Thomas W. Moore

Network Executive


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his nearly five-and-a-half-hour interview, television executive Thomas W. Moore (1918-2007) talks about his early years at CBS radio in sales in the late '1940s and early '50s. He describes his move to ABC, where he became head of programming and then president of the network. He discusses such shows as The Frank Sinatra Show, The Flintstones, The Jerry Lewis Show,  and Stage 67. He also discusses ABC's groundbreaking sports programming including Wide World of Sports and Monday Night Football. He talks about his founding of Tomorrow Entertainment which was responsible for such Emmy-winning programming as The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and the Body Human series. Henry Colman conducted the interview on January 3 and January 31, 2003 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I enjoyed the programming and the manufacture of programs more than anything else. You always take great joy and pride in successful programming -- you program a period and a hit comes out of it, that's a source of great pride." 

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Thomas W. Moore on the first time he saw television, and his early experience with the medium
06:52
Thomas W. Moore on Newton N. Minow's "vast wasteland" speech, critical of television
05:06
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery and The Addams Family
05:02
Thomas W. Moore on various programming techniques like mid-season replacements, and on various nights that were difficult for ABC
06:06
Thomas Moore on producing The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
03:19
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his hobbies growing up, and on movies and radio he liked growing up; on his experience with World War II
On the first time he saw television, and his early experience with the medium; on his role at CBS radio
On making the transition from radio to television; on the Hollywood Blacklist

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

On Edgar J. Scherick and Roone Arledge's role in bringing sports to ABC; on the genesis of ABC's Wide World of Sports; on the genesis of ABC's Monday Night Football
On various sports shows he programmed at ABC; on ABC's acquisition of the Olympic games in the 1960s and '70s; on ABC brining various sports like golf to television

Chapter 4

on Edgar J. Scherick at ABC; on the people who worked for him at ABC when he was head of programming, including Michael Eisner and Barry Diller; on his stint as head of programming at ABC, and on his goals at the time
on programming and developing The Frank Sinatra Show; on programming and developing The Jerry Lewis Show, and The Hollywood Palace; on programming and developing The Real McCoys and 77 Sunset Strip

Chapter 5

On programming and developing The Untouchables, Adventures in Paradise and The FBI; on programming and developing The Flintstones
On programming and developing Peyton Place, and on ABC dealing with the advent of color; on programming and developing Batman
On programming various series in the '60s, including That Girl with Marlo Thomas, and the long-running The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet; on programming various shows including McHale's Navy and various game shows; on his duties at president of ABC

Chapter 6

On ABC chairman Leonard H. Goldenson; on ABC covering the 1952 conventions, and on how presidents starting with Dwight D. Eisenhower took to television
On the government attempting to require public service programming on the networks, and on William S. Paley and General David Sarnoff; on the Kennedy/Nixon debates of 1960

Chapter 7

On the Kennedy-Nixon Debates; on Newton N. Minow's "vast wasteland" speech, critical of television; on what he sees as the FCC's role in broadcasting
On the ban on cigarette advertising on television; on the FCC regulation of the networks being able to own or control the rebroadcast of primetime shows; on the length of commercials and commercial breaks on network television

Chapter 8

On networks and their affiliates; on his day-to-day responsibilities as president of ABC; on programming and developing McHale's Navy, The Outer Limits, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Combat. Bewitched, and The Addams Family
On working with Truman Capote on ABC Stage 67; on The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, and on nonfiction programming; on ABC's proposed merger with ITT

Chapter 9

On the intended merger of ITT and ABC falling apart, and on Capital Cities taking over ABC; on working with Frederick S. Pierce; on working with Elmer Lower and Elton H. Rule
On Agnes Nixon and on daytime dramas at ABC; on being promoted to group vice president at ABC, and on leaving ABC to produce acclaimed made for television movies like The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman; on founding Ticketron, later Ticketmaster

Chapter 10

On his philosophy of program development, and on the process by which he picked television shows; on using research as a tool for program scheduling and development; on scheduling shows, and on considering demographics when programming
On various programming techniques like mid-season replacements, and on various nights that were difficult for ABC; on the importance of ratings to a programmer; on the importance of promoting shows at ABC

