Norman Felton
Director/ Producer
About This Interview
Norman Felton was interviewed for four-and-a-half hours in Woodland Hills, CA. Felton discusses his role in radio and in early television in Chicago, as part of the distinguished "Chicago School of Television" with Charlie Andrews and Paul Rhymer. He describes directing live dramas for Robert Montgomery Presents and producing shows for Studio One. He talks extensively about his role as executive producer on the hit series Dr. Kildare and The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and the formation of his production company, Arena Productions. Felton also shares his thoughts on colleagues Gene Roddenberry, Sam Rolfe, Grant Tinker and many others. Lee Goldberg conducted the interview on November 12, 1997.
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Video clip: Opening sequences from 1960s Dr. Kildare episodes
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Highlights
Director Norman Felton on the "Chicago School" of Television (02m 34s)
Norman Felton on censorship on
Playhouse 90's"Judgment at Nuremberg" (03m 06s)
Norman Felton on going to the University of Iowa with classmate Tennessee Williams (01m 57s)
Norman Felton on Ian Fleming coming up with the name "Napoleon Solo" for
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (00m 42s)
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- On his childhood and early influences; on growing up in London; on regular trips to the library on Saturdays; on leaving school at 13 to go to work; on moving to America when he was 15 and the various jobs and experiences he had as a teenager
- On his start in radio KJR and theater productions in Seattle; on joining the Teamsters and getting into scenery work; on his big break writing plays and going to the University of Iowa with classmate Tennessee Williams
- Chapter 2
- On the Living Newspaper he worked on at the University of Iowa; on directing the St. Paul Civic Theater; on moving to Chicago; on arena theater and getting into NBC radio; on directing "Office Playhouse" on the radio
- On troubles working with advertising agencies; on taking a leave of absence to pursue television; on going to New York to direct television; on directing a painting show
- Chapter 3
- On the first television program he directed; on joining the Directors Guild
- On the "Chicago School" of Television - Garroway-at-Large, Stud's Place; on TV's first soap opera These Are My Children; on Crisis
- Chapter 4
- On his long association with Robert Montgomery Presents; on the show's format; on the writing on the show; on studio space for Robert Montgomery Presents
- On directing his first episode of Robert Montgomery Presents: "The Letter"
- Chapter 5
- On the "Kitty Foyle" episode of Robert Montgomery Presents; on an actress getting sick on live television
- On network and sponsor involvement on Robert Montgomery Presents; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on Robert Montgomery Presents winning its first Emmy
- On leaving Robert Montgomery Presents; on directing and becoming associate producer on Studio One
- Chapter 6
- On Studio One writers and the show moving from New York to Hollywood; on going from live to video tape; on becoming Executive Producer of Playhouse 90
- On working for CBS; on producing Pursuit; on working for MGM Television and forming his own production company; on executive producing Dr. Kildare; on casting Raymond Massey and Richard Chamberlain for Dr. Kildare
- Chapter 7
- On NBC Executive David Levy approving Dr. Kildare; on doing a spinoff of Dr. Kildare; on The Lieutenant with Gene Roddenberry
- On executive producing The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and its spin-off, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.; on working in British television
- Chapter 8
- On leaving MGM Television and setting up Arena Productions at Universal; on working with Steven Spielberg; on the series Hawkins; on a TV movie of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.; on joining the writer's strike, against himself
- On the creation of the Norman Felton Television Producer of the Year Award; on media literacy
- On colleagues Jerry Goldsmith, Sam Rolfe and Grant Tinker
- Chapter 9
- On people with whom he's worked; on photographs of productions on which he's worked; on a photograph of his lovely wife
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I have wonderful memories of Mr. Felton. I was friends with his daughter Betsy years ago. Thank you for the interview
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