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Del Reisman

Writer

"The script is clearly the most significant element of any film. Everything else is important but if the story doesn't' work, all of the charisma of the star, the talent of the director, the skills of everybody associated with, are for naught."

About This Interview

Del Reisman (1924-2011) was interviewed for six hours at the Writer's Guild of America, west in Los Angeles, CA. Reisman looked back on his early years growing up as a "studio brat" observing his mother at work as a secretary at Universal Studios in the 1930s.  He described his entry in television as a reader on the anthology series Four Star Playhouse. He detailed his most prolific period in television as an associate producer/ story editor on such television series as: the "live," daily color anthology Matinee Theater, the prestigious ninety-minute anthology Playhouse 90, the classic filmed anthology The Twilight Zone, the popular crime series The Untouchables, the western series Rawhide, and the drama The Man and the City. He discussed his work as story consultant on the nighttime soap opera Peyton Place, for which he wrote the cliffhanging final episode (the series was canceled without a finale). He also talked about his later work as a freelance writer of such 1970s series as The Streets of San Francisco and Little House on the Prairie. Finally, Reisman described his long service to the Writers Guild of America, west for which he ultimately served as President from 1991-93. Other subjects discussed include the Hollywood blacklist and the McCarthy era, as well as Reisman's work (at the WGA) to restore the credits of blacklisted writers of feature films made in the 1950s-60s. The interview was conducted by Gary Rutkowski on October 28, 2003.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Shows

  • Bracken's World
  • Leiutenant, The
  • Little House on the Prairie
  • Matinee Theater
  • Peyton Place
  • Playhouse 90
  • Rawhide
  • Twilight Zone, The
  • Twilight Zone, The: "Eye of the Beholder"
  • Twilight Zone, The: "The Invaders"
  • Twilight Zone, The: "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street"
  • Untouchables, The

People

  • Martin Manulis
  • Gene Roddenberry
  • Rod Serling

Topics

  • Censorship / Standards & Practices
  • Hollywood Blacklist (ca. 1950s)
  • Industry Strikes
  • Sex & Violence

Professions

  • Writers & Show Creators
YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
  • Highlights
  • Interview
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Highlights

  • Story editor Del Reisman on moving to <gx_error_missing_name>Playhouse 90,</gx_error_missing_name>where he began as associate story editor; on producer Martin Manulis; on writer James P. CavanaghStory editor Del Reisman on moving to Playhouse 90,where he began as associate story editor; on producer Martin Manulis; on writer James P. Cavanagh
    Clip begins at: 06:17, Duration: 22m 34s
  • Story editor Del Reisman on the advent of the Blacklist; on loyalty oaths; on "fronts"Story editor Del Reisman on the advent of the Blacklist; on loyalty oaths; on "fronts"
    Clip begins at: 10:16, Duration: 18m 27s
  • Associate producer Del Reisman on joining <i>The Twilight Zone</i>Associate producer Del Reisman on joining The Twilight Zone
    Clip begins at: 00:00
  • Story editor/associate producer Del Reisman on The Untouchables; on the series' storylines and violence; on producing for the seriesStory editor/associate producer Del Reisman on The Untouchables; on the series' storylines and violence; on producing for the series
    Clip begins at: 07:29, Duration: 18m 31s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • Introduction
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On his early years growing up in Los Angeles; on his World War II serivce; on his interest in writing
    Clip begins at: 00:21
  • Part 2
  • On working as a journalist; on beginning his career in television; on working for Four Star Television
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On being a story editor on Matinee Theater
    Clip begins at: 11:48
  • Part 3
  • On the production details of Matinee Theater; on some of the key personnel and actors on the show; on the series us of NBC color
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 4
  • On Matinee Theater producer Albert McCleery; on his family life at the time he worked on Matinee Theater
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On the advent of the Blacklist; on loyalty oaths; on "fronts"
    Clip begins at: 10:16
  • Part 5
  • On the end of the Blacklist era
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On moving to Playhouse 90, where he began as associate story editor; on producer Martin Manulis; on writer James P. Cavanagh
    Clip begins at: 06:17
  • Part 6
  • On specific writers and teleplays of Playhouse 90
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 7
  • On specific Playhouse 90 teleplays; on director John Frankenheimer; on the departure of producer Martin Manulis; on the legacy of the series
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On joining The Twilight Zone as associate producer
    Clip begins at: 26:00
  • Part 8
  • On being associate producer on The Twilight Zone;  on some of the key writers and teleplays
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 9
  • On The Twilight Zone's popularity; on the show's use of mirrors; on the socially conscious aspects of the series
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On being story editor and then associate producer on The Untouchables; on the series' storylines and violence; on producing for the series
    Clip begins at: 07:29
  • Part 10
  • On Robert Stack; on TV violence; on The Untouchable s' end
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On working on The Leiutenant; on producer Gene Roddenberry
    Clip begins at: 04:29
  • On working on Rawhide
    Clip begins at: 12:14
  • On being executive story consultant/associate producer on Peyton Place
    Clip begins at: 17:14
  • Part 11
  • On Peyton Place's show bible; on working on Bracken's World; on beginning to work freelance on such dramatic series as Streets of San Francisco, Cannon, and Little House on the Prairie;  on writing The Billie Holiday Story
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On editing your script; on becoming involved in the Writers Guild of America, West
    Clip begins at: 25:21
  • Part 12
  • On credits disputes; on the 1988 Writers' Strike; his work as President of the Writers Guild of America, West; on winning the guild's Morgan Cox Award; on his then-current projects; on his achievements; on his advice to aspiring writers; on how he would like to be remembered
    Clip begins at: 0:0

