THE BUNKS WERE COLD BUT THE LAUGHTER KEPT US WARM

The sun was beginning to dip behind the soundstages at Paramount, casting long, skeletal shadows across the asphalt. It was a quiet Tuesday, years after the world had…

THE DAY THE SERGEANT FORGOT HE WAS THE ENEMY

The interviewer leaned forward, sliding a worn, matte-finish photograph across the mahogany desk. Richard Dawson, with that familiar, sharp-eyed glint in his expression, picked it up with a…

THE DAY SERGEANT SCHULTZ SAW ENTIRELY TOO MUCH

The interviewer leans back in his chair, the studio lights catching the soft grey in his hair as he reaches under the desk. He pulls out a small,…

THE DAY THE COMMANDANT TRIED TO BUY A TOASTER

The studio lights were dimmed, casting a soft glow over Werner Klemperer as he sat across from the podcast host. It was late in his life, and the…

THE SECRET BEHIND THE LAUGHTER IN STALAG 13

The lights in the studio are a bit lower now, and Robert Clary leans forward, his eyes sparkling with that same mischievous energy he had back in the…

HOW RICHARD DAWSON FINALLY MADE SERGEANT SCHULTZ BREAK CHARACTER

The studio lights were bright, and the audience was leaning in, hanging on every word. Richard Dawson sat back in the armchair, looking every bit the seasoned pro,…

THE DAY COLONEL KLINK FINALLY LOST HIS COOL ON SET

The theater was packed for a special retrospective titled “An Evening with Werner Klemperer.” It was 1993, and the man who had brought the iconic Colonel Klink to…

THE DAY SERGEANT SCHULTZ TRIED TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE

The studio lights were a bit warmer than usual that afternoon, and John Banner sat back in his chair with that familiar, jovial expression that had made him…

RICHARD DAWSON RECALLS THE DAY SCHULTZ FINALLY BROKE DOWN

The host leans into the microphone, the soft amber glow of the studio lights reflecting off the glass of the sound booth. “We’re sitting here with the legendary…

THE DAY SERGEANT SCHULTZ ACTUALLY SAW TOO MUCH AT THE DINNER TABLE

The studio lights were always a bit too bright for an old stage actor like me, but sitting across from a friendly face in a late-night talk show…