Steve Carlin

In his three-hour-and-fifteen-minute interview, Steve Carlin (1919-2003) talks about his early years, including working at WMCA radio and producing children's records. He recalls his first foray into television, creating and producing Rootie Kazootie, a Howdy Doody-inspired live children's television show that featured puppets, kids, and songs. He recalls creating and producing The $64,000 Question, as well as its companion show The $64,000 Challenge. He speaks of the huge success of the show, its host Hal March, and its contestants, including Dr. Joyce Brothers and Patty Duke. He details another game show called The Big Surprise, hosted by Mike Wallace, and describes other quiz shows with which he was involved. Carlin outlines the Quiz Show Scandals of the 1950s, which ensnared Twenty-One and Dotto, and effectively ended all the game shows of the era, including The $64,000 Question. He discusses his role in creating You're in the Picture, the Jackie Gleason-hosted game show that lasted one episode, after which Gleason felt the need to apologize on air. He speaks of his later career, including working in international television and at QVC. Don Carlton conducted the interview on June 23, 1999 in New York, NY.