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Jayne Meadows

Actress

"'I've Got a Secret' was my favorite. The next day after the show I would go to the grocery store and the cab drivers: 'Jaynie, great show last night! How's Steve O?' It was the medium that came to every living room. Didn't matter if it was the Rockefellers or the guy who was struggling to pay the bills in the Bronx, I wasn't Miss Meadows from the movies, I was Jaynie."

About This Interview

In her three-hour Archive interview, Jayne Meadows (1919-2015) talks about her early years growing up in China where her parents were missionaries. She speaks about her move to the United States and breaking into show business in New York City. She describes her work in television on various live anthology dramas and elaborates on her appearances as a celebrity panelist on several game shows, including I've Got A Secret, on which she was a regular from 1952-59. Meadows outlines her professional work with husband Steve Allen on the acclaimed PBS series Meeting of Minds and recalls numerous television appearances they made as a couple (including guest spots on Fantasy Island and St. Elsewhere). She chronicles her late husband Steve Allen's lasting television legacy as the creator of the long running The Tonight Show. Additionally, she discusses the life and career of her sister Audrey Meadows, who played "Alice Kramden" on the classic series The Honeymooners. Jim Colucci conducted the interview on May 20, 2005 in Encino, California.

Related To This Video

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Shows

  • Danger
  • Diagnosis Murder
  • Fantasy Island
  • General Electric Theater
  • Here's Lucy
  • High Society
  • Homicide: Life on the Street
  • Honeymooners, The
  • I've Got a Secret
  • Medical Center
  • Meeting of Minds
  • St. Elsewhere
  • Steve Allen Comedy Hour, The
  • Suspense
  • Tonight (The Tonight Show with Steve Allen)
  • What's My Line?

People

  • Steve Allen
  • Lucille Ball
  • Milton Berle
  • Sid Caesar
  • Ricardo Montalban
  • Leslie Moonves

Topics

  • Characters & Catchphrases
  • Comedy-Variety
  • Drama
  • Hollywood Blacklist (ca. 1950s)
  • Industry Crossroads
  • Pop Culture
  • Quiz Show Scandals
  • TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
  • Television Industry

Professions

  • Performers

Featured Content

Video clip: Watch Jayne Meadows as the mystery guest on What's My Line?:

 

