Stanley Ralph Ross

Writer / Producer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Stanley Ralph Ross (1935-2000) talks in detail about writing for television shows, including Mr. Roberts, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Batman, The Monkees, Columbo, Wonder Woman, and All in the Family. He discusses winning an Emmy award for writing an episode of All in the Family. Ross also speaks about the creation of The Electric Company. He recounts writing several made-for-television movies, such as Coffee, Tea, or Me, as well as appearing in the 1976 true-crime drama about Charles Manson, Helter Skelter. Dan Pasternack conducted the interview on February 11, 1998 in Beverly Hills, CA.

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

"Never give up. That's the key. That's it. Just remember that if you get rejected, wait awhile. They'll get fired. They rotate the rascals."

People Talking About ...

Stanley Ralph Ross

Highlights

Stanley Ralph Ross on being a creative consultant for Helter Skelter

05:10

Stanley Ralph Ross on having trouble with ABC Standards & Practices over a Batman script involving "Catwoman," then played by Eartha Kitt

01:17

Stanley Ralph Ross on the catchphrases of Batman

03:39

Stanley Ralph Ross on his early experience with television, and on Milton Berle

02:59

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the stage musical "Chaplin," starring Anthony Newley

02:10

Stanley Ralph Ross on Bob Arbogast

03:14

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his early interest in books; on his early experience with television, and on Milton Berle

On his early interest in music, and on working along side Sammy Davis, Jr.; on meeting Ernie Kovacs, and on what he wanted to do after he graduated from high school

On moving to Los Angeles in 1956 and working at the post office; on making a record with Bob Arbogast

Chapter 2

On working as a copywriter for various ad agencies in Los Angeles; on being a tour guide for Universal Studios; on writing promotional copy for the ABC series Combat!, and on the experience of being at ABC studios

On being hired to write for the comedy series Mister Roberts, and later for Batman; on starting a music publishing company; on becoming in-demand as a writer after being hired to write for Batman

On writing the Batman episode "The Lady and the Tiger,", which introduced "Catwoman"; on having trouble with ABC Standards & Practices over a Batman script involving "Catwoman"; on the campy tone of Batman

On the producers of Batman, including Bill Dozier; on Adam West as "Batman" and Burt Ward as "Robin" on Batman, and on the guest villains of the show; on the regular supporting cast of Batman

Chapter 3

On the catchphrases of Batman; on the process of creating an episode of Batman; on writing the "Catwoman" episodes of Batman, and on Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt as "Catwoman"

On actors making script suggestions; on multiple actors playing the same villain on Batman, and on Frank Sinatra wanting to play "The Joker"; on various characters he created for Batman, including "The Siren," played by Joan Collins

On the directors of Batman; on being on the set of Batman, and on the scheduling of the show; on Batman going from airing twice a week to once a week

On the Batman episode "Come Back, Shame"; on writing an episode of That Girl; on the popularity of Batman

Chapter 4

On the development of The Electric Company; on writing an episode of All in the Family for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award, and on working with Norman Lear; on writing Columbo, and on working with Peter Falk as "Columbo"

On writing for and appearing on Banacek; on writing for a The Mod Squad episode guest-starring Louis Gossett, Jr.; on writing for Love, American Style, and on juggling writing for several shows at once

On working on Bill Cosby's show Cos; on writing for That's My Mama, starring Clifton Davis; on writing the third pilot for Wonder Woman, starring Lynda Carter and Lyle Wagonner

Chapter 5

On deciding to leave shows after he writes the pilot; on developing Monster Squad and Challenge of the Sexes; on providing voiceover for Super Friends at the behest of Joseph Barbera

On the process of doing voiceover; on providing voiceover for Superman, Rambo, and Inspector Gadget; on being a creative consultant for Helter Skelter

On creating The Kallikaks; on having an issue with one of the actors and Standards & Practices on The Kallikaks

Chapter 6

On writing Three on a Date, directed by Bill Bixby; on writing Murder at the Mardi Gras, starring David Groh and Didi Conn; on writing the movie Coffee, Tea, or Me?

