Aaron Ruben
Writer/ Producer/ Director
About This Interview
Aaron Ruben (1914-2010) was interviewed for four-and-a-half hours in Beverly Hills, CA. Ruben discussed his start as a radio writer for many popular stars including Dinah Shore, Burns and Allen, Fred Allen, Henry Morgan, and Milton Berle. He talked about the first time he worked in television on The Sam Levenson Show with writer Selma Diamond, and his television directorial debut on The Phil Silvers Show. In 1960, he produced his first television show, The Andy Griffith Show. Mr. Ruben talked about other television shows he produced including Gomer Pyle, USMC (which he also created), CPO Sharkey, Sanford and Son, and his work writing for Matlock. He also discussed his long-time philanthropic work with at-risk children. The interview was conducted by Morrie Gelman on February 25, 1999.
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Embeddable video clip: Aaron Ruben on his proudest achievement -- giving structure to The Andy Griffith Show
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Watch Interview Highlights
![Aaron Ruben on the multi-faceted skills of a good producer, what makes a good story "is a good story"](http://www.emmytvlegends.org/files/imagecache/interview_carousel_thumb/header-thumbs/B94tXXXS2wQ.jpg "Aaron Ruben on the multi-faceted skills of a good producer, what makes a good story "is a good story""){kind=small}
![Aaron Ruben on why "Gomer Pyle" didn't go to Vietnam and why there were no African-American's in Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show](http://www.emmytvlegends.org/files/imagecache/interview_carousel_thumb/header-thumbs/h2WQ7CBUKzQ.jpg "Aaron Ruben on why "Gomer Pyle" didn't go to Vietnam and why there were no African-American's in Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show"){kind=small}
Watch By Chapter
- Chapter 1
- On his early years and education growing up in Chicago; on his interest in acting and comedy
- On beginning his career in radio; writing for Wally Brown, Burns & Allen, and Fred Allen
- Chapter 2
- On writing for Fred Allen's radio show
- On writing for Milton Berle's radio show
- On his first TV writing job for The Sam Levenson Show
- On transitioning to television writing from radio
- Chapter 3
- On working with Selma Diamond; on working on Caesar's Hour with Sid Caesar, other writers on that show
- On the Blacklist and being subpoenaed to testify
- On working on The Phil Silvers Show with Nat Hiken
- Chapter 4
- On working on with Neil Simon
- On first joining The Andy Griffith Show, which he saw as a pilot; on executive producer Sheldon Leonard; on first meeting Andy Griffith; on Don Knotts; on Ron Howard; on Jim Nabors
- Chapter 5
- On casting Jim Nabors on The Andy Griffith Show; the production of The Andy Griffith Show and its sponsors; on the legacy of The Andy Griffith Show
- On creating and producing Gomer Pyle, USMC
- On his one feature film The Comic; on starting on Sanford and Son
- Chapter 6
- On developing, casting, and producing Sanford & Son
- On various projects for television
- On creating and producing CPO Sharkey starring Don Rickles
- Chapter 7
- On CPO Sharkey; on dealing with networks; on Don Rickles
- On various short-lived programs he worked on
- On producing The Ted Knight Show (Too Close for Comfort after it went to syndication); and Ted Knight's death
- On writing for Matlock; looking back at the CBS "rural purge" when Mayberry was canceled; starting to volunteer with children
- Chapter 8
- On his charitable work; on his last pilot pitch
- On his proudest achievement; on the changes in television since he began; his advice to aspiring writers; on his favorite episode of The Andy Grifith Show
- Chapter 9
- On "Opie the Birdman" (cont.); on how he'd like to be remembered; on helping children; on television writing as it was done on The Andy Griffith Show
- On some of the people he worked with throughout his career including George Burns (and his genius at being a straight man), Ed Wynn, Dick Van Dyke, and others
- Chapter 10
- On his family
- On some photos illustrating various highlights in his career