Chapter 11

On dealing with the stars of his shows in ABC, and on how programming changed during his stint; on what he enjoyed most about his time as an executive at ABC, and later being a producer; on the various ways the industry changed during his stint at ABC due to cable, and on how audiences tastes have changed
On his involvement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; on television living up to its potential
On advice for an aspiring television executive; on his own contributions to the television industry, and on the best lineups he programed; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

77 Sunset Strip

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing 77 Sunset Strip
01:22

ABC Stage 67

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Thomas W. Moore on working with Truman Capote on ABC Stage 67
05:53

ABC's Wide World of Sports

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Thomas Moore on the genesis of ABC's Wide World of Sports
04:55

Addams Family, The

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery and The Addams Family
05:02

Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet, The

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Thomas W. Moore on programming various series in the '60s, including That Girl with Marlo Thomas, and the long-running The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
02:58

Adventures in Paradise

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Adventures in Paradise and The FBI produced by Quinn Martin
06:48

Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, The

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Thomas Moore on producing The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
03:19

Batman

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Batman, and on the limited shelf life of shows that are instant hits
02:36

Bewitched

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery and The Addams Family
05:02

FBI, The

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Adventures in Paradise and The FBI produced by Quinn Martin
06:48

Flintstones, The

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Flintstones
04:25

Frank Sinatra Show, The (1957-58)

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Frank Sinatra Show, and on Elvis Presley appearing on that show
06:22

I Love Lucy

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Thomas W. Moore on the freeze of FCC licences for television stations in 1949

Jerry Lewis Show, The (1963)

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Jerry Lewis Show, and The Hollywood Palace
05:54

McHale's Navy

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Thomas W. Moore on programming various shows including McHale's Navy and various game shows
01:57
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing McHale's Navy
02:40

Mickey Mouse Club, The

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Thomas W. Moore on The Mickey Mouse Club on ABC
04:17
Thomas W. Moore on the format of The Mickey Mouse Club
04:13

Monday Night Football

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Thomas Moore on the genesis of ABC Monday Night Football
03:50

Olympics

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Thomas Moore on ABC's acquisition of the Olympic games in the 1960s and '70s
02:01

Outer Limits, The (1963-65)

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Outer Limits, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Combat
03:26

Peyton Place

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Peyton Place, and on ABC dealing with the advent of color
04:02

Real McCoys, The

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Real McCoys
02:25

That Girl

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Thomas W. Moore on programming various series in the '60s, including That Girl with Marlo Thomas, and the long-running The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
02:58

Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, The

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Thomas W. Moore on The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, and on nonfiction programming
03:55

Untouchables, The

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Untouchables
04:05
Topics

'The Idiot Box'

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on Newton N. Minow's "vast wasteland" speech, critical of television
05:06

Advertising and Sponsorship

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on the ban on cigarette advertising on television
01:45
Thomas W. Moore on the length of commercials and commercial breaks on network television
04:14

Advice

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on advice for an aspiring television executive
01:29

Criticism of TV

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on Newton N. Minow's "vast wasteland" speech, critical of television
05:06
Thomas W. Moore on television living up to its potential
01:22

Dwight D. Eisenhower

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on ABC covering the 1952 conventions, and on how presidents starting with Dwight D. Eisenhower took to television
07:55

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on his experience with World War II
03:06
Thomas W. Moore on the Kennedy/Nixon debates of 1960
05:51
Thomas W. Moore on the Kennedy-Nixon Debates
10:10

Hollywood Blacklist

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on the Hollywood Blacklist
01:04

Industry Crossroads

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on the Hollywood Blacklist
01:04

John F. Kennedy

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on the Kennedy/Nixon debates of 1960
05:51

Kennedy-Nixon Debates

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on the Kennedy/Nixon debates of 1960
05:51
Thomas W. Moore on the Kennedy-Nixon Debates
10:10

Media Consolidation

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on Capital Cities takeover of ABC
02:26

Public Television

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on his involvement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
06:27

Technological Innovation

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Peyton Place, and on ABC dealing with the advent of color
04:02
Thomas W. Moore on the various ways the industry changed during his stint at ABC due to cable, and on how audiences tastes have changed
06:01

