Albert Fisher
Interview
by Andylon Lensen
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH Albert Fisher,
About His Long Lost Home Movies of Elvis Presley Find New Life in Special Edition DVD Elvis Presley At The 1962 Seattle's World Fair.
Trailer
By Andylon Lensen.
Hi Albert, first of all I'd like to thank you for being so kind to do this exclusive interview for our readers of Ep.Gold. and 2nd can you introduce yourself and tell me a little about your background?
Andylon, Let me start with giving you my complete bio:
ALBERT FISHER
Albert Fisher is a television executive with creative credits from all major networks, top syndicators, cable networks, as well as station groups. For ten years, as CEO of Fisher/Merlis Television, Inc. he has won numerous awards including the coveted national Emmy. Fisher currently has multiple broadcast and cablecast series and specials seen world-wide.
Recent television programs include: "Cassini: Rendezvous With The Ringed Planet" and "Mars Rocks" which is airing on both the Discovery Channel and The Science Channel, "Secrets of San Simeon with Patricia Hearst" and "The Ultimate Thrill" for Discovery's Travel Channel, "Flea Market Finds with The Kovels" now in its 5th season for Home and Garden Television, "The Zen Of Organizing" for Fine Living, "The Harlem Hellfighters" for The History Channel, "The Real Me" series and specials for The Good Life Network and many others.
Fisher/Merlis Television has created and produced hundreds of programs and specials for Scripps HGTV including "Willard Scott's Home and Garden Almanac," "Kitty Bartholomew: You're Home," "The Urban Gardener with Meshach Taylor" and "Ask Kitty." He also produced the Emmy winning nationally syndicated series: "Better Homes and Gardens Television."
Fisher has created a varied slate of hour-long "specials" for various networks. He is also responsible for numerous home videos and DVD's which are being marketed world-wide as the "official" presentations for such prestigious destinations as The Hearst Castle at San Simeon, The Huntington Gardens and Library in Pasadena, The Piedras Blancas Lighthouse on the California coast and Loretta Lynn's Plantation Home and Museum in Tennessee.
He has served as a Producer for the NBC-TV Network series: "I Witness Video" and the Fox Television Network news magazine series: "Front Page" and has functioned in various senior programming and management positions with broadcasters world-wide including WOR-TV, New York City; WTOP-TV, Washington, DC; WKYC-TV, Cleveland; WMAQ-TV, Chicago; and WWL-TV, New Orleans, where he was one of the first broadcasters to create the magazine-format concept .
His talent as a Producer/Director/Writer associated with films, television and multi-media events has garnered many international awards including film festivals in Cannes, New York, London, Chicago, Barcelona, Lucarno and Edinburgh. Mr. Fisher has also received awards from The American Bar Association, The International Film and Television Festival and the coveted Columbia School of Journalism's Alfred I. DuPont Award for the documentary: "Whispering Hope: Unmasking The Mystery Of Alzheimers."
As an Executive Producer with NBC, Albert Fisher created, produced and directed numerous award-winning magazine shows, documentaries and public-affairs programs and specials. In this capacity, and his current role as a hands-on executive producer, he has spent time as an undercover inmate in The Ohio State Penitentiary, has flown in supersonic fighter aircraft, sailed international "Tall Ships," lived on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in a NASA underwater habitat and recently became one of the few people to ever film and explore the remote Arctic Circle island of Surtsey off the coast of Iceland.
This is quite a legacy you leave behind Albert and you are still Movin' On with new projects like the new DVD Behind the scenes of Elvis Presley At The 1962 Seattle's World Fair. Our greatest entertainer in the music Field "Elvis Presley" .
How did you become a Director / Producer?
I have been in television since I was 16 years old. Working at The Seattle World's Fair was the career-making moment for me and provided me with an opportunity to meet many important people from national television. That truly launched my career as a TV Producer and then as a Director.
Made any other productions ?
I have been responsible for hundreds of hours of national and international television. A lot of shows for the various Discovery Networks and major US Networks such as NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox. (See specifics in my bio above).
Who is your favorite director(s) for film / documentaries?
My personal tastes are pretty much mainstream and run the full range from the classic directors such as Hitchcock, Ford, Fritz Lang, Spielberg, Ang Lee, etc. Documentaries: I love Michael Moore's work and current docs such as "March of the Penguins".
Who is your favorite actor(s)
Current actors such as Sean Penn, George Clooney, Judy Dench, etc.
Why?
I like to see actors who make you feel they are "real" people and who are not afraid to show vulnerability and emotion on the screen.
Did you become an Elvis Fan after you started working with Elvis If so, when and why?
When I started to work on the film in Seattle, I was not a big fan of Elvis. However, as I got to know him as a person, my feelings changed. He had such a sincere warmth that it was impossible not to like him. His laughter was contagious and he was genuinely kind to everyone around him.
As the years have gone on, I have come to recognize his musical talents as well as his amazing contributions to the entertainment industry on so many different levels.
I used to produce a talent competition series on television called "Ted Mack and The original Amateur Hour." I learned that Ted Mack and the show had turned down Elvis Presley when he auditioned for the show while he was still living in Tupelo, Mississippi.
I wish I had his hand written application from that time, it would be priceless. But we never saved the applications for those acts that were rejected.
Elvis used to rib Ted Mack about his error in turning Elvis down for the show.
There is a segment about this on my DVD devoted to the series. It can be accessed through my web site: www.originalamateurhour.com.
Did you started collecting Elvis material besides filming Elvis on Super8 and still-camera?
