During television's first fifty years-long before cable networks, Hulu,
Netflix, and the like-families would gather around their television sets
nightly to watch entertaining shows such as I Love Lucy, Gunsmoke,
M*A*S*H, The Beverly Hillbillies, Fantasy Island, and The Rockford
Files. Many of the stars of these beloved shows have passed away, but
their presence remains intact-not only through their television show
performances, which are still viewed and appreciated today, but also
through stories they told in interviews over the years.
Seasoned journalists and authors James Bawden and Ron Miller have
captured provocative and entertaining interviews with important figures
from TV's first fifty years. These thirty-nine interviews, selected from
conversations conducted from 1971-1998, present a fascinating glimpse of
some of television's most influential performers. Featured are exclusive
interviews with major stars (including Donna Reed, James Garner, and
Ricardo Montalban), icons of comedy (including Lucille Ball, George
Burns, and Milton Berle), TV hosts (including Dick Clark and Ed
Sullivan), and notable musical entertainers (such as Glen Campbell, Mary
Martin, and Lawrence Welk). Each chapter of this volume explores the
subject's television work-with detailed behind-the-scenes
disclosures-and includes additional information about the subject's
performances in film and on stage.