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Barbara Eden

Actress

"The most interesting person on screen is someone who’s different." 

About This Interview

Actress Barbara Eden was interviewed for two-and-a-half hours in Beverly Hills, CA. During the interview, Ms. Eden chronicled her start in television and her work as a guest on such early television series as I Love Lucy. She discussed her first regular series role as “Loco Jones” in How to Marry a Millionaire. She then went on to talk about her starring roles in I Dream of Jeannie and Harper Valley PTA. Eden also discussed some of the many made-for-television movies she appeared in as well as her then-current career plans. The interview was conducted by Jennifer Howard on April 25, 2000.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics

Shows

  • Andy Griffith Show, The
  • Bob Hope Specials
  • Burke’s Law
  • Dallas
  • Dr. Kildare
  • Gunsmoke
  • Harper Valley PTA
  • How to Marry a Millionaire
  • I Dream of Jeannie
  • I Dream of Jeannie… 15 Years Later
  • I Love Lucy
  • Rawhide

People

  • Lucille Ball
  • Bill Daily
  • Andy Griffith
  • Larry Hagman
  • Bob Hope
  • Don Knotts
  • Irma Kusely
  • Sidney Sheldon
  • Aaron Spelling

Topics

  • Historic Events and Social Change
  • Pop Culture
  • Television Industry

Featured Content

Archive Bob Hope Comedy Collection

Video: Full I Dream of Jeannie episode "Jeannie or the Tiger" (airdate: September 19, 1967) where Barbara Eden plays the dual role of Jeannie and her sister, Jeannie II

Resources

Barbara Eden autobiography

Autobiography: Jeannie Out of the Bottle

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  • Highlights
  • Chapters
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics

Highlights

  • Barbara Eden on her guest appearance on the <i>I Love Lucy</i>  episode "Country Club Dance" (airdate: April 22, 1957) (02m 53s)Barbara Eden on her guest appearance on the I Love Lucy episode "Country Club Dance" (airdate: April 22, 1957) (02m 53s)
  • <DIV contenteditable="true" class="gx_free">Barbara Eden on getting the role of "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie and her interpretation of the character</DIV> (06m 13s)
    Barbara Eden on getting the role of "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie and her interpretation of the character
    (06m 13s)
  • <DIV contenteditable="true" class="gx_free">Barbara Eden on the "belly button controversy" on <i>I Dream of Jeannie</i> </DIV> (02m 13s)
    Barbara Eden on the "belly button controversy" on I Dream of Jeannie
    (02m 13s)
  • Barbara Eden on the craft of acting (04m 28s)Barbara Eden on the craft of acting (04m 28s)

Chapters

  • Chapter 1
  • On her early years growing up in Arizona and deciding to be a performer
  • On her first series televsion role on How to Marry a Millionaire
  • On her guest appearances on I Love Lucy,  Gunsmoke, Rawhide, The Andy Griffith Show, and Dr. Kildare
  • Chapter 2
  • On guest appearances on various dramatic series, her feature film roles including Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and working with producer Irwin Allen
  • On getting the role of "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie and her interpretation of the character
  • On working with Sidney Sheldon, and co-stars Larry Hagman, Bill Daily, Hayden Roarke and others
  • On filming the pilot of I Dream of Jeannie, the "rules" for Jeannie, and the unseen belly button "controversy"
  • Chapter 3
  • On the "belly button controversy" on I Dream of Jeannie, how the special effects were done, and the look of the sets
  • On a typical workweek on I Dream of Jeannie,  memorable episodes and guests, and the show's cancellation
  • On reprising her role as Jeannie years later; and her work in TV movies
  • Chapter 4
  • On some of her TV movie work including The Feminist and the Fuz z, The Stranger Within, Stone Street, and How to Break Up a Happy Divorce
  • On her role in the feature film and series, Harper Valley PTA
  • On her work in the TV movies The Secret Life of Kathy McCormick and Brand New Life
  • On joining the cast of Dallas
  • On touring with Bob Hope for his USO specials
  • Chapter 5
  • On current projects, the craft of acting, and how she would like to be remembered

