About
"Just being in on the start of television, that was the luckiest break I ever had in my life. Even though it was DuMont, it was still television in all its forms and facets and I was able to polish them and learn about them and be equipped to handle any kind of show."
In his five-hour interview, Ted Bergmann (1920-2014) talks about his early years breaking into the business at NBC radio, working as a page before World War II, then as an announcer/producer after the war. He then describes in great detail his primary association in television, working for the DuMont Television Network. Bergmann talks about his work rising through the ranks at DuMont, as a staff member in the sales department up until becoming the managing director of the broadcast division. Bergmann discusses in detail several series that appeared on the network (many of which he was responsible for selling), including The Original Amateur Hour, Fashions on Parade, Captain Video and His Video Rangers, The Arthur Murray Party, Cavalcade of Stars, and Life Is Worth Living. He also talks about sports on the DuMont network— one of their staples in programming. Bergmann reminisces about Dr. Allen B. DuMont, who ran the network, and Thomas T. Goldsmith, Jr., the chief of research who pioneered such innovations as the color tube in television. Bergmann describes the FCC rulings regarding UHF and VHF stations that greatly contributed to the network's downfall. Bergmann also talks about his later work as an advertising executive, as well as his association on an executive-producing level for The Best on Record specials (the first Grammy Awards shows) and the hit sitcom Three's Company. B-roll consists of over a dozen photographs from his days at the DuMont Network as well as a few from Three's Company. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview on March 17, 2004 in Pacific Palisades, CA.
Highlights
Ted Bergmann on DuMont's coverage of the 1952 political conventions
Ted Bergmann on the fixed game show Twenty-One
Ted Bergmann on Paramount's involvement with DuMont
Ted Bergmann on how Ethel Winant suggested John Ritter for the lead role on Three's Company, as "the next Jack Lemmon"; rest of cast
Ted Bergmann on casting Don Knotts on Three's Company
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on attending prep school and not finishing college; on becoming an NBC page in New York; on producing shows in Spanish
On attending the 1939 World's Fair; on selling advertising time for DuMont
On the DuMont building in New York; on the studio and early lighting; on early DuMont shows
Chapter 2
On the early DuMont shows Birthday Party, Small Fry Club, Original Amateur Hour, Fashions on Parade, and Captain Video and His Video Rangers
On the early DuMont shows Magic Cottage, Charade Kids, and Cavalcade of Stars
Chapter 3
On commercial placement and the stars on Cavalcade of Stars; on memories of The Arthur Murray Party and Rocky King, Detective
On the DuMont shows Down You Go, The Goldbergs, Life Begins at Eighty, The Television Department Store, and Life Is Worth Living
Chapter 4
On Bishop Fulton Sheen and sponsorship on Life Is Worth Living
On what sponsors looked for in a show; on how DuMont stayed competitive
On the importance of sports for DuMont
Chapter 5
On arrangements to televise boxing and football for DuMont
On his rise and job titles at DuMont; on Dr. DuMont
On DuMont's work with color television
Chapter 6
On DuMont and RCA's color television systems
On DuMont's coverage of the Army-McCarthy Hearings and the 1952 political conventions
On the Telecenter and the opening ceremony from the new studio
On technological innovations at DuMont, including television transcription and the Electronicam System; on selling the Electronicam System to Jackie Gleason and Gleason using it on The Honeymooners
Chapter 7
On the evolution of video tape
On the FCC's Sixth Report and Order; on DuMont selling its Pittsburgh station and Paramount's involvement with DuMont
On ABC competing with NBC and CBS; on Leonard Goldenson's interest in merging ABC with DuMont
Chapter 8
On the DuMont board's reaction to the ABC deal; on leaving DuMont for McCann Erickson; on the demise of DuMont and the network's legacy