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Highlights

  • Jayne Meadows on marrying Steve Allen and appearing on <i gx_name="i" class="gx_element gx_inline gx_name_i">What's My Line?</i>Jayne Meadows on marrying Steve Allen and appearing on What's My Line?
    Clip begins at: 17:24, Duration: 05m 58s
  • Jayne Meadows on appearing on her husband's show, <i gx_name="i" class="gx_element gx_inline gx_name_i">The Steve Allen Comedy Hour</i>Jayne Meadows on appearing on her husband's show, The Steve Allen Comedy Hour
    Clip begins at: 13:38, Duration: 04m 21s
  • Jayne Meadows on starring in her husband's acclaimed PBS series <i gx_name="i" class="gx_element gx_inline gx_name_i">Meeting of Minds</i>Jayne Meadows on starring in her husband's acclaimed PBS series Meeting of Minds
    Clip begins at: 06:30, Duration: 06m 14s
  • Jayne Meadows on her favorite show she's worked on, <i gx_name="i" class="gx_element gx_inline gx_name_i">I've Got a Secret</i>Jayne Meadows on her favorite show she's worked on, I've Got a Secret
    Clip begins at: 15:23, Duration: 01m 19s
  • Jayne Meadows on her sister Audrey Meadows as "Alice Kramden" on <i gx_name="i" class="gx_element gx_inline gx_name_i">The Honeymooners</i>Jayne Meadows on her sister Audrey Meadows as "Alice Kramden" on The Honeymooners
    Clip begins at: 04:33, Duration: 03m 42s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • On her early life and influences; on her early interest in acting; on moving from China to America as a child
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On deciding to become an actress; on being under contract in Hollywood; on her early stage experience
    Clip begins at: 16:40
  • Part 2
  • On performing on Broadway; on her singing career; on her MGM feature films
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On the challenges of working in live television; on becoming a panelist on I've Got a Secret and meeting Steve Allen
    Clip begins at: 13:37
  • Part 3
  • On appearing as a panelist on I've Got a Secret; on memorable moments on I've Got a Secret and leaving the show
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On marrying Steve Allen; on appearing as a panelist and mystery guest on What's My Line?; on various other game shows on which she appeared
    Clip begins at: 17:24
  • Part 4
  • On the Hollywood Blacklist; on her sister Audrey Meadows as "Alice Kramden" on The Honeymooners; on appearing on General Electric Theater
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On appearing on The Steve Allen Comedy Hour; on working with her husband Steve Allen; on acting in the drama Medical Center
    Clip begins at: 13:37
  • Part 5
  • On appearing as a regular on Medical Center and guest-starring on Here's Lucy; on playing a gossip columnist in the made-for-television movie James Dean 
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On creating and acting on the acclaimed PBS series Meeting of Minds with her husband Steve Allen; on the challenges of playing different historical characters on Meeting of Minds
    Clip begins at: 06:30
  • On the cancellation of Meeting of Minds; on guest-starring on St. Elsewhere and on Homicide: Life on the Street
    Clip begins at: 22:48
  • Part 6
  • On the cancellation of Meeting of Minds; on appearing in the series High Society and as a guest star on Diagnosis Murder; on her retirement and advice to aspiring actors
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On I've Got a Secret being the favorite show on which she's worked; on how television has changed since the '50s; on the legacies of her husband Steve Allen and her sister Audrey Meadows
    Clip begins at: 13:35
  • Part 7
  • On how she'd like to be remembered
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • B-roll of pictures from her career - with Lloyd Nolan on the set of "Lady in the Lake"; on the set of "Lady in the Lake"; on the set of I've Got a Secret; the panel of I've Got a Secret with Faye Emerson, Bill Cullen and Henry Morgan; the panel of I've Got a Secret; on the set of Person to Person with Edward R. Murrow; Steve Allen in a nightclub; doing the "baby nurse" sketch with Audrey Meadows and Steve Allen; with Jackie Gleason at his birthday party; with Ed Sullivan; at the premiere of "The Benny Goodman Story" with Steve Allen; with Steve Allen, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme in Hollywood; Steve Allen with Elvis Presley; as "Margaret Sanger" on Meeting of Minds; as "Cleopatra" on Meeting of Minds; on the set of Meeting of Minds as "Marie Antoinette"; on the set of St. Elsewhere with Jennifer Savage, Steve Allen, Tom Poston and Louis Nye; with Steve Allen on stage; on the set of Steve Allen's Music Room with Steve Allen
    Clip begins at: 01:50

Shows

  • Danger
    • Jayne Meadows on her first professional role on television on the series Danger
      Clip begins at: 13:37, Duration: 03m 06s
  • Diagnosis Murder
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing as a guest star on Diagnosis Murder
      Clip begins at: 08:02, Duration: 01m 24s
  • Fantasy Island
    • Jayne Meadows on writing and starring in an episode of Fantasy Island
      Clip begins at: 26:48, Duration: 02m 16s
  • General Electric Theater
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing on the General Electric Theater episode "The Man Who Thought For Himself"
      Clip begins at: 08:13, Duration: 05m 24s
  • Here's Lucy
    • Jayne Meadows on guest-starring on an episode of Here's Lucy
      Clip begins at: 00:57, Duration: 02m 59s
  • High Society
    • Jayne Meadows on acting in the series High Society
      Clip begins at: 04:12, Duration: 03m 50s
  • Homicide: Life on the Street
    • Jayne Meadows on guest-starring on Homicide: Life on the Street
      Clip begins at: 27:20, Duration: 00m 59s
  • Honeymooners, The
    • Jayne Meadows on her sister Audrey Meadows as "Alice Kramden" on The Honeymooners
      Clip begins at: 04:33, Duration: 03m 42s
    • Jayne Meadows on the legacy of her sister Audrey Meadows
      Clip begins at: 24:51, Duration: 01m 57s
  • I've Got a Secret
    • Jayne Meadows on getting a job as a panelist on I've Got a Secret and meeting Steve Allen
      Clip begins at: 22:01, Duration: 06m 36s
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing as a panelist on I've Got A Secret and projects she turned down
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 07m 36s
    • Jayne Meadows on memorable moments on I've Got a Secret
      Clip begins at: 07:37, Duration: 04m 53s
    • Jayne Meadows on leaving I've Got a Secret for Broadway
      Clip begins at: 14:56, Duration: 02m 28s
    • Jayne Meadows on her favorite show on which she's worked, I've Got a Secret
      Clip begins at: 15:23, Duration: 01m 19s
  • Medical Center
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing as "Nurse Chambers" in the series Medical Center
      Clip begins at: 22:21, Duration: 06m 11s
    • Jayne Meadows on Medical Center and a story about bubonic plague
      Clip begins at: 00:02, Duration: 00m 55s
  • Meeting of Minds
    • Jayne Meadows on starring in her husband's acclaimed PBS series Meeting of Minds
      Clip begins at: 06:30, Duration: 06m 14s
    • Jayne Meadows on playing different historical characters on the series Meeting of Minds
      Clip begins at: 12:44, Duration: 09m 07s
    • Jayne Meadows on the cancellation of Meeting of Minds
      Clip begins at: 22:48, Duration: 01m 36s
    • Jayne Meadows on why she believes Meeting of Minds  was cancelled
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 04m 08s
    • Jayne Meadows on the accomplishments her husband Steve Allen was most proud of and his legacy
      Clip begins at: 18:48, Duration: 06m 03s
  • St. Elsewhere
    • Jayne Meadows on guest-starring with her husband Steve Allen on St. Elsewhere
      Clip begins at: 25:24, Duration: 01m 56s
  • Steve Allen Comedy Hour, The
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing on her husband's show, The Steve Allen Comedy Hour
      Clip begins at: 13:38, Duration: 04m 21s
  • Suspense
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing with Walter Matthau on Suspense
      Clip begins at: 13:35, Duration: 01m 48s
  • Tonight (The Tonight Show with Steve Allen)
    • Jayne Meadows on the accomplishments her husband Steve Allen was most proud of and his legacy
      Clip begins at: 18:48, Duration: 06m 03s
  • What's My Line?
    • Jayne Meadows on marrying Steve Allen and appearing on What's My Line?
      Clip begins at: 17:24, Duration: 05m 58s
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing on the panel of What's My Line? and on other game shows
      Clip begins at: 23:22, Duration: 05m 22s