Shows

  • Bracken's World
    • Del Reisman on working on Bracken's World
      Clip begins at: 01:51, Duration: 08m 34s
  • Leiutenant, The
    • Del Reisman on working on The Leiutenant; on producer Gene Roddenberry
      Clip begins at: 04:29, Duration: 07m 45s
  • Little House on the Prairie
    • Del Reisman on writing two episodes of Little House on the Prairie and his experience working with Michael Landon
      Clip begins at: 18:18, Duration: 02m 07s
  • Matinee Theater
    • Del Reisman on working as a story editor on Matinee Theater
      Clip begins at: 11:48, Duration: 16m 45s
    • Story editor Del Reisman on the production details of Matinee Theater; on some of the key personnel and actors on the show; on the series us of NBC color
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 28m 25s
    • Story editor Del Reisman on working with Matinee Theater producer Albert McCleery
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 07m 09s
  • Peyton Place
    • Del Reisman on being executive story consultant/associate producer on Peyton Place
      Clip begins at: 17:14
  • Playhouse 90
    • Story editor Del Reisman on moving to Playhouse 90, where he began as associate story editor; on producer Martin Manulis; on writer James P. Cavanagh
      Clip begins at: 06:17, Duration: 22m 34s
    • Story editor Del Reisman on specific writers and teleplays of Playhouse 90
      Clip begins at: 00:01
    • Story editor Del Reisman on how censorship of Rod Serling's social stories on Playhouse 90 led to his creation of The Twilight Zone, where his social commentary could be masked by graying time and place
      Clip begins at: 04:42, Duration: 01m 44s
    • Story editor Del Reisman on specific Playhouse 90 teleplays; on director John Frankenheimer; on the departure of producer Martin Manulis; on the legacy of the series
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 25m 59s
  • Rawhide
    • Del Reisman on working on Rawhide during its last years
      Clip begins at: 12:14, Duration: 05m 00s
  • Twilight Zone, The
    • Story editor Del Reisman on how censorship of Rod Serling's social stories on Playhouse 90 led to his creation of The Twilight Zone, where his social commentary could be masked by graying time and place
      Clip begins at: 04:42, Duration: 01m 44s
    • Associate producer Del Reisman on joining The Twilight Zone
      Clip begins at: 00:00
    • The Twilight Zone associate producer Del Reisman on Rod Serling's personality and work ethic
      Clip begins at: 00:04, Duration: 02m 02s
    • The Twilight Zone associate producer Del Reisman on how the MGM backlot prompted story ideas, as with [SPOILER ALERT!] "Time Enough at Last"
      Clip begins at: 13:55, Duration: 01m 16s
    • The Twilight Zone associate producer Del Reisman on series cinematographer George T. Clemens
      Clip begins at: 15:37, Duration: 01m 29s
    • The Twilight Zone associate producer Del Reisman on the theme of [SPOILER ALERT!] "Eye of the Beholder"
      Clip begins at: 19:39, Duration: 00m 41s
    • The Twilight Zone associate producer Del Reisman on the recurring themes of the series, particularly those of series creator/main writer Rod Serling
      Clip begins at: 25:01, Duration: 01m 36s
    • Associate producer Del Reisman on The Twilight Zone's popularity; on the show's use of mirrors; on the socially conscious aspects of the series
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 07m 28s
  • Twilight Zone, The: "Eye of the Beholder"
    • The Twilight Zone associate producer Del Reisman on the theme of [SPOILER ALERT!] "Eye of the Beholder"
      Clip begins at: 19:39, Duration: 00m 41s
    • The Twilight Zone associate producer Del Reisman on series cinematographer George T. Clemens
      Clip begins at: 15:37, Duration: 01m 29s
  • Twilight Zone, The: "The Invaders"
    • The Twilight Zone associate producer Del Reisman on visiting the set of "The Invaders"
      Clip begins at: 17:35, Duration: 01m 18s
  • Twilight Zone, The: "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street"
    • Story editor Del Reisman on how censorship of Rod Serling's social stories on Playhouse 90 led to his creation of The Twilight Zone, where his social commentary could be masked by graying time and place
      Clip begins at: 04:42, Duration: 01m 44s
  • Untouchables, The
    • Story editor/associate producer Del Reisman on The Untouchables; on the series' storylines and violence; on producing for the series
      Clip begins at: 07:29, Duration: 18m 31s
    • The Untouchables story editor/associate producer Del Reisman on Robert Stack; on TV violence; on the show's end
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 04m 28s

