September 26, 1960 - December 28, 1962 

Dean Miller interviews veteran actor Charlie Ruggles. The only television interview Ruggles ever did aside from appearing on a This Is Your Life episode. 
Excerpt.

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'Oconnell 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. 

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 view-able as composite video and audio.  
                                                                                                                   

    Judy Garland makes a rare TV interview appearance, one of two she would do on Here's Hollywood.  

Helen O'Connell interviews Judy Garland who discusses her current role acting in Judgement at Nuremburg, her first acting job in front of the cameras in six years. In addition Judy talks about her relationship with producer/director Stanley Kramer, and acting with Richard Widmark. Garland relates to Helen O'Connel her future plans and other thoughts related to her status as an actress at the current time.                                  

Dean Miller interviews Bob Barker  who  discusses his family, marriage to Dorothy Jo...their decision one day on the beach in Florida to purchase a camper and move to California where Bob could further his career in radio and television.

Bob  talks about his lucky break in 1956 meeting Ralph Edwards and being given an opportunity to host the daytime version of Truth of Consequences. 

Dorothy Jo joins in on the conversation and talks about her love of animals and her current occupation breeding basset hounds. She also looks back to the day when she and Bob were married in 1945,

Dean Miller interviews motion picture comedian Edward Everett Horton.            

Helen O'connell interviews Tony Young (only television interview in his career) now starring in a one-hour mid-season replacement Western series, GUNSLINGER.                                   

    Dean Miller interviews Gene Kelly on the set of "Gigot,"currently filming in Paris,  He is directing the film starring Jackie Gleason whom he praises.                    

Helen O'Connell interviews William Demarest, and his wife, Lucille Demarest.             

Dean Miller interviews John Cassavetes.             

     September 26, 1960 - December 28, 1962 

Dean Miller interviews Buster Keaton in his home in Woodland Hills, California where he has lived the past almost six years with his wife Eleanor and dog Elmer. Keaton explains how Paramount bought this house when they made the Buster Keaton Story with Donald O'Connor in 1955. 

Buster describes his toy trains and other mechanical "toys" he has always had a fascination for. He describes to Dean Miller a modernized Chicken Coop he has made. Keaton's love for everything mechanical helped him master many of his stunts used in his films. 

Buster Keaton talks about his relationship with Ed Wynn and how they met in 1905 at the Temple theater in Detroit. He mentions that today's non-stunt-oriented comedy will return. "Comedy comes and goes in cycles."

Buster Keaton remembers when he began to be a member in his father's vaudeville act, his father throwing him around at every opportunity and how Buster would get even with his dad, having props fall on him. 
All physical comedy in those days and little related to sentimental. 

Keaton tell Miller how Harry Houdini tagged him with the name "Buster" after he fell down a flight of stairs. He shows Dean a picture of himself dating back to 1899 when he began performing. He states that he loved every day because every day was different.

Keaton describes how his mother would school teach him and his sisters. How he attended only one day of formal school in his life after he was kicked out for misbehaving. 

Concluding the interview Buster Keaton remembers coming to Hollywood in 1917 and the wildest stunt he ever performed. The plot required for Keaton to be depressed after losing his girl to Bull Montana. Buster then jumps from a high board on top of a swimming pool, only to miss the pool entirely. 

NOTE:

This rare ("lost") television audio air check was personally recorded off the air on Phil Gries' 1949 16"Andrea Television set when is was originally broadcast, August 10, 1961. The audio track was donated to the Museum of Television & Radio in 1996 (now known as The Paley Center for Media) just prior to the major retrospective the museum was offering to the public from September 6 thru December 8, 1996, entitled THE RETURN OF THE MAN IN THE PORKPIE HAT: BUSTER KEATON ON TELEVISION. 

Screened during this Buster Keaton retrospective were 42 individual clips that had been archived of Buster Keaton appearances on television, except for his HERE'S HOLLWOOD appearance which was not archived by NBC television. 

At the time, Phil Gries received the following letter dated September 19, 1996, from Allen Glover, curator and researcher at the museum. 

Dear Phil, 
Please find enclosed your audio air check of HERE'S HOLLYWOOD with Buster Keaton. We have made a digital master of the interview and it will now become part of the Museum's collection.
Without your lifelong dedication to the practice of recording and preserving television audio tracks, we would surely have lost a vital part of Buster Keaton's legacy. 

The Museum is indebted to collectors such as yourself and your work and devotion to broadcast history are greatly appreciated and admired." 



HISTORY OF HERE'S HOLLYWOOD television series, produced on 2" Quad Video tape broadcast daytime on NBC TV (1960-1962). 

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. 

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 soundtracks, representing approximately four dozen shows. Almost ALL these broadcasts remain in analog form, separate negative picture and separate negative soundtrack,  and not view-able as composite video and audio. 
                                                                   

September 26, 1960 - December 28, 1962 

Jack Linkletter interviews his father Art Linkletter from the home Jack grew up. Also on hand are his brother, Robert, and sister Diane, along with Jack's wife Barbara and his mom, Lois. Art replays a 1953 audio tape he recorded of Jack auditioning as an announcer, prior to his first TV appearance at the age of 16. Many personal anecdotes are exchanged.

Note: The audio quality has variations in quality. However, very discernible and a valued addition to the Here's Hollywood surviving broadcasts in the ATA archive. 

Here's Hollywood 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'Oconnell 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 tracks. 

Archival Television Audio has 74 broadcasts on audio tape, originally recorded by Phil Gries at the time the broadcasts first aired.
                                                  

Jack Linkletter interviews Director Stanley Kramer from West Berlin, Germany at the premiere of the film, "Judgement at Nuremberg."                          

Jack Linkletter interviews  Actor Richard Widmark from West Berlin, Germany at the premiere of the film, "Judgement at Nuremberg."             

Jack Linkletter interviews Judy Garland from West Berlin, Germany during the premiere of the film, "Judgment at Nuremberg." This was Garland's second television interview appearance. She first appeared on Here's Hollywood, June 23, 1961.             

   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 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.