"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."

    About This Interview

    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.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
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    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

    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

    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

    Music Director

    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

    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 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

    Steve Allen

    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

    Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on working with Victor Borge

    01:41

    Sid Caesar

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

    01:35

    Johnny Carson

    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

    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

    Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Mike Douglas Show

    00:57

    Judy Garland

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

    02:31

    Dave Garroway

    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

    Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Merv Griffin Show

    01:11

    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

    03:52

    Ed McMahon

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

    04:30

    Gene Rayburn

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

    02:51

    David Sarnoff

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

    02:15

    Doc Severinsen

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

    02:44

    Frank Sinatra

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

    05:57

    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

    05:32

    Lawrence Welk

    Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Lawrence Welk Show

    00:53

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