Interview with Ralph Senensky, October 25, 2016

Partial Transcript: We are on.

Segment Synopsis: Senensky gives some of his biographical details, including the Depression era when he grew up and the majors he had in college.

Keywords: Great Depression; Television directors

Subjects: Depressions--1929; Television; Television producers and directors

Partial Transcript: I've read your resume online and one thing that I was kind of surprised about...

Segment Synopsis: Senensky talks about remembering actors in shows he had directed, even though there was often a very short duration of contact with them. He had worked with Don Galloway on two TV series: "Arrest and Trial," and "Ironside."

Keywords: Arrest and Trial (Television show); Ironside (Television show)

Subjects: Galloway, Don, 1937-2009; Television; Television producers and directors

Partial Transcript: How did you first meet Don Galloway and what were your first impressions of him?

Segment Synopsis: Senensky talks about first meeting Galloway during his work on "Arrest and Trial," three years before meeting him again when filming "Ironside." He talks about Galloway's rise to becoming an actor; he thinks Galloway was a prepared actor and had good amount of experience and training.

Keywords: Arrest and Trial (Television show)

Subjects: Actors; Galloway, Don, 1937-2009; Television; Television producers and directors

Partial Transcript: Even those years on "Arrest and Trial" where he had less to do...

Segment Synopsis: Senensky talks about the contract system prevalent in the movie industry at that time. Promising actors were paid a small weekly amount by studios to be available to work for their projects. He talks about Galloway not having that opportunity of being groomed by a studio. Studios were more responsible for stardom of actors than the actors themselves. In television, even though an actor had talent, actors were at the mercy of the stories and the management.

Keywords: Studio system; Studios in Hollywood; Television industry

Subjects: Galloway, Don, 1937-2009; Television; Television producers and directors

Partial Transcript: So do you think he was miscast in "Ironside"?

Segment Synopsis: Senensky talks about the casting of Galloway in "Ironside." He doesn't think he was miscast, as some people think. He talks about the prevalence of the practice of recasting in television at that time. This was mainly done by the management and had little to do with the talent of people removed from their job. He gives an example of a high profile recasting on an ABC show.

Keywords: Ironside (Television show); Miscasting; Television actors from Kentucky

Subjects: Galloway, Don, 1937-2009; Television; Television actors and actresses; Television producers and directors

Partial Transcript: Um, when you're a director, are you telling people what to do...

Segment Synopsis: Senensky talks about directing and how he pursues it. His main job is to create the ambiance, staging the scenes, and deciding where the camera is placed. He doesn't believe in telling actors what to do, but rather letting them discover how to approach a role. He talks about his contribution to the episodes of "Ironside" he directed. He thinks actors like Galloway also have their fingerprint on an episode.

Keywords: Directing television; Ironside (Television show); Television directors

Subjects: Galloway, Don, 1937-2009; Television; Television actors and actresses; Television producers and directors

Partial Transcript: What do you think, um, on Don Galloway or his particular strengths...

Segment Synopsis: Senensky talks about how the declining studio system in the 1960s meant that actors like Galloway did not get opportunities like actors in the 1940s did. He talks about the studios being like factories, where the work environment was quite bad.

Keywords: Studio system; Television actors in 1960s

Subjects: Galloway, Don, 1937-2009; Television; Television actors and actresses; Television producers and directors

Partial Transcript: Do you think after "Ironside" was cancelled that Raymond Burr was influential in Don Galloway getting work?

Segment Synopsis: Senensky talks about how Galloway might have been freelancing after his work in "Ironside." He worked in many different shows in smaller roles. Galloway was no longer a fresh face in town, so didn't get new contracts. He says that it was a common issue with older actors.

Keywords: Ironside (Television show)

Subjects: Burr, Raymond, 1917-1993; Television actors and actresses

Partial Transcript: You know that happened to actors.

Segment Synopsis: Senensky talks about the way directors worked in the television industry in the 1960s. They were booked for a certain amount of time, not for a whole series. There was also a lot of uncertainty about finding jobs, not only for actors but also for directors. He himself had worked on many great shows - including "Star Trek" - but had problems finding work.

Keywords: Job security in television; Star Trek (Television show)

Subjects: Star trek, the original series; Television; Television producers and directors

Partial Transcript: How, how do you remember working with Don Galloway in terms of...

Segment Synopsis: Senensky talks about not knowing Galloway enough to talk about him personally. He only worked with him for 6 days and did not know him beyond the set. He talks about his relationship with actors in general.

Keywords: Actor-director relationships

Subjects: Galloway, Don, 1937-2009; Television actors and actresses

Partial Transcript: When you look back on him, on Don Galloway, do you think he had a career commensurate with his abilities?

Segment Synopsis: Senensky talks about the career possibilities Galloway had and how he didn't get a chance to pursue them. He says that the industry didn't always recognize good actors. He gives examples of good actors who didn't get a chance in Hollywood. The interviewer notes that Galloway was not happy after leaving the industry and was an alcoholic.

Keywords: Hollywood actors; Life in Hollywood

Subjects: Careers in Hollywood; Galloway, Don, 1937-2009; Television actors and actresses

Partial Transcript: Um, is there anything else that you can tell me that I failed to ask...

Segment Synopsis: Senensky talks about his website where he writes about what he calls the "golden age" of television during the '60s and '70s. He talks about his own directing, particularly on the "Star Trek" series. He talks about the studios that owned the series and his experience working with one of them.

Keywords: Star Trek (Television show); Star Trek directors; Studio system in Hollywood; Television's Golden Age

Subjects: Golden age of television; Star trek, the original series