Ruth Engelhardt

Agent
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In her three-and-a-half-hour interview, Ruth Engelhardt (1921-2008) vividly describes her over 55-year association with the William Morris Agency. She recalls how she worked her way up from being a secretary to an executive in business affairs by attending night school to earn her law degree. She discusses the structure of William Morris, the key figures in its executive suites, and its important television accounts. She talks about the packaging of television series including The Life of Riley, The Danny Thomas Show, and I Spy. She speaks in great detail about the creation of one of the biggest hits of the 1980s, The Cosby Show. Additionally, Engelhardt talks about contract negotiations, the era of the Hollywood Blacklist, and the 1975 formation of CAA by ex-WMA agents. B-roll consists of photos from Engelhardt's career. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 9, 2003 in Los Angeles, CA.

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

"I think my career achievement is carrying the torch for women in the business. I know I am respected a lot, and I think I helped pave the way for more women. I don't know, I don't think I have a greatest achievement. I think my greatest achievement is I did really good work." 

People Talking About ...
Ruth Engelhardt
Highlights
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show, and That Girl
06:09
Ruth Engelhardt on the role of the advertiser in the early days of packaging television shows, and on controversy over The Dick Van Dyke Show and The New Dick Van Dyke Show
05:38
Ruth Engelhardt on advice to an aspiring agent
01:42
Ruth Engelhardt on syndicating The People's Court
04:38
Ruth Engelhardt on the early structure of the William Morris Agency, and what the liked about the company
05:21
Ruth Engelhardt on her sister being an agent at William Morris, and on how she was treated as a woman in the industry
14:25
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on moving to Los Angeles; on her early years at the William Morris Agency, and the agency's role in packaging early television shows
On the first time she saw television; on the legal concerns in the early years of television
On packaging the first version of The Life of Riley, starring Jackie Gleason; on how the various departments at William Morris got along and interacted, and how actors regarded television; on packaging I Married Joan, and on learning the business from Ann Rosenthal

Chapter 2
On her mentors and on attending law school while working at William Morris; on packaging The Danny Thomas Show; on the role of the advertiser in the early days of packaging television shows, and on controversy over The Dick Van Dyke Show and The New Dick Van Dyke Show
On the early structure of the William Morris Agency, and what she liked about the company; on the early competitors of the William Morris Agency, and on working with company head Abe Lastfogel; on the William Morris Agency mailroom, and on her mentor, Samuel Sacks

Chapter 3
On the various offices of William Morris working together, and on the focus on the West Coast operation; on the shift in television from sponsors to networks; on Mary Tyler Moore wanting a raise on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and working with Larry Hagman on Dallas
On actors walking out of shows in order to get raises, and on the issue of piracy of movies and television; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on the Quiz Show Scandals

Chapter 4
On the Quiz Show Scandals, and how they impacted the sponsors; on William Morris' relationship with ABC, and various other studios and networks; on packaging The Mod Squad produced by Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas
On her sister being an agent at William Morris, and on how she was treated as a woman in the industry; on working on the Writers Guild of America's live agreement of 1958; on packaging The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show, and That Girl
On packaging Gomer Pyle - USMC, Mayberry R.F.D. and The Bill Dana Show; on packaging Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Chapter 5
On the creation and packaging of The Loretta Young Show; on the continued popularity of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working with Carl Reiner
On packaging I Spy for Sheldon Leonard; on the locations of I Spy and on doing business deals with Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard; on becoming a vice president at William Morris, and later becoming an agent

Chapter 6
On the formation of CAA, and the comings and goings at William Morris Agency; on being head of business affairs for television at William Morris
On packaging Murphy Brown, My Sister Sam, and other '80s series; on syndicating The People's Court; on her involvement with The Cosby Show
On what it takes to package a show

Chapter 7
On the art of negotiation; on her then-current projects; on advice to an aspiring agent
On various people she's worked with in her career, including Marilyn Monroe
On various people she's worked with in her career, including Bernie Brillstein, Barry Diller, Lou Weiss, Larry Auerbach, George Schlatter, and Berle Adams

Chapter 8
On various people she worked with in her career, including Abe Lastfogel; on the legacy of the William Morris Agency
On the importance of continuing to work; on career achievements and regrets; on how she'd like to be remembered
On b-roll pictures from her career- with Mayor Tom Bradley; with President Gerald R. Ford; at the 50th Anniversary of the USO
Shows

Andy Griffith Show, The

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show, and That Girl
06:09

Bill Dana Show, The

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging Gomer Pyle - USMC, Mayberry R.F.D. and The Bill Dana Show
03:00