On his role as a Director of Television at McCann Erickson; on running Coca Cola's television interests and producing McCann Erickson's TV program for President Eisenhower's birthday
On becoming president of Parkson Advertising; on how the Quiz Show Scandals affected the advertising agencies
On working with Revlon's Charles Revson; on the Hollywood Blacklist
On establishing Charter Producers Corporation and producing Leave It To The Girls and The Best On Record, the precursor to The Grammys
Chapter 9
On working with Arthur Godfrey on his radio show; on working for Ted Bates Advertising and running TV programming for Colgate
On becoming a partner at Herman Rush Associates
On his association with Three's Company; on the first show and finding the female leads; on the show's producers; on casting John Ritter on Three's Company
Chapter 10
On casting John Ritter and the female leads on Three's Company; on contract negotiation troubles with Suzanne Somers
On Three's Company's Norman Fell and Audra Lindley; on casting Don Knotts; on the end of Three's Company and the beginning of Three's A Crowd
On retiring from television; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Army-McCarthy Hearings
Ted Bergmann on DuMont's coverage of the Army-McCarthy Hearings
Arthur Murray Party, The
Ted Bergmann on his memories of The Arthur Murray Party
Birthday Party
Ted Bergmann on the early DuMont show, Birthday Party
Ted Bergmann on the sponsor for Birthday Party
Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Ted Bergmann on camera mishaps and tricks discovered on Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Cavalcade of Stars
Ted Bergmann on the early DuMont show Cavalcade of Stars
Ted Bergmann on commercial placement on Cavalcade of Stars
Ted Bergmann on Jack Carter leaving Cavalcade of Stars and replacing him with Jackie Gleason
Ted Bergmann on memories of Art Carney from Cavalcade of Stars
Ted Bergmann on stars who appeared on Cavalcade of Stars
Ted Bergmann on the relationship between MCA and Cavalcade of Stars
Ted Bergmann on why Cavalcade of Stars went off the air
Charade Quiz
Ted Bergmann on the early DuMont show Charade Quiz
Coke Time
Ted Bergmann on running Coca Cola's television interests, including Coke Time With Eddie Fisher
Colgate Comedy Hour, The
Ted Bergmann on managing Colgate's television interests, including Colgate Comedy Hour
Doctors, The
Ted Bergmann on managing Colgate's television interests, including The Doctors
Ted Bergmann on managing Colgate's television interests, including The Doctors
Down You Go
Ted Bergmann on his memories of the game show Down You Go
Fashions on Parade
Ted Bergmann on the early DuMont show Fashions on Parade
Goldbergs, The
Ted Bergmann on The Goldbergs being picked up by the DuMont network (following its run on CBS, then NBC)
Grammys, The
Ted Bergmann on producing the precursor to The Grammys, original titled The Best On Record
Honeymooners, The
Ted Bergmann on selling the Electronicam System to Jackie Gleason and Gleason using it on The Honeymooners
It's Shopping Time at A&S
Ted Bergmann on memories of The Television Department Store
Leave It to the Girls
Ted Bergmann on producing Leave It To The Girls
Life Begins at Eighty
Ted Bergmann on the sponsorship of Life Begins at Eighty
Life Is Worth Living
Ted Bergmann on memories of Bishop Fulton Sheen's Life Is Worth Living
Ted Bergmann on Bishop Fulton Sheen and sponsorship on Life Is Worth Living
Ted Bergmann on the first episode of Life Is Worth Living
Magic Cottage
Ted Bergmann on the early DuMont show Magic Cottage
Morey Amsterdam Show, The
Ted Bergmann on memories of Art Carney from Cavalcade of Stars
Original Amateur Hour, The
Ted Bergmann on the early DuMont show Original Amateur Hour and changes from the radio to TV version of the show
Ted Bergmann on how Original Amateur Hour was lured away by other networks
Rocky King, Detective
Ted Bergmann on his memories of Rocky King, Detective
Ropers, The
Ted Bergmann on the Three's Company's spin-off, The Ropers, starring Norman Fell and Audra Lindley
Small Fry Club
Ted Bergmann on the early DuMont show Small Fry Club
Three's A Crowd