On writing Sky Heist and producing For the Love of It, directed by Hal Kanter; on writing the stage musical "Chaplin," starring Anthony Newley; on writing "The Motion Picture Guide"

On his then-current projects; on career highlights and regrets; on advice to aspiring writers; on the then-future of television

Chapter 7

On various personalities he's worked with throughout his career, including Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, and Sheldon Leonard

On various personalities he's worked with throughout his career, including Norman Lear and Della Reese

Chapter 8

On b-roll pictures from his career- in a recording studio at age 22; with Bob Arbogast; at the house where he grew up in Coney Island; with Joseph Barbera and William Hanna; with Brenda Vacarro; with Milton Berle; in a sound booth doing "Babe II"; at his daughter's wedding

Shows

All in the Family

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing an episode of All in the Family for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award, and on working with Norman Lear

05:55

Banacek

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for and appearing on Banacek

03:20

Batman

Stanley Ralph Ross on being hired to write for the comedy series Mister Roberts, and later for Batman

05:47

Stanley Ralph Ross on becoming in-demand as a writer after being hired to write for Batman

03:19

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the Batman episode "The Lady and the Tiger," which introduced "Catwoman"

02:15

Stanley Ralph Ross on having trouble with ABC Standards & Practices over a Batman script involving "Catwoman," then played by Eartha Kitt

01:17

Stanley Ralph Ross on the campy tone of Batman

02:01

Stanley Ralph Ross on the producers of Batman, including Bill Dozier

01:05

Stanley Ralph Ross on Adam West as "Batman" and Burt Ward as "Robin" on Batman

01:00

Stanley Ralph Ross on the guest villains on Batman

01:31

Stanley Ralph Ross on the regular supporting cast of Batman

02:11

Stanley Ralph Ross on the catchphrases of Batman

03:39

Stanley Ralph Ross on the process of creating an episode of Batman

02:24

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the "Catwoman" episodes of Batman, and on Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt as "Catwoman"

02:25

Stanley Ralph Ross on multiple actors playing the same villain on Batman, and on Frank Sinatra wanting to play "The Joker"

02:44

Stanley Ralph Ross on various characters he created for Batman, including "The Siren," played by Joan Collins

01:12

Stanley Ralph Ross on the directors of Batman

01:57

Stanley Ralph Ross on being on the set of Batman, and on the scheduling of the show

02:56

Stanley Ralph Ross on Batman going from airing twice a week to once a week

01:42

Stanley Ralph Ross on the Batman episode "Come Back, Shame"

01:37

Stanley Ralph Ross on the popularity of Batman

01:36

Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes

Stanley Ralph Ross on developing Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes

02:08

Coffee, Tea, or Me?

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the movie Coffee, Tea, or Me?

02:16

Columbo

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing Columbo, and on working with Peter Falk as "Columbo"

04:29

Combat!

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing promotional copy for the ABC series Combat!, and on the experience of being at ABC studios

02:33

Cos

Stanley Ralph Ross on working on Bill Cosby's show Cos

01:35

Electric Company, The

Stanley Ralph Ross on the development of The Electric Company

01:59

For the Love of It

Stanley Ralph Ross on looping Tom Bosley's voice for For the Love of It

01:47

Helter Skelter

Stanley Ralph Ross on being a creative consultant for and appearing in Helter Skelter

05:10

Inspector Gadget

Stanley Ralph Ross on providing voiceover for Superman, Rambo, and Inspector Gadget

02:02

Kallikaks, The

Stanley Ralph Ross on creating The Kallikaks

01:56

Stanley Ralph Ross on having an issue with one of the actors and Standards & Practices on The Kallikaks

03:59

Love, American Style

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for Love, American Style, and on juggling writing for several shows at once

01:51

Mod Squad, The

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for a The Mod Squad episode guest-starring Louis Gossett, Jr.

