Earl Bellamy

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview Earl Bellamy (1917-2003) talks about his early years in the business working in films as an assistant director to George Cukor. He discusses making the transition to full-fledged director in features and television. He talks about some of his early television work on series like The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin and The Lone Ranger, for which he directed over two dozen episodes. Bellamy talks about his work as a journeyman director from the 1950s to the 1980s on shows including Leave It to Beaver, Wagon Train, The Andy Griffith Show, I Spy, Starsky & Hutch, Hart to Hart, and M*A*S*H. He explains how he acquired his trademark nickname "No Strain," which referenced his easygoing style. He speaks in some detail about his extensive work on the sitcoms Bachelor Father, McHale's Navy, and My Three Sons. B-roll consists of photos from The Lone Ranger, Tales of Wells Fargo, The Munsters, and Fantasy Island. Karen Herman conducted the interview on June 24, 2003 in Rio Rancho, NM.