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Hal Kanter

Writer / Producer

"We couldn’t get black people on the air until 'Julia' came along to prove that white people will watch black people on television. I feel some gratification when I see that."

About This Interview

Hal Kanter (1918-2011) was interviewed for three hours in Encino, CA. Kanter talked extensively about his first television work as a writer for famed comedian, Ed Wynn, on The Ed Wynn Show. He talked about how he ultimately wrote and directed The George Gobel Show. Kanter recalled his pioneering sitcom, Julia, which starred Diahann Carroll, and featured the first black, female lead on television. Kanter also mentioned his writing for the “Academy Awards” shows and dozens of feature films.  The interview was conducted by Sam Denoff on May 22, 1997.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Shows

  • Academy Awards, The
  • All in the Family
  • Chico and the Man
  • Ed Wynn Show, The
  • Emmy Awards, The (primetime and daytime)
  • Jimmy Stewart Show
  • Julia

People

  • Diahann Carroll
  • Bob Hope
  • Norman Lear
  • Carroll O'Connor

Topics

  • Historic Events and Social Change

Genres

  • Comedy Series
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  • Highlights
  • Chapters
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Highlights

  • Hal Kanter on how his show <i>Julia</i> originated out of his feeling a responsibility to help the image of African-Americans (03m 37s)Hal Kanter on how his show Julia originated out of his feeling a responsibility to help the image of African-Americans (03m 37s)
  • Hal Kanter on being nominated for an Emmy for <i>Julia</i>; felt he was "accomplishing something" (00m 34s)Hal Kanter on being nominated for an Emmy for Julia; felt he was "accomplishing something" (00m 34s)
  • Hal Kanter on writing for <i>The Ed Wynn Show;</i> on the show's Emmy win (11m 11s)Hal Kanter on writing for The Ed Wynn Show; on the show's Emmy win (11m 11s)
  • Writer Hal Kanter on working on <i>Chico and the Man</i>; on the death of the show's star Freddie Prinze (01m 54s)Writer Hal Kanter on working on Chico and the Man; on the death of the show's star Freddie Prinze (01m 54s)
  • <div contenteditable="true" class="gx_free">Writer Hal Kanter on working on The Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy Award for the show in 1991</div> (04m 29s)
    Writer Hal Kanter on working on The Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy Award for the show in 1991
    (04m 29s)

Chapters

  • Chapter 1
  • Introduction
  • On his early years and beginnings as a writer
  • On his first jobs in radio; on his World War II military service
  • On the first things he wrote for Bob Hope
  • Chapter 2
  • On working in radio on such shows as The Alan Young Show and The Danny Kaye Show
  • On his first television job, writing for The Ed Wynn Show; on Ed Wynn; on writing for early television; on the show's guests
  • Chapter 3
  • On some of the guests on The Ed Wynn Show including Ann Sheridan and Dinah Shore; on the transition from radio to television from a writer's perspective; on The Ed Wynn Show's Emmy Award win
  • Chapter 4
  • On working on The George Gobel Show and Kraft Music Hall
  • On creating and producing Julia
  • On T he Jimmy Stewart Show
  • Chapter 5
  • On being executive producer during All in the Family's 1975-1976 season; on his difficulties working with Norman Lear
  • On working on Chico and the Man; on the death of the show's star Freddie Prinze
  • On working on The Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy Award for the show in 1991
  • On some of his film work; on winning The Writers Guild of America's Valentine Davies Award; on how television has eveolved; on how he would like to be remembered
  • On some of the people he worked with in his career
  • Chapter 6
  • On some of the people he worked with; on photos illustrating points in his career

Shows

  • Academy Awards, The
    • Writer Hal Kanter on working on The Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy Award for the show in 1991 (04m 29s)
  • All In The Family
    • Hal Kanter on being executive producer during All in the Family's1975-1976 season; on his difficulties working with Norman Lear
      (07m 08s)
  • Chico and the Man
    • Writer Hal Kanter on working on Chico and the Man; on the death of the show's star Freddie Prinze (01m 54s)
  • Ed Wynn Show, The
    • Hal Kanter on writing for The Ed Wynn Show (19m 32s)
    • Hal Kanter on writing for The Ed Wynn Show; on the show's Emmy win (11m 11s)
  • Emmy Awards, The (primetime and daytime)
    • Writer Hal Kanter on working on The Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy Award for the show in 1991
      (04m 29s)
  • Jimmy Stewart Show
    • Hal Kanter on The Jimmy Stewart Show
  • Julia
    • Hal Kanter on how his show Julia originated out of his feeling a responsibility to help the image of African-Americans (03m 37s)
    • Hal Kanter on why he changed the title of his show from "Mama's Man" to Julia (01m 31s)
    • Hal Kanter on why Julia had no laugh track (02m 14s)
    • Hal Kanter on being nominated for an Emmy for Julia; felt he was "accomplishing something" (00m 34s)

People

  • Diahann Carroll
    • Hal Kanter on how Diahann Carroll was cast as the lead on Julia (00m 26s)
  • Gary Cooper
    • Writer Hal Kanter on Ann Sheridan's guest appearance on The Ed Wynn Show
      (02m 33s)
  • Bob Hope
    • Hal Kanter on first writing for Bob Hope (01m 58s)
  • Norman Lear
    • Hal Kanter being executive producer during All in the Family's1975-1976 season; on his difficulties working with Norman Lear
      (07m 08s)
  • Carroll O'Connor
    • Hal Kanter  being executive producer during All in the Family's1975-1976 season; on his difficulties working with Norman Lear
      (07m 08s)
  • Freddie Prinze
    • Writer Hal Kanter on working on Chico and the Man; on the death of the show's star Freddie Prinze
      (01m 54s)
  • Ann Sheridan
    • Writer Hal Kanter on Ann Sheridan's guest appearance on The Ed Wynn Show (02m 33s)
  • James Stewart
    • Hal Kanter on The Jimmy Stewart Show
  • Ed Wynn
    • Hal Kanter on writing for The Ed Wynn Show;on the show's Emmy win
      (11m 11s)

Topics

  • Historic Events and Social Change > Diversity in Television > Minorities
    • Hal Kanter on how his show Julia originated out of his feeling a responsibility to help the image of Black Americans (03m 37s)

Genres

  • Comedy Series
    • Hal Kanter on why Julia had no laugh track (02m 14s)
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Submitted by Comedy Fan on Sat, 2011-12-31 23:02.

RIP to writing legend Hal Kanter, who passed away this year 2011

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