Joan Ganz Cooney
Children's Show Creator
About This Interview
In her four-and-a-half hour interview for the Archive of American television, Joan Ganz Cooney talks about her early involvement in public television in New York, where she worked as a producer for local station WNET. She discusses the creation of Children's Television Workshop (CTW), and the academic hurdles she overcame in 1969 to create and produce the internationally acclaimed Sesame Street. She details additional CTW programs like the hugely successful Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact, and Square One TV, and discusses several of the lesser-known CTW programs targeted towards adults. The interview was conducted by Shirley Wershba in New York, NY on April 27, 1998.
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Highlights
Joan Ganz Cooney on importance of research in the development of Sesame Street
Clip begins at: 00:48, Duration: 01m 26s- Joan Ganz Cooney on the use of Muppets on Sesame Street and initial reaction to the show
Clip begins at: 02:15, Duration: 02m 00s - Joan Ganz Cooney on the importance of humor in Sesame Street
Clip begins at: 10:58, Duration: 00m 50s - Joan Ganz Cooney on the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
Clip begins at: 18:09, Duration: 01m 16s
Interview
- Part 1
- On her childhood and early influences
Clip begins at: 0:37 - On religion; on entering the media and on moving to New York and working for RCA and The U.S. Steel Hour
Clip begins at: 18:08 - Part 2
- On David Sarnoff, William S. Paley, and Pat Weaver
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On the New York intellectual crowd she spent time with whle in her 20s; on Partisan Review
Clip begins at: 05:07 - On the beginnings of educational television in New York; on becoming a producer at Channel 13 New York
Clip begins at: 10:13 - On her early work at Channel 13 and the struggle for the survival of public television
Clip begins at: 18:47 - Part 3
- On her documentary, A Chance at the Beginning, the formation of Head Start, and additional work at Channel 13
Clip begins at: 0:37 - On the documentary format for television
Clip begins at: 08:43 - On the creation of The Children's Television Workshop
Clip begins at: 16:28 - Part 4
- On hiring producers for The Children's Television Workshop
Clip begins at: 0:21 - On bringing Jim Henson onto Sesame Street; on the creation of content for Sesame Street
Clip begins at: 06:23 - On the creation of Big Bird, Oscar, and bringing in Gordon and Susan; on measuring the success of Sesame Street
Clip begins at: 18:35 - On the music on Sesame Street and the joys of working with Jim Henson
Clip begins at: 24:40 - Part 5
- On the research conducted for Sesame Street
Clip begins at: 0:46 - On Jim Henson and the Muppets on Sesame Street
Clip begins at: 04:45 - On network interest in Sesame Street, humor and guest stars; on incorporating
Clip begins at: 09:18 - On the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
Clip begins at: 18:08 - On the format and topics covered on Sesame Street
Clip begins at: 19:31 - On other programs she helped develop for the Children's Television Workshop: The Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact, Best of Families, Square One TV
Clip begins at: 22:19 - Part 6
- On The Electric Company
Clip begins at: 0:24 - On the formation of the Children's Television Workshop in 1968 and its incorporation in 1970
Clip begins at: 08:31 - On the financial structure of the Children's Television Workshop, Inc.
Clip begins at: 14:46 - On the international success of Sesame Street
Clip begins at: 18:05 - Part 7
- On the grant from The Ford Foundation in the 1970s to help fund The Children's Television's Workshop; on cable investments
Clip begins at: 0:29 - On The Children's Television Workshop's partnership with Atari and investment in theme parks
Clip begins at: 07:07 - On The Children's Television Workshop's success with licensing; on digital ventures
Clip begins at: 10:20 - On executive/consultant Mike Dann's contributions and how The Children's Television Workshop handled international productions - particularly those in Israel and Palestine
Clip begins at: 19:00 - Part 8
- On planning and testing of program to promote reading, The Electric Company
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On the programs Feeling Good and Latin American Health Minutes
Clip begins at: 08:52 - On the dramatic series, Best of Families
Clip begins at: 15:32 - On the science program, 3-2-1 Contact and the math program, Square One TV
Clip begins at: 19:27 - Part 9
- On the format and funding of the science program, 3-2-1 Contact, on the math program, Square One TV, and on the reading program, Ghostwriter
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On her reflections on her career and on her personal life
Clip begins at: 08:10 - On how Sesame Street competes in the new marketplace; on the show's legacy
Clip begins at: 18:37 - On her personal legacy; on her reflections on people with whom she's worked
Clip begins at: 22:18
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Professions
Joan Ganz Cooney first created TV programming as a documentary producer for public television in 1962. She began to think about television as a teaching medium. I love her so much.
i love jgc!!!!! <3
That "The show will never be owned by a single talent" was non-negotiable, Kevin Clash / Elmo.
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