01:24

Monster Squad

Stanley Ralph Ross on developing Monster Squad

02:51

Murder at the Mardi Gras

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing Murder at the Mardi Gras, starring David Groh and Didi Conn

05:24

Sky Heist

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing Sky Heist and producing For the Love of It, directed by Hal Kanter

03:29

Super Friends

Stanley Ralph Ross on providing voiceover for Super Friends at the behest of Joe Barbera

02:04

That Girl

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing an episode of That Girl

02:09

That's My Mama

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for That's My Mama, starring Clifton Davis

03:13

Three on a Date

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing Three on a Date, directed by Bill Bixby

03:25

Wonder Woman

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the third pilot for Wonder Woman, starring Lynda Carter and Lyle Wagonner

03:18

Topics

Advice

Stanley Ralph Ross on advice to aspiring writers

00:57

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Stanley Ralph Ross on having trouble with ABC Standards & Practices over a Batman script involving "Catwoman," then played by Eartha Kitt

01:17

Stanley Ralph Ross on having an issue with one of the actors and Standards & Practices on The Kallikaks

03:59

Characters & Catchphrases

Stanley Ralph Ross on Adam West as "Batman" and Burt Ward as "Robin" on Batman

01:00

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the Batman episode "The Lady and the Tiger," which introduced "Catwoman"

02:15

Stanley Ralph Ross on the catch phrases of Batman

03:39

Emmy Awards

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing an episode of All in the Family for which he was nominated for an Emmy, and on working with Norman Lear

05:55

First Big Break

Stanley Ralph Ross on becoming in-demand as a writer after being hired to write for Batman

03:19

Pivotal Career Moments

Stanley Ralph Ross on becoming in-demand as a writer after being hired to write for Batman

03:19

Pop Culture

Stanley Ralph Ross on Adam West as "Batman" and Burt Ward as "Robin" on Batman

01:00

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the Batman episode "The Lady and the Tiger," which introduced "Catwoman"

02:15

Stanley Ralph Ross on the catch phrases of Batman

03:39

Television Industry

Stanley Ralph Ross on having trouble with ABC Standards & Practices over a Batman script involving "Catwoman," then played by Eartha Kitt

01:17

Stanley Ralph Ross on having an issue with one of the actors and Standards & Practices on The Kallikaks

03:59

Stanley Ralph Ross on advice to aspiring writers

00:57

Stanley Ralph Ross on the then-future of television

02:21

Professions

Actor

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Stanley Ralph Ross on actors making script suggestions

03:46

Performers

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Stanley Ralph Ross on actors making script suggestions

03:46

Stanley Ralph Ross on the process of doing voiceover

03:56

Voiceover

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Stanley Ralph Ross on the process of doing voiceover

03:56

Writers

View Profession

Stanley Ralph Ross on his career as a freelance writer

01:22

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing pilots

00:38

Stanley Ralph Ross on deciding to leave shows after he writes the pilot

00:33

Stanley Ralph Ross on advice to aspiring writers

00:57

Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the third pilot for Wonder Woman

03:18

Children's Programming

Stanley Ralph Ross on the development of The Electric Company

01:59

Stanley Ralph Ross on providing voiceover for Super Friends

02:04

Stanley Ralph Ross on providing voiceover for Superman, Rambo, and Inspector Gadget

02:02

Comedy Series

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for Batman

16:34

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for Batman

28:07

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing an episode of That Girl

02:09

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing an episode of All in the Family for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award

05:55

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for Love, American Style

01:52

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for Cos

01:35

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for That's My Mama

03:13

Stanley Ralph Ross on developing Monster Squad

02:51

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing Columbo

04:29

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for and appearing on Banacek

03:20

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for a The Mod Squad episode guest-starring Louis Gossett, Jr.

