Here's Hollywood (September 23, 1960 - December 28, 1962)
Celebrity interview Monday thru Friday daytime half-hour program (usually two interviews per broadcast). The series had four co-host interviewers, Dean Miller, Jo-ann Jordan, Helen O'Connell, and Jack Linkletter during its two and half year run.Over 1,100 interviews were taped, of which only less than 50 survive on video or kinescope.
One of the first television series to use a portable mobile studio going on location and using 2" Quad Video Tape.
Jack Linkletter interviews actor Maximillian Schell in Berlin Germany where he is filing "Judgement In Nuremberg." The program is joined in progress.
Jack Linkletter interviews Montgomery Clift in Berlin, Germany on the set of "Judgement at Nuremberg."
This was Clift's very first television interview, one of only four he ever gave in his career.
Montgomery Clift discusses his reaction to viewing himself...his own performances on the screen, his choice to act in "Judgement at Nuremberg for no pay, his personal motivational reasons why he accepts an acting role, and his intensity and unpredictability as a person.
Clift also reflects on his current role in the motion picture, "Freud," and his disdain for Hollywood because of its pretenses and incestuousness.
Helen O'Connell interviews Mr. Television, Milton Berle with his wife Ruth Berle form their Beverly Hill home.
The initial discussion surrounds itself around the adoption of Bill (Little Billy) whom Milton and Ruth dote over. Milton states that his adopted son's name comes from respect and the Godfather of little Billy, Billy Wilder. Ruth and Milton talk about their nine year marriage and the reasons for adopting a child, late in life. Milton describes how motherhood had changed his and Ruth's way of life.Guest Jean Milinair, 17 years of age and a house guest is introduced. Milton relates anecdotes related to good friend, Buddy Hackett.
Berle states to Helen O'connell the reason why he accepted the dramatic role in DOYLE AGAINS THE HOUSE, an Emmy Award winning teleproduction. He remembers how as a 13 year old kid he learned to manipulate playing cards very well. He was also the head of his drama class at school. Ruth mentions her relationship with Milton's mother, whom Milton states was his "rock" and guiding light in life. He talks about his father who passed away in 1938, a paint and varnish salesman, and his love for him. HIs mother Sandra would take Milton on the road from vaudeville house to vaudeville house and during these years Milton admits to not having a childhood of child friends his own age.
Milton talks about his NBC Special TV broadcast to air this night with Jack Benny, Lena Horne and others.
NOTE:
This air check was recorded off the air by Phil Gries in 1962. It was dubbed in 1997 and given to Milton Berle. The master 1/4" inch reel to reel tape was located in 2023 and it had deteriorated to the extent that it did not play back properly...representing a non-playback tape with imperceptible volume. Phil Gries used a FlexArm with Q-Tip and isopropyl alcohol and a constant pressure of the tape redirecting the tape path over the playback head resurrecting the tape audio playback reproduction to a very decent level with additional EQ processing which is now quite acceptable and represented in the ATA collection.
September 26, 1960 - December 28, 1962
Jack Linkletter drives to the Santa Rosa Ranch of Joel McCrea, where he and his wife, the former actress Frances Dee, and his family, Jody 28, David 22, and Peter 7 have lived for many years.
It is a working 2000 acre ranch with cattle as its main enterprise.
Joel explains why he originally bought the ranch on advice from colleague and fellow actor, Will Rogers. We hear many anecdotes form Joel McCrea including delivering the LA Times to motion picture stars, producers, and directors who later became contacts for him entering acting. Joel relates how he first met Rudolf Valentino, Ruth Roland and Cecil B. DeMille giving him first breaks getting into the movies as a stuntman, actor and how he once doubled for Greta Garbo in 1929. McCrea states that in the early years actors really wanted to act not like today when money and fame are more their motivation.
Other discussion includes how relaxed an actor he is, why he turned down a role starring opposite Lana Turner and his confrontation with studio chief, Louis B. Mayer, comparing yesterday's films with todays more distasteful films being produced. Joel describes a miniature stage coach given to his sons by director Frank Lloyd...a replica from the movie Wells Fargo which Joel McCrea starred in in 1938. He also talks about his current film release Ride The High Country (1962).
There is an anecdote about Studio boss Sam Goldwyn always spelling his name incorrectly, and his four principles of philosophy applied to living which include Honesty, Unselfishness, Purity and Love.
