MUSEUM OF BROADCASTING SEMINAR SERIES, THE: A SEMINAR WITH SHELDON LEONARD {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio (known at that time as The Museum of Broadcasting). This seminar features producer/director Sheldon Leonard, who was responsible for the success of several hits television series. In this part, Museum president Robert M. Batscha and Brian Rose, director of special projects for the Directors Guild of America, make opening remarks.
Batscha introduces a series of clips from some of Leonard's work, including "Make Room for Daddy," "The Real McCoys," "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (with Leonard portraying a gangster in an episode entitled "Big Max Calvada"), "My World and Welcome To It," and "I Spy."
During the question-and-answer session that follows, topics discussed include the original pilot for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and the subsequent changes that were made before the series aired; the casting of Bill Cosby in "I Spy," which marked the first time that a black performer portrayed a starring role in a dramatic series on American television; and Leonard's start in show business as a stage actor, and his transition from acting to directing. Leonard talks about his days in radio and re-enacts his famous "Hey Bud" routine from "The Jack Benny Program." Other topics discussed include the following: child actors; Leonard's relationship with Danny Thomas and the success of "Make Room for Daddy"; Leonard's profound disappointment over the cancellation of "My World and Welcome To It" after only one season; the differences between producing a television series in the 1950s and 1960s and producing a series today; and the Hollywood blacklist of the 1940s and 1950s. Leonard closes the seminar by mentioning his in-progress autobiography.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: April 18, 1990 5:31 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:16:54
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T90:0078
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert M. Batscha … Host
- Sheldon Leonard … Guest
- Brian Rose … Guest
- Bill Cosby