About
"Live television was a little bit like you were on a sleigh on a snow hill and somebody pushed you and you went down. It really felt like that because you did the whole play and there was no stopping, you just did it. Bang, and you went! It was frightening and exhilarating. It was great."
In her hour-long interview, Maxine Stuart (1918-2013) talks about her formative years in theater and her appearances in early live television productions for NBC, including an experimental show in 1939. She details her noteworthy appearance as the woman wrapped in bandages in the classic Twilight Zone episode "Eye of the Beholder," and discusses working with Jack Lemmon in the feature film Days of Wine and Roses. Additionally, she speaks about her work in the filmed television series Slattery's People, in which she was a regular, and The Wonder Years, for which she received a guest actress Emmy nomination. B-roll consists of a program and a still photo from Stuart's early theater career. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview on August 31, 2004 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Maxine Stuart on [SPOILER ALERT!] The Twilight Zone: "Eye of the Beholder" and the irony in the show's casting, considering the show's message about conformity
Maxine Stuart on the impact of The Twilight Zone: "Eye of the Beholder"
Maxine Stuart on her Emmy-nominated guest role on The Wonder Years
Maxine Stuart on appearing with John Ritter on Hearts Afire
Maxine Stuart on appearing as a regular on Slattery's People
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences; on studying acting and appearing in a broadcast for experimental television; on mishaps on live television
On working with Fred Coe; on doing shows for DuMont network; on appearing on Philco Television Playhouse and working on soap operas
On getting cast in The Twilight Zone: "Eye of the Beholder" and the impact of the episode
Chapter 2
On appearing on The Donna Reed Show, Desilu Playhouse, Dr. Kildare, The Outer Limits, and Cannon
On appearing as a regular on Slattery's People; on her stage name; on appearing with John Ritter on Hearts Afire; on her favorite performance from her career and how she'd like to be remembered
B-roll of items from her performances