Latest News from The Interviews

Producer-director Garry Simpson's Interview Is Now Online

 Fri, 05/18/2007 Garry Simpson worked on some of American television's earliest productions in the pre-World War II era, and then continued following the war. He directed the 1946 Joe Louis-Billy Conn World Championship boxing match, episodes of American television's first sitcom: Mary Kay and Johnny , and the famed 1949 production of Macbeth by "The Players." In Part 5 of his interview Garry Simpson talks about All Star Revue and working with such stars as Jimmy Durante. Click on the arrow above to watch...

Televangelist Jerry Falwell Has Died

 Tue, 05/15/2007 Jerry Falwell, whose earliest television appearances date back to the 1950s, has died at the age of 73. Rev. Falwell was interviewed by the Archive of American Television on October 16, 2003 at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Click here to access his two hour oral history interview. Interview Description: Rev. Jerry Falwell talked about growing up the son of an entrepreneur, and his eventual calling to the Christian ministry. He discussed starting his first television broadcast, Thomas...

Norman Lloyd's Interview Is Now Online!

 Wed, 05/09/2007 Norman Lloyd, best known for portraying St. Elsewhere 's kindly "Dr. Auschlander," was also a producer and one of the directors of Alfred Hitchcock Presents , and directed the famous "Man From the South" episode in which Steve McQueen bets Peter Lorre that he can light his Zippo lighter ten times in a row or else loose a finger for each misfire! Click here to access part 5 where the episode is discussed. Click here to watch the entire six-part interview. Some interview excerpts are as follows:...

Producer/Director Alan Neuman's Interview Is Now Online

 Fri, 05/04/2007 Producer-director Alan Neuman directed innumerable “live” on-location dramatic, variety, and documentary productions, including NBC’s first televised presidential election coverage and the first show that ever linked four countries together. Click here to access the entire six-part videotaped interview. Some interview excerpts are as follows: On Kate Smith (from part 3): Kate Smith was a wonderful, remarkable talent. She was a great performer for the theater. When they were traveling she would...

Beloved Character Actor Tom Poston Leaves A Legacy of Comedy

 Tue, 05/01/2007 Tom Poston, who was a regular on The Steve Allen Show , Mork & Mindy , and Newhart , has died at the age of 85. Poston was interviewed by the Archive of American Television on February 2006 (pictured here with interviewer Stephen J. Abramson). His entire two-hour interview (part 2 of 4 can be seen below) can be viewed at the Television Academy offices in North Hollywood. In the clip above (part 2 of 4), Tom Poston discusses how he became a regular on The Steve Allen Show. PRESS THE PLAY...

Roger Ebert, Celebrating his 40th Anniversary as a Film Critic, Returns to Action

 Wed, 04/25/2007 The Archive has now posted its interview with Roger Ebert, conducted in 2005 on the set of Ebert & Roeper in Chicago. Click here to access his entire interview. Roger Ebert, the first person to win the Pulitizer Prize for Film Criticism, is celebrating his 40th anniversary as film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times . He is making progress on his health and as stated on his website, he expects to attend his Ninth Annual Overlooked Film Festival which runs today through April 29, if only as an...

Dennis Franz's Archive Interview Is Now Online!

 Fri, 04/20/2007 Multi-Emmy Award-winning actor Dennis Franz's 2-1/2 hour interview is now online. Franz was awarded four Emmy Awards for playing "Andy Sipowicz" on NYPD Blue . In part 4 of his interview, Franz talks about working on NYPD Blue . CLICK ON THE ARROW IN THE PLAYER ABOVE TO VIEW. Click here to view Dennis Franz's entire interview. Interview Description: Franz talked about his early years breaking into theater, including his work performing as a regular member of the Organic Theater Company in...

"To Tell The Truth" Panelist and Broadway Actress Kitty Carlisle Hart Has Died

 Wed, 04/18/2007 Kitty Carlisle Hart, best known for her long run as a regular panelist on To Tell The Truth (from 1957 to 1991 in its various runs), and who acted in film with the likes of the Marx Brothers and Bing Crosby, has died at age 96. Ms. Hart remained active doing a one-woman show, "My Life On the Wicked Stage," in recent years. Kitty Carlisle Hart was interviewed in 2005 by the Archive of American Television in conjunction with New York Women in Film & Televison. Her complete interview, can be...

Actress Ruby Dee's Interview is Now Online

 Fri, 04/06/2007 Actress Ruby Dee's Archive of American Television interview is now online. Interview Description: In her 4-part (each 30-minute segment is posted separately) oral history interview, actress Ruby Dee describes her start in feature filmsand on Broadway. She describes the experience of being an African-American lead actress working in series television — a rarity in the 1950s and 60s. She discusses her early work in television, such as her regular role in the 1955 soap opera This Is Nora Drake ...