William Tankersley

Executive

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his two-and-a-half hour Archive interview, William Tankersley (1918-2016) discusses his start in CBS promotions and merchandising and his rise to Head of Program Standards & Practices. He recalls CBS' rules about violence, drug use, and political views in television programs. He outlines specific problems Standards & Practices had with The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, All In the Family, and Route 66. Tankersley talks of the differences between his positions in New York and Los Angeles, explains the intricacies of working with program sponsors and advertisers, and comments on what he believes the government's role in broadcasting should be. He talks about what he looked for in his editing staff, recounts working with fellow CBS executives Frank Stanton and Jim Aubrey, and shares stories of some of his favorite entertainers, including Red Skelton and Dick Van Dyke. Don Carleton conducted the interview on May 17, 2001 in Wharton, VA.

"Everything that appears on this network shall be what it purports to be."

People Talking About ...

William Tankersley

Highlights

William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled pregnancy storylines on TV shows in the 1950s

William Tankersley on William S. Paley's 1948 raid to bring NBC talent to CBS

William Tankersley on the incidences of violence in The Wild, Wild West

William Tankersley on his involvement with the CBS loyalty oath and the Hollywood Blacklist

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on growing up during the Depression; on moving to Arizona

On attending the Radio Arts Academy in Los Angeles; on re-vamping radio station KLO in Ogden, Utah and getting fired from KDYL in Salt Lake City

On working for KALL; on announcing baseball games for radio; on moving to Hollywood and getting a job at CBS in promotions and merchandising

On William S. Paley's 1948 raid to bring NBC talent to CBS; on Jack Benny's TV show going over the allotted time and causing problems

On problems with the TV version of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show; on the radio and TV versions of Amos 'N' Andy

On his early memories of television

Chapter 2

On William S. Paley being reluctant to get into television; on serving as Manager of Program Operations in the early 1950s, then becoming the Director of Program Practices at CBS Television City

On how CBS Program Practices handled pregnancy storylines and Civil Rights on TV shows in the 1950s

On Washington D.C.'s interest in violence on television; on dealing with an AFTRA strike; on how CBS Program Practices handled religious storylines and storylines involving drugs on TV shows in the 1950s and 1960s

Chapter 3

On CBS Standards & Practices not having many issues with daytime soap operas; on dealings with Paul Henning and Sheldon Leonard

On CBS Standards & Practices having issues with shows paying for commercial plugs; on working with early TV sponsors

Chapter 4

On how the Quiz Show scandals affected CBS Standards & Practices

On being promoted to Vice President of Program Practices at CBS, moving to New York, and dealing with advertisers

On differences between the work culture in Los Angeles and New York

On CBS Standards & Practices' workings with Norman Lear on All In The Family

Chapter 5

On CBS Standards & Practices work with All In The Family, and The Carol Burnett Show; on his editing staff

On CBS Standards & Practices' work with Hawaii Five-O; on support from CBS President Jim Aubrey

On CBS Standards & Practices' problems with The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour

On CBS Standards & Practices' interactions with news programs, M*A*S*H, and Route 66; on why he left CBS

Chapter 6

On the role government should play in broadcasting; on how the public's perception of network integrity has changed; on peers whom he respected

On people he mentored; on how he'd like to be remembered; on his favorite entertainers

Shows

$64,000 Question

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William Tankersley on not being aware of the scandal on the $64,000 Question

60 Minutes

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William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' interactions with news programs

All in the Family

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William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with Norman Lear on All In The Family

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' work with Norman Lear on All In The Family, (contd.)

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' work with Norman Lear on specific topics on All In The Family, (contd.)

