Anne Nelson

Executive

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her three-hour interview, Anne Nelson (1922-2009) talks about her early life, and her first job at CBS in the sales department, starting in 1942. She describes working at CBS Radio in the 1940s, and working with chairman William S. Paley as the first female executive at the network. She recounts putting together some of the first television contracts ever drawn up, for stars including Jack Benny and Ed Wynn, and how her department was organized. Nelson talks about her involvement in the business end of many early CBS shows, including Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, and Perry Mason, as well as having to deal with the Hollywood Blacklist. She outlines rising through the ranks in business affairs at CBS, eventually becoming a vice president, while dealing with powerhouse talent like Norman Lear, Judy Garland, Carol Burnett, and her friend Red Skelton. She sums up with advice to aspiring executives and shares how she would like to be remembered. Henry Colman conducted the interview on July 25, 1999 in Los Angeles, CA.

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

"I went to work for CBS in 1942 for a two-week job. Nobody ever told me I was permanent, but I stayed anyway. And here I am 55 years later!"

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Anne Nelson on helping put together the deal for The Ed Wynn Show

03:10

Anne Nelson on the production of The Ed Wynn Show coming out of Studio A at CBS on Sunset Boulevard

04:17

Anne Nelson on negotiating contracts for CBS in the '60s, including for The Judy Garland Show and The Carol Burnett Show

05:26

Anne Nelson on her working relationship with Norman Lear

01:51

Anne Nelson on the creation of CBS Television City, and on movie studios' reaction to television

05:30

Anne Nelson on doing the deal for Gunsmoke

03:16

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her early life and influences; on radio she listened to while growing up, and on going to the movies; on working on the syndicated comic strip "Strange as it Seems"

On going to work for CBS in 1942 in sales; on working with bandleader Kay Kyser on a benefit; on working with various stars at CBS Radio

Chapter 2

On working at CBS Radio in the 1940s, and on William S. Paley raiding NBC's talent; on CBS Radio during World War II, and on content concerns; on being the first female CBS executive

On moving stars like Ed Wynn and Jack Benny to television, and on her earliest experiences seeing television; on helping put together the deal for The Ed Wynn Show; on the production of The Ed Wynn Show coming out of Studio A at CBS on Sunset Blvd

On becoming the first female executive at CBS, and the difficulties she encountered getting there; on negotiating talent contracts for CBS, and on how her department was organized

Chapter 3

On radio's "My Favorite Husband" starring Lucille Ball, and on the creation of I Love Lucy; on the creation of CBS Television City, and on movie studios' reaction to television; on Frank Stanton, and on her office at Television City

On the Hollywood Blacklist; on being promoted though the ranks of CBS business affairs, and eventually moving from radio to television; on doing the deals for Gunsmoke and Perry Mason

Chapter 4

On working in business affairs at CBS in the late 1950, and on working with executive James T. Aubrey; on negotiating contracts for CBS in the 1960s, including for The Judy Garland Show and The Carol Burnett Show

On her style of negotiation, and on the challenges of being a female in business affairs in her era; on how contracts have changed since she started in the industry, and on working with Norman Lear; on networks losing power and money over losing ownership of shows in the 1970s

On the advent of packaging in television, and on the power of talent agencies; on dealing with performers and contract disputes

Chapter 5

On dealing with unions and strikes; on The Red Skelton Show; on how the advent of videotape changed the business

On Hawaii Five-O; on working with MTM productions, and Grant Tinker; on her working relationship with Norman Lear

On becoming director of talent administration at CBS, and on the retirement of Frank Stanton; on how the industry has changed since she started; on being director of talent and program acquisition for CBS

Chapter 6

On the success of CBS during her tenure, and on working with Laurence Tisch; on being senior director of business affairs at CBS, starting in 1989; on career highlights and regrets

On being a female television executive in her era; on advice to aspiring television executives, and on the then-current state of television; on how she would like to be remembered

Anne Nelson on various people she worked with in her career

Shows

Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)

Anne Nelson on negotiating contracts for CBS in the 1960s, including for The Judy Garland Show and The Carol Burnett Show

05:26

Ed Wynn Show, The

Anne Nelson on moving stars like Ed Wynn and Jack Benny to television, and on her earliest experiences seeing television

