Enter any search term in the text box, and click the results below to play the clip. For help visit Search Tips.
On his childhood in Quincy, MA; on his brother Irving Szathmary, on growing up during the Depression; on finding humor in difficult situations 09:03
Interview: Bill Dana
On his brother Arthur who taught him an awareness of language, which would play a great role in his comedic writing, malaprops, and the dialects he would use in characters such as "Jose Jimenez"; on other early influences; his education; meeting Gene Wood 07:15
Interview: Bill Dana
On his Army service during WWII; on realizing the power of language; on the Leopoldville disaster; on being sent to witness the Dachau concentration camp by President Eisenhower 05:01
Interview: Bill Dana
On the G.I. Bill, which enabled him to go to Emerson College; on forming a comedy duo with Gene Wood; on heading to California to pursue work in the early 1950s 05:46
Interview: Bill Dana
Bill Dana on his brother Irving Szathmary, who was an arranger for Paul Whiteman and later composed the theme for Get Smart and many other TV shows 03:47
Interview: Bill Dana | Person: Irving Szathmary
Bill Dana on how in the early days of burlesque there would be a sign posted backstage with the "dirty words" you could not say or else be jailed 00:41
Interview: Bill Dana | Topic: Pop Culture
Bill Dana on being sent to witness the concentration camp at Dachau by President Eisenhower 07:08
Interview: Bill Dana | Topic: World War II
Bill Dana on being sent to witness the concentration camp at Dachau by President Eisenhower 07:08
Interview: Bill Dana | Topic: Historic Events and Social Change
Bill Dana on the Leopoldville disaster, the "Cheshire Cats," and visiting Dachau concentration camp 38:57
Interview: Bill Dana | Topic: World War II
Bill Dana on the Leopoldville disaster, the "Cheshire Cats," and visiting Dachau concentration camp 38:57
Interview: Bill Dana | Topic: Historic Events and Social Change
Bill Dana on being influenced by Danny Kaye and music in general 47:33
Interview: Bill Dana | Topic: Creative Influences and Inspiration
Bill Dana on being influenced by Danny Kaye and music in general 47:33
Interview: Bill Dana | Topic: Pivotal Career Moments
On early odd jobs as a layout electrician and how he wound up (by a misunderstanding) as head of equipment at Douglas Aircraft base on the Nike Missile project 03:37
Interview: Bill Dana
On getting a job as an NBC page on Date in Manhattan with Ed Herlihy and Broadway Open House at Studio 8H; on his comedy partner, Gene Wood, and their comedy routines such as "What would have happened if..."; on changing his last name to "Dana" from "Szathmary" 10:41
Interview: Bill Dana
On a bit he wrote for Don Adams, which got him noticed by Steve Allen and hired as head writer, and for a time, the only writer, on the Steve Allen Tonight show 09:20
Interview: Bill Dana
Bill Dana on writing for the voice of Don Adams and the birth of "would you believe" jokes 01:04
Interview: Bill Dana