Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns

John Stearns (Show Creator/Actor)

Johnny Stearns (1916-2001) was interviewed with his wife, Mary Kay Stearns. John (“Johnny”) Stearns talked about growing up with a theatrical background, as his mother founded the “Petersborough Players,” in Petersborough, New Hampshire.  This town was the model for Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town” and Stearns described how Wilder staged “Our Town” there himself, making this theatre the first summer theatre to do the play after its Broadway run.  Stearns described his days in the theatre on the New York stage and his entrance into television on the experimental Philadelphia station WPTZ-TV.  He described his work on stage and in film (Boomerang) with Elia Kazan.  Stearns described how he became the creator, writer, producer, and star (along with his wife) of the very first television situation comedy, Mary Kay and Johnny(1947-50).  He described the week by week production of the show, storylines used, and a description of its run on three different networks (Dumont, NBC, CBS). He also talked about his several year stint in the 1950s as the spokesperson (along with his wife) for U.S. Steel, appearing in commercials during the U.S. Steel Hour. He talked about other series he produced and directed such as: The Steve Allen Show(the WNBC show which would later become the Tonightshow), Faye and Skitch(1953-54), Make Me Laugh(1958), Music Bingo(1958-59), and Seven Keys(1961-64).  He also described in detail producing the long running agricultural program AG, USA,which began in 1961.

Mary Kay Stearns (Actress)

Ms. Stearns was interviewed with her husband, Johnny Stearns.  Mary Kay Stearns described her stage debut at age 2 and a half at the Pasadena Playhouse in California.  She talked about her appearances on stage and in film on the West Coast before moving to New York to appear on Broadway.  She described her television debut on the Dumont network on a show called J.J. Juniors,in which she modeled junior fashions.  The timeslot was then taken by the Mary Kay and Johnny show(1947-50), television’s first situation comedy in which she described her co-starring role with her husband.  She later found herself on television in Mary Kay’s Nightcap,in which, from 1951-52, she “signed-off” for NBC by telling the viewers what would be on television the following day and doing occasional interviews. She talked about appearances on “live” television shows such as the Armstrong Circle Theatreand Kraft Television Theatre. She also talked about her several year stint in the 1950s as the spokesperson (along with her husband) for U.S. Steel, appearing in commercials during the U.S. Steel Hour.

Michael Rosen conducted the 3 hour and 45 minute interview on August 25, 1999.