McCrea discusses his ethics and approach bringing up of his three sons, his 28 year marriage to retired actress Frances Dee.
Eldest son Jody, chimes in and talks briefly about his acting career including trick riding. He states that he has been riding horses since he was two years old, and demonstrates roping a steer on his first try.
NOTE: This is a rare insightful interview, one of only a few that Joel McCrea would ever do on Television. It is a "Lost" broadcast the original tape erased over 50 years ago by NBC.
Here's Hollywood (568 broadcasts) aired as a half-hour interview program, weekday afternoons on NBC at 4:30pm. On October 2, 1961 the show was reduced five minutes giving way to a live news broadcast with Sander Vanocur which aired at 4:55pm.
Here's Hollywood was the leading daytime show for two years. It was the first TV broadcast of its kind, using two mobile vans equipped with 2" video tape equipment which traveled to the homes of celebrities...two locations each day, one star in the morning and one in the afternoon. Most of the interviews aired were ten minutes in length. Two different interviews comprised the full length of the half hour program. Occasionally, one subject would be interviewed for the complete program. Occasionally programs were produced outside of the United States...Hawaii, Germany, France. Five color broadcasts were attempted and then the concept abandoned, due to the complexity of 2" quadruplex video tape at the time.
Dean Miller conducted interviews from September 26, 1960 to September 29, 1961. He was replaced by Jack Linkletter who conducted interviews from October 2, 1961 to December 28, 1962. Joanne Jordan conducted interviews from September 26, 1960 to June 9, 1961. She was replaced by Helen O'Connell who conducted interviews from June 13, 1961 to December 28, 1962.
Note: Only a handful of the 1,100 different interviews survive. Most were erased, discarded, misplaced. NBC Archives have only two surviving kinescopes, one with Joe E. Brown (12-2-61), and one with Linda Darnell (12-4-61). UCLA Film & TV Archive has 46 different subject interview kinescopes on separate negative film and separate optical film.
One surviving complete Here's Hollywood video tape has been uploaded in 2019 by Ron DeFore (personal family copy), showing a visit to the Don Defore's home, including visiting with entire family. Broadcast March 22, 1961.
Archival Television Audio has 82 broadcasts on audio tape, originally recorded by Phil Gries at the time the broadcasts first aired. Most of them are complete interviews. These television Audio Air Checks represent the greatest number of known surviving HERE'S HOLLYWOOD broadcast episodes.
UCLA FILM & Television Archives retains, in their vaults, the greatest number of individual original HERE'S HOLLYWOOD separate 16mm Kinescopes and coinciding separate optical and magnetic sound tracks, representing approximately four dozen shows. Almost ALL of these broadcasts remain in analog form, and not viewable as composite video and audio or accessible in transcript documentation.
Jack Linkletter interviews Lon Chaney Jr. from his San Fernando Valley home.
Lon Chaney Jr. reminisces and recalls his past experiences related to growing up in this area when the Hollywood Freeway was a dirt road...riding horseback and hunting rabbits with pal Rex Bell.
Additional topics include:
-Starting out originally in business and then at 25 going into films.
-How he first met a producer at Universal who heard a song he created at a party.
-Recollections viewing his father's films as a kid, and how his dad, Long Chaney Sr, saved his life when he was born (Oklahoma City) weighing only 2 & 1/4 lbs. At 6 months old able to walk and talk.
-Lon Chaney Jr. story about he as a youngster and his dad playing for nickels in bars, Lon Chaney Jr. singing and father Lon Chaney Sr. hoofing and flipping Lon Jr. around like bowling pins...working amateur shows together.
-Story about Lon Chaney Sr. a good tailor, making a long coat for Lon Jr. with many pockets to sneak five cent beers and free sandwiches from bars when performing together.
During the interview Lon introduces his wife to Jack Linkletter.
NOTE;
Rare interview with Lon Chaney Jr. sharing personal anecdotes about his early life and his father Lon Chaney Sr.
Jack Linkletter interviews John Wayne who just finished making the Motion Picture HATARI. In this rare early television interview, only his third (one with Sheila Graham in 1955, and one with Jack Paar on the Tonight Show in 1960), Wayne discusses his experience working on HATARI, his favorite directors with whom he as worked with over the years, his early frustrations as an actor leading to an ulcer, the difference between an A picture and a B picture, his love for working in the wide open spaces and making westerns, the difference between acting natural and being natural on the screen, his future aspirations and his personal views and philosophy of life.
