Archive of American Television Mary Kay & Johnny Stearns Part 6 of 7

28:41 - 2 years ago

For links to all online segments in the collection, visit http://tvinterviewsarchive.blogspot.com Mary Kay Stearns and John Stearns (1916-2001)multi-part oral history interview consists of two parts: two hours with Mary Kay Stearns& John Stearns, one hour with John Stearns alone, and one half-hour with Mary Kay Stearns alone. John (�Johnny�) Stearns talked about growing up with a theatrical background, as his mother founded the �Petersborough Players,� in New Hampshire. This town was the model for Thornton Wilder�s�Our Town� and Stearns described how Wilder staged �Our Town� there himself. Stearns described 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 first television situation comedy, Mary Kay and Johnny (1947-50). He talked about his 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 Tonight show), Faye and Skitch (1953-54), Make Me Laugh (1958), Music Bingo (1958-59), and Seven Keys (1961-64). He also described producing the agricultural program AG, USA, which began in 1961. Mary Kay Stearns described her stage debut at age 2-1/2. She described her TV 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. 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. She talked about appearances on �live� television shows such as the Armstrong Circle Theatre and 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. For links to all online segments in the collection, visit http://tvinterviewsarchive.blogspot.com Mary Kay Stearns and John Stearns (1916-2001)multi-part oral history interview consists of two parts: two hours with Mary Kay Stearns& John Stearns, one hour with John Stearns alone, and one half-hour with Mary Kay Stearns alone. John (�Johnny�) Stearns talked about growing up with a theatrical background, as his mother founded the �Petersborough Players,� in New Hampshire. This town was the model for Thornton Wilder�s�Our Town� and Stearns described how Wilder staged �Our Town� there himself. Stearns described 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 first television situation comedy, Mary Kay and Johnny (1947-50). He talked about his 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 Tonight show), Faye and Skitch (1953-54), Make Me Laugh (1958), Music Bingo (1958-59), and Seven Keys (1961-64). He also described producing the agricultural program AG, USA, which began in 1961. Mary Kay Stearns described her stage debut at age 2-1/2. She described her TV 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. 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. She talked about appearances on �live� television shows such as the Armstrong Circle Theatre and 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.«