Tad Mosel

Writer

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About

About this interview

In his six-hour Archive interview, Tad Mosel (1922-2008) talks about his early years growing up in the Great Depression and his experience in World War II. He describes his education at Amherst College and the first original plays he got published or produced. He chronicles the very first script he sold for television, and talks about adapting a James Thurber short story for Omnibus. He recounts the many adaptations and original teleplays he wrote for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, Medallion Theater, Playhouse 90, and Studio One. In particular, Mosel recalls adapting "The Petrified Forest" for Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Henry Fonda on Producers' Showcase. He outlines adapting James Agee's novel "A Death in the Family" for the stage with a play titled "All the Way Home," for which he won a Pulitzer Prize. He speaks of the death of live television, and sums up his feelings about the Golden Age of Television. He concludes by detailing several people with whom worked in his career. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on October 18, 1997 in Concord, NH.

"It's hard for young people today to realize what it was like to grow up before television. Television, I think, is the most revolutionary event of the 20th century....The television camera reduced the world to your living room, literally. You knew things when you were six that I didn't know till I was 40."

Highlights

Tad Mosel on writing "The Haven" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse produced by Fred Coe and on Coe's contribution to television

05:24

Tad Mosel on the camaraderie among writers during the Golden Age of Television

03:23

Tad Mosel on writing "The Out of Towners" (starring E.G. Marshall and Eileen Heckart) for Studio One

04:09

Tad Mosel on adapting James Agee's novel "A Death in the Family" to the Pulitzer Prize wining play "All the Way Home," and the show being saved by a plug from Ed Sullivan

07:54

Tad Mosel on what the Golden Age of Television means to him

04:13

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on growing up in the Great Depression and his experience in World War II

On enjoying going to the theater as a child and books he enjoyed growing up

On what he learned from the plays he read as a child; on learning to write as a child

Chapter 2

On acting in high school; on being editor of his school paper; on the importance of finishing projects he started

On his education at Amherst College; on directing plays at Amherst College and on writing plays while in the Air Force; on finding his writing style and on his influences

On the first plays he got published and produced; on writing an adaptation as opposed to writing an original piece

Chapter 3

On acting while at the Yale School of Drama and on Broadway; on becoming a teacher and winning a Pulitzer

On taking his first jobs in television; on early television shows he watched and the first script he sold for television, "The Haven"; on adapting a James Thurber short story for Omnibus

Chapter 4

On writing for Ominbus; on a typical episode of Omnibus and adapting a James Thurber short story for the show; on writing "The Decision at Arrowsmith" for Medallion Theater starring Henry Fonda

On writing for the series Jamie and on working with producer David Susskind; on how a writer got work in television in the '50s; on writing "The Haven" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse produced by Fred Coe and on Coe's contribution to television; on the studios where live television was produced in the '50s

Chapter 5

On how the technological advances in camera work affected writing for television and on the challenges of writing to accommodate costume changes; on writing to commercial breaks for live television and on adapting "A Death in the Family" for the stage; on his first meeting with Fred Coe and on his fondness for Coe

On writing "The Haven" for Fred Coe's Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse; on the first scripts he wrote that were produced for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

Chapter 6

On working with director Delbert Mann; on writing "Other People's Houses" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse; on working with various directors on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse including Arthur Penn and Delbert Mann

On his involvement in production with shows like "The Haven" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse; on casting Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse; on writing "The Morning Face" and "The Lawn Party" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and "The Play Room" for Playhouse 90

Chapter 7

On working with Eileen Heckart and various other actors including Kim Stanley; on writing "The Presence of the Enemy" for Studio One and working with E.G. Marshall; on writing "The Out of Towners" (starring E.G. Marshall and Eileen Heckart) for Studio One

On writing "The Waiting Place" for Playwrights '56; on writing "Guilty is the Stranger" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse; on writing "My Lost Saints" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

Chapter 8

On his writing process

On working with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Henry Fonda on Producers' Showcase: "The Petrified Forest"

On working in Hollywood as opposed to working in New York; on working with Martin Manulis on Playhouse 90

Chapter 9

On writing "The Five Dollar Bill" for Studio One; on writing for Playhouse 90 for producer Martin Manulis; on the differences between producers Martin Manulis and Fred Coe