Television Industry

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on the Hollywood Blacklist
01:04
Thomas W. Moore on the creation of Viacom, and on being hired at ABC by Jim Aubrey
03:12
Thomas W. Moore on being vice president in charge of programming at ABC, and on the state of the network when he arrived
03:28
Thomas W. Moore on the people who worked for him at ABC when he was head of programming, including Michael Eisner and Barry Diller
05:30
Thomas W. Moore on his stint as head of programming at ABC, and on his goals at the time
03:25
Thomas W. Moore on his duties at president of ABC
02:00
Thomas W. Moore on the government attempting to require public service programming on the networks, and on William S. Paley and General David Sarnoff
08:22
Thomas W. Moore on Newton N. Minow's "vast wasteland" speech, critical of television
05:06
Thomas W. Moore on what he sees as the FCC's role in broadcasting
05:26
Thomas W. Moore on the ban on cigarette advertising on television
01:45
Thomas W. Moore on the FCC regulation of the networks being able to own or control the rebroadcast of primetime shows
01:37
Thomas W. Moore on the length of commercials and commercial breaks on network television
04:14
Thomas W. Moore on networks and their affiliates
02:59
Thomas W. Moore on his day-to-day responsibilities as president of ABC
02:48
Thomas W. Moore on the intended merger of ITT and ABC falling apart
06:46
Thomas W. Moore on Capital Cities takeover of ABC
02:26
Thomas W. Moore on being promoted to group vice president at ABC, and on leaving ABC to produce
05:05
Thomas W. Moore on the various ways the industry changed during his stint at ABC due to cable, and on how audiences tastes have changed
06:01
Thomas W. Moore on his involvement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
06:27
Thomas W. Moore on television living up to its potential
01:22
Thomas W. Moore on advice for an aspiring television executive
01:29
Thomas W. Moore on his own contributions to the television industry, and on the best lineups he programed
03:53

Television and the Presidency

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on ABC covering the 1952 conventions, and on how presidents starting with Dwight D. Eisenhower took to television
07:55
Thomas W. Moore on the Kennedy/Nixon debates of 1960
05:51

War

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on his experience with World War II
03:06

World War II

View Topic
Thomas W. Moore on his experience with World War II
03:06
Professions

Executives

View Profession
Thomas W. Moore on his philosophy of program development, and on the process by which he picked television shows
06:18
Thomas W. Moore on using research as a tool for program scheduling and development
03:47
Thomas W. Moore on scheduling shows, and on considering demographics when programming and its impact on advertising
04:36
Thomas W. Moore on various programming techniques like mid-season replacements, and on various nights that were difficult for ABC
06:06
Thomas W. Moore on the importance of ratings to a programmer
02:28
Thomas W. Moore on the importance of promoting shows at ABC
01:42
Thomas W. Moore on dealing with the stars of his shows in ABC, and on how programming changed during his stint
03:55
Thomas W. Moore on what he enjoyed most about his time as an executive at ABC, and later being a producer
02:17
Thomas W. Moore on advice for an aspiring television executive
01:29

Producers

View Profession
Thomas W. Moore on what he enjoyed most about his time as an executive at ABC, and later being a producer
02:17

Television Executive

View Profession
Thomas Moore on the business aspects of The Mickey Mouse Club
04:19
Thomas W. Moore on his philosophy of program development, and on the process by which he picked television shows
06:18
Thomas W. Moore on using research as a tool for program scheduling and development
03:47
Thomas W. Moore on scheduling shows, and on considering demographics when programming and its impact on advertising
04:36
Thomas W. Moore on various programming techniques like mid-season replacements, and on various nights that were difficult for ABC
06:06
Thomas W. Moore on the importance of ratings to a programmer
02:28
Thomas W. Moore on the importance of promoting shows at ABC
01:42
Thomas W. Moore on dealing with the stars of his shows in ABC, and on how programming changed during his stint
03:55
Thomas W. Moore on what he enjoyed most about his time as an executive at ABC, and later being a producer
02:17
Thomas W. Moore on advice for an aspiring television executive
01:29
Genres

Children's Programming

View Genre
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Flintstones
04:25

Classic Anthology Series

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Outer Limits, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Combat
03:26

Comedy Series

View Genre
Thomas W. Moore on programming various series in the '60s, including That Girl, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and McHale's Navy
04:55
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing McHale's Navy
02:40
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery and The Addams Family
05:02

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

View Genre
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing 77 Sunset Strip
01:22
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Untouchables, Adventures in Paradise, and The FBI
10:53
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Batman
02:36

Daytime/Primetime Serials

View Genre
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Peyton Place, and on ABC dealing with the advent of color
04:02