Shows

  • Andy Griffith Show, The
    • Barbara Eden on guesting on The Andy Griffith Show (01m 10s)
  • Bob Hope Specials
    • Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope for the Bob Hope Specials (07m 09s)
  • Burke’s Law
    • Barbara Eden on working with Aaron Spelling on Burke's Law (01m 01s)
  • Dallas
    • Barbara Eden on joining the cast of Dallas (02m 16s)
  • Dr. Kildare
    • Barbara Eden on guest starring on the Dr. Kildare episode "If You Can't Believe the Truth" (airdate: October 10, 1963) (01m 08s)
  • Gunsmoke
    • Barbara Eden on one of her first TV jobs on Gunsmoke (00m 58s)
  • Harper Valley PTA
    • Barbara Eden in her role in the feature film and subsequnt series, Harper Valley PTA (07m 05s)
  • How to Marry a Millionaire
    • Barbara Eden on her first series role in How to Marry a Millionaire (06m 06s)
  • I Dream of Jeannie
    • Barbara Eden getting the role of "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie and her interpretation of the character
      (06m 13s)
    • Barbara Eden on working with Sidney Sheldon, and co-stars Larry Hagman, Bill Daily, Hayden Roarke and others on I Dream of Jeannie
      (06m 11s)
    • Barbara Eden on filming the pilot of I Dream of Jeannie, the "rules" for Jeannie, and the unseen belly button "controversy" (07m 48s)
    • Barbara Eden on the "belly button controversy" on I Dream of Jeannie
      (02m 13s)
    • Barbara Eden on how special effects were done and the look of the sets on I Dream of Jeannie (08m 01s)
    • Barbara Eden on a typical workweek on I Dream of Jeannie,  memorable episodes and guests, and the show's cancellation
      (13m 17s)
    • Barbara Eden on the impact of I Dream of Jeannie (01m 39s)
  • I Dream of Jeannie… 15 Years Later
    • Barbara Eden on reprising her role as Jeannie  (03m 05s)
  • I Love Lucy
    • Barbara Eden on her guest appearance on the I Love Lucy episode "Country Club Dance" (airdate: April 22, 1957) (02m 54s)
  • Rawhide
    • Barbara Eden on guest starring on Rawhide (01m 53s)

People

  • Lucille Ball
    • Barbara Eden on her guest appearance on the I Love Lucy episode "Country Club Dance" (airdate: April 22, 1957) (02m 54s)
  • Bill Daily
    • Barbara Eden on working with I Dream of Jeannie co-star Bill Daily 
  • Clint Eastwood
    • Barbara Eden on guest starring on Rawhide (01m 53s)
  • Andy Griffith
    • Barbara Eden on guesting on The Andy Griffith Show (01m 10s)
  • Larry Hagman
    • Barbara Eden on working with I Dream of Jeannie co-star Larry Hagman 
      (01m 46s)
  • Bob Hope
    • Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope for the Bob Hope Specials (07m 09s)
  • Don Knotts
    • Barbara Eden on guesting on The Andy Griffith Show (01m 10s)
  • Irma Kusely
    • Barbara Eden on her guest appearance on the I Love Lucy episode "Country Club Dance" (airdate: April 22, 1957) (02m 54s)
  • Don Rickles
    • Barbara Eden on Don Rickles' guest appearance on I Dream of Jeannie (00m 46s)
  • George Schlatter
    • Barbara Eden on the "belly button controversy" on I Dream of Jeannie
      (02m 13s)
  • Sidney Sheldon
    • Barbara Eden on working with I Dream of Jeannie creator/producer Sidney Sheldon (01m 29s)
  • Aaron Spelling
    • Barbara Eden on working with Aaron Spelling on Burke's Law (01m 01s)

Topics

  • Historic Events and Social Change > Diversity in Television > Women
    • Barbara Eden on criticism of  "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie (02m 34s)
  • Historic Events and Social Change > War > Gulf
    • Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope's USO tour in the Persian Gulf (01m 34s)
  • Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
    • Barbara Eden on her interpretation of "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie (01m 51s)
  • Television Industry > Censorship / Standards & Practices
    • Barbara Eden on the "belly button controversy" on I Dream of Jeannie (02m 13s)
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