On writing "If You Knew Elizabeth" for Playhouse 90; on how Playhouse 90 handled the time difference between the East Coast and the West Coast with the use of kinescopes; on writing "The Play Room" and "The Innocent Sleep" (featuring Buster Keaton) for Playhouse 90

On casting for Playhouse 90; on watching Playhouse 90 go live

Chapter 10

On watching Playhouse 90 and other live dramas of his be performed; on the pressures of writing and performing for live television and the decline of live television

On the advent of video tape and its impact on television; on writing "The Invincible Teddy Roosevelt" for Our American Heritage; on adapting James Agee's novel "A Death in the Family" into the Pulitzer Prize wining play "All the Way Home"

Chapter 11

On adapting James Agee's novel "A Death in the Family" into the Pulitzer Prize wining play "All the Way Home," and on the show being saved by a plug from Ed Sullivan; on the experience of winning the Pulitzer for "All the Way Home "

On writing "Three Roads to Rome" starring Deborah Kerr for ITV Play of the Week; on adapting various novels into feature films including "Up the Down Staircase"; on writing The Adams Chronicles

Chapter 12

On his work on The Adams Chronicles; on what the Golden Age of Television means to him and on camaraderie among writers in that era

On the programs that have represented the best of television; on the then-future of television; on dealing with network censorship on an NBC adaptation of All the Way Home

On various people he worked with in his career; on his mentor, Kurt Canfield

Chapter 13

On individuals he worked with over the course of his career

On the Archive of American Television

Shows

Adams Chronicles, The

Tad Mosel on his work on The Adams Chronicles

09:57

Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town

Tad Mosel on adapting James Agee's novel "A Death in the Family" to the Pulitzer Prize wining play "All the Way Home," and the show being saved by a plug from Ed Sullivan

07:54

Medallion Theater

Tad Mosel on writing "The Decision at Arrowsmith" for Medallion Theater starring Henry Fonda

06:48

Omnibus

Tad Mosel on adapting a James Thurber short story for Omnibus

03:38

Tad Mosel on writing for Ominbus

02:56

Tad Mosel on a typical episode of Omnibus and adapting a James Thurber short story for the show

03:52

Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

Tad Mosel on writing "The Haven" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse produced by Fred Coe and on Coe's contribution to television

05:24

Tad Mosel on writing "The Haven" for Fred Coe's Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

03:26

Tad Mosel on the sponsors of Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

01:08

Tad Mosel on the process of writing "The Haven" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

01:33

Tad Mosel on the first scripts he wrote that were produced for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

04:40

Tad Mosel on writing "Other People's Houses" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

06:53

Tad Mosel on working with various directors on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse including Arthur Penn and Delbert Mann

02:46

Tad Mosel on his involvement in production with shows like "The Haven" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

02:09

Tad Mosel on casting Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

02:01

Tad Mosel on writing "The Morning Face" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and "The Play Room" for Playhouse 90

04:41

Tad Mosel on writing "The Lawn Party" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

02:46

Tad Mosel on writing "Guilty is the Stranger" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

04:16

Tad Mosel on writing "My Lost Saints" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

06:15

Playhouse 90

Tad Mosel on writing "The Morning Face" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and "The Play Room" for Playhouse 90

04:41

Tad Mosel on working with Martin Manulis on Playhouse 90

01:50

Tad Mosel on writing for Playhouse 90 for producer Martin Manulis

02:36

Tad Mosel on writing "If You Knew Elizabeth" for Playhouse 90

04:13

Tad Mosel on how Playhouse 90 handled the time difference between the East Coast and the West Coast with the use of kinescopes

02:13

Tad Mosel on writing "The Play Room" and "The Innocent Sleep" (featuring Buster Keaton) for Playhouse 90

06:36

Tad Mosel on casting for Playhouse 90

03:02

Tad Mosel on watching Playhouse 90 go live

01:38

Tad Mosel on watching Playhouse 90 and other live dramas of his be performed

10:14

Playwrights '56

Tad Mosel on writing "The Waiting Place" for Playwrights '56

03:35

Producers' Showcase

Tad Mosel on working with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Henry Fonda on Producers' Showcase: "The Petrified Forest"