01:24

Game Shows

Stanley Ralph Ross on developing Challenge of the Sexes

02:08

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Stanley Ralph Ross on being a creative consultant for and appearing in Helter Skelter

05:10

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing Three on a Date, directed by Bill Bixby

03:25

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing Murder at the Mardi Gras, starring David Groh and Didi Conn

05:24

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing Sky Heist and producing For the Love of It, directed by Hal Kanter

03:29

People

Danny Arnold

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Stanley Ralph Ross on Danny Arnold

01:30

William Asher

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Stanley Ralph Ross on writing songs for Allan Sherman, and on writing the feature "Beach Party," directed by William Asher

02:14

Joseph Barbera

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Stanley Ralph Ross on providing voiceover for Super Friends at the behest of Joseph Barbera

02:04

Milton Berle

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Stanley Ralph Ross on his friendship with Milton Berle

01:01

Stanley Ralph Ross on working with Milton Berle

01:19

Bill Bixby

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Stanley Ralph Ross on writing Three on a Date, directed by Bill Bixby

03:25

Lynda Carter

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Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the third pilot for Wonder Woman, starring Lynda Carter and Lyle Wagonner

03:18

Joan Collins

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Stanley Ralph Ross on various characters he created for Batman, including "The Siren" played by Joan Collins

01:11

Bill Cosby

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Stanley Ralph Ross on working on Bill Cosby's show Cos

01:35

Stanley Ralph Ross on Bill Cosby

01:12

Bob Cummings

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Stanley Ralph Ross on Bob Cummings

00:51

Bill Dozier

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Stanley Ralph Ross on the producers of Batman, including Bill Dozier

01:05

Peter Falk

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Stanley Ralph Ross on writing Columbo, and on working with Peter Falk as "Columbo"

04:29

Louis Gossett, Jr.

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Stanley Ralph Ross on writing for a The Mod Squad episode guest-starring Louis Gossett, Jr.

04:44

Hal Kanter

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Stanley Ralph Ross on writing Sky Heist and producing For the Love of It, directed by Hal Kanter

03:29

Eartha Kitt

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Stanley Ralph Ross on having trouble with ABC Standards & Practices over a Batman script involving "Catwoman," then played by Eartha Kitt

01:17

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the "Catwoman" episodes of Batman and on Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt as "Catwoman"

02:25

James Komack

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Stanley Ralph Ross on James Komack

01:18

Ernie Kovacs

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Stanley Ralph Ross on meeting Ernie Kovacs, and on what he wanted to do after he graduated high school

01:46

Norman Lear

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Stanley Ralph Ross on writing an episode of All in the Family for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award, and on working with Norman Lear

05:55

Stanley Ralph Ross on Norman Lear

00:58

Sheldon Leonard

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Stanley Ralph Ross on Sheldon Leonard

00:42

Julie Newmar

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Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the "Catwoman" episodes of Batman, and on Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt as "Catwoman"

02:25

Don Nicholl

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Stanley Ralph Ross on Don Nicholl

00:47

Carroll O'Connor

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Stanley Ralph Ross on Carroll O'Connor

01:15

Della Reese

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Stanley Ralph Ross on Della Reese

01:29

Debbie Reynolds

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Stanley Ralph Ross on Debbie Reynolds

00:56

Allan Sherman

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Stanley Ralph Ross on writing songs for Allan Sherman, and on writing the feature "Beach Party," directed by William Asher

02:14

Frank Sinatra

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Stanley Ralph Ross on multiple actors playing the same villain on Batman, and on Frank Sinatra wanting to play "The Joker"

02:44

Danny Thomas

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Stanley Ralph Ross on Danny Thomas

04:06

Marlo Thomas

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Stanley Ralph Ross on Marlo Thomas

00:32

Jonathan Winters

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Stanley Ralph Ross on Jonathan Winters

02:52

Jane Wyman

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Stanley Ralph Ross on Jane Wyman

01:28