Cosby Show, The

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Ruth Engelhardt on her involvement with The Cosby Show
05:47

Dallas

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Ruth Engelhardt on working with Larry Hagman on Dallas
02:35

Danny Thomas Show, The aka Make Room for Daddy

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging The Danny Thomas Show
03:43

Dick Van Dyke Show, The

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Ruth Engelhardt on the role of the advertiser in the early days of packaging television shows, and on controversy over The Dick Van Dyke Show and The New Dick Van Dyke Show
05:38
Ruth Engelhardt on Mary Tyler Moore wanting a raise on The Dick Van Dyke Show
00:56
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show, and That Girl
06:09
Ruth Engelhardt on the continued popularity of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working with Carl Reiner
03:23

Four Star Playhouse

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Ruth Engelhardt on the packaging of Four Star Playhouse
02:58

Gomer Pyle - USMC

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging Gomer Pyle - USMC, Mayberry R.F.D. and The Bill Dana Show
02:53

I Married Joan

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging I Married Joan, and on learning the business from Ann Rosenthal
02:21

I Spy

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging I Spy for Sheldon Leonard
07:26
Ruth Engelhardt on the locations of I Spy and on doing business deals with Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard
05:40

Life of Riley, The

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging the first version of The Life of Riley, starring Jackie Gleason
03:44

Loretta Young Show, The

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Ruth Engelhardt on the creation and packaging of The Loretta Young Show
04:58

Mayberry R.F.D.

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging Gomer Pyle - USMC, Mayberry R.F.D. and The Bill Dana Show
03:00

Mod Squad, The

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging The Mod Squad produced by Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas
03:29

Murphy Brown

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging Murphy Brown, My Sister Sam, and other '80s series
04:23

My Sister Sam

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging Murphy Brown and My Sister Sam, and other '80s series
04:23

New Dick Van Dyke Show, The

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Ruth Engelhardt on the role of the advertiser in the early days of packaging television shows, and on controversy over The Dick Van Dyke Show and The New Dick Van Dyke Show
05:38

People's Court, The

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Ruth Engelhardt on syndicating The People's Court
04:38

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
02:49

That Girl

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show, and That Girl
06:09
Topics

Advice

View Topic
Ruth Engelhardt on advice to an aspiring agent
01:42

Creative Influences and Inspiration

View Topic
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging I Married Joan, and on learning the business from Ann Rosenthal
02:18
Ruth Engelhardt on her mentors and on attending law school while at William Morris
07:11

Historic Events and Social Change

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Ruth Engelhardt on her sister being an agent at William Morris, and on how she was treated as a woman in the industry
04:25

Hollywood Blacklist

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Ruth Engelhardt on the Hollywood Blacklist
10:05

Industry Crossroads

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Ruth Engelhardt on the Hollywood Blacklist
10:05
Ruth Engelhardt on the Quiz Show Scandals
01:27
Ruth Engelhardt on the Quiz Show Scandals, and how they impacted the sponsors
02:42

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging I Married Joan, and on learning the business from Ann Rosenthal
02:23
Ruth Engelhardt on her mentors and on attending law school while at William Morris
07:11

Quiz Show Scandals

View Topic
Ruth Engelhardt on the Quiz Show Scandals
01:27
Ruth Engelhardt on the Quiz Show Scandals, and how they impacted the sponsors
02:43

Representation on Television

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Ruth Engelhardt on her sister being an agent at William Morris, and on how she was treated as a woman in the industry
04:25