Ted Bergmann on the end of Three's Company and the beginning of Three's A Crowd
Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on his association with Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on Larry Gelbart adapting and producing the pilot for Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on the initial success of Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on recasting the female leads in Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on the producers of Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on the writers and on-set producers of Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on casting John Ritter on Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on how Ethel Winant suggested John Ritter for the lead role on Three's Company, as "the next Jack Lemmon"; rest of cast
Ted Bergmann on casting the female leads on Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on how the public and industry responded to Three's Company and some advertisers refusing to advertise in it
Ted Bergmann on how the popularity of Three's Company affected the stars
Ted Bergmann on contract negotiation troubles with Suzanne Somers on Three's Company and Somers leaving the show
Ted Bergmann on Three's Company's Norman Fell and Audra Lindley
Ted Bergmann on casting Don Knotts on Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on the syndication deal on Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on the end of Three's Company and the beginning of Three's A Crowd
Twenty One
Ted Bergmann on the fixed game show Twenty-One
Topics
Advertising and Sponsorship
Ted Bergmann on early TV's relationship between the network, sponsor, and ad agency
Ted Bergmann on what sponsors looked for in a show and how DuMont stayed competitive
Classic TV Series Episodes
Ted Bergmann on the first episode of Life Is Worth Living
Coverage
Ted Bergmann on the importance of sports to DuMont
Ted Bergmann on arrangements to televise boxing for DuMont
Ted Bergmann on arrangements to televise football for DuMont
Hollywood Blacklist
Ted Bergmann on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Ted Bergmann on the fixed game show Twenty-One
Ted Bergmann on how the Quiz Show Scandals affected the advertising agencies
Ted Bergmann on the Hollywood Blacklist
Pop Culture
Ted Bergmann on the first episode of Life Is Worth Living
Quiz Show Scandals
Ted Bergmann on the fixed game show Twenty-One
Ted Bergmann on how the Quiz Show Scandals affected the advertising agencies
Sports
Ted Bergmann on the importance of sports to DuMont
Ted Bergmann on arrangements to televise boxing for DuMont
Ted Bergmann on arrangements to televise football for DuMont
Technological Innovation
Ted Bergmann on DuMont's work with color television
Ted Bergmann on DuMont and RCA's color television systems
Ted Bergmann on technological innovations at DuMont, including television transcription
Ted Bergmann on technological innovations at DuMont, including the Electronicam System
Ted Bergmann on the evolution of video tape
Television Industry
Ted Bergmann on early TV's relationship between the network, sponsor, and ad agency
Ted Bergmann on what sponsors looked for in a show and how DuMont stayed competitive
Ted Bergmann on the fixed game show Twenty-One
Ted Bergmann on how the Quiz Show Scandals affected the advertising agencies
Ted Bergmann on the Hollywood Blacklist
Professions
Executives
Ted Bergmann on his rise and job titles at DuMont
Television Executive
Ted Bergmann on his rise and job titles at DuMont
Genres
Comedy Series
Ted Bergmann on his association with Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on casting John Ritter and the female leads on Three's Company; on contract negotiation troubles with Suzanne Somers; on Three's Company's Norman Fell and Audra Lindley; on casting Don Knotts; on the end of Three's Company and the beginning of Three's A Crowd
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Ted Bergmann on commercial placement and the stars on Cavalcade of Stars
Ted Bergmann on producing the precursor to The Grammys, original titled The Best On Record
News and Documentary
Ted Bergmann on DuMont's coverage of the Army-McCarthy Hearings
