Conversations 1965; 105; Theodore Bikel with Elliot Norton

thumbnail of Conversations 1965; 105; Theodore Bikel with Elliot Norton
This record is featured in “National Educational Television.” This record is featured in “GBH Archives.”
Series
Conversations 1965
Episode Number
105
Episode
Theodore Bikel with Elliot Norton
Producing Organization
WGBH Educational Foundation
Contributing Organization
Library of Congress (Washington, District of Columbia)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip-512-d795718k0j
NOLA Code
CONS
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Description
Episode Description
Theodore Bikel is well-known not only for stage roles such as Baron von Trapp opposite Mary Martin in the Sound of Music, but also as a singer of folk songs. In an interview with Elliot Norton, Peabody Award-winning drama critic of the Boston Record- American and Sunday Advertiser, he discusses his methods for holding a folksong performance for an audience of as many as 20,000 people and keeping them all enthralled. He explains that he thinks intimacy and therefore exudes intimacy. With an audience of this size he finds he gets an instantaneous response by giving them what he likes rather than what they like out of his repertory of 200-400 songs in 19 languages, though at the same time he is testing their reaction. Delving into the nature of folk music, Bikel feels that is the emotional quality that appeals to and holds the audience. He discusses the universal meaning and function of all folk music, also its appeal to the young people of today. They might be negative and despairing but they are open to the hope expressed by the folksong. A new departure of Bikels is to speak parts of the Bible to a music score designed to fuse with the words. He has long felt this to be dramatically feasible, and explains to Elliot Norton how he set about doing it. Theodore Bikel was produced in Boston by WGBH-TV. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
Series Description
Six people who have made important contributions to a variety of fields discuss their lives and work. The format for each episode has been geared to the individual featured. Interview technique is used throughout. Conversations is a 1965 presentation of National Educational Television. The 6 half-hour episodes that comprise this series were originally recorded on videotape. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
Broadcast Date
1965
Asset type
Episode
Genres
Talk Show
Topics
Music
Performing Arts
Media type
Moving Image
Duration
00:30:32
Embed Code
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Credits
Producing Organization: WGBH Educational Foundation
AAPB Contributor Holdings
Library of Congress
Identifier: cpb-aacip-bedd3d457fd (Filename)
Format: 2 inch videotape
Generation: Master
Color: B&W
Duration: 0:29:05
Library of Congress
Identifier: cpb-aacip-ee979351635 (Filename)
Format: U-matic
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: B&W
Duration: 0:29:05
Library of Congress
Identifier: cpb-aacip-2266ec6a946 (Filename)
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: Color
Library of Congress
Identifier: cpb-aacip-6b9d7773b2e (Filename)
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: Color
Library of Congress
Identifier: cpb-aacip-5040a767dea (Filename)
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: Color
Library of Congress
Identifier: cpb-aacip-2e3a409d4d5 (Filename)
Format: 1 inch videotape: SMPTE Type C
Generation: Master
Color: B&W
Duration: 0:29:05
Library of Congress
Identifier: cpb-aacip-c2d919dd87e (Filename)
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: Color
Library of Congress
Identifier: cpb-aacip-306bff03212 (Filename)
Generation: Master
Color: Color
Library of Congress
Identifier: cpb-aacip-d89cbaa3a15 (Filename)
Generation: Master
Color: Color

Identifier: cpb-aacip-b1bab6e5759 (unknown)
Format: video/mp4
Generation: Proxy
Duration: 00:30:32
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Citations
Chicago: “Conversations 1965; 105; Theodore Bikel with Elliot Norton,” 1965, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed April 4, 2026, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-d795718k0j.
MLA: “Conversations 1965; 105; Theodore Bikel with Elliot Norton.” 1965. Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. April 4, 2026. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-d795718k0j>.
APA: Conversations 1965; 105; Theodore Bikel with Elliot Norton. Boston, MA: Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-d795718k0j