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Dick Martin

Performer/ Director

"I became a bartender because it was the only way I could have my days free to try to get an agent or do anything in show business. I tended bar for a good ten years. That's where I met Dan Rowan. I was a bartender and he was a used car salesman. An unlikely pair to follow the footsteps of Martin and Lewis." 

About This Interview

Dick Martin (1922-2008) was interviewed for three-and-a-half hours in Malibu, CA. Mr. Martin spoke about his lifelong ambition to work in the entertainment industry, and his early career steps in Hollywood. He described his first encounter with Dan Rowan, and their subsequent partnership. He remembered with great detail their years on the road working in nightclubs around the country, and their early forays into television. Next, he spoke about working with Lucille Ball as an occasional performer on her CBS series The Lucy Show. Mr. Martin spoke at length about their renowned variety series Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, and talked about working with his well-known co-stars. Finally, he discussed his second career as a director for television, on programs including The Bob Newhart Show, Flo, Family Ties, Mama’s Family, The Bradys, and Newhart.  The interview was conducted by Karen Herman on September 25, 2002.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Shows

  • Bob Newhart Show, The (1972-78, CBS)
  • Dean Martin Summer Show, The
  • Family Ties
  • Lucy Show, The aka Here's Lucy
  • Newhart
  • Newhart: "The Last Newhart"
  • Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In

People

  • Lucille Ball
  • Gary David Goldberg
  • Bob Newhart

Topics

  • Television Industry

Genres

  • Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.
  • Chapters
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Chapters

  • Chapter 1
  • Full Chapter One
  • Full Chapter Two - CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE
  • Chapter 2
  • On co-starring on The Lucy Show f or its first 13 weeks
  • On starring in The Dean Martin Summer Show aka The Rowan and Martin Show
  • On the genesis, format, censorship, and writing of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
  • Chapter 3
  • Full Chapter Four - On Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
  • Chapter 4
  • Full Chapter Five 
  • Chapter 5
  • Full Chapter Six
  • Chapter 6
  • Full Chapter Seven

Shows

  • Bob Newhart Show, The (1972-78, CBS)
    • Director Dick Martin on knowing and working with Bob Newhart (00m 49s)
  • Dean Martin Summer Show, The
    • Dick Martin on starring in The Dean Martin Summer Show aka The Rowan and Martin Show (05m 14s)
  • Family Ties
    • Dick Martin briefly on directing episodes of Family Ties (01m 15s)
  • Lucy Show, The aka Here's Lucy
    • Dick Martin on being in the cast for the first 13 weeks on The Lucy Show (09m 20s)
  • Newhart
    • Director Dick Martin on the series finale of Newhart and its surprise ending (03m 00s)
    • Director Dick Martin on the "red herring" script ending for the series finale (01m 10s)
    • Director Dick Martin on knowing and working with Bob Newhart (00m 49s)
  • Newhart: "The Last Newhart"
    • Director Dick Martin on the series finale of Newhart and its surprise ending (03m 00s)
    • Director Dick Martin on the "red herring" script ending for the series finale (01m 10s)
    • Director Dick Martin on knowing and working with Bob Newhart (00m 49s)
  • Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
    • Dick Martin on the genesis of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
      (05m 39s)
    • Dick Martin on dealing with the NBC censors on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
      (04m 38s)
    • Dick Martin on the writing, title, and era of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
      (03m 27s)
    • Dick Martin on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In

People

  • Desi Arnaz
    • Dick Martin on being in the cast for the first 13 weeks on The Lucy Show
      (09m 20s)
  • Lucille Ball
    • Dick Martin on being in the cast for the first 13 weeks on The Lucy Show
      (09m 20s)
  • Gary David Goldberg
    • Dick Martin briefly on directing episodes of Family Ties
      (01m 15s)
  • Goldie Hawn
    • Dick Martin on dealing with the censors on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
      (04m 38s)
  • Paul Keyes
    • Dick Martin on the writing, title, and era of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
      (03m 27s)
  • Gary Morton
    • Dick Martin on being in the cast for the first 13 weeks on The Lucy Show
      (09m 20s)
  • Bob Newhart
    • Director Dick Martin on knowing and working with Bob Newhart (00m 49s)
  • Vivian Vance
    • Dick Martin on being in the cast for the first 13 weeks on The Lucy Show
      (09m 20s)

Topics

  • Television Industry > Censorship / Standards & Practices
    • Dick Martin on dealing with the censors on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In (04m 38s)

Genres

  • Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
    • Dick Martin on the writing, title, and era of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
      (03m 27s)
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