Recent Interviews

We have nearly 900 interviews in our collection, most of which are available for viewing online. See the most recently uploaded interviews below.

Ellen Holly

Fri, 09/07/2018

In her four-and-a-half hour interview, Ellen Holly talks about her early life, and her paternal family tree going back to the 1700s. She discusses becoming interested in acting, and her big Broadway breakthrough in “Too Late the Phalarope.” She recalls attending the Actors Studio at the request of Lee Strasberg, and the problems of being an African-American actress who appeared to be “too light.” She talks extensively about her groundbreaking role as “Carla Gray” on the daytime drama One...

RuPaul Charles

Thu, 09/06/2018

In his one-hour interview, RuPaul Charles talks about his early life, and the influence shows like The Flip Wilson Show and Monty Python’s Flying Circus had on him. He recalls “finding his tribe” in Atlanta, and moving to New York City where he met Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, who would be instrumental in his career. He discusses his big breakthrough, the song “Supermodel,” which got heavy airplay on MTV and won him a spot on The Arsenio Hall Show. Charles chronicles...

Hal Holbrook

Wed, 08/15/2018

In this three-hour interview, Hal Holbrook talks about his early life, and deciding to become an actor while in college. He chronicles the creation of his classic one-man show “Mark Twain Tonight!” up until and beyond performing it on CBS in 1967 for producer David Susskind. He recalls appearing on the daytime drama The Brighter Day and portraying “Hays Stowe” on the legal drama The Bold Ones. Holbrook discusses playing Abraham Lincoln on stage many times, and twice for...

Anita Mann

Fri, 08/03/2018

In her three-and-a-half hour interview, Anita Mann talks about her early years and her favorite dancers growing up. She speaks of appearing as a dancer in the feature films “Bye Bye Birdie” and “The T.A.M.I. Show,” where she worked with James Brown and met fellow dancer Toni Basil. She speaks of dancing on the ABC series Shindig!, and of working with Elvis Presley on several projects, including Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special. She recalls dancing with Davy Jones...

Kevin Carlisle

Thu, 07/19/2018

In his hour-and-a-half-hour interview, Kevin Carlisle talks about his early life and attending Juilliard before becoming a dancer on Broadway. He describes first dancing and later becoming a choreographer on The Garry Moore Show, and later choreographing The Dean Martin Show. He recounts his long working relationship with Barry Manilow on his Barry Manilow Specials, for which Carlisle won an Emmy Award. He details working as the choreographer for Solid Gold, and...

Pam Polifroni

Fri, 07/13/2018

In her two-hour interview, Pam Polifroni talks about her early life, and her first job in casting on The Loretta Young Show. She talked about her time at Selmur Productions where she cast General Hospital and Day in Court. She describes her years working on Gunsmoke, and casting guest-stars including Bette Davis, Jon Voight, and Jodie Foster. She discusses her own casting process, as well as working with agents and dealing with budgets. Polifroni outlines casting...

Robert Clary

Thu, 07/05/2018

In his two-hour interview, Robert Clary talks about his early life, and his harrowing experience being placed in a concentration camp during World War II, where he lost most of his immediate family, including his parents. He describes being liberated from Buchenwald in 1945, after which he began a recording career in France, moved to America, and eventually settled in Los Angeles. He recounts his friendship with Eddie Cantor, who got him his start in the U.S., and his early television...

Keith Raywood

Mon, 07/02/2018

In his two-and-a-half hour interview, Keith Raywood talks about his early years, and his early interest in architecture. He describes being led into a career as an art director for features, including “Easy Money,” and eventually being hired to work on Lorne Michaels’ The New Show. He chronicles his many years working as a production designer on Saturday Night Live, discussing his role on the production design team, and the various sets he’s designed for the show over the years...