Charles Lisanby
Encyclopedia
Charles Alvin Lisanby is an American Emmy-winning production designer who helped pioneer color television scenic design. He has been nominated for 16 Emmys and has won three. In January 2010 Charles was inducted into the 19th Annual Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame alongside Don Pardo, the Smothers Brothers, Bob Stewart, and Gene Roddenberry. As well as his success in the entertainment industry, Charles is known for his great friendship with pop artist Andy Warhol.
As well as shaping scenic design as it is known today, Charles designed the first ever mini-series on television in 1973-1974 with his Emmy-winning Ben Franklin mini-series. Charles’ worldly travels and extreme ambition took scenic design to new heights with monumental set pieces such as his Parisian street set which created an enormous buzz across Hollywood and the entire industry. Throughout his nearly 50 year career, Lisanby became arguably the most influential scenic designer ever.
After Romeo and Juliet, Charles continued to work in the same scene shop for a year until he was offered a job by Jim McNaughton at ABC. In 1954 CBS offered him a job for twice the salary which he immediately took and worked on The Jane Froman Show. Charles’ then worked for CBS for a number of years on such shows as the infamous $64,000 Question and Camera Three where he met Lewis Freedman, the future head of PBS and director of the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 1958 Charles was asked to work with Ralph Levy and Bob Banner on the Gary Moore Show where he worked for six years on 234 shows and helped give Carol Burnette her television debut. After the series ended Charles went on to work on the Kraft Music Hall for Smith/Hemion; and in 1973 and 1974 he designed the Ben Franklin miniseries and received his first Emmy. Starting in 1979 he began annually working on Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular which he continued designing until 1996.
Working on everything from made-for-television movies, musicals, ballets and Broadway shows, Lisanby influenced nearly every aspect of scenic design in all mediums which he worked.
The two became nearly inseparable and met every Sunday to do figure drawings and studies which influence both artists greatly as they matured in their respective careers. Warhol created an entire gallery exhibit (DETAILS) of the drawings he had done of Charles. Although Charles’ work had him travelling between the east and west coasts he and Andy kept in contact with regular phone calls.
In 1956 Charles and Andy took a month-long trip around the world which greatly influenced both of their work and directly inspired Warhol’s Golden Shoes. Charles came up with the title to Warhol’s book 25 Cats Named Sam and One Blue Pussy and both artists frequently exchanged art and ideas into the early 1960s.
As Warhol began his famous pop-art movement the two began to separate in their friendship as Charles did not wish to be a part of it. Lisanby was in favor of much more realistic art and he decided that Warhol’s famous Factory was not his scene. Towards the end of the period where they were best friends, Warhol bought a house and tried to get Charles to move in with him, and Andy even tried to give Charles one of his famous Marilyn Monroe prints that he made specifically for him. Lisanby refused the Marilyn even though Warhol famously said, “Wrap it up in brown paper. Put it in the back of a closet. One day it’ll be worth a million dollars.” As Warhol began gaining his fame and attracting more attention Charles warned him that someday somebody would shoot him. Shortly after Charles warned him Andy was shot in 1968.
As Warhol gained more fame, he recognized the Pop Art movement that he was creating and the incredible fame he would achieve. Andy asked Charles to join him in the movement and become a famous Pop artist as well, but Charles declined due to the work he was doing in his career in television.
Biography
Born in Princeton, Kentucky on his parents’ farm, Charles grew up listening to Radio City Music Hall’s regular radio broadcasts while he built scale models of his interpretations of the shows. As a small child Charles went to a fair where Philo Farnesworth was giving one of his famous public demonstrations of his invention, the television, and Charles’ interest in the medium began. He graduated high school at age 16; and a year later following the Pearl Harbor attacks he was drafted into the army. After an early discharge due to meningitis, Charles went to art school even though his father wanted him to become a doctor. After moving to New York City and working at an advertising agency, he got his first professional commission from the Friars Club at their New York headquarters. Charles remains a lifetime honorary member of the Friars Club where he met Ralph Levy and got his career started with CBS by working on the Billy the Kid ballet; the first non-new broadcast on television. Charles worked for ABC, CBS, and NBC as well as numerous studios and corporations on Broadway productions, game shows, made-for-television movies, mini-series, and advertising commercials. During his active career as an Art Director and Production Designer Charles frequently traveled between his two homes in Los Angeles and New York City and is currently retired.Influences in early color television
Charles Lisanby is currently the first and only Production Designer ever inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. As well as contributing spectacular scenes and set piece design for countless television shows and movies, Charles helped pioneer several key recognizable features of television. As color television developed, experimentation with colorful scenes and costumes was needed and developed. One key feature Charles directly mastered was the use of neon lighting for shows. Early experiments with neon lights created a buzzing sound through the microphone system which was severe enough it could not be used. After working with engineers, lighting, and sound experts Charles was able to incorporate neon lights for the first time in television history. Charles also invented lighted steps as a feature of shows, and was the first to implement large block letters which actors could sit on as a part of the set.As well as shaping scenic design as it is known today, Charles designed the first ever mini-series on television in 1973-1974 with his Emmy-winning Ben Franklin mini-series. Charles’ worldly travels and extreme ambition took scenic design to new heights with monumental set pieces such as his Parisian street set which created an enormous buzz across Hollywood and the entire industry. Throughout his nearly 50 year career, Lisanby became arguably the most influential scenic designer ever.