03:51

Anne Nelson on helping put together the deal for The Ed Wynn Show

03:10

Anne Nelson on the production of The Ed Wynn Show coming out of Studio A at CBS on Sunset Boulevard live, and the technological advances in television

04:15

Gunsmoke

Anne Nelson on doing the deal for Gunsmoke, starring James Arness

03:16

Hawaii Five-O

Anne Nelson on Hawaii Five-O

02:43

I Love Lucy

Anne Nelson on radio's "My Favorite Husband," starring Lucille Ball, and on the creation of I Love Lucy

04:32

Jack Benny Program, The

Anne Nelson on moving stars like Ed Wynn and Jack Benny to television, and on her earliest experiences seeing television

03:51

Judy Garland Show, The

Anne Nelson on negotiating contracts for CBS in the 1960s, including for The Judy Garland Show and The Carol Burnett Show

05:26

Perry Mason

Anne Nelson on doing the deal for Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr

02:55

Red Skelton Show, The

Anne Nelson on The Red Skelton Show, and on her friendship with Skelton

08:52

Topics

Advice

Anne Nelson on advice to aspiring television executives, and on the then-current state of television

01:50

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Anne Nelson on her mentor, Ernie Martin, and on working for CBS Radio

02:23

Historic Events and Social Change

Anne Nelson on CBS Radio during World War II, and on content concerns

03:12

Anne Nelson on becoming the first female executive at CBS, and the difficulties she encountered getting there

00:46

Anne Nelson on her style of negotiation, and on the challenges of being a female in business affairs in her era

07:23

Anne Nelson on being a female television executive in her era

01:15

Hollywood Blacklist

Anne Nelson on the Hollywood Blacklist

04:24

Industry Crossroads

Anne Nelson on the Hollywood Blacklist

04:24

Anne Nelson on dealing with unions and strikes

01:41

Industry Strikes

Anne Nelson on dealing with unions and strikes

01:41

Pivotal Career Moments

Anne Nelson on her mentor, Ernie Martin, and on working for CBS Radio

02:23

Representation on Television

Anne Nelson on becoming the first female executive at CBS, and the difficulties she encountered getting there

00:46

Anne Nelson on her style of negotiation, and on the challenges of being a female in business affairs in her era

07:23

Anne Nelson on being a female television executive

01:15

Technological Innovation

Anne Nelson on how the advent of videotape changed the business

00:34

Television Industry

Anne Nelson on the Hollywood Blacklist

04:24

Anne Nelson on networks losing power and money by losing ownership of shows in the 1970s

03:56

Anne Nelson on the advent of packaging in television, and on the power of talent agencies

03:07

Anne Nelson on how the industry has changed since she started

01:06

Anne Nelson on dealing with unions and strikes

01:41

Anne Nelson on advice to aspiring television executives, and on the then-current state of television

01:50

War

Anne Nelson on CBS Radio during World War II, and on content concerns

03:12

Women

Anne Nelson on becoming the first female executive at CBS, and the difficulties she encountered getting there

00:46

Anne Nelson on her style of negotiation, and on the challenges of being a female in business affairs in her era

07:23

Anne Nelson on being a female television executive

01:15

World War II

Anne Nelson on CBS Radio during World War II, and on content concerns

03:12

Professions

Executives

View Profession

Anne Nelson on being the first female CBS executive

02:30

Anne Nelson on negotiating talent contracts for CBS, and on how her department was organized

05:16

Anne Nelson on being promoted though the ranks of CBS business affairs, and eventually moving from radio to television

05:11

Anne Nelson on negotiating contracts for CBS in the 1960s, including for The Judy Garland Show and The Carol Burnett Show

05:26

Anne Nelson on her style of negotiation, and on the challenges of being a female in business affairs in her era

03:51

Anne Nelson on how contracts have changed since she started in the industry, and on working with Norman Lear

03:32

Anne Nelson on dealing with performers and contract disputes

03:25

Anne Nelson on dealing with unions and strikes

01:41

Anne Nelson on becoming director of talent administration at CBS, and on the retirement of Frank Stanton

02:42

Anne Nelson on being director of talent and program acquisition for CBS

02:00

Anne Nelson on the success of CBS during her tenure, and on working with Larry Tisch

