Army Archerd

In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Army Archerd (1922-2009) describes his early years in New York and his initial desire to be an actor. He talks about getting a job in the Paramount mail room after his service in World War II, which led to a job for the Associated Press, and how he left there to become a "legman" for his mentor, Harrison Carroll. Archerd describes how, in 1953, he joined the staff of Variety, where he covered entertainment in his famous column for over 50 years. He discusses the changes within the entertainment industry and how the process of publicity changed over time. He also discusses the nuts and bolts of getting a story, as well as keeping in contact with celebrities. Along with his work chronicling entertainment news, Archerd speaks of his work in front of the camera, as a host for various shows, including the pilot of Entertainment Tonight, and his work on the red carpet for awards shows. Karen Herman conducted the interview on February 25, 2003 in Los Angeles, CA.