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Steve Binder

Producer & Director

"Good things happen when you stand up for things."

About This Interview

Producer/Director Steve Binder was interviewed for the Archive's Living Television Collection in 2004. He talks about his early work at Los Angeles' KABC, and directing The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show in the early 60s. He discusses at-length writing and directing his breakthrough rock documentary, The T.A.M.I. Show, which showcased such stars as The Supremes, The Rolling Stones, and James Brown. He also discusses many other programs he worked on including Hullabaloo, The Danny Kaye Show, Gilligan's Island, Diana Ross in Central Park and Lucy in London, a CBS special starring Lucille Ball. He talks at length about producing and directing NBC's Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special which relaunched Elvis Presley's career and set the bar for music specials. Steve Binder was interviewed at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences headquarters in North Hollywood, CA on March 4, 2004 by Stephen J. Abramson.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Shows

  • Barry Manilow Specials
  • Chevy Chase Show, The
  • Diana Ross in Central Park
  • Divas 2000
  • Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert
  • Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
  • Emmy Awards, The (primetime and daytime)
  • Gilligan’s Island
  • Hullabaloo
  • Jazz Scene USA
  • Lucy in London
  • Pee-Wee's Playhouse
  • Petula
  • Shields and Yarnell
  • Soupy Sales Show, The
  • Steve Allen Westinghouse Show, The

People

  • Lucille Ball
  • Bob Banner
  • Bob Finkel
  • Dwight Hemion
  • Jerry Lewis
  • Elvis Presley
  • Soupy Sales

Topics

  • Historic Events and Social Change
  • Memorable Moments on Television
  • Pop Culture

Genres

  • Late Night

Featured Content

Video: Opening of Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special, directed and produced by Steve Binder.

Resources

T.A.M.I. Show DVD - TAMI Show

DVD: The T.A.M.I. Show Collector's Edition (Releases March 23rd)

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  • Highlights
  • Chapters
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Highlights

  • Steve Binder on producing <i>The T.A.M.I. Show</i> (06m 07s)Steve Binder on producing The T.A.M.I. Show (06m 07s)
  • Steve Binder on his greatest achievements (01m 37s)Steve Binder on his greatest achievements (01m 37s)
  • Steve Binder on producing and directiing<i> Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special</i> (09m 49s)Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special (09m 49s)
  • Steve Binder on <i>The T.A.M.I. Show</i> (04m 50s)Steve Binder on The T.A.M.I. Show (04m 50s)
  • Steve Binder on producing and directing 1977's<i> The Barry Manilow Special</i> (09m 49s)Steve Binder on producing and directing 1977's The Barry Manilow Special (09m 49s)

Chapters

  • Chapter 1
  • On his early years and influences
  • On first seeing TV, his military service, and his work as a radio announcer and film narrator
  • On working at the Blue Danube Network in Austria as a radio announcer
  • On transitioning to television at ABC in the mailroom and then as Operations Director (OD) at KABC in Los Angeles
  • On getting his first directing job Hank Weaver, Chucko the Clown, Soupy Sales
  • On directing The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
  • Chapter 2
  • On The T.A.M.I. Show and other theatrical film shows
  • Steve Binder on Shindig and Hullabaloo
  • On directing episodes of Gilligan's Island and working with Lucille Ball in Lucy in London
  • On producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1)
  • Chapter 3
  • On producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 2)
  • On co-producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
  • On working on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
  • On producing the variety show featuring mimes Shields and Yarnell
  • On producing and directing The Barry Manilow Special (1977)
  • On directing four Primetime Emmy Awards telecasts
  • Chapter 4
  • On producing the Emmy Awards telecast from 1984 to 1987
  • On producing Pee-Wee's Playhouse
  • On producing Jane Fonda's Complete Workout videos and The Chevy Chase Show
  • On directing Diana Ross in Central Park (1985) and VH1's Divas 2000
  • On how television has changed since he began in the business; on his producing and directing style; on some of the people he's worked with; how he would like to be remembered