People

  • Steve Allen
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing on her husband's show, The Steve Allen Comedy Hour
      Clip begins at: 13:38, Duration: 04m 21s
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing on the General Electric Theater episode "The Man Who Thought For Himself"
      Clip begins at: 08:13, Duration: 05m 24s
    • Jayne Meadows on working with her husband Steve Allen
      Clip begins at: 17:59, Duration: 04m 22s
    • Jayne Meadows on starring in her husband's acclaimed PBS series Meeting of Minds
      Clip begins at: 06:30, Duration: 06m 14s
    • Jayne Meadows on playing different historical characters on the series Meeting of Minds
      Clip begins at: 12:44, Duration: 09m 07s
    • Jayne Meadows on guest-starring with her husband Steve Allen on St. Elsewhere
      Clip begins at: 25:24, Duration: 01m 56s
    • Jayne Meadows on getting a job as a panelist on I've Got a Secret and meeting Steve Allen
      Clip begins at: 22:01, Duration: 06m 36s
    • Jayne Meadows on the physical qualities of her husband Steve Allen
      Clip begins at: 06:02, Duration: 02m 15s
  • Lucille Ball
    • Jayne Meadows on guest-starring on an episode of Here's Lucy
      Clip begins at: 00:57, Duration: 02m 59s
  • Milton Berle
    • Jayne Meadows on the accomplishments her husband Steve Allen was most proud of and his legacy
      Clip begins at: 18:48, Duration: 06m 03s
  • Sid Caesar
    • Jayne Meadows on the accomplishments her husband Steve Allen was most proud of and his legacy
      Clip begins at: 18:48, Duration: 06m 03s
  • Bill Cullen
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing as a panelist on I've Got A Secret and projects she turned down
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 07m 36s
  • Mark Goodson
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing as a panelist on I've Got A Secret and projects she turned down
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 07m 36s
  • Pert Kelton
    • Jayne Meadows on how her sister Audrey Meadows got hired on The Honeymooners  with Jackie Gleason because of the Hollywood Blacklist
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 01m 57s
  • Walter Matthau
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing with Walter Matthau on Suspense
      Clip begins at: 13:35, Duration: 01m 48s
  • Audrey Meadows
    • Jayne Meadows on her early singing career
      Clip begins at: 05:29, Duration: 03m 09s
    • Jayne Meadows on the legacy of her sister Audrey Meadows
      Clip begins at: 24:51, Duration: 01m 57s
    • Jayne Meadows on working with her sister Audrey Meadows
      Clip begins at: 04:06, Duration: 01m 56s
    • Jayne Meadows on how her sister Audrey Meadows got hired on The Honeymooners with Jackie Gleason because of the Hollywood Blacklist
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 01m 57s
    • Jayne Meadows on her sister Audrey Meadows as "Alice Kramden" on The Honeymooners
      Clip begins at: 04:33, Duration: 03m 42s
  • Ricardo Montalban
    • Jayne Meadows on writing and starring in an episode of Fantasy Island
      Clip begins at: 26:48, Duration: 02m 16s
  • Leslie Moonves
    • Jayne Meadows on acting in the series High Society
      Clip begins at: 04:12, Duration: 03m 50s
  • Garry Moore
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing as a panelist on I've Got A Secret and projects she turned down
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 07m 36s
  • Jean Smart
    • Jayne Meadows on acting in the series High Society
      Clip begins at: 04:12, Duration: 03m 50s
  • Ed Sullivan
    • Jayne Meadows on Ed Sullivan and his problems with Steve Allen, and forming a New York branch of The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
      Clip begins at: 10:07, Duration: 02m 35s
  • Bill Todman
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing as a panelist on I've Got A Secret and projects she turned down
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 07m 36s