Andylon, I only have collected those things that were directly related to my personal experiences with Elvis. I have the original phonograph record which Elvis gave to me, as well as some other things he gave me such as the large movie poster,a signed photograph, press kit and things like that.
Is this the only material of Elvis you have in your vaults or are there more surprises for us Elvis Fans in the future?
I have correspondence from some of the crew ... the cinematographer, Joseph Ruttenberg and the Art Director, Preston Ames became friends and I saw them socially for years after the movie until their deaths. The 2nd unit director, Otto Lang is a good friend. He just turned 90 and lives in Seattle, Washington. We talk on the phone a lot and see each other whenever we can.
Albert, did you keep in touch with Elvis personally or met him somewhere after the film making of It Happened at the World's Fair?
Once the movie was finished, I never had any further contact with Elvis ... sad to say.
What was your reaction emotionally the day Elvis died on August 16 1977?
I was working for NBC when Elvis died. When I heard the first news bulletin, I was stunned. All of my memories with Elvis flashed through my head. I even told the news department at NBC that I had these home movies of Elvis, but they seemed to care less. So they have remained in my vault till now.
Did you ever become active in the Elvis World?
No.
What is your favorite Elvis single - Album - Film, ?
Well, obviously, I am especially fond of "It Happened At The World's Fair" and the music track. But I guess the early films are still my favorites. Also, since I was born and raised in New Orleans, I have always had a soft spot for "King Creole".
Do you like Elvis in the 50's, 60's or 70's?
When I was growing up in New Orleans, I lived a few blocks from the big amusement park Pontchatrain Beach. I remember once that Elvis performed there as a relatively unknown from Tupelo, Mississippi. But even then, the word was getting around that this kid was "special". So my most find period of Elvis would have to be from the 1950's and early 1960's.
Up until now, what is you favorite project you did?
There are so many. I did a great documentary on the famous Hearst Castle at San Simeon, California and the host was William Randolph Hearst's grand daughter, Patty Hearst. That was a terrific experience. Also, recently I did a documentary for Discovery on the Rover missions to the planet Mars.
I went with the chief Mars scientist from NASA, Dr. Jim Garvin, to a remote island off the coast of Iceland near the arctic circle called Surtsey. It is the youngest piece of land on our planet and is much like Mars. Only a handful of people have ever been allowed on this volcanic island. That was a blast!
Albert, do you have any other Productions in the future?
Elvis & Joan O'Brien.
Elvis & Vicky Tiu,
I may try and turn this DVD of Elvis into a television "special" with current interviews with some of the participants such as Joan O'Brien, Vicky Tiu, Gary Lockwood and even Kurt Russell. I am exploring this right now.
Albert, this would be great, keep me updated when this television "special" comes to reality. What is your ultimate wish on a project in the future?
I have a major "legacy" project that I am launching next year that will allow all peoples of the world to create one minute commercials for world peace.I am passionate about this venture. Details are just starting to come out and can be viewed on another web site of mine: www.worldpeaceartsfestival.com.
Is there any wish that you want to accomplish in your life?
The World peace project. I'd like to be able to help bring people from all walks of life together in a common goal to make world leaders more aware of the universal need and quest for world peace. It is an ambitious goal, but if we do not speak out as individuals and unite as a world community, then what is the purpose of having our brief time together on this planet?
Albert, this was such a comprehensive interview, I mean all the information on what you did and still do. Like my brains are falling out..... maybe the next time I am able to go "Into" this.
Thank you again for being so kind doing this and I am certainly like to be updated on any progress on this DVD of Elvis "exploring it as a television special" .
One more last question before we end this interview.
Do you have any message for the Ep.Gold readers?
Andylon, I would like you to keep up the good work of honoring the legacy of Elvis Presley. And wish all the Ep.Gold readers A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2006!!! And let me know if you need anything more. Always glad to be of help.
Thanks Albert, and the same wishes to you in 2006!!!
Note:
The 28 minute DVD includes color home movies of Elvis at the Fair as well as a video montage of both color and black and white still photographs from the production. In addition, Fisher has added a short salute to some of the celebrity Fair visitors who he captured on his home movie camera. These include Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, news commentator Edward R. Murrow, French actor/singer Maurice Chevalier, Britain's Prince Phillip, astronaut John Glenn just returned from his historic first trip into space and clips of the first Telstar satellite transmission ever done from the United States to Europe, parts of which emanated from The Seattle World's Fair.
Seen on the DVD with Elvis Presley are actress and co-star Joan O'Brien (with whom Presley was rumored to be having a torrid relationship), child actress Ginny Tiu and, in his first movie appearance ever, a non-credited 10 year old Kurt Russell. The DVD also shows many sequences with Elvis and his notorious manager Colonel Tom Parker as well as Presley's entourage known as "The Memphis Mafia." Crew members featured include Academy Award winners Norman Taurog (director), Joseph Ruttenberg (cinematographer), Preston Ames (art director), and Otto Lang (2nd unit director). There is even a sequence in which Elvis Presley is presenting a smoked and cured ham from his Tennessee farm to the then Governor of Washington State, Albert Rosselini.
On the DVD Producer/Director Albert Fisher reminisces on-camera about the making of the movie and also how, when the film was finally released, Presley's manager Col. Tom Parker "stole" Fisher's credit as Technical Advisor.
"Elvis Presley at The Seattle World's Fair" is the first of a series of DVD's to be release by Fisher Television Productions highlighting events, stars and celebrities at both the Seattle World's Fair in 1962 and The New York World's Fair in 1964. Future videos will also be available soon on the web site: www.fairvideo.com.
2005/12/24 Albert Fisher / Andylon Lensen / Ep.Gold.Com.