Shows

  • Barry Manilow Specials
    • Steve Binder on producing and directing 1977's The Barry Manilow Special (04m 42s)
  • Chevy Chase Show, The
    • Steve Binder on producing the short-lived The Chevy Chase Show (01m 50s)
  • Diana Ross in Central Park
    • Steve Binder on directing Diana Ross in Central Park during a rainstorm (00m 35s)
    • Steve Binder on directing Diana Ross in Central Park (04m 02s)
  • Divas 2000
    • Steve Binder on directing  VH1's Divas 2000 (02m 10s)
  • Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert
    • Steve Binder on producing Don Kirshner's Rock Concert (02m 36s)
  • Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
    • Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special (09m 51s)
  • Emmy Awards, The (primetime and daytime)
    • Steve Binder on producing the Primetime Emmy Awards for four years (1983-1987) (02m 20s)
    • Steve Binder on producing the Primetime Emmy Awards in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 (01m 22s)
  • Gilligan’s Island
    • Steve Binder on directing "Don't Bug The Mosquitoes" (1965) episode of Gilligan's Island (04m 40s)
  • Hullabaloo
    • Steve Binder on  Shindig and Hullabaloo (03m 34s)
  • Jazz Scene USA
    • Steve Binder on directing the syndicated show Jazz Scene U.S.A. (01m 30s)
  • Lucy in London
    • Steve Binder on directing Lucy in London (05m 56s)
  • Pee-Wee's Playhouse
    • Steve Binder on producing Pee-Wee's Playhouse (05m 50s)
  • Petula
    • Steve Binder on producing Petula and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1) (04m 48s)
    • Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 2) (04m 54s)
  • Shields and Yarnell
    • Steve Binder on producing Shields and Yarnell (02m 29s)
  • Soupy Sales Show, The
    • Steve Binder on directing The Soupy Sales Show  in L.A. before it went to network (02m 06s)
  • Steve Allen Westinghouse Show, The
    • Steve Binder on directing the Steve Allen Westinghouse Show (07m 47s)

People

  • Lucille Ball
    • Steve Binder on directing Lucy in London (05m 56s)
  • Bob Banner
    • Steve Binder on Bob Banner (briefly) (00m 09s)
  • Harry Belafonte
    • Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 2) (04m 54s)
    • Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1) (04m 49s)
  • Chevy Chase
    • Steve Binder on producing the short-lived The Chevy Chase Show (01m 50s)
  • Petula Clark
    • Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1) (04m 49s)
    • Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 2) (04m 54s)
  • Mac Davis
    • Steve Binder on Mac Davis (briefly) (00m 14s)
  • Bob Finkel
    • Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special (09m 49s)
  • Jane Fonda
    • Steve Binder on producing and directing Jane Fonda's Complete Workout direct-to-video tapes (01m 56s)
  • Dwight Hemion
    • Steve Binder on Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion (02m 44s)
  • Michael Jackson
    • Steve Binder on Michael Jackson (briefly) (00m 14s)
  • Danny Kaye
    • Steve Binder on Danny Kaye (briefly) (00m 05s)
  • Nat King Cole
    • Steve Binder on The T.A.M.I. Show (04m 50s)
  • Sid Krofft
    • Steve Binder on Sid and Marty Krofft (00m 20s)
  • Burt Lancaster
    • Steve Binder on The T.A.M.I. Show (04m 50s)
  • Jerry Lester
    • Steve Binder on watching early late night host Jerry Lester (00m 51s)
  • Jerry Lewis
    • Steve Binder on directing the Steve Allen Westinghouse Show where Jerry Lewis was a guest (03m 11s)
  • Tina Louise
    • Steve Binder on directing "Don't Bug The Mosquitoes" (1965) episode of Gilligan's Island (04m 40s)
  • Barry Manilow
    • Steve Binder on producing and directing 1977's The Barry Manilow Special (04m 42s)
  • Olivia Newton-John
    • Steve Binder on Olivia Newton-John (briefly) (00m 11s)
  • Jack Paar
    • Steve Binder on Jack Paar (00m 15s)
  • Tom Parker
    • Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special (09m 49s)
  • Elvis Presley
    • Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special (09m 49s)
  • Paul Reubens
    • Steve Binder on producing Pee-Wee's Playhouse (05m 50s)
  • Diana Ross
    • Steve Binder on directing Diana Ross in Central Park (04m 02s)
    • Steve Binder on directing  VH1's Divas 2000 (02m 10s)
  • Soupy Sales
    • Steve Binder on Soupy Sales (briefly) (00m 10s)
  • Gary Smith
    • Steve Binder on Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion (02m 44s)

Topics

  • Historic Events and Social Change > Diversity in Television > Minorities
    • Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1) (04m 49s)
    • Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 2) (04m 54s)
  • Memorable Moments on Television
    • Steve Binder on directing Diana Ross in Central Park (1985) (04m 02s)
  • Pop Culture > Rock ‘n’ Roll on TV (1950s & ‘60s)
    • Steve Binder on producing The T.A.M.I. Show (06m 07s)
    • Steve Binder on Shindig and Hullabaloo (03m 34s)
    • Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special (09m 49s)

Genres

  • Late Night
    • Steve Binder on watching early late night host Jerry Lester (00m 51s)
  • Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
    • Steve Binder on  Shindig and Hullabaloo (03m 34s)
    • Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1) (04m 49s)
    • Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special (09m 49s)
    • Steve Binder on producing and directing 1977's The Barry Manilow Special (09m 49s)
    • Steve Binder on directing Diana Ross in Central Park (1985) (04m 02s)
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Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2011-12-22 01:34.

How can we see all the Topics that your content is organised by?

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