Topics

  • Pop Culture
    • Jayne Meadows on her sister Audrey Meadows as "Alice Kramden" on The Honeymooners
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 05m 39s
  • Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
    • Jayne Meadows on her sister Audrey Meadows as "Alice Kramden" on The Honeymooners
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 05m 39s
  • TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
    • Jayne Meadows on the challenges of working in live television
      Clip begins at: 16:43, Duration: 05m 00s
    • Jayne Meadows on getting a job as a panelist on I've Got a Secret  and meeting Steve Allen
      Clip begins at: 22:01, Duration: 06m 36s
    • Jayne Meadows on being a panelist on I've Got a Secret
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 17m 23s
    • Jayne Meadows on her sister Audrey Meadows as "Alice Kramden" on The Honeymooners
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 05m 39s
    • Jayne Meadows on how television has changed since the '50s
      Clip begins at: 16:42, Duration: 02m 06s
  • TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s) > Comedy-Variety
    • Jayne Meadows on the challenges of working in live television
      Clip begins at: 16:43, Duration: 05m 00s
    • Jayne Meadows on her sister Audrey Meadows as "Alice Kramden" on The Honeymooners
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 05m 39s
  • TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s) > Drama
    • Jayne Meadows on the challenges of working in live television
      Clip begins at: 16:43, Duration: 05m 00s
  • Television Industry
    • Jayne Meadows on the Quiz Show Scandals
      Clip begins at: 12:30, Duration: 02m 26s
    • Jayne Meadows on how television has changed since the '50s
      Clip begins at: 16:42, Duration: 02m 06s
  • Television Industry > Industry Crossroads
    • Jayne Meadows on the Quiz Show Scandals
      Clip begins at: 12:30, Duration: 02m 26s
  • Television Industry > Industry Crossroads > Hollywood Blacklist (ca. 1950s)
    • Jayne Meadows on the Hollywood Blacklist: on her sister Audrey meeting Sen. McCarthy and how Mark Goodson protected his actors
      Clip begins at: 00:07, Duration: 04m 26s
    • Jayne Meadows on how her sister Audrey Meadows got hired on The Honeymooners with Jackie Gleason because of the Hollywood Blacklist
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 01m 57s
  • Television Industry > Industry Crossroads > Quiz Show Scandals
    • Jayne Meadows on the Quiz Show Scandals
      Clip begins at: 12:30, Duration: 02m 26s

Genres

    • Jayne Meadows on appearing on her husband's show, The Steve Allen Comedy Hour
      Clip begins at: 13:38, Duration: 04m 21s
  • Comedy Series
    • Jayne Meadows on her sister Audrey Meadows as "Alice Kramden" on The Honeymooners
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 05m 39s
    • Jayne Meadows on guest-starring on an episode of Here's Lucy
      Clip begins at: 00:57, Duration: 02m 59s
  • Game Shows
    • Jayne Meadows on getting a job as a panelist on I've Got a Secret and meeting Steve Allen
      Clip begins at: 22:01, Duration: 06m 36s
    • Jayne Meadows on being a panelist on I've Got a Secret
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 17m 23s
  • Medical Dramas
    • Jayne Meadows on appearing as "Nurse Chambers" in the series Medical Center
      Clip begins at: 22:21, Duration: 06m 11s
  • Talk Shows
    • Jayne Meadows on acting in and writing for Meeting of Minds
      Clip begins at: 06:30, Duration: 17m 54s