People

  • Michael Landon
    • Del Reisman on writing two episodes of Little House on the Prairie and his experience working with Michael Landon
      Clip begins at: 18:18, Duration: 02m 07s
  • Martin Manulis
    • Story editor Del Reisman on moving to Playhouse 90, where he began as associate story editor; on producer Martin Manulis; on writer James P. Cavanagh
      Clip begins at: 06:17, Duration: 22m 34s
  • Albert McCleery
    • Del Reisman on working as a story editor on Matinee Theater
      Clip begins at: 11:48, Duration: 16m 45s
    • Story editor Del Reisman on working with Matinee Theater producer Albert McCleery
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 07m 09s
  • Gene Roddenberry
    • Del Reisman on working on The Leiutenant; on producer Gene Roddenberry
      Clip begins at: 04:29, Duration: 07m 45s
  • Rod Serling
    • Story Editor Del Reisman on how censorship of Rod Serling's social stories on Playhouse 90 led to his creation of The Twilight Zone, where his social commentary could be masked by graying time and place
      Clip begins at: 04:42, Duration: 01m 44s
    • The Twilight Zone associate producer Del Reisman on Rod Serling's personality and work ethic
      Clip begins at: 00:04, Duration: 02m 02s
    • The Twilight Zone associate producer Del Reisman on the recurring themes of the series, particularly those of series creator/main writer Rod Serling
      Clip begins at: 25:01, Duration: 01m 36s
    • Playhouse 90 story editor and The Twilight Zone associate producer Del Reisman on what he perceived as on-camera overexposure of Rod Serling on television
      Clip begins at: 27:46, Duration: 00m 59s
  • Robert Stack
    • Del Reisman on Robert Stack
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 02m 46s

Topics

  • Television Industry > Censorship / Standards & Practices
    • Story editor Del Reisman on how censorship of Rod Serling's social stories on Playhouse 90 led to his creation of The Twilight Zone, where his social commentary could be masked by graying time and place
      Clip begins at: 04:42, Duration: 01m 44s
  • Television Industry > Criticism of TV > Sex & Violence
    • The Untouchables story editor/associate producer on TV violence; on the show's end
      Clip begins at: 02:47, Duration: 01m 40s
  • Television Industry > Industry Crossroads > Hollywood Blacklist (ca. 1950s)
    • Story editor Del Reisman on the advent of the Blacklist; on loyalty oaths; on "fronts"
      Clip begins at: 10:16, Duration: 18m 27s
    • Del Reisman on the end of the Blacklist era
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 06m 16s
  • Television Industry > Industry Crossroads > Industry Strikes
    • Del Reisman on the 1960 writers' strike; on joining the Writers Guild of America, West and becoming deeply involved in its work
      Clip begins at: 26:59, Duration: 01m 43s

Professions

  • Writers & Show Creators > Writer
    • Del Reisman on his process of editing his scripts
      Clip begins at: 25:21, Duration: 01m 38s
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Submitted by alexd624 on Wed, 2011-11-23 12:01.

Very nice site!

Submitted by TheGallionCo on Sun, 2011-01-09 02:42.

hi del

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