Career
Charles’ first professional commission was given to him in 1947 when the Friars Club in New York City commissioned him to paint a mural in the dining room of their headquarters. Coincidentally Ralph Levy, who at the time worked for CBS, saw Charles’ work and asked him to design the experimental made-for-television ballet “Billy the Kid”. His work gained the attention of the Theatrical Stage Designers Union who demanded he cease working for CBS until he took a test to gain entrance into the Union. Charles passed the test with the highest marks and met the influential stage designer Oliver Messel who offered him a job as his assistant working on the Broadway show Romeo and Juliet starring Olivia de Haviland in 1951.After Romeo and Juliet, Charles continued to work in the same scene shop for a year until he was offered a job by Jim McNaughton at ABC. In 1954 CBS offered him a job for twice the salary which he immediately took and worked on The Jane Froman Show. Charles’ then worked for CBS for a number of years on such shows as the infamous $64,000 Question and Camera Three where he met Lewis Freedman, the future head of PBS and director of the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 1958 Charles was asked to work with Ralph Levy and Bob Banner on the Gary Moore Show where he worked for six years on 234 shows and helped give Carol Burnette her television debut. After the series ended Charles went on to work on the Kraft Music Hall for Smith/Hemion; and in 1973 and 1974 he designed the Ben Franklin miniseries and received his first Emmy. Starting in 1979 he began annually working on Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular which he continued designing until 1996.
Working on everything from made-for-television movies, musicals, ballets and Broadway shows, Lisanby influenced nearly every aspect of scenic design in all mediums which he worked.
Friendship with Andy Warhol
Charles met Andy Warhol at a party thrown by Bill Cecil in the mid 1950s in New York. At the party Andy was sitting alone in the corner not socializing with anyone so Charles approached him to help him meet people. The two began conversing and ended up leaving the party at the same time. That particular night it was raining so Charles and Andy stood under the awning of a taxidermy shop where Charles pointed out that he liked a stuffed peacock in the window. The next day the peacock was delivered to Charles’ door and their great friendship began.The two became nearly inseparable and met every Sunday to do figure drawings and studies which influence both artists greatly as they matured in their respective careers. Warhol created an entire gallery exhibit (DETAILS) of the drawings he had done of Charles. Although Charles’ work had him travelling between the east and west coasts he and Andy kept in contact with regular phone calls.
In 1956 Charles and Andy took a month-long trip around the world which greatly influenced both of their work and directly inspired Warhol’s Golden Shoes. Charles came up with the title to Warhol’s book 25 Cats Named Sam and One Blue Pussy and both artists frequently exchanged art and ideas into the early 1960s.
As Warhol began his famous pop-art movement the two began to separate in their friendship as Charles did not wish to be a part of it. Lisanby was in favor of much more realistic art and he decided that Warhol’s famous Factory was not his scene. Towards the end of the period where they were best friends, Warhol bought a house and tried to get Charles to move in with him, and Andy even tried to give Charles one of his famous Marilyn Monroe prints that he made specifically for him. Lisanby refused the Marilyn even though Warhol famously said, “Wrap it up in brown paper. Put it in the back of a closet. One day it’ll be worth a million dollars.” As Warhol began gaining his fame and attracting more attention Charles warned him that someday somebody would shoot him. Shortly after Charles warned him Andy was shot in 1968.
As Warhol gained more fame, he recognized the Pop Art movement that he was creating and the incredible fame he would achieve. Andy asked Charles to join him in the movement and become a famous Pop artist as well, but Charles declined due to the work he was doing in his career in television.
