Doc Severinsen
Frank Sinatra
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey at the NBC radio studios on Sunset and Vine
Arturo Toscanini
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
Lawrence Welk
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Lawrence Welk Show