Latest News from The Interviews

Alfred Hitchcock in the Schoolyard

 Mon, 01/04/2010 Fifty years ago, Alfred Hitchcock Presents offered up the episode “Man from the South,” which adversely inspired some impressionable young viewers. In the story, a gambler makes an unusual bet with a sinister man— that he can light his Zippo lighter ten times in succession, without fail. If the gambler succeeds he gets a car, if he doesn’t… he loses a finger! The intriguing plot was made that much more popular due to its guest stars: young up-and-coming Steve McQueen (as the gambler) and...

Happy New Year 2010!

 Thu, 12/31/2009 Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve reaches its 38th annual edition with the Dec. 31, 2009- January 1, 2010 special. Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest will host the special starting at 10:00 p.m. (ET & PT) from New York (with Fergie as Las Vegas co-host). Dick Clark spoke about his first New Year's special in 1959 and his inauguration of New Year's Rockin' Eve in 1972 (competing with Guy Lombardo who at that time “owned” New Year’s Eve on TV), when he was interviewed by the Archive of American...

Sid Caesar on "Your Show of Shows," and "Caesar's Hour"

 Sun, 12/27/2009 Sid Caesar's Archive of American Television Interview is now fully catalogued. Caesar is a seminal figure in early TV comedy and one of the first recipients of the Emmy Award for Best Actor (in 1952). Interview description: Sid Caesar emphasizes the challenge of doing live TV in the early days of the medium: “Doing a show live on television is a different animal altogether than doing TV today. I mean on tape, that's like relaxing. That's like going on vacation!” He recounts his early years as a...

The Archive Features "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"

 Fri, 12/25/2009 The Archive has now posted a page for How the Grinch Stole Christmas , featuring animation producer/director Chuck Jones and the voice of Cindy Lou Who herself, June Foray. The perennial TV special first aired on CBS on December 18, 1966. Sponsored by the Foundation for Commercial Banks, Variety noted, "one can wonder at whom [the] sponsor... was making that quiet pitch." Variety raved apropos to the times: "Christmas kiddie programming on the networks somewhat resembles a Christmas truce in...

Tiny Tim Married Miss Vicki on "The Tonight Show" 40 Years Ago Today

 Thu, 12/17/2009 A pop culture moment in TV occurred when singer Tiny Tim married Victoria Mae "Miss Vicki" Budinger on December 17, 1969 on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson . Tiny Tim had gained prominence for his odd appearance and falsetto voice, playing the ukulele and singing such songs as "Tiptoe Through the Tulips." When he mentioned to Johnny Carson that he was engaged, Carson casually suggested that he should get married on the show. In what certainly came off as a publicity stunt, the two were...

"The Simpsons" At 20

 Wed, 12/16/2009 Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons . The Christmas-themed special "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," was the first show to air (following the Simpsons earlier appearances on The Tracey Ullman Show ), after which the series resumed on January 14, 1990, to become the longest-running American primetime entertainment series. The current Emmy magazine (Issue #6, 2009) features a cover story celebrating The Simpsons ' 20th. Within Emmy magazine's pages you'll find a listing of...

Roy E. Disney Dies at Age 79-- Archive Interview Online

 Wed, 12/16/2009 Interview Description: Roy E. Disney was interviewed for two-and-a-half hours plus in Burbank, CA. He described the early history of the Disney company and the role that his father, Roy O. Disney, and uncle Walt Disney, had in its creation and early years. He related his childhood recollections of some of Disney’s work including the company’s first feature-length animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . He talked about his first job out of college, in guest relations at NBC. He then...

Carl Reiner Makes an Historic Appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Conan O'Brien"

 Fri, 12/11/2009 Carl Reiner was Conan O'Brien's guest on The Tonight Show yesterday and as he was introduced Conan noted that Reiner had been on all the major versions of The Tonight Show with previous hosts Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, and Jay Leno. Find a link to Carl Reiner's appearance with Conan on the Archive's Carl Reiner interview page, and watch Reiner's interview where he discusses his legendary career in television which dates back to the late 1940s.

Technical Director Heino Ripp Has Died-- Archive Interview Online

 Wed, 12/09/2009 Technical Director Heino Ripp , who worked at NBC for several decades, and served on such classic series as Your Show of Shows and The Perry Como Show , has died at the age of 84. Interview Description: Heino Ripp was interviewed for three hours in Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Ripp recalled his earliest days at NBC in the NBC Development Group, working alongside engineers who were creating the modern television system. He discussed his transition to working as a technical director, and explained the...