03:29

Anne Nelson on being senior director of business affairs at CBS, starting in 1989, and later a vice president

05:04

Anne Nelson on advice to aspiring television executives, and on the then-current state of television

01:50

Television Executive

View Profession

Anne Nelson on being the first female CBS executive

02:29

Anne Nelson on negotiating talent contracts for CBS, and on how her department was organized

05:16

Anne Nelson on being promoted though the ranks of CBS business affairs, and eventually moving from radio to television

05:11

Anne Nelson on negotiating contracts for CBS in the 1960s, including for The Judy Garland Show and The Carol Burnett Show

05:26

Anne Nelson on her style of negotiation, and on the challenges of being a female in business affairs in her era

03:51

Anne Nelson on how contracts have changed since she started in the industry, and on working with Norman Lear

03:32

Anne Nelson on dealing with performers and contract disputes

03:25

Anne Nelson on dealing with unions and strikes

01:41

Anne Nelson on becoming director of talent administration at CBS, and on the retirement of Frank Stanton

02:42

Anne Nelson on being director of talent and program acquisition for CBS

02:00

Anne Nelson on the success of CBS during her tenure, and on working with Laurence Tisch

03:29

Anne Nelson on being senior director of business affairs at CBS, starting in 1989

05:04

Anne Nelson on advice to aspiring television executives, and on the then-current state of television

01:50

Genres

Comedy Series

Anne Nelson on radio's "My Favorite Husband," starring Lucille Ball, and on the creation of I Love Lucy

04:32

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Anne Nelson on Hawaii Five-O

02:43

Legal Dramas

Anne Nelson on doing the deal for Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr

02:55

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

Anne Nelson on helping put together the deal for The Ed Wynn Show

07:27

Anne Nelson on negotiating contracts for CBS in the 1960s, including for The Judy Garland Show and The Carol Burnett Show

05:26

Anne Nelson on The Red Skelton Show

08:52

Western Series

Anne Nelson on doing the deal for Gunsmoke

03:16

People

Ed Wynn

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Anne Nelson on moving stars like Ed Wynn and Jack Benny to television, and on her earliest experiences seeing television

03:51

Fanny Brice

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Anne Nelson on Fanny Brice

00:32

Frank Sinatra

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Anne Nelson on Frank Sinatra

00:22

Frank Stanton

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Anne Nelson on Frank Stanton, and on her office at Television City

02:12

Anne Nelson on becoming director of talent administration at CBS, and on the retirement of Frank Stanton

02:42

George Burns

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Anne Nelson on George Burns

00:20

Grant Tinker

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Anne Nelson on working with MTM productions, and Grant Tinker

01:59

Jack Benny

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Anne Nelson on moving stars like Ed Wynn and Jack Benny to television, and on her earliest experiences seeing television

03:51

Anne Nelson on Jack Benny

00:21

James Arness

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Anne Nelson on doing the deal for Gunsmoke, starring James Arness

03:16

James T. Aubrey

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Anne Nelson on working in business affairs at CBS in the late 1950, and on working with executive James T. Aubrey

04:50

Jimmy Durante

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Anne Nelson on Jimmy Durante

00:14

Judy Garland

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Anne Nelson on negotiating contracts for CBS in the 1960s, including for The Judy Garland Show and The Carol Burnett Show

05:26

Kay Kyser

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Anne Nelson on working with bandleader Kay Kyser on a benefit

02:29

Laurence A. Tisch

View Person Page

Anne Nelson on the success of CBS during her tenure, and on working with Laurence A. Tisch

03:29

Lucille Ball

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Anne Nelson on radio's "My Favorite Husband," starring Lucille Ball, and on the creation of I Love Lucy

04:32

Norman Lear

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Anne Nelson on how contracts have changed since she started in the industry, and on working with Norman Lear

03:33

Anne Nelson on her working relationship with Norman Lear

01:51

Raymond Burr

View Person Page

Anne Nelson on doing the deal for Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr

02:55

William S. Paley

View Person Page

Anne Nelson on working at CBS Radio in the 1940s, and on William S. Paley raiding NBC's talent

06:04

Anne Nelson on William S. Paley

00:20