By Eddy Friedfeld
New York's 92nd Street Y hosted the launch of the four part PBS documentary “Pioneers of Television,†and featured Hollywood icons Angie Dickinson, Linda Evans, Nichelle Nichols and Stephanie Powers. Moderated by Alison Stewart, the event saluted “smart, strong women on television, who helped reimagine the roles of women in society and helped break down seemingly permanent barriers.â€
“I did an episode of “Police Story†that was turned into the Police Woman series,†Dickinson recalled. “The character’s original name was Lisa, which I changed to Pepper. We came out at the beginning of the Women’s Movement in America. We fed the movement and the movement fed us.â€
“I was scared to death to work with Barbara Stanwyck,†Evans recalled of her days on “The Big Valley.†“She was larger than life. She took me under her wing. She said: ‘Show up on time, Audra and know your lines.’ She always called me by my characters name.â€
“I grew up in musical theater,†Nichols said. “I thought “Star Trek†would be a nice stepping stone for me. Gene Roddenberry has given be my first guest starring role in “The Lieutenant,†and then called me again to be Uhura, which was based on “Uhuru,†the Swahili word for freedom. He created the first ensemble starring cast on television.â€
“Collaboration was the key to television in those days,†Powers added. “There are no Gene Roddenberrys anymore- there is no central artistic and creative spirit that brought about the best we could give to the characters. It’s all committees of executives.â€
“I was under contract to Columbia Pictures. I did 15 movies in five years. I remember being popped out of a giant toaster with Stan Freberg. I then got to start in “The Girl from UNCLE.†We did 23 episodes a season, working 37 hours a day and sleeping for 10 minutes.â€