Latest News from The Interviews

To the Batmobile! Batman's car is up for Auction!

 Sat, 01/19/2013 The Caped Crusader's iconic car goes on the auction block today, January 19th, 2013 at Barrett-Jackson classic auto auction house in Scottsdale, Arizona. Watch Batmobile owner George Barris describe how he transformed a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car into one of the most identifiable automobiles of all time: More details about the auction here and watch Barris' full Archive interview here . How much do you think the Batmobile will sell for?

Suze Orman: No Excuses

 Fri, 01/04/2013 If one of your New Year's resolutions is to get your personal finances in order, you won't want to miss this insightful interview with finance guru Suze Orman ! The Archive of American Television recently sat down with Suze Orman (television host, financial adviser, and yes, former roommate of John Belushi) for a three-hour interview, discussing everything from her family motto, "An Orman never gives up”, to suing Merrill Lynch; from becoming Vice President of Investments at Prudential Bache...

Remembering Jack Klugman

 Mon, 12/24/2012 The Archive is sad to report that legendary actor Jack Klugman died today, December 24th, at the age of 90. Klugman has made over 400 television appearances -- in comedies, dramas, and even in a game show (well, sort of - remember the "Password"episode of The Odd Couple ?) He played a blacklisted actor, a medical examiner, and perhaps most famously, sportswriter "Oscar Madison" opposite Tony Randall 's "Felix Unger" in the 1970's sitcom The Odd Couple . One roommate was a neat-freak, one was...

December 7, 1941: A Date Which Still Lives in Infamy

 Fri, 12/07/2012 On December 7, 1941, Japanese warplanes attacked the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The following day, The United States declared war on Japan, ushering in America's involvement in World War II. Many of our interviewees recalled exactly where they were when they learned of the bombing of Pearl Harbor: Leonard Nimoy on how he learned of the attack: Ed McMahon on finding out about the bombing of Pearl Harbor from radio: In the days after December 7, 1941, the federal government ordered...

Remembering Television Engineer John Silva

 Thu, 11/29/2012 The Archive is sad to report the death of early TV engineer John Silva , who passed away on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at the age of 92. Silva started his television career at local Los Angeles station KTLA when it was still experimental station W6XYZ, pioneering technology for mobile units. He is best known for inventing the Telecopter, a helicopter mobile unit used for television reporting, which is still used today for capturing bird's-eye views of stories down below. Below are some...

Remembering Publicist Esme Chandlee

 Tue, 11/27/2012 The Archive is sad to report the death of publicist Esme Chandlee , who passed away on November 24, 2012 at the age of 94. Chandlee started her career at MGM in 1942, where she represented, among others, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, and Grace Kelly. She also served as associate producer of the celebrity-interview show Here’s Hollywood , joined PR firm Cleary, Strauss & Irvin in 1958, and started her own PR firm in 1961. She's credited with discovering Tom Selleck, whom she also represented...

Remembering "I Love Lucy" Editor Dann Cahn

Mon, 11/26/2012 The Archive is sad to hear of the death of editor Dann Cahn , who passed away on Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at the age of 89. Cahn edited I Love Lucy and several other Desilu productions, including Our Miss Brooks , The Untouchables , and The Loretta Young Show . Cahn also edited The Beverly Hillbillies , Police Woman, and Remington Steele and served as head of Post Production at Glen Larson Productions. Below are some selections from Cann's 1999 Archive interview: On acting when he was a...

Remembering Larry Hagman

 Sun, 11/25/2012 The Archive is sad to hear of the passing of actor Larry Hagman , who died on Friday, November 23rd, 2012 at the age of 81. Hagman died of complications from cancer. He's best remembered for playing two of the most iconic roles in television history, those of "Major Tony Nelson" on I Dream of Jeannie , and "J.R. Ewing" on Dallas . Below are some selections from Hagman's 2004 Archive interview: On getting cast in I Dream of Jeannie : On the special effects on I Dream of Jeannie : On the infamous...

Remembering Lucille Bliss

 Mon, 11/12/2012 The Archive is sad to report the death of Lucille Bilss , who passed away on Thursday, November 8th at the age of 96. Bliss was a voiceover artist, best known for voicing "Smurfette" on the animated hit, The Smurfs . Bliss was also the voice of one of the wicked stepsisters, "Anastasia" in the Disney movie Cinderella , the voice of early television's Crusader Rabbit , and of "Ms. Bitters" on the Nickelodeon series, Invader Zim . Below are some selections from Lucille Bliss' 2005 Archive...

Remembering TV Producer (and Archive Interviewer) Henry Colman

 Fri, 11/09/2012 The Archive is very saddened to hear of the death of noted television producer Henry Colman , who passed away on Wednesday, November 7th at the age of 89. Not only was Henry an Archive interviewee, but he was also one of the Archive's main interviewers -- having completed over 33 oral history interviews for the Archive of American Television's collection. We will miss his warmth and enthusiasm. Henry began his career in television just as it was beginning -- as a production coordinator on a...