Title:
Phyllis Diller ACA Oral History, June 8, 2005.
Creator:
Diller, Phyllis
Creator:
Dana, Bill, 1924-2017
Creator:
Matz, Jenni
Creator:
Emerson College. American Comedy Archives
Record Type:
digital moving image formats
Record Type:
oral histories (literary works)
Date:
2005-06-08
Description:
In her forty-five minute interview for the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, Phyllis Diller talks about her comedy, and her journey as a female stand-up comedian who entered the game at 37 years old. Diller speaks about how getting rid of props in her act helped her success exponentially, and how she often dressed in loose fitting clothes and messy hair to "erase" her womanly features and boost her act. She discusses how feminists in her time disapproved of her comedy career, but Diller makes the poignant point that she was speaking freely to the public, something that women couldn't usually do. She advises young women in comedy to dress appropriately for the stage, since it shapes your comedy, and considers the question "Was it worth it?" Bill Dana and Jenni Matz conducted the interview on June 8, 2007 in Brentwood, CA. Additional topics covered include: Advice, Creative Influences and Inspiration, Pivotal Career Moments and Music.
Extent:
00:46:29
Subject:
Comedy
Subject:
Stand-up comedy
Subject:
Career Development
Subject:
Feminism
Subject:
Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse: My Life in Comedy
Subject:
Fields, Totie
Subject:
Burnett, Carol
Subject:
Goodman, Dody
Subject:
Ghostley, Alice, 1926-2007
Subject:
Rivers, Joan
Subject:
Fang
Subject:
Lauper, Cyndi, 1953-
Subject:
Hackett, Buddy, 1924-2003
Subject:
Dana, Bill, 1924-2017
Subject:
Martin, O. Dean (Oliver Dean), 1934-
Subject:
Lewis, Jerry, 1926-2017
Subject:
Allen, Marty, 1922-2018
Subject:
Rossi, Steve
Subject:
Ed Sullivan show (Television program)
Subject:
Hope, Bob, 1903-2003
Subject:
Youngman, Henny
Subject:
Dangerfield, Rodney, 1921-2004
Subject:
Berle, Milton
Subject:
Eddy, Nelson, 1901-1967
Subject:
MacDonald, Jeanette, 1903-1965
Subject:
Carson, Johnny, 1925-2005
Subject:
Silvers, Phil, 1911-1985
Subject:
Caesar, Sid, 1922-2014
Subject:
Allen, Woody, 1935-
Subject:
Rockwell, Keith
Subject:
Rickles, Don
Subject:
Seinfeld, Jerry
Subject:
Letterman, David
Subject:
Manna, Charlie
Collection:
Bill Dana Oral History Interview Collection (ACC-MSS 002), 1L
Location:
Emerson College Archives and Special Collections
Rights Restrictions:
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) (http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/). For questions about rights statements, or access to the original document please contact the Emerson College Archives and Special Collections at www.emerson.edu/library/archives.
Access Restrictions:
No known access restrictions.
Language:
English
Identifier:
acc_mss002_diller_2005-06-08.mp4