Sports
Ted Bergmann on the importance of sports to DuMont
People
Jack Barry
Ted Bergmann on the fixed game show Twenty-One
Gertrude Berg
Ted Bergmann on The Goldbergs being picked up by the DuMont network (following its run on CBS, then NBC)
Eddie Cantor
Ted Bergmann on being a page for Eddie Cantor's show
Art Carney
Ted Bergmann on memories of Art Carney from Cavalcade of Stars
Jack Carter
Ted Bergmann on the early DuMont show Cavalcade of Stars
Ted Bergmann on Jack Carter leaving Cavalcade of Stars and replacing him with Jackie Gleason
Joyce DeWitt
Ted Bergmann on casting Joyce DeWitt on Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on how the popularity of Three's Company affected the stars
Allen B. DuMont
Ted Bergmann on meeting and working with Dr. DuMont
Ted Bergmann on DuMont's work with color television
Ted Bergmann on DuMont and RCA's color television systems
Ted Bergmann on Paramount's involvement with DuMont
Ted Bergmann on Leonard Goldenson's interest in merging ABC with DuMont
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Ted Bergmann on McCann Erickson's TV program for President Eisenhower's birthday
Bob Emery
Ted Bergmann on the early DuMont show Small Fry Club
Dan Enright
Ted Bergmann on the fixed game show Twenty-One
Norman Fell
Ted Bergmann on Three's Company's Norman Fell and Audra Lindley
Larry Gelbart
Ted Bergmann on Larry Gelbart adapt the pilot for Three's Company
Jackie Gleason
Ted Bergmann on Jack Carter leaving Cavalcade of Stars and replacing him with Jackie Gleason
Ted Bergmann on selling the Electronicam System to Jackie Gleason
Arthur Godfrey
Ted Bergmann on working with Arthur Godfrey on his radio show
Leonard H. Goldenson
Ted Bergmann on ABC competing with NBC and CBS
Ted Bergmann on Leonard Goldenson's interest in merging ABC with DuMont
Roscoe Karns
Ted Bergmann on his memories of Rocky King, Detective
Don Knotts
Ted Bergmann on casting Don Knotts on Three's Company
Audra Lindley
Ted Bergmann on Three's Company's Norman Fell and Audra Lindley
Joseph McCarthy
Ted Bergmann on DuMont's coverage of the Army-McCarthy Hearings
Arthur Murray
Ted Bergmann on his memories of The Arthur Murray Party
Don Nicholl
Ted Bergmann on the producers of Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on the writers and on-set producers of Three's Company
John Ritter
Ted Bergmann on casting John Ritter on Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on how Ethel Winant suggested John Ritter for the lead role on Three's Company, as "the next Jack Lemmon"
Ted Bergmann on how the popularity of Three's Company affected the stars
David Sarnoff
Ted Bergmann on DuMont's work with color television
Ted Bergmann on DuMont and RCA's color television systems
Ted Bergmann on the evolution of video tape
George Schlatter
Ted Bergmann on George Schlatter serving as line producer on the precursor to The Grammys, original titled The Best On Record
Fulton J. Sheen
Ted Bergmann on memories of Bishop Fulton Sheen's Life Is Worth Living
Ted Bergmann on Bishop Fulton Sheen and sponsorship on Life Is Worth Living
Ted Bergmann on the first episode of Life Is Worth Living and the lighting difficulties
Fred Silverman
Ted Bergmann on Fred Silverman's interest in Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on developing Three's Company and ABC picking up the show
Suzanne Somers
Ted Bergmann on recasting the female leads in Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on casting Joyce DeWitt on Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on how the popularity of Three's Company affected the stars
Ted Bergmann on contract negotiation troubles with Suzanne Somers on Three's Company and Somers leaving the show
Barbra Streisand
Ted Bergmann on not being able to book Barbra Streisand for The Best on Record (the precursor to The Grammys)
Anthony D. Thomopoulos
Ted Bergmann on the end of Three's Company and the beginning of Three's A Crowd
Bernard West
Ted Bergmann on the producers of Three's Company
Ted Bergmann on the writers and on-set producers of Three's Company
Ethel Winant
Ted Bergmann on how Ethel Winant suggested John Ritter for the lead role on Three's Company , as "the next Jack Lemmon"