Amos 'N' Andy

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William Tankersley on the radio and TV versions of Amos 'N' Andy

Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)

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William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' work with The Carol Burnett Show

Dick Van Dyke Show, The

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William Tankersley on Standards & Practices issues on The Dick Van Dyke Show

George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The

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William Tankersley on problems with the TV version of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' work with Carnation on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

Hawaii Five-O

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William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' work with Hawaii Five-O

Jack Benny Program, The

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William Tankersley on Jack Benny's TV show going over the allotted time and causing problems

William Tankersley on Jack Benny's show plugging various products

MAS*H

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William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' work with M*A*S*H

Playhouse 90

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William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with Rod Serling on Playhouse 90

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with Martin Manulis on Playhouse 90

Rawhide

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William Tankersley on Standards & Practices issues on Rawhide

Route 66

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William Tankersley on Standards & Practices issues on Route 66

William Tankersley on a scene deemed too violent in Route 66

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' work with Route 66

Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The

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William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' problems with The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour

Twilight Zone, The

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William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with Rod Serling on The Twilight Zone

Wild Wild West, The

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William Tankersley on the incidences of violence in The Wild, Wild West

Topics

Advertising and Sponsorship

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William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices having issues with shows paying for commercial plugs

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with early TV sponsors

William Tankersley on being promoted to Vice President of Program Practices at CBS and dealing with advertisers

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' problems with advertisers' competitive complaints and false advertising

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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William Tankersley on becoming the Director of Program Practices at CBS Television City

William Tankersley on his process as Director of Program Practices at CBS Television City

William Tankersley on Frank Stanton and William Paley's input on Program Practices at CBS Television City

William Tankersley on Program Practices' involvement with table reads

William Tankersley on instances when shows went against the advice of CBS Program Practices

William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled pregnancy storylines on TV shows in the 1950s

William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled personal hygiene commercials and storylines on TV shows in the 1950s and '60s

William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled Civil Rights storylines on TV shows in the 1950s

William Tankersley on Washington D.C.'s interest in violence on television and dealing with an AFTRA strike

William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled religious storylines on TV shows in the 1950s

William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled storylines involving drugs on TV shows in the 1960s

William Tankersley on CBS' expected limitations of violence on television

William Tankersley on CBS' guidelines for current affairs and politics on TV in the 1950s

William Tankersley on his involvement with the CBS loyalty oath and the Hollywood Blacklist

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices not having many issues with daytime soap operas

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices having issues with shows paying for commercial plugs

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with early TV sponsors

William Tankersley on how the Quiz Show scandals (which started with NBC shows) affected CBS Standards & Practices

William Tankersley on being promoted to Vice President of Program Practices at CBS and dealing with advertisers

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' problems with advertisers' competitive complaints and false advertising

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with Playhouse 90 and The Twilight Zone

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' problems with The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' interactions with news programs

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices work with Norman Lear on All In The Family, (contd.)

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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William Tankersley on peers whom he respected

Criticism of TV

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William Tankersley on CBS' expected limitations of violence on television

Diversity in Television

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William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled Civil Rights storylines on TV shows in the 1950s

Historic Events and Social Change

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William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled Civil Rights storylines on TV shows in the 1950s and '60s

Hollywood Blacklist

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William Tankersley on his involvement with the CBS loyalty oath and the Hollywood Blacklist

Industry Crossroads

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William Tankersley on his involvement with the CBS loyalty oath and the Hollywood Blacklist

William Tankersley on how the Quiz Show scandals (which started with NBC shows) affected CBS Standards & Practices

Media Consolidation

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William Tankersley on how media consolidation has affected the industry

Minorities

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William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled Civil Rights storylines on TV shows in the 1950s

Pivotal Career Moments

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William Tankersley on peers whom he respected

Quiz Show Scandals

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William Tankersley on how the Quiz Show scandals (which started with NBC shows) affected CBS Standards & Practices

Richard M. Nixon

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William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled storylines involving drugs on TV shows in the 1960s

Sex & Violence

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William Tankersley on CBS' expected limitations of violence on television

Television Industry

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William Tankersley on becoming the Director of Program Practices at CBS Television City

William Tankersley on his process as Director of Program Practices at CBS Television City

William Tankersley on Frank Stanton and William Paley's input on Program Practices at CBS Television City

William Tankersley on Program Practices' involvement with table reads

William Tankersley on instances when shows went against the advice of CBS Program Practices

William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled pregnancy storylines on TV shows in the 1950s

William Tankersley on how CBS Program Practices handled personal hygiene commercials and storylines on TV shows in the 1950s