Professions

  • Performers
    • Jayne Meadows on her early stage experience and deciding to become an actress
      Clip begins at: 16:40, Duration: 03m 36s
    • Jayne Meadows on playing different historical characters on the series Meeting of Minds
      Clip begins at: 12:44, Duration: 09m 07s
    • Jayne Meadows on advice she'd give to aspiring actors
      Clip begins at: 11:18, Duration: 02m 17s
  • Performers > Actress
    • Jayne Meadows on her early stage experience and deciding to become an actress
      Clip begins at: 16:40, Duration: 03m 36s
    • Jayne Meadows on playing different historical characters on the series Meeting of Minds
      Clip begins at: 12:44, Duration: 09m 07s
    • Jayne Meadows on advice she'd give to aspiring actors
      Clip begins at: 11:18, Duration: 02m 17s
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Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2016-01-26 03:09.
I must admit I watched this interview to hear about what she had to say about her sister Audrey and I sense that she was a bit jealous of her younger sister who did less work than she did but got really lucky with one of the best shows in history and is ultimately the more remembered of the two. On another note it is nice to hear about a successful show biz marriage when there seemed to be so few and she had some cute stories.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2015-05-05 23:13.
Thanks for letting be be your office boy from the Burbank office. I remember sitting along side you in my Datsun pick up truck coming back from the docks of San Pedro trying to deliver a Chinese vase to your door and you ask me to turn on the air conditioner. To which I replied, "Just roll down the window Jane". My car had no air conditioning. We both laughed and then sighed.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2015-04-28 00:50.
Lovely woman...just died today. Rest in Peace dear heart.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2015-04-28 00:50.
Lovely woman...just died today. Rest in Peace dear heart.

Submitted by Sylvia Marie on Tue, 2015-04-28 00:09.
The description of her early life in China and growing up there and US, the stories about her whole family were the most delightful I have heard! I hope she is back with her whole family in Heaven! Wish I could have met her!

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2015-04-23 06:27.
Mrs Allen was very expressive and complimentary about her parents, brothers, and husband, but wasn't very generous about her sister. I may be wrong, but I sensed there must have been some rivalry between them. Since Audrey was no longer with us, would have been nice if Mrs Allen did a bit more to add to he sister's memory as a sister, a person, and actress. Otherwise I was thoroughly attentive and interested in every word Mrs Allen said. She was fascinating, especially when she spoke of her early years in China and moving to the USA. A great story teller for sure. I can see why she was so good on shows where her communication talents were used. With the only disappointment being her lack of generosity toward her sister, I came out of this interview liking Mrs Allen very much and I thank her for her time doing this for the Archive of American Television.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2014-09-16 15:47.
This is an absolutely marvelous peek into the world of television that I grew up in. Jayne so articulately describes everything that we would want to know about that era of television. Her story about suggesting the tune for Elvis' "Love Me Tender", and the fact that he actually used it, confirms the close knit community that television was at the time. The panel of "What's My Line?", which was more of an "adult show" when I grew up, which means "mom turned it on...", communicated in an intellectually elite style. You got the feeling that they were all close friends in New York, having cocktails in one of their penthouse apartments after the show. But, they still captured you, even though they were a little stuffy, they were still very likeable. I recall always liking Arlene Francis, she was so elegant, ladylike, and smart. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I will definitely recommend it to friends for their enjoyment. Jayne's comment about the cabbie who yelled, "Great show last night, Jaynie!", was so descriptive of how the general public felt about their stars. My dad was a lifelong Oakland cab driver and we once took a drive to Beverly Hills, where Lucille Ball was standing in her front yard. My dad yelled out, "Hey Lucy, where's Desi...?"! She actually yelled back at him, although we in the back seat were totally mortified. Thanks, Jaynie!!

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2013-02-06 05:10.
Jayne Meadows....thank you so much for this wonderful visit! You not only enlightened me to the what the early years in television were like, but you gave me a first row seat to your very own story and your wonderful success. Thank you for allowing me into a small part of Audrey's career and sharing your most intimate thoughts about her. Thank you for including Steve as well....your honesty and love for him was quite evident. Allow me to also say, he was a very lucky man to have you in his life. Well spoken, full of good humor, full of spark and simply delightful in every way....Mrs Allen you're quite a lady. It's been an honor :) Jeramy , Cape Cod, Massachusetts Jsinopoli@live.com

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