TV Radio Mirror (Jan - Jun 1961)

2: 30 a.m. He hasn't had a vacation since 1957. "How do I do it?" he repeated. "Easy. I love every minute of it. There's never enough time. Why do I do it? I have a desire to express myself. There just aren't enough ways. Television, movies, theater — no one outlet is enough. I make about fifty lectures a year, and not just because I get paid for them. Many I make gratis, when I have something to say that I believe should be said. I'm also writing a book. It will be titled 'Happy Shows for Happy People with Happy Problems.' That's because of all the sponsors who tell me, 'We don't want that intelligent bunk.' "I'm a doer. I believe in action. Time spent in dreaming and talking . . . that time, invested in doing, will get it done. That's why I like Mrs. Curtis . . . Janet Leigh. She ripped my picture off the wall. She did something. "I enjoy the challenge of show business. It's unpredictable and exciting. When you step up to bat, you can hit a home run or strike out. When I strike out, I come right back to bat. That's the secret. After all, success means being more right than wrong. Rodgers and Hammerstein were masters when they were right, but they also wrote a few bombs. No one can fail as badly as talented people. That's because they dare to do more. A modest talent aims lower — so, if he fails, his failure is smaller." Even his critics will agree that Susskind, whatever they believe his other faults may be, is not lacking in courage. In December of 1960, he rebelled against the long-time practice of submitting names of performers to networks for clearance in casting television programs. "I will no longer submit names for clearance by anybody," said Susskind. "The witch-hunt hysteria in America is over. The 'blacklist' is one of the sorriest chapters in TV's history. Of all the things television should be ashamed of, the 'blacklist' is the worst. We actually gave in to pressure groups, with no evidence, and without offering the victims an opportunity to defend themselves." The custom of "clearing" performers came into being in the early 1950s, when many actors were barred from employment on the basis of information published in privately-operated pamphlets such as "Red Channels." The first major victim of the "blacklist" in 1950 was actress Jean Muir. Last December, Susskind cast her in Talent Associates' taped series, The Witness, on the CBS television network. His casting of Miss Muir was widely interpreted in the industry as indicating the end of the blacklist era. "I simply told CBS that Jean Muir was cast, that she was ideal for the role, that she was a splendid American and a fine actress," said Susskind. "1 intend to fight against blacklisting," he said, "as an unjust, unmerciful and ugly thing." Following the appearance of Miss Muir, Susskind received only one letter in opposition. "Someone wrote to tell me the old line that I should go to Russia," he said. "On the other hand, I received many letters applauding my stand." Susskind and his wife, Phyllis, live in Manhattan with their three children : Pamela, 17, Diana, 14, and Andrew, 6. "I don't suppose I lead what most people consider a normal home life," said Susskind, "but then, who wants to be normal? What is normalcy? I don't know, and I don't want to find out. "Phyllis is interested in what I'm doing. She'd have to be, to have stayed with me all these years. My business is exciting, and it excites her too. Why. she's a part of it. She's production assistant of our program, Family Classics. "I have no hobbies, other than reading. Oh, I'm interested in politics. Not as a politician, but as an American. But that's not a hobby. "I'm a leader. At least, that's what I want to be. I want to lead with what I believe to be the truth. It makes me feel good inside. 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