Career timeline
| Year | Show | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Billy the Kid (Ballet) Billy the Kid (ballet) Billy the Kid is a 1938 ballet written by the American composer Aaron Copland and commissioned by Lincoln Kirstein. It was choreographed by Eugene Loring for Ballet Caravan. Along with Rodeo and Appalachian Spring, it is one of Copland's most popular and widely performed pieces... |
First ballet on television, broadcast in New York City |
| 1951 | Romeo and Juliet | Broadway show, starring Olivia de Havilland Olivia de Havilland Olivia Mary de Havilland is a British American film and stage actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1946 and 1949. She is the elder sister of actress Joan Fontaine. The sisters are among the last surviving leading ladies from Hollywood of the 1930s.-Early life:Olivia de Havilland... ; Assisted Oliver Messel Oliver Messel Oliver Hilary Sambourne Messel was an English artist and one of the foremost stage designers of the 20th century.... |
| 1951–1952 | Can-Can Can-Can (musical) Can-Can is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, and a book by Abe Burrows. The story concerns the showgirls of the Montmartre dance halls during the 1890s.... |
Painted scenery |
| 1952 | America’s Town Meeting | Television show anchored by John Daly John Charles Daly John Charles Patrick Croghan Daly John Charles Patrick Croghan Daly John Charles Patrick Croghan Daly (generally known as John Charles Daly or simply John Daly (February 20, 1914 – February 24, 1991) was an American journalist, game show host and radio personality, probably best known for hosting... |
| 1952 | Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue is an American television variety series. The show aired on ABC on Sunday evenings from November 6, 1949 through March 30, 1952.-Overview:... |
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| 1953 | Jane Froman Jane Froman Jane Froman was an American singer and actress. During her thirty-year career, Froman performed on stage, radio and television despite chronic injuries that she sustained from a 1943 plane crash... Show |
Met and worked with Irving Mansfield and Byron Paul |
| 1955 | $64,000 Question | Created and designed the contestant's isolation booths |
| 1956 | Camera Three Camera Three Camera Three was a Sunday morning program devoted to the arts. It ran on CBS from 22 January 1956 to 21 January 1979, and moved to PBS in its final year to make way for the then-new CBS News Sunday Morning... |
Produced by Robert Herridge Robert herridge Robert Herridge , was a television producer and writer who created the CBS television program Camera Three, among more than 1,700 hours of TV programming, beginning in 1950.... and directed by Lewis Freedman |
| 1957 | Hotel Paradiso | Broadway musical |
| 1957 | Little Glass Clock and My Fair Lady My Fair Lady My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe... |
Broadway musicals; Assisted Cecil Beaton Cecil Beaton Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton, CBE was an English fashion and portrait photographer, diarist, painter, interior designer and an Academy Award-winning stage and costume designer for films and the theatre... , lighting credit |
| 1958 | Dotto Dotto Dotto is an American television quiz show which aired on CBS from January 6 to August 15, 1958 and was hosted by Jack Narz. Although it quickly became the highest-rated daytime game show on television, its end came when it became the unexpected first casualty – and ignition – of the... |
Designed the set but had no part in the scandal Quiz show scandals The American quiz show scandals of the 1950s were a series of revelations that contestants of several popular television quiz shows were secretly given assistance by the show's producers to arrange the outcome of a supposedly fair competition.... |
| 1958–1964 | The Garry Moore Show The Garry Moore Show The Garry Moore Show is the name for several separate American variety series on the CBS television network in the 1950s and 1960s. Hosted by experienced radio performer, Garry Moore, the series helped launch the careers of many comedic talents, such as Don Adams, George Gobel, Carol Burnett, Don... |
Worked on 234 shows over six years with Ralph Levy Ralph Levy Ralph Levy was an American producer, film and television director.-Biography:Ralph Levy was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He directed episodes of several television shows, including I Love Lucy, Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, Trapper John, M.D. and Hawaii Five-O... and Bob Banner Bob Banner Robert James Banner, Jr. was an American producer, writer and director. From 1967 to 1972 he co-produced The Carol Burnett Show.- Life and career :... |
| 1962 | Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall is an American musical comedy television showcase starring Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett. It was broadcast on CBS on June 11, 1962. Mike Nichols wrote the script and co-wrote "You're So London" with Ken Welch. The show was produced by Bob Banner and directed by... |
Show featuring Julie Andrews Julie Andrews Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors... and Carol Burnett Carol Burnett Carol Creighton Burnett is an American actress, comedian, singer, dancer and writer. Burnett started her career in New York. After becoming a hit on Broadway, she made her television debut... , a lifelong friend of Charles |
| 1963 | Calamity Jane | Featured Carol Burnett |
| 1964 | Once Upon a Mattress Once Upon a Mattress Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. It opened off-Broadway in May 1959, and then moved to Broadway... |
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| 1966–1967 | Animal Keepers | |
