Mike Wallace interviews Rod Serling in 1959 — before the debut of The Twilight Zone:
You can’t help but notice the complete absence of NPR voice — and the prominence of cigarette smoke, while Serling decries his corporate sponsors’ influence.
Also, you have to chuckle over the game he has to play, pretending that The Twilight Zone won’t tackle any controversial themes.
Here’s a transcript.
You can watch The Twilight Zone on Hulu or Netflix, by the way.
Serling is refreshingly articulate in that interview. You don’t often see someone like that on television these days.
“Broadcasters” as they used to be called, once cultivated fine voices. I suspect that many men nowadays don’t want the responsibility that comes with having a strong, resonant voice. You have to choose your words carefully, and you’re sort of expected to be in charge.