Drama Series

View Genre
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Outer Limits, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Combat
03:26

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Frank Sinatra Show
06:22
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Jerry Lewis Show, and The Hollywood Palace
05:54

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

View Genre
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Outer Limits, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Combat
03:26

Sports

View Genre
Thomas W. Moore on ABC's early sports programming
Thomas W. Moore on Edgar J. Scherick and Roone Arledge's role in bringing sports to ABC
08:47
Thomas W. Moore on various sports shows he programmed at ABC
05:27
Thomas W. Moore on ABC brining various sports like golf to television
03:24

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

View Genre
Thomas Moore on producing The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
03:19

Western Series

View Genre
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Real McCoys
02:25
People

Roone Arledge

View Person Page
Thomas Moore on the genesis of ABC's Wide World of Sports
04:55
Thomas Moore on the genesis of ABC's Monday Night Football
03:50
Thomas Moore on ABC's acquisition of the Olympic games in the 1960s and 70s
01:53

Truman Capote

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on working with Truman Capote on ABC Stage 67
05:53

Jacques Cousteau

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, and on nonfiction programming
03:55

Barry Diller

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on the people who worked for him at ABC when he was head of programming, including Michael Eisner and Barry Diller
05:30

Walt Disney

View Person Page
Thomas Moore on how ABC and Walt Disney partnered; how the Barbie doll was advertised on The Mickey Mouse Club
05:57
Thomas Moore on the business aspects of The Mickey Mouse Club
04:19

Dwight D. Eisenhower

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on ABC covering the 1952 conventions, and on how presidents starting with Dwight D. Eisenhower took to television
07:55

Michael Eisner

View Interview Page
Thomas W. Moore on the people who worked for him at ABC when he was head of programming, including Michael Eisner and Barry Diller
05:30

Leonard H. Goldenson

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Thomas Moore on how ABC and Walt Disney partnered; how the Barbie doll was advertised on The Mickey Mouse Club
05:57
Thomas W. Moore on ABC chairman Leonard H. Goldenson
05:36

John F. Kennedy

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on the Kennedy/Nixon debates of 1960
05:51
Thomas W. Moore on the Kennedy-Nixon Debates
10:10

Jerry Lewis

View Interview Page
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Jerry Lewis Show, and The Hollywood Palace produced by Nick Vanoff
05:49

Elmer Lower

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on working with Elmer Lower and Elton H. Rule
02:27

Quinn Martin

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Adventures in Paradise and The FBI produced by Quinn Martin
06:48

Jim McKay

View Interview Page
Thomas Moore on the genesis of ABC's Wide World of Sports
04:55
Thomas Moore on ABC's acquisition of the Olympic games in the 1960s and 70s
01:53

Elizabeth Montgomery

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery and The Addams Family
05:02

Ozzie Nelson

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on programming various series in the '60s, including That Girl with Marlo Thomas, and the long-running The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet with Ozzie Nelson
02:58

Richard M. Nixon

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on the Kennedy/Nixon debates of 1960
05:51
Thomas W. Moore on the Kennedy-Nixon Debates
10:10

Agnes Nixon

View Interview Page
Thomas W. Moore on Agnes Nixon and on daytime dramas at ABC
02:44

William S. Paley

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on the government attempting to require public service programming on the networks, and on William S. Paley and General David Sarnoff
08:22

Frederick S. Pierce

View Interview Page
Thomas W. Moore on working with Frederick S. Pierce and Howard K. Smith
04:13

Elton H. Rule

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on working with Elmer Lower and Elton H. Rule
02:27

David Sarnoff

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on the government attempting to require public service programming on the networks, and on William S. Paley and General David Sarnoff
08:22

Edgar J. Scherick

View Interview Page
Thomas W. Moore on Edgar J. Scherick at ABC
03:27

Frank Sinatra

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Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Frank Sinatra Show
06:22

Howard K. Smith

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Thomas W. Moore on working with Frederick S. Pierce and Howard K. Smith
04:13

Marlo Thomas

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Thomas W. Moore on programming various series in the '60s, including That Girl with Marlo Thomas, and the long-running The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet with Ozzie Nelson
02:58

Nick Vanoff

View Person Page
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Jerry Lewis Show, and The Hollywood Palace produced by Nick Vanoff
05:49

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