William Tankersley

Executive

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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."

Highlights

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

01:00

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

02:12

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

01:09

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

04:59

Full Interview

Chapter 1

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

07:08

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

07:23

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

04:43

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

01:43

On his early memories of television

00:54

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

14:16

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

04:16

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

09:18

Chapter 3

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

04:19

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

06:21

Chapter 4

On how the Quiz Show scandals affected CBS Standards & Practices

04:29

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

12:02

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

01:29

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

01:25

Chapter 5

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

07:46

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

06:28

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

06:00

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

07:52

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

07:25

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

06:02

Shows

$64,000 Question

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

00:46

60 Minutes

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

02:12

All in the Family

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

01:15

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

05:04

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

01:09

Amos 'N' Andy

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

00:53

Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)

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

00:40

Dick Van Dyke Show, The

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

01:19

George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The

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

00:50

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

00:36

Hawaii Five-O

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

01:37

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

00:34

Jack Benny Program, The

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

02:31

William Tankersley on Jack Benny's show plugging various products

00:41

MAS*H

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

00:43

Playhouse 90

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

04:15

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

01:26

Rawhide

William Tankersley on Standards & Practices issues on Rawhide

00:50

Route 66

William Tankersley on Standards & Practices issues on Route 66

01:12

William Tankersley on a scene deemed too violent in Route 66

00:40

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

01:01

Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The

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

06:00

Twilight Zone, The

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

00:21

Wild Wild West, The

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

01:09

Topics

Advertising and Sponsorship

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

03:16

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

03:05

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

02:10

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

05:43

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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

01:34

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

02:52

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

02:57

William Tankersley on Program Practices' involvement with table reads

01:05

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

01:30

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

01:00

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

01:12

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

02:04

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

03:59

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

03:43

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

01:34

William Tankersley on CBS' expected limitations of violence on television

07:04

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

01:35

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

04:59

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

02:01

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

03:16

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

03:05

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

04:29

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

02:10

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

05:43

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

06:02

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

06:00

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

02:35

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

06:13

Creative Influences and Inspiration

William Tankersley on peers whom he respected

02:55

Criticism of TV

William Tankersley on CBS' expected limitations of violence on television

07:04

Diversity in Television

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

02:04

Historic Events and Social Change

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

02:04

Hollywood Blacklist

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

04:59

Industry Crossroads

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

04:59

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

04:29

Media Consolidation

William Tankersley on how media consolidation has affected the industry

00:38

Minorities

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

02:04

Pivotal Career Moments

William Tankersley on peers whom he respected

02:55

Quiz Show Scandals

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

04:29

Richard M. Nixon

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

00:09

Sex & Violence

William Tankersley on CBS' expected limitations of violence on television

07:04

Television Industry

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

01:34

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

02:52

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

02:57

William Tankersley on Program Practices' involvement with table reads

01:05

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

01:30

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

01:00

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

01:12

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

02:04

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

03:59

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

03:43

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

01:34

William Tankersley on CBS' expected limitations of violence on television

07:04

William Tankersley on CBS' expected limitations of violence on television

07:04

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

01:35

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

04:59

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

02:01

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

03:16

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

03:05

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

04:29

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

02:10

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

05:43

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

06:02

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

06:00

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

02:35

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

06:13

William Tankersley on the role government should play in broadcasting and how cable affected the industry

02:34

William Tankersley on how media consolidation has affected the industry

00:38

William Tankersley on what represents the best of television

00:54

Television and the Presidency

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

00:08

Professions

Executives

View Profession

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

04:26

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

06:19

Television Executive

View Profession

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

04:26

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

06:19

Genres

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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

02:01

Game Shows

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

04:30

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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

06:00

People

Desi Arnaz

View Person Page

William Tankersley on stories about Desi Arnaz

00:29

James T. Aubrey

View Person Page

William Tankersley on support from CBS President Jim Aubrey

03:49

William Tankersley on peers whom he respected

00:12

Jack Barry

View Person Page

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

00:54

Jack Benny

View Person Page

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

02:31

William Tankersley on Jack Benny's show plugging various products

00:41

Herbert Brodkin

View Person Page

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with Herbert Brodkin on Playhouse 90

03:25

Fred Brogger

View Person Page

William Tankersley on members of his staff of editors- Fred Brogger

00:12

Carol Burnett

View Interview Page

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

00:40

Michael Dann

View Interview Page

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

05:04

Bill Dozier

View Person Page

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with Bill Dozier on Playhouse 90

01:23

Art Garfunkel

View Person Page

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' issues with a Simon & Garfunkel television special

01:18

William Tankersley on problems getting a sponsor for a Simon & Garfunkel TV special

02:20

Jackie Gleason

View Person Page

William Tankersley on Jackie Gleason

00:56

Paul Henning

View Interview Page

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices not having many issues with The Beverly Hillbillies

00:14

Don Hewitt

View Interview Page

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

02:12

Norman Lear

View Interview Page

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

01:15

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

06:13

Sheldon Leonard

View Interview Page

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with Sheldon Leonard

02:04

Martin Manulis

View Interview Page

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

01:47

Richard M. Nixon

View Person Page

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

William S. Paley

View Person Page

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

02:12

William Tankersley on William S. Paley being reluctant to get into television

01:38

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

02:57

Irna Phillips

View Person Page

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

02:01

Robert Precht

View Person Page

William Tankersley on one of his favorite entertainers, Ed Sullivan, and working with Sullivan's son-in-law, Robert Precht

00:29

Carl Reiner

View Interview Page

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

01:19

Rod Serling

View Person Page

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

04:15

Paul Simon

View Person Page

William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' issues with a Simon & Garfunkel television special

01:18

William Tankersley on problems getting a sponsor for a Simon & Garfunkel TV special

02:20

Red Skelton

View Person Page

William Tankersley on one of his favorite entertainers, Red Skelton

02:28

Tom Smothers

View Interview Page

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

06:00

Frank Stanton

View Interview Page

William Tankersley on William S. Paley being reluctant to get into television and Paley's relationship with Frank Stanton

01:38

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

02:57

William Tankersley on Frank Stanton advocating First Amendment freedoms

01:20

William Tankersley on how the Quiz Show scandals (which started with NBC shows) affected CBS Standards & Practices, and how canned laughter could be used

02:39

William Tankersley on peers whom he respected

00:30

Ed Sullivan

View Person Page

William Tankersley on one of his favorite entertainers, Ed Sullivan, and working with Sullivan's son-in-law, Robert Precht

00:29

Danny Thomas

View Person Page

William Tankersley on how the Quiz Show scandals (which started with NBC shows) affected CBS Standards & Practices, and how canned laughter could be used

00:25

Robert D. Wood

View Person Page

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

05:04

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

02:12