Route 66 on Television
Interviewees from the Television Academy Foundation's Interviews share stories from the 1960s television series Route 66.
Route 66, the 1960-64 series created by Herbert B. Leonard and Stirling Silliphant, told the story of two men crossing the US along Route 66 in their Corvette, reflecting the spirit of adventure, self-discovery, and escape represented by the iconic road.
Image: Route 66 star George Maharis reading a script on-set.
Jeffrey Hayden on directing Route 66The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
Discovering Talent on the Road
Director Jeffrey Hayden discusses the fun he had directing episodes of Route 66, in particular because they were shot on-location and he had the chance to scout actors from towns across the United States.
Suzanne Pleshette on her experiences filming episodes of Route 66The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
Fun on the Set of Route 66
Actress Suzanne Pleshette shares her experiences filming episodes of Route 66, including the fun (and challenge) of working on-location and the familial atmosphere that existed on set.
Eddie Foy III on doing casting for Route 66The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
Special Talent on the Series
Casting director Eddie Foy III discusses what made the actors cast on Route 66 so special – their authenticity.
George Maharis and other actors rehearsing a scene for an episode of Route 66.
George Barris on working on the Corvette for Route 66The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
Customizing the Corvette
Custom car designer George Barris talks about his work on Route 66, which centered on two characters having adventures as they traversed the US in a Corvette - which he helped work on.
Ernest Kinoy on writing an episode of Route 66The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
Behind the Episode "I Wouldn't Start from Here"
Writer Ernest Kinoy shares his memory of the episode of Route 66 which he wrote, “I Wouldn’t Start From Here,” including how he ended up recording a voice over which was used on the episode.
Arthur Hiller on directing Route 66The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
The Joy of Traveling with Route 66
Director Arthur Hiller shares what he enjoyed about working on Route 66, including filming on-location and the great actors who were cast in one-off parts on the show.
Star George Maharis behind the scenes of Route 66.
George Clayton Johnson on writing an episode of Route 66The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
Behind the Episode "Eleven, the Hard Way"
Writer George Clayton Johnson discusses his Route 66 episode “Eleven, the Hard Way,' and his experiences talking to episode star Walter Matthau on-set.
Leo Chaloukian on the challenges of recording sound for Route 66The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
Capturing the Sounds of Route 66
Sound executive Leo Chaloukian talks about the challenges of working on Route 66, in particular the difficulty in recording sound while the two main characters were driving in their iconic Corvette.
Ralph Senensky on directing an episode of Route 66The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
Directing the Episode "In the Closing of a Trunk"
Director Ralph Senensky talks about the challenges of directing the Route 66 episode “In the Closing of a Trunk," including the short prep time, bad weather on location, and last-minute rewrites.
Since 1997, The Interviews: An Oral History of Television has been conducting oral history interviews with television professionals. These interviews explore the interviewees' lives and careers often touching on important historical moments and movements.
The Television Academy Foundation's The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
Jenni Matz, Director
Adrienne Faillace, Producer
Jenna Hymes, Senior Digital Archivist, Exhibit curator, Video editor
Jossel Franco, Digital Archivist
Arrian Maize, Production Coordinator
TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews
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