Milton Delugg

In his nearly two-and-a-half-hour interview, Milton Delugg (1918-2015) talks about his early professional jobs before his service in World War II, including a job in the orchestra at Paramount. He describes the days of network radio and early television, and working with personalities including Abe Burrows and Morey Amsterdam. He speaks about his role as conductor (and accordion player) on the variety series Broadway Open House, a precursor to The Tonight Show. He comments on his association with several shows from the 1950s and early '60s, including The Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney Show, as well as a string of game shows. Delugg then discusses his one-and-a-half-year stint as the orchestra leader of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, taking the reins in between Skitch Henderson and Doc Severinsen. For The Tonight Show, he talks about the rehearsal process and gives his impressions of host Carson and sidekick Ed McMahon. He then speaks in great detail about his long association with producer Chuck Barris and his participation in all of his most well-known series: The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, The Gong Show, The $1.98 Beauty Show, and others. He goes into great detail about The Gong Show, commenting on the panelists who appeared and the unscripted nature of the show. Finally, he talks about his many years with the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Throughout the interview, Delugg notes his many original compositions, including: "Orange-Colored Sky" (a hit for Nat King Cole) and "Roller Coaster" (for What's My Line?). B-roll consists of photos of Delugg with such notables as Frank Loesser, Jerry Lester, Dagmar, Bing Crosby, Morey Amsterdam, Al Jolson, Johnny Carson, Chuck Barris, and John Lennon. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on May 5, 2008 in Studio City, CA.