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Leonard H. Goldenson

Founder of ABC Network

"When I acquired ABC, everyone in the motion picture companies had refused to deal with television, but Walt Disney wanted to build Disneyland and he needed money. I made up my mind that I was going to do everything in our power to bring Disney into television. If I could crack Disney, then I could maybe crack the other motion picture companies."

About This Interview

The first Archive of American Television interview -- Leonard Goldenson (1905–99) was interviewed for three-and-a-half hours in Long Boat Key, FL.  Goldenson talked extensively about the formation of ABC, its programming and the competition it faced from the other networks and Hollywood studios.  He fondly recalled ABC's eventual rise to become one of television's formidable powers, despite doubts from William Paley and David Sarnoff.  He also discussed ABC's long partnership with Walt Disney, the creation of ABC Sports and the very first broadcast of a television "mini-series."  The interview was conducted by Marvin Wolf on May 14, 1996.
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  • Chapters

Chapters

  • Chapter 1
  • Full Chapter One
  • Chapter 2
  • Full Chapter Two
  • Chapter 3
  • Full Chapter Three
  • Chapter 4
  • Full Chapter Four
  • Chapter 5
  • Full Chapter Five
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