MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO, THE: WILLIAM S. PALEY TELEVISION FESTIVAL 1996: PLAYHOUSE 90 {TAPE 1 OF 2} {LONG VERSION}
Summary
Tape one of two. One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Museum of Television & Radio's William S. Paley Festival in Los Angeles. The festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television, and is dedicated to television's creative community. This evening honors the era of live television and "Playhouse 90" (1956-1960), the first weekly ninety-minute series devoted to drama.
Museum president Robert M. Batscha talks about the Paley Festival and introduces William C. Paley, who comments on the body of work produced by "Playhouse 90." Then, Batscha introduces the following members of the casts and production teams of "Playhouse 90" programs: actress Polly Bergen; script supervisor Adri Butler; associate director Robert Butler; director Fielder Cook; actor Ron Ely; director John Frankenheimer; actor Charlton Heston; director Arthur Hiller; writer Roger O. Hirson; actor Tab Hunter; actress Hope Lange; actress Piper Laurie; writer Loring Mandel; writer Abby Mann; director Delbert Mann; executive assistant Peter Nelson; story editor Del Reisman; actor Cliff Robertson; writer David Shaw; writer Leslie Stevens; casting director and associate producer Ethel Winant; and producer and creator Martin Manulis.
Next, Batscha introduces a highlight tape featuring clips of the following "Playhouse 90" programs: the premiere of "Playhouse 90" (1956); "Forbidden Area" (1956); "The Eighty-Yard Run" (1958); "Clash By Night" (1957); "Winter Dreams" (1957); "Old Man" (1958); "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1959); "The Comedian" (1957); "The Velvet Alley" (1959); "Helen Morgan" (1957); "The Time of Your Life" (1958); "Days of Wine and Roses" (1958); "The Second Happiest Day" (1959); "Three Men on a Horse (1957); "Diary of a Nurse" (1959); "The Raider" (1959); "Journey to the Day" (1960); "Project Immortality" (1959); "The Innocent Sleep" (1958); "The Troublemakers" (1957); "Face of a Hero" (1959); "A Town Has Turned to Dust" (1958); "Invitation to a Gunfighter" (1957); "The Tunnel" (1959); "Dark December" (1959); "The Plot to Kill Stalin" (1958); "Child of Our Time" (1959); "In the Presence of Mine Enemies" (1960); "Judgment at Nuremberg" (1959); "Tomorrow" (1960); and "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1956). Then, Martin Manulis talks about William S. Paley's response to the first two shows, the production staff of the show, how the programs were cast, and the mishaps of live television. Then, the panelists discuss the following topics, among others: the differences between live television and the television of today; experiences during rehearsals; the education one received when working on "Playhouse 90"; the genius of Martin Manulis; the controversial aspects of a program entitled "The Plot to Kill Stalin"; the importance of discipline; the reasons that Elaine May quit during the rehearsal period for "Journey to the Day"; the camaraderie and the teamwork on the set of "Playhouse 90"; the terrors of live television; the importance of live television to the young actors of the time; the importance of "Playhouse 90" to live television; people who were an important part of "Playhouse 90" who are not among the panelists; and the activities of the cast and production team of "Playhouse 90" after each broadcast. In addition, in response to a question from the audience, the panelists explain the creation of the flooding of the Mississippi River on the program "Old Man." Continues with T:46589.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: October 3, 1996 Thursday 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:00:03
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:46587
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: She Made It Collection (Ethel Winant)
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert M. Batscha … Moderator
- Adri Butler … Panelist
- Robert Butler … Panelist
- Fiedler Cook … Panelist
- Ron Ely … Panelist
- John Frankenheimer … Panelist
- Charlton Heston … Panelist
- Arthur Hiller … Panelist
- Roger O. Hirson … Panelist
- Tab Hunter … Panelist
- Hope Lange … Panelist
- Piper Laurie … Panelist
- Loring Mandel … Panelist
- Abby Mann … Panelist
- Delbert Mann … Panelist
- Martin Manulis … Panelist
- Peter Nelson … Panelist
- Del Reisman … Panelist
- Cliff Robertson … Panelist
- David Shaw … Panelist
- Leslie Stevens … Panelist
- Ethel Winant … Panelist