| 1972 | Applause Applause (musical) Applause is a musical with a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Lauren Bacall won the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical.... |
Musical starring Lauren Bacall Lauren Bacall Lauren Bacall is an American film and stage actress and model, known for her distinctive husky voice and sultry looks.She first emerged as leading lady in the Humphrey Bogart film To Have And Have Not and continued on in the film noir genre, with appearances in The Big Sleep and Dark Passage ,... |
| 1972 | Trouble with People | Written by Neil Simon Neil Simon Neil Simon is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written numerous Broadway plays, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and The Odd Couple. He won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Lost In Yonkers. He has written the screenplays for several of his plays that... |
| 1973–1974 | Benjamin Franklin (TV Miniseries) Benjamin Franklin (TV miniseries) Benjamin Franklin is a 1974 American television miniseries that chronicles the life of Benjamin Franklin. It was broadcast by CBS. It won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series.-Cast:*Willie Aames as Franklin at age 12... |
Won an Emmy |
| 1976–1977 | Paul Lynde Paul Lynde Paul Edward Lynde was an American comedian and actor. A noted character actor, Lynde was well known for his roles as Uncle Arthur on Bewitched and Harry MacAfee, the befuddled father in Bye Bye Birdie... Specials |
Halloween The Paul Lynde Halloween Special The Paul Lynde Halloween Special was a Halloween-themed television special starring Paul Lynde broadcast October 29, 1976 on ABC. It featured guest stars Margaret Hamilton in her first reprisal of her role as The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. Also guest starring are Billie Hayes... and Christmas 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1977 TV special) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas is a 1977 made-for-television special loosely inspired by the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clark Moore.-Plot:... Specials |
| 1977 | The Court Marshal of George Armstrong Custer | Won an Emmy |
| 1978 | 20th Grammy Awards | Designed the awards show |
| 1979 | Alan King Alan King (comedian) Alan King was an American actor and comedian known for his biting wit and often angry humorous rants. King became well known as a Jewish comedian and satirist. He was also a serious actor who appeared in a number of movies and television shows. King wrote several books, produced films, and... Specials |
Total of 12 shows |
| 1979–1996 | Radio City Music Hall’s Annual Christmas Spectacular Radio City Christmas Spectacular The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is an annual musical holiday stage show presented at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The show features over 140 performers, lavish sets and costumes and an original musical score. The 90 minute revue combines singing, dancing and humor with traditional... |
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| 1979 | You Can’t Take it With You | |
| 1980 | Baryshnikov on Broadway Mikhail Baryshnikov Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov is a Soviet and American dancer, choreographer, and actor, often cited alongside Vaslav Nijinsky and Rudolf Nureyev as one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century. After a promising start in the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, he defected to Canada in 1974... |
Won an Emmy |
| 1980 | Bob Hope Bob Hope Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel... ’s Wine, Women and Song |
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| 1980 | Folies Bergere (Tropicana, Las Vegas) | Currently playing open ended |
| 1980 | The Glory of Christmas | Performed at Crystal Cathedral through 2006 |
| 1981 | Diana | Diana Ross special |
| 1981 | Report to Murphy | starring Michael Keaton, pilot and series |
| 1982 | Working | PBS’ American Playhouse |
| 1982 | Night of 100 Stars | Alexander Kohen/ABC |
| 1982 | Weekend | PBS’ American Playhouse |
| 1982 | ENCORE | Radio City’s 50th Anniversary Show |
| 1982 | Peter Allen at the Pantages, LA | |
| 1982 | Glory of Easter | Crystal Cathedral through 2002 |
| 1983 | Walt Disney’s Radio City Summer Show | |
| 1983 | Dr. Pepper commercials (7) | |
| 1983 | Merrill Lynch (the original “bull”) commercials (3) | |
| 1984 | French Revue for the Bahamas Princess | Through 1995 |
| 1984 | Pilot for Cindy – (Williams) | NBC |
| 1984 | Multiple Irish Spring commercials | |
| 1985 | STARZ | Conrad International Hotel, Australia. Currently running open-ended |
| 1985 | Radio City HBO Christmas Special | |
| 1985 | MTV Awards (2) | |
| 1987 | Panasonic VCR (hands) commercials | |
| 1987 | Salute to American Imagination – Ford 75th Anniversary Show | |
| 1987 | Barry Manilow Special | CBS/Steve Binder |
| 1988 | David Letterman’s 5th Anniversary Special | NBC |
| 1988 | 60th Anniversary Academy Awards Show | |
| 1989 | Miss America Pageant | 1 of 4 |
| 1989 | Hot Prospects | TV half hour pilot – starring George Clooney |
| 1990 | Superbowl Halftime Show | |
| 1990 | I’m Home | Pilot MGM/UA |
| 1990 | Class of the 20th Century | 12 specials – A&E hosted by Richard Dreyfuss |
| 1990 | 65th Grand Ole Opry Special | |
| 1992/1993 | Tropworld, Atlantic City Extravaganza, 60th Anniversary Radio City Touring Show | 77 weeks and remounted at Las Vegas Flamingo Hilton in 1995 |
| 1994 | Disney Greatest Hits on Ice | CBS |
| 1996 | Disney’s “Hunchback of Notre Dame” | At the Superdome in New Orleans – live and TV |
| 1998 | Reflections on Ice | Starring Michelle Kwan based upon “Mulan” – ABC/Disney |