Television Industry

View Topic
Ruth Engelhardt on how the various departments at William Morris got along and interacted, and how actors regarded television
02:37
Ruth Engelhardt on her mentors and on attending law school while at William Morris
07:11
Ruth Engelhardt on the role of the advertiser in the early days of packaging television shows, and on controversy over The Dick Van Dyke Show and The New Dick Van Dyke Show
05:39
Ruth Engelhardt on the early structure of the William Morris Agency, and what she liked about the company
05:21
Ruth Engelhardt on the early competitors of the William Morris Agency, and on working with company head Abe Lastfogel
04:07
Ruth Engelhardt on the William Morris Agency mailroom, and on her mentor, Samuel Sacks
02:32
Ruth Engelhardt on the various offices of William Morris working together, and on the focus on the West Coast operation
05:02
Ruth Engelhardt on the shift in television from sponsors to networks
04:23
Ruth Engelhardt on actors walking out of shows in order to get raises, and on the issue of piracy of movies and television
04:08
Ruth Engelhardt on the Hollywood Blacklist
10:05
Ruth Engelhardt on the Quiz Show Scandals
01:27
Ruth Engelhardt on the Quiz Show Scandals, and how they impacted the sponsors
02:42
Ruth Engelhardt on William Morris' relationship with ABC, and various other studios and networks
03:26
Ruth Engelhardt on working on the Writers Guild of America's live agreement of 1958
02:15
Ruth Engelhardt on becoming a vice president at William Morris, and later becoming an agent
04:30
Ruth Engelhardt on the formation of CAA, and the comings and goings at William Morris Agency
05:07
Ruth Engelhardt on being head of business affairs for television at William Morris
02:38
Ruth Engelhardt on advice to an aspiring agent
01:42
Ruth Engelhardt on the legacy of the William Morris Agency
04:03

Women

View Topic
Ruth Engelhardt on her sister being an agent at William Morris, and on how she was treated as a woman in the industry
04:25
Professions

Agent

View Profession
Ruth Engelhardt on the art of negotiation
06:00
Ruth Engelhardt on advice to an aspiring agent
01:42

Attorney

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Ruth Engelhardt on what it takes to package a show
07:38

Representatives

View Profession
Ruth Engelhardt on what it takes to package a show
07:38
Ruth Engelhardt on the art of negotiation
06:00
Ruth Engelhardt on advice to an aspiring agent
01:42
Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

View Genre
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging I Spy for Sheldon Leonard
13:07

Classic Anthology Series

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Ruth Engelhardt on the creation and packaging of The Loretta Young Show
04:58
Ruth Engelhardt on the packaging of Four Star Playhouse
02:48

Comedy Series

View Genre
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging the first version of The Life of Riley, starring Jackie Gleason
03:44
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging I Married Joan, and on learning the business from Ann Rosenthal
02:21
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging The Danny Thomas Show
03:43
Ruth Engelhardt on the role of the advertiser in the early days of packaging television shows, and on controversy over The Dick Van Dyke Show and The New Dick Van Dyke Show
05:39
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show, and That Girl
06:09
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging Gomer Pyle - USMC, Mayberry R.F.D. and The Bill Dana Show
02:53
Ruth Engelhardt on the continued popularity of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working with Carl Reiner
03:23
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging Murphy Brown, My Sister Sam, and other '80s series
04:23
Ruth Engelhardt on her involvement with The Cosby Show
05:47

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

View Genre
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging The Mod Squad produced by Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas
03:29

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
02:49

Reality TV

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Ruth Engelhardt on syndicating The People's Court
04:38
People

Abe Lastfogel

View Person Page
Ruth Engelhardt on the early competitors of the William Morris Agency, and on working with company head Abe Lastfogel
04:07
Ruth Engelhardt on various people she worked with in her career: Abe Lastfogel
00:40

Barry Diller

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Ruth Engelhardt on various people she's worked with in her career: Barry Diller
00:23

Berle Adams

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Ruth Engelhardt on various people she's worked with in her career: Berle Adams
00:29

Bernie Brillstein

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Ruth Engelhardt on various people she's worked with in her career: Bernie Brillstein
00:31

Carl Reiner

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Ruth Engelhardt on the continued popularity of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working with Carl Reiner
03:23

Danny Thomas

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging I Spy for Sheldon Leonard and Danny Thomas
13:07

Dick Van Dyke

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Ruth Engelhardt on the continued popularity of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working with Carl Reiner
03:23

George Schlatter

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Ruth Engelhardt on various people she's worked with in her career: George Schlatter
00:26

Larry Auerbach

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Ruth Engelhardt on various people she's worked with in her career: Larry Auerbach
00:19

Larry Hagman

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Ruth Engelhardt on working with Larry Hagman on Dallas
02:35

Loretta Young

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Ruth Engelhardt on the creation and packaging of The Loretta Young Show
04:57

Lou Weiss

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Ruth Engelhardt on various people she's worked with in her career: Lou Weiss
00:14

Marilyn Monroe

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Ruth Engelhardt on various people she's worked with in her career: Marilyn Monroe
00:53

Mary Tyler Moore

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Ruth Engelhardt on Mary Tyler Moore wanting a raise on The Dick Van Dyke Show
01:08

Sheldon Leonard

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Ruth Engelhardt on packaging I Spy for Sheldon Leonard and Danny Thomas
13:07

All Interviews

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