Noel Taylor

Costume Designer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his one-and-a-half hour Archive interview, Noel Taylor (1913-2010) talks about his early experiences in the theater as an actor and writer before turning his talents to costume designing. He discusses his entrance into television working under NBC contract, primarily on the anthology series Hallmark Hall of Fame. He talks about several of this series productions including "Hamlet," "The Green Pastures," "The Magnificent Yankee," and "Barefoot in Athens."  He discusses such aspects of the craft as creating a shade of white that could be read on camera and painting "embroidery" on costumes as a money-saving technique. He talks about being recognized by the Emmy Awards for costume design for "The Magnificent Yankee," in the first year costume design was cited.  He details his continued work in television including the 1970s KCET series The Hollywood Television Theater, which earned him a second Emmy Award. Lastly, he discusses his long association with Katharine Hepburn on all of her later work, including Mrs. Delafield Wants To Marry. B-roll consists of photos and costume sketches from Hallmark Hall of Fame, Turn of the Screw, Hollywood Television Theater, Antony and Cleopatra, Eleanor First Lady of the World, and Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview in West Hollywood, CA on April 19, 2005.

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

"You can take one of my outfits and it's usually classic design. I don't use tricks."

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Chapter 1

On his early years; on traveling to Europe and becoming involved in anti-Nazi activities; on serving in World War II
On working in the theater on Marc Chagall's "Firebird" sets; on meeting Dame Judith Anderson; on the advent of television 

Chapter 2

On his work on Hallmark Hall of Fame for which he won the very first ever Emmy Award in the Costume Designer category in 1965 for Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee," along with stars Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne
On his television work including the costumes for Ingrid Bergman for Turn of the Screw, even though she had a regular costumer

Chapter 3

On working on Hollywood Television Theatre; on various TV movies; on his style; on the people he worked with; on how he would like to be remembered

Chapter 4

On photographs and drawings of some of his projects
Shows

Hallmark Hall of Fame

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Costume Designer Noel Taylor on winning the very first ever Emmy Award in the Costume Designer category in 1965 for Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee," along with stars Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne
01:46
Costume Designer Noel Taylor on befriending the stars of Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee"— Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne
00:31

Startime: "The Turn of the Screw"

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Costume Designer Noel Taylor on getting to do the costumes for Ingrid Bergman for Turn of the Screw, even though she had a regular costumer
01:22
Topics

Emmy Awards

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Costume Designer Noel Taylor on winning the very first ever Emmy Award in the Costume Designer category in 1965 for Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee," along with stars Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne
01:46
People

Bette Davis

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Costume designer Noel Taylor on working with Bette Davis
03:10

Lynn Fontanne

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Costume Designer Noel Taylor on befriending the stars of Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee"— Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne
00:31

Katharine Hepburn

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Costume designer Noel Taylor on working with Katharine Hepburn
07:20

Alfred Lunt

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Costume Designer Noel Taylor on befriending the stars of Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee"— Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne
00:31

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