20/20: HEART DISEASE PREVENTION; JACKIE GLEASON INTERVIEW {SPECIAL EDITION} (TV)

Summary

A special edition in this series of news magazines. In this program, correspondent Tom Jarriel examines the latest breakthroughs in heart disease tests and preventative measures, and Hugh Downs interviews Jackie Gleason as the actor and comedian turns sixty-five. In the first segment, "The Great American Heart Test," Jarriel interviews heart attack victims who began dieting and exercising after surgery in order to maintain their health. Also, Jarriel takes a stress test at the Arizona Heart Institute and later presents the viewer with test questions to ascertain the risk of heart disease. Includes clips of Dr. Ted Diethrich, an expert in heart disease prevention, lecturing groups about the dangers of high blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking; as well as footage of open-heart surgery. Also features interviews with Diethrich; corporate executive Jack Wrather; and heart disease victims Pat Taylor, Mark Evans Austad, and Fred Ulbrich. In the second segment, "How Sweet It Is," Downs briefly chronicles the life of actor and comedian Gleason, from his impoverished childhood to wealth and stardom. Downs interviews Gleason in his Florida home, where he discusses his childhood, the early loss of his parents, his television work, the creation of his famous characters, and his marriage to Marilyn Taylor. Relating the discussion to the first segment, Downs asks the actor about his post-heart surgery lifestyle and Gleason says that he continues to smoke and drink, but in moderation. Downs also discusses Gleason's musical accomplishments, which include his composition of the score for the film "Gigot," the themes for "The Honeymooners" and "The Jackie Gleason Show," and his orchestrations for over fifty-five albums. This segment also includes interviews with Steve Allen, Audrey Meadows, Art Carney, bar owner Sam Lebovitz, and a brief comment by Marilyn Taylor Gleason; as well as stills and clips chronicling Gleason's childhood, early live appearances, film work, and television work. Includes commercials, promos, and an "ABC News Brief" with Jarriel.

Cataloging of this program was made possible by Broadcast Music, Inc., in honor of Robert Israel.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: February 22, 1981 8:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:58:29
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:22566
• GENRE: News magazine; Talk/Interviews
• SUBJECT HEADING: Biography; Cardiac arrest; Heart - Diseases - Prevention; Heart - Surgery
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1978-
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - Avis car rental
  • TV - Commercials - Bayer aspirin
  • TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Dodge automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Dristan nasal spray
  • TV - Commercials - Goodyear tires
  • TV - Commercials - Lysol spray
  • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Nabisco Country Crackers
  • TV - Commercials - Natural Light beer
  • TV - Commercials - Oil of Olay lotion
  • TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Vaseline lotion
  • TV - Promos - "ABC World News Tonight"
  • TV - Promos - "Aloha Paradise"
  • TV - Promos - "Dynasty"
  • TV - Promos - "Norma Rae" (film)
  • TV - Promos - "That's Incredible!"
  • TV - Promos - "Vega$" ("Vegas")

CREDITS

• For "The Great American Heart Test":
• Bernard I. Cohen … Producer
• Tom Jarriel … Reporter
• For "How Sweet It Is":
• Susan Lester … Producer¥
• Hugh Downs … Reporter, Interviewer
• Jackie Gleason … Guest
• For "20/20":
• Hugh Downs … Host
• Robert Israel … Theme Music by
• Lynn Anderson … Talent, Nabisco Country Crackers commercial
• Kathie Lee Gifford … Talent, Lysol spray commercial
• Steve Allen
• Mark Evans Austad
• Art Carney
• Ted Diethrich
• Sam Lebovitz
• Audrey Meadows
• Marilyn Taylor
• Pat Taylor
• Fred Ulbrich
• Jack Wrather