Priscilla Morgan

Agent
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In her two-hour interview, Priscilla Morgan (1919-2014) discusses her start as a secretary/script girl in radio for Young & Rubicam on such shows as The Aldrich Family and Duffy's Tavern, eventually moving up to the assistant of the producer to The Kate Smith Hour. She describes her work in the early 1950s at Audrey Wood and Bill Liebling's agency in the television department. She recalls her break with Liebling-Wood and forming her own company, The Priscilla Morgan Agency (1952-55), which was bought out by William Morris. Morgan details her work as an agent for William Morris through the 1960s. She talks about representing producers Fred Coe and Martin Manulis, directors Martin Ritt and Daniel Mann, writers Tad Mosel and JP Miller, and actors Cloris Leachman and Tom Ewell. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on May 22, 2000 in New York, NY.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I loved being an agent, going into a room and negotiating a contract with fifteen men... It was a very exciting challenge. I'd grown up with an adoring father who thought I could do anything. I had a big advantage that I always felt very free in the male world. Very confident."

People Talking About ...
Priscilla Morgan
Highlights
Priscilla Morgan on working as an assistant on "The Kate Smith Hour" radio program
03:26
Priscilla Morgan on her role bringing Pepsi-Cola, Faye Emerson, and The Faye Emerson Show together
06:57
Priscilla Morgan on negotiating deals for William Morris and dealing with Fred Coe
05:27
Priscilla Morgan on being a female agent in the '50s
04:51
Priscilla Morgan on selling her own agency to William Morris
03:50
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on her family dealing with the Depression; on early radio programs that she listened to growing up
On her first job in Young & Rubicam's radio department; on Young & Rubicam's involvement in radio; on watching live radio; on working as an assistant on "The Kate Smith Hour" radio program

Chapter 2
On her brother's experience in World War II and joining the WAVES; on her experiences in the Navy WAVES; on her post World War II activities 
On being hired by the Liebling-Wood agency; on her duties in the Liebling-Wood television department; on early shows she signed her clients up for and her process of finding clients work

Chapter 3
On being a female agent in the '50s; on learning to be an agent; on her clients; on representing Faye Emerson
On leaving Liebling-Wood and starting her own talent agency; on television shows she packaged in the '50s

Chapter 4
On selling her own agency to William Morris; on negotiating deals for William Morris and dealing with Fred Coe; on working with the networks when she was with William Morris
On moving away from television to focus on theater; on the rewarding aspect of being an agent; on the Golden Age of Television
Shows

Faye Emerson Show, The

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Priscilla Morgan on her role bringing Pepsi-Cola, Faye Emerson, and The Faye Emerson Show together
06:57
Topics

Anthology Drama

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Priscilla Morgan on the Golden Age of Television
05:27

Historic Events and Social Change

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Priscilla Morgan on her brother's experience in World War II and joining the WAVES
08:10
Priscilla Morgan on her experiences in the Navy WAVES
04:49
Priscilla Morgan on being a female agent in the '50s
05:41

Representation on Television

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Priscilla Morgan on being a female agent in the '50s
05:41

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

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Priscilla Morgan on the Golden Age of Television
05:27

Television Industry

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Priscilla Morgan on television shows she packaged in the '50s
03:33

War

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Priscilla Morgan on her brother's experience in World War II and joining the WAVES
08:10
Priscilla Morgan on her experiences in the Navy WAVES
04:49

Women

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Priscilla Morgan on being a female agent in the '50s
05:41

World War II

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Priscilla Morgan on her brother's experience in World War II and joining the WAVES
08:10
Priscilla Morgan on her experiences in the Navy WAVES
04:49
Professions

Agent

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Priscilla Morgan on early shows she signed her clients up for and her process of finding clients work
04:20
Priscilla Morgan on learning how to be an agent
02:48
Priscilla Morgan on negotiating deals for William Morris and dealing with Fred Coe
05:27

Representatives

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Priscilla Morgan on early shows she signed her clients up for and her process of finding clients work
04:20
Priscilla Morgan on learning how to be an agent
02:48
Priscilla Morgan on negotiating deals for William Morris and dealing with Fred Coe
05:27
People

David Shaw

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Priscilla Morgan on her clients 
04:15

Faye Emerson

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Priscilla Morgan on her role bringing Pepsi-Cola, Faye Emerson, and The Faye Emerson Show together
06:57

Fred Coe

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Priscilla Morgan on starting her own talent agency
04:58
Priscilla Morgan on negotiating deals for William Morris and dealing with Fred Coe
05:27

JP Miller

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Priscilla Morgan on her clients 
04:15

Kate Smith

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Priscilla Morgan on working as an assistant on "The Kate Smith Hour" radio program
03:26

Tad Mosel

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Priscilla Morgan on her clients 
04:15

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