NOTE: This TV Audio Air Check was originally recorded by Phil Gries and recently relocated (12/2019) and re-evaluated. It was not originally considered archival worthy because of audio imperfections and sound quality. However, because of its rarity this air check has been specially mixed and improved. The sound has been boosted and equalized. Currently, very acceptable listening, preserving this rare interview with motion picture legend, John Wayne.
Jack Linkletter interviews Red Buttons, Bruce Cabot and Elsa Martinelli who have just finished working on the motion picture, HATARI. Each discuss their roles and their impressions of working in East Africa.
NOTE: This TV Audio Air Check was originally recorded by Phil Gries and recently relocated (12/2019) and re-evaluated. It was not originally considered archival worthy because of audio imperfections and sound quality. However, because of its rarity this air check has been specially mixed and improved. The sound has been boosted and equalized. Currently, very acceptable listening.
Jack Linkletter interviews Steve McQueen on the set of "The Great Escape" in Munich, Germany.
NOTE: A POSITIVE 35MM positve print Kinescope does exist at UCLA FILM & TV ARCHIVE. However, the Negative SOUND TRACK of this broadcast has been lost, allowing for only screening this footage silently.
The soundtrack recorded off the air at the time of the original August 7 1962 NBC broadcast was recorded on 1/4" audio tape, direct line, by Phil Gries (Archival Television Audio Inc.) It is the only extant audio known to exist in the world. Audio from ATA has been transacted to production companies over the years for inclusion in different television documentaries about Steve McQueen, including "A&E Biography of Steve McQueen," " I am Steve McQueen," and "Steve McQueen: Life inThe Fast Lane."
The sound track synced to the surviving kinescope produced for the first time in half-century a picture and sound archived rare television interview with Steve McQueen, discussing many subjects including his private life, one of the very few he ever permitted.
Here's Hollywood was a series which featured celebrity interviews, and Steve consented to a rare interview appearance on one of
its episodes. Series host Jack Linkletter traveled to Germany in 1962 to interview Steve on the set of The Great Escape.
Jack reminisces with McQueen Online exclusively about the experiences he shared with Steve.
Jack Linkletter:
I lived a few blocks from Steve and, while seeing him seldom, we did visit...shared an enthusiasm for motorcycles...for which he was responsible.
I flew to Munich during my Here's Hollywood show to do interviews with Steve and the cast while they were making The Great Escape. On a free night, Steve got a hold of three Harley's for him, me and Jim Garner to go to Obermensing for a folk festival. Neither Garner nor I had many cycle hours and the narrow streets, humped in the middle and made of cobble stones would have been scary enough, but then to have cars flying by within inches, made Garner and I think it was our last trip anywhere.
We got to the folk fest...lots of carny offerings...throw balls in holes, ride bumper cars, etc. From a big tent, we heard classical oompa music and that is where we headed. Picnic type tables, the local community..many in leather pants, the band and lots of beer. Steve and Jim were recognized immediately and room was made at a table with a policeman, a dairyman, etc. While we didn't know German, pretty soon we are singing along as if we knew the words. The crowd got Steve standing on the table singing the chorus of whatever....everyone loved it.
Going home in a light rain was horrible.
Jack Linkletter
Host of HERE'S HOLLYWOOD
One month after the death of Marilyn Monroe, Jack Linkletter and Helen O'Connell talk to Monroe's make up man, Alan Weiss Snider; her first agent, Harry Lipton; actress Jane Russell; calendar photographer Tom Kelly; Hollywood studio club director Florence Williams; and the daughter of Anthony Quinn, Christina Quinn.
Helen O'Connell interviews Carole Costello (daughter of Lou Costello), Beverly Wills (daughter of Joan Davis), and Harold Lloyd Jr. (son of Harold Lloyd). Also commenting is Barry Ashton.
Dick Gregory is interviewed for 21 minutes in Part I. In Part II, there is a 1957 repeat of an 18 minute interview with Eddie Cantor, and George Jessel.
"Return From the Shadows" profiles guests William Gargan, Roy Campanella, Virginia Graham and Dr. Smiley Blantin, who discuss their own personal setbacks and successes in overcoming adversity.
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