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Comic legend of screen and Broadway Zero Mostel this weekend, in conversation with Martha Deane at WOR on January 5, 1966. The conversation is broken up with bulletins and a goodly amount of time is spent talking about the Great Transit Strike in New York City – the one that practically crippled New York and turned the city into one huge traffic jam.
But aside from all the drama going on in the streets outside the WOR studios, Zero Mostel gets to talk about his work and his recently completed project the film version of “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” which he became synonymous with for much of his later career. But then, Zero Mostel was synonymous with so many other films and Theatre productions throughout his life. Among them, The Producers and Fiddler On The Roof.
Zero Mostel was blacklisted during the 1950s; his testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee was well publicised. Mostel later starred in the Hollywood Blacklist drama film The Front (1976) alongside Woody Allen, for which Mostel was nominated for the British Academy Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Mostel was an Obie Award and three-time Tony Award winner. He is also a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame, inducted posthumously in 1979.
In his autobiography Kiss Me Like a Stranger, actor Gene Wilder describes being initially terrified of Mostel. However, just after being introduced, Mostel got up, walked over to Wilder, hugged him, and planted a big kiss on his lips. Wilder claims to be grateful to Mostel for teaching him such a valuable lesson, and for picking Wilder up every day so that they could ride to work together. He also tells the story of a dinner celebrating the release of The Producers. Mostel switched Wilder’s place card with Dick Shawn’s, allowing Wilder to sit at the main table. Mostel and Wilder later worked together in Rhinoceros and the Letterman cartoons for the children’s show The Electric Company. The two remained close friends until Zero Mostel’s death (Mostel died on September 8, 1977).
Mostel was the subject of the 2006 retrospective play Zero Hour, written and performed by actor/playwright Jim Brochu. The play recounts events from Mostel’s life and career, including his HUAC testimony, his professional relationships, and his theatrical work.
Even at 40 minutes, this interview could have gone on much longer, but commercial radio doesn’t work that way.
Enjoy it nonetheless.
