Oral History Interview Excerpt

Bill Dana (b. William Szathmary October 5, 1924 in Quincy, MA)

Bill Dana is a comedian, writer, author, producer and composer, educated at Emerson College (Class of 1950). He was part of the comedy team Dana and Wood (with fellow Emerson alum Gene Wood) appearing on television and in clubs. Dana later appeared on television as a solo performer and was a head writer for The Steve Allen Show (1956-1960).

Performer Dana's appearances include his starring role in The Bill Dana Show (1963-1965), appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Martha Raye Show, The Milton Berle Show, The Hollywood Palace and as the role of ‘Uncle Angelo’ on The Golden Girls, among others. Bill was part of the sixties night club peer group with Jonathan Winters, Mort Sahl, Bill Cosby, Lenny Bruce, Shelley Berman, Bob Newhart, Woody Allen, Dick Gregory, and Phyllis Diller.

The Bill Dana written multi-Emmy winning All in the Family episode, “Sammy Davis Visits Archie Bunker”, for Emerson alum and producer Norman Lear, is #12 in the TV Guide Best 100 Episodes in the history of television. "The Laughter Prescription" (Ballantine 1983) co-authored with the late Dr. Laurence Peter, of Peter Principle fame, was the first book of its nature following Norman Cousin's “Anatomy Of An Illness.” Long active in the Latino cause, Bill was honored by the prestigious National Hispanic Media Coalition with their first Impact Award and is on their advisory board.