Howard Anderson, Jr.

Visual Effects Specialist


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-hour Archive interview, Howard Anderson, Jr. (1920-2015) talks about joining his father's company, The Howard Anderson Company, where he and his brother Darrell continued the business of doing titles and special effects for movies. He discusses working on early television series including I Love Lucy and Dragnet. He elaborates on his special effects for Star Trek, where he devised a way to show the Enterprise speed through a field of stars and created the effect for the ship's "transporter." He discusses other shows he worked on until his retirement in 1990. He also talks about the then-current state of the industry and how optical effects compare with the newer digital effects. B-roll consists of photos of some of the optical equipment at the Howard Anderson Company and a photo of the Starship Enterprise. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 21, 2005 in Oxnard, CA.

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

"We had probably 18 weekly TV shows that we did the titles and optical work on, in addition to several features. It gets to be sort of a factory kind of an operation once the pilot is done and the approvals have been made on all the styles. But then you turn her over and let her run."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show
01:48
Howard Anderson Jr. on doing titles for I Love Lucy 
02:45
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Dick Van Dyke Show
00:40
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening sequence for Star Trek
04:10
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian
02:19
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on the first time he saw television
On shooting inserts and titles for his father's movie company; on lettering in titles; on doing titles for I Love Lucy

Chapter 2

On working with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy; on editing with three cameras on I Love Lucy; on working on The Lucy Show
On creating the opening titles for The Addams Family, The Andy Griffith Show, and The Beverly Hillbillies; on creating the opening titles for Daniel Boone, Dragnet, and The Dick Van Dyke Show; on creating the opening titles for The Fugitive, Get Smart, and I Spy

Chapter 3

On creating the opening titles for The Invaders, Mission: Impossible, and Mod Squad; on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian, My Three Sons, and My World and Welcome to It
On creating the opening titles for That Girl, The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits; on creating the opening titles for The Untouchables and Star Trek

Chapter 4

On creating special effects and titles for Star Trek; on the opening sequence of Star Trek; on working with Gene Roddenberry on the show
On creating special effects for Star Trek; on creating the effects for the different planets on Star Trek
On working with the cast and crew of Star Trek; on the legacy of his work on Star Trek; on creating effects for the feature film "Jack the Giant Killer"

Chapter 5

On creating effects for the feature films "Jack the Giant Killer" and "Tobruk"; on creating opening titles for The Brady Bunch, Charlie's Angels and Happy Days
On creating opening titles for Kung Fu, Little House on the Prairi e and Bonanza; on creating the opening titles for Love Boat, Love American Style and Wonder Woman; on creating the opening titles for Cheers and Dynasty; on his retirement in 1990

Chapter 6

On advice to aspiring visual effects professionals; on his ability to work on many projects simultaneously; on how the business and audience expectations have changed since he started in the industry
On the difference between working in film and in television; on working with editors, cinematographers and directors; on career highlights and regrets and how he'd like to be remembered
On B-roll of pictures from Howard Anderson Jr's career: childhood picture, circa 1926; filming a miniature for a feature at Malibu Beach; in the Navy circa 1945; with an early optical printer circa 1946; with Paul Newman at Zuma Beach; photograph of Star Trek's Enterprise; a "line-up" person inspecting 35 millimeter film; projection room; optical printer with operator; line-up room at optical department; Anderson's son with an optical printer; Howard Anderson Jr. with a camera 
Shows

Addams Family, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Addams Family
02:51

Andy Griffith Show, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show
01:48

Beverly Hillbillies, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Beverly Hillbillies
00:49

Bonanza

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Little House on the Prairie and working on Bonanza
02:13

Brady Bunch, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Brady Bunch
05:52

Charlie's Angels

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Charlie's Angels
01:19

Cheers

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Cheers
00:54

Daniel Boone

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Daniel Boone
00:56

Dick Van Dyke Show, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Dick Van Dyke Show
00:40

Dragnet

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dragnet
02:17

Dynasty

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dynasty
00:26

Fugitive, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Fugitive
01:34

George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and various other shows
06:21

Get Smart

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Get Smart
01:29

Happy Days

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Happy Days
00:59

I Love Lucy

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Howard Anderson Jr. on doing titles for I Love Lucy 
02:45
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy
11:31
Howard Anderson Jr. on editing with three cameras on I Love Lucy
01:52

I Spy

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for I Spy
01:48

Invaders, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Invaders
01:36

Kung Fu

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Kung Fu
01:55

Little House on the Prairie

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Little House on the Prairie and working on Bonanza
02:14

