Founded in 1997, the Television Academy Foundation’s Archive of American Television has conducted over 700 oral history interviews (over 3000 hours) with the legends of television. These interviews chronicle the birth and growth of American TV History as it evolves, and make the interviews available worldwide. The Archive continues to produce new interviews every year. The collection covers a variety of professions, genres, and topics in electronic media history.
The interviews are done in a life-history format, starting with the interviewees' early years and influences. The interview then moves into their major television work, and concludes with the interviewee's thoughts about his or her craft, as well as advice to aspiring professionals. The interviews are presented uncut and unscripted.
Complete list of all Archive Interviewees.
Video: About the Archive
The Archive collection includes interviewes with TV Legends from television's earliest days in the Farnsworth labs to current stars and visionaries. We cover all TV Professions: Actors, Directors, Writers, Producers, Art Directors, Stuntmen, Composers, Music Directors, Historians, News Anchors, Talk Show Hosts, Religious Broadcasters, Puppeteers, Animators, Lighting Designers, Editors, Production Designers, Announcers, Sportscasters, Audio Engineers, Cameramen, Publicists, Advertising Executives, Network Founders and more. Genres of TV shows covered include Animation, Children's Programming, Comedy, Detective shows, Daytime & Primetime serials, Dramas, Game Shows, Late Night, Talk Shows, Legal Dramas, Medical Dramas, Music & Variety, News & Documentary, Reality TV, Religious Programming, Sci-Fi, Sports, TV Movies, Mini-series, and Westerns. Topics covered by our interviewees include TV's Golden Age, Pop Culture, the Emmy Awards and Academy Awards, the Olympic Games, Television and the Presidency, the Television Industry, Standard & Practices, Censorship, The Creative Process, Network Creation, The Hollywood Blacklist, Media Consolidation, Studio Management, the Quiz Show Scandals, Technological Innovation, Historic Events and Social Change and more.
Grant A. Tinker, David L. Wolper, Tom Sarnoff, and Dean Valentine and founding Executive Producer Michael Rosen were the initial forces behind this historic collection. Television Academy Foundation Chairman Jerry Petry, Chair Emeritus Thomas W. Sarnoff, and Archive Director Karen Herman continue to guide the Archive's success.
We are working to continue to cross-reference and index these interviews, and improve our search functionality. If you would like to help sponsor our efforts, please contact us.
ARCHIVE OF AMERICAN TELEVISION STAFF
Karen L. Herman, Director, herman@emmys.org
Adrienne Faillace, Manager, Archive Content, faillace@emmys.org
Jenni Matz, Manager, Archive Digital Assets matz@emmys.org
Nora Bates, Archive Production Administrator, bates@emmys.org
Archive of American Television
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation
5220 Lankershim Blvd.
N. Hollywood, CA 91601
For General Inquiries & Press Contact:
EMAIL: archive@emmys.org
PHONE: 818-509-2260