13:05

Studio One

Tad Mosel on writing "The Presence of the Enemy" for Studio One and working with E.G. Marshall

04:09

Tad Mosel on writing "The Out of Towners" (starring E.G. Marshall and Eileen Heckart) for Studio One

04:09

Tad Mosel on writing "The Five Dollar Bill" for Studio One

07:16

Topics

Anthology Drama

Tad Mosel on writing for Ominbus

06:48

Tad Mosel on writing for Medallion Theater

06:48

Tad Mosel on writing "The Haven" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse produced by Fred Coe and on Coe's contribution to television

05:24

Tad Mosel on writing for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

10:47

Tad Mosel on writing for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

21:16

Tad Mosel on writing for Studio One

04:09

Tad Mosel on writing "The Waiting Place" for Playwrights '56

03:35

Tad Mosel on writing for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

10:31

Tad Mosel on working with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Henry Fonda on Producers' Showcase: "The Petrified Forest"

13:05

Tad Mosel on working with Martin Manulis on Playhouse 90

01:50

Tad Mosel on writing "The Five Dollar Bill" for Studio One

07:16

Tad Mosel on writing for Playhouse 90

21:51

Tad Mosel on watching Playhouse 90 and other live dramas of his be performed

10:14

Tad Mosel on what the Golden Age of Television means to him

04:13

Tad Mosel on the camaraderie among writers during the Golden Age of Television

03:23

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Tad Mosel on dealing with network censorship on an NBC adaptation of All the Way Home

01:55

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Tad Mosel on finding his writing style and on his influences

04:47

Tad Mosel on his mentor, Kurt Canfield

01:34

Historic Events and Social Change

Tad Mosel on growing up in the Great Depression and his experience in World War II

04:03

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

Tad Mosel on writing for Ominbus

06:48

Tad Mosel on writing for Medallion Theater

06:48

Tad Mosel on writing "The Haven" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse produced by Fred Coe and on Coe's contribution to television

05:24

Tad Mosel on writing for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

10:47

Tad Mosel on writing for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

21:16

Tad Mosel on writing for Studio One

04:09

Tad Mosel on writing "The Waiting Place" for Playwrights '56

03:35

Tad Mosel on writing for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

10:31

Tad Mosel on working with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Henry Fonda on Producers' Showcase: "The Petrified Forest"

13:05

Tad Mosel on working with Martin Manulis on Playhouse 90

01:50

Tad Mosel on writing "The Five Dollar Bill" for Studio One

07:16

Tad Mosel on writing for Playhouse 90

21:51

Tad Mosel on watching Playhouse 90 and other live dramas of his be performed

10:14

Tad Mosel on what the Golden Age of Television means to him

04:13

Tad Mosel on the camaraderie among writers during the Golden Age of Television

03:23

Technological Innovation

Tad Mosel on how the technological advances in camera work affected writing for television and on the challenges of writing to accommodate costume changes

08:19

Tad Mosel on the advent of video tape and its impact on television

07:08

Television Industry

Tad Mosel on the pressures of writing and performing for live television and the decline of live television

02:28

Tad Mosel on the programs that have represented the best of television

02:40

Tad Mosel on dealing with network censorship on an NBC adaptation of All the Way Home

01:55

War

Tad Mosel on growing up in the Great Depression and his experience in World War II

04:03

World War II

Tad Mosel on growing up in the Great Depression and his experience in World War II

04:03

Professions

Writers

View Profession

Tad Mosel on finding his writing style and on his influences

04:47

Tad Mosel on writing an adaptation as opposed to writing an original piece

05:16

Tad Mosel on how the technological advances in camera work affected writing for television and on the challenges of writing to accommodate costume changes

08:19

Tad Mosel on writing to commercial breaks for live television and on adapting "A Death in the Family" for the stage

02:56

Tad Mosel on his writing process

10:28

Tad Mosel on working in Hollywood as opposed to working in New York

02:34

Tad Mosel on the pressures of writing and performing for live television and the decline of live television

02:28

Genres

Classic Anthology Series

Tad Mosel on adapting a James Thurber short story for Omnibus

03:38

Tad Mosel on writing for Ominbus

06:48

Tad Mosel on writing for Medallion Theater

06:48

Tad Mosel on writing "The Haven" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse produced by Fred Coe and on Coe's contribution to television