Love Boat, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Love Boat
00:58

Love, American Style

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Love, American Style
01:51

Lucy Show, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening for The Lucy Show
01:44

Mission: Impossible

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mission: Impossible
01:29

Mod Squad, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mod Squad
02:06

My Favorite Martian

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian
02:19

My Three Sons

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Three Sons
01:14

My World ... and Welcome to it

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My World and Welcome to It
01:46

Outer Limits, The (1963-65)

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone
03:11

Star Trek

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Star Trek (Part 1)
08:01
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating special effects and titles for Star Trek
04:19
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening sequence for Star Trek
04:10
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek
01:23
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating special effects for Star Trek
04:03
Howard Anderson Jr. on the biggest challenge of creating Star Trek special effects
04:01
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the effects for the different planets on Star Trek
01:52
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with the cast and crew of Star Trek
02:08
Howard Anderson Jr. on the legacy of his work on Star Trek
00:59

That Girl

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for That Girl
00:51

Twilight Zone, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone
03:11

Untouchables, The

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Untouchables
02:08

Wonder Woman

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Wonder Woman
00:52
Topics

Advice

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Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals 
00:52

Historic Events and Social Change

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Howard Anderson Jr. on his military service 
02:05

Pop Culture

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening sequence for Star Trek
03:40
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Brady Bunch
05:52
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Cheers
00:54

Technological Innovation

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Howard Anderson Jr. on the advent of color
01:22

Television Industry

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Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals 
00:52
Howard Anderson Jr. on how the business changed since he started
01:58

War

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Howard Anderson Jr. on his military service 
02:05

World War II

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Howard Anderson Jr. on his military service 
02:05
Professions

Post-Production Professionals

View Profession
Howard Anderson Jr. on his process for making a title card 
01:09
Howard Anderson Jr. on his style
00:27
Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals 
00:52
Howard Anderson Jr. on the epitome of a special effect
00:48
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with editors, cinematographers, and directors
02:29

Special Effects Creator

View Profession
Howard Anderson Jr. on his style
00:27
Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals 
00:52
Howard Anderson Jr. on the epitome of a special effect
00:48
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with editors, cinematographers, and directors
02:29

Title Designer

View Profession
Howard Anderson Jr. on his process for making a title card 
01:09
Howard Anderson Jr. on his style
00:27
Howard Anderson Jr. on advice to aspiring visual effects professionals 
00:52
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with editors, cinematographers, and directors
02:29
Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

View Genre
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Wonder Woman
00:52

Comedy Series

View Genre
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show  and various other shows
06:21
Howard Anderson Jr. on doing titles for I Love Lucy
02:45
Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy  (Part 2)
13:23
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening for The Lucy Show
01:44
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Addams Family
02:51
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show
01:48
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Beverly Hillbillies
00:49
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Dick Van Dyke Show
00:40
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Get Smart
01:29
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Favorite Martian
02:19
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My Three Sons
01:14
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for My World and Welcome to It
01:46
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for That Girl
00:51
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Brady Bunch
05:52
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Happy Days
00:59
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Love, American Style
01:51
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Love Boat
00:58
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Cheers
00:54

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

View Genre
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dragnet
02:17
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Fugitive
01:34
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for I Spy
01:48
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mission: Impossible
01:29
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Mod Squad
02:06
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Untouchables
02:08
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Charlie's Angels
01:19

Daytime/Primetime Serials

View Genre
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dynasty
00:26

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

View Genre
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Invaders
01:36
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Outer Limits  and The Twilight Zone
03:11
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles and special effects for Star Trek (Part 1)
08:01
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating special effects and titles for Star Trek (Part 2)
22:57

Western Series

View Genre
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Daniel Boone
00:56
Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Little House on the Prairie  and working on Bonanza
02:13
People

Desi Arnaz

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Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy
11:37

Lucille Ball

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Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy
11:37

Dann Cahn

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Howard Anderson Jr. on editing with three cameras on I Love Lucy
01:52

Sheldon Leonard

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for The Andy Griffith Show
01:48

Jess Oppenheimer

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Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy
11:37

Gene Roddenberry

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Howard Anderson Jr. on working with Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek
01:23

Jack Webb

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Howard Anderson Jr. on creating the opening titles for Dragnet
02:17

Billy Wilder

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Howard Anderson Jr. on working with the director Billy Wilder
01:06

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