05:24

Tad Mosel on writing for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

10:47

Tad Mosel on writing for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

21:16

Tad Mosel on writing for Studio One

04:09

Tad Mosel on writing "The Waiting Place" for Playwrights '56

03:35

Tad Mosel on writing for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

10:31

Tad Mosel on working with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Henry Fonda on Producers' Showcase: "The Petrified Forest"

13:05

Tad Mosel on working with Martin Manulis on Playhouse 90

01:50

Tad Mosel on writing "The Five Dollar Bill" for Studio One

07:16

Tad Mosel on writing for Playhouse 90

21:51

Tad Mosel on watching Playhouse 90 and other live dramas of his be performed

10:14

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Tad Mosel on writing The Adams Chronicles

00:18

Tad Mosel on his work on The Adams Chronicles

09:57

Tad Mosel on dealing with network censorship on an NBC adaptation of All the Way Home

01:55

People

Fred Allen

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on adapting a James Thurber short story for Omnibus (featuring Fred Allen and Margaret Hamilton)

03:38

Robert Alan Aurthur

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Tad Mosel on Robert Alan Aurthur

01:08

Lauren Bacall

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on working with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Henry Fonda on Producers' Showcase: "The Petrified Forest"

13:05

Tad Mosel on Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart

01:49

Humphrey Bogart

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on working with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Henry Fonda on Producers' Showcase: "The Petrified Forest"

13:05

Tad Mosel on Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart

01:49

Shirley Booth

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on writing "If You Knew Elizabeth" for Playhouse 90 (written for Shirley Booth but played by Claire Trevor)

04:12

Fred Coe

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on writing "The Haven" for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse produced by Fred Coe and on Coe's contribution to television

05:24

Tad Mosel on his first meeting with Fred Coe and on his fondness for Coe

05:32

Tad Mosel on the differences between producers Martin Manulis and Fred Coe

01:34

Gordon Duff

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on Gordon Duff

01:18

Sumner Locke Elliott

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on Sumner Locke Elliott

03:04

Henry Fonda

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on writing "The Decision at Arrowsmith" for Medallion Theater starring Henry Fonda

06:48

Tad Mosel on working with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Henry Fonda on Producers' Showcase: "The Petrified Forest"

13:05

Margaret Hamilton

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on adapting a James Thurber short story for Omnibus (featuring Fred Allen and Margaret Hamilton)

03:38

Eileen Heckart

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on writing "Other People's Houses" starring Eileen Heckart for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

06:53

Tad Mosel on working with Eileen Heckart and various other actors including Kim Stanley

05:55

Tad Mosel on writing "The Out of Towners" (starring E.G. Marshall and Eileen Heckart) for Studio One

04:09

Buster Keaton

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on writing "The Play Room" and "The Innocent Sleep" (featuring Buster Keaton) for Playhouse 90

06:36

Delbert Mann

View Interview Page

Tad Mosel on working with director Delbert Mann

06:12

Tad Mosel on Delbert Mann

03:05

Martin Manulis

View Interview Page

Tad Mosel on working with Martin Manulis on Playhouse 90

01:50

Tad Mosel on writing for Playhouse 90 for producer Martin Manulis

02:36

Tad Mosel on the differences between producers Martin Manulis and Fred Coe

01:34

E. G. Marshall

View Interview Page

Tad Mosel on writing "The Presence of the Enemy" for Studio One and working with E.G. Marshall

04:09

Tad Mosel on writing "The Out of Towners" (starring E.G. Marshall and Eileen Heckart) for Studio One

04:09

JP Miller

View Interview Page

Tad Mosel on JP Miller

00:42

Franklin J. Schaffner

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on Franklin Schaffner

00:47

Rod Serling

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on Rod Serling

02:00

Kim Stanley

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on working with Eileen Heckart and various other actors including Kim Stanley

05:55

Ed Sullivan

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on adapting James Agee's novel "A Death in the Family" to the Pulitzer Prize wining play "All the Way Home," and the show being saved by a plug from Ed Sullivan

07:54

David Susskind

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on writing for the series Jamie and on working with producer David Susskind

03:16

Vaughn Taylor

View Person Page

Tad Mosel on Vaughn Taylor

02:02