Rod Serling speaking at UCLA 5/17/1971

From the archives of the UCLA Communications Studies Department. Digitized 2013.
The views and ideas expressed in these videos are not necessarily shared by the University of California, or by the UCLA Communication Studies Department.

[@themetacrisis]

A true creative giant and one of the most inspiring writers in modern memory. RIP, Rod.

[@MichaelBallif]

This was incredibly insightful. At times I forgot that this man was speaking from 1971. Talk about someone way ahead of their time.

[@marka.5135]

You said it. He's about 50 years ahead of his time, or perhaps even a light year ahead of his mere existence.

[@DennisMoore664]

The talk about cassette tapes and "THX-something-something-something-something" 🤣🤣🤣

[@adamclark9459]

was thinking exactly the same thing.

[@bronxlords]

He thought he was not going to remembered, I wish he was around to see that he is and will always be remembered.

[@benjaminbrooks8508]

He really underestimated the impact of his own work.

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

60 to 70 years thus far, and people still are.

[@davidskaar3232]

I remember walking to college and reading in the paper Rod Serling passed away. A Giant of a man. We are blessed to share your gifts.

[@johnprovince5304]

I heard Rod speak twice, in 1971 and 1973. How many times have I wished those had been recorded.

[@Artamia1]

1966 LA - Rod Serling @ UCLA kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqqthqqQZdBggLM

[@PatrioticAnarchist]

I wish I could articulate myself in the way with which this man does.

[@stevevandien310]

Very eloquent man.

[@augmentedkeys5971]

That’s what happens when you read a lot of great literature.

[@ExMachina70]

And have half as cool of a voice.

[@fishfire_2999]

LSD was much better 50 yrs ago

[@odalvarado]

They will remember the twilight zone in a 1000 years, Mr Serling.

[@warplanner8852]

odalvarado, no, they won't. The archaic forms of media containing those shows will be under tons of rubble.

[@SwarthySkinnedOne]

@@warplanner8852 "archaic forms of media"? And are you implying ww3 on the rubble bit?

[@thwompboss]

@@warplanner8852 nothing is 100%, fool

[@gotocustudiofilmsthecheapb3802]

in 1000 different dimensions of sight, sound, & mind

[@ashroskell]

Rod Serling was the man the Ernest Hemingway dreamt of being. The gritty, seasoned war veteran, with insights and experience matched only by his supreme intellect. Neither donning the cowl modesty, nor boastful, but a real, visceral and an assertive intellectual, engaging the viewer and capturing their imaginations by drawing on the world’s harshest realities, and helping us to reflect on them, process them, through fantasy. Not to denigrate Hemingway, but Serling (both as a writer and a man) was the real thing, not playing at it, as Hemingway so often did. Underrated in the way that Raymond Chandler still is. But his genius lives on; partly, in thanks, to people who curate his memory, like the uploader of this video. And partly thanks to his timeless stories, which are so often retold; ingrained into our culture . . . RIP Rod ✌️👍

[@hansenmv]

He was a genuine HUMAN being first - then the other stuff...

[@brainsareus]

A gifted extemporaneous speaker, as well as a great writer.

[@hansenmv]

@@brainsareus my hypothetical pop quiz - ur having a quick lunch him ... what do you chat about / bring up

[@hansenmv]

@@brainsareus the tougher one - john lennon is there too - same ques - what do you chat

[@RonaldVaughan]

Which is why he and wife Carol HATED Beverly Hills (but LOVED Pacific Palisades. PP btw has more bus benches per square inch...)

[@gotocustudiofilmsthecheapb3802]

@@RonaldVaughan good public transportation is a good sign

[@frankishsid2692]

I am totally blown away by this man. I can't listen to the same person's bullshit for more than 5 minutes. This man I would listen to eternity. God love Rod Serling.

[@samnangpoe]

same here bro! The legend.

[@markproulx1472]

Truth.

[@gotocustudiofilmsthecheapb3802]

cuz he talks about truth, not bullshit :)

[@marka.5135]

You said it, man. I'm so totally blown away and mesmerized, I want to f*ckin' sleep with this man, have spaced-out, crazy sex, then wake up with conversation, the morning paper, and some awesome brunch!

[@libradragon]

@@marka.5135 Don't forget the Coffee!

[@markgariepy1]

great man. he was so focused in his art as a writer and producer. plus he was a family man. rest in peace Mr Serling......

[@HumpX]

so amazing how accurately he predicted VHS tapes coming to the fore and changing the industry. Such a brilliant, brilliant man.

[@RonJohn63]

A great writer, but (start at 30:50) was so enthused that college students of the era would change the world for the better. They turned out to be the selfish and self-absorbed "Me Generation" (who then morphed into Yuppies).

[@fredhall6525]

It's funny how he references the term gaslight years before it became fashionable.

[@CMZIEBARTH]

I was wondering if I'd heard that correctly.

[@Sam-yh3nn]

the term comes from a 1944 film so...

[@stevevandien310]

He was also a bright, witty and charming guy --

[@chuckabbate5924]

He has an ease with speaking to the audience, and at the same time humble as well....

[@Veganrevwithzombies]

His zinger on John Wayne at the 15-minute mark is savage.

[@willfromyadkinville]

oh God! i want to study the way he talks! he has the it factor!

[@HAWK_Ben_G]

"It Factor", indeed!

[@marymarysmarket3508]

What’s that? Intelligent and manly??

[@mwatzl]

This man has completely misjudged his place in literary history. The audience for live presentation of "Requium for a Heavyweight" was larger than a hundred years of Shakespeare productions. Mr. Serling, you share infamy with all great writing giants.

[@simonmcgrath4112]

I think it's because he was a humble man. What a man he was tho and this recording is 50yrs old next month. It's incredible how his mind worked to write these intense and touching tales. There have been a few writers who hit near the Serling mark but none came near to his unique brilliance!

[@libradragon]

@@simonmcgrath4112 Indeed, you have said it correctly; truth teller and humble about the process. A great teacher.

[@johcafra]

I saw him lecture at Duquesne University in the fall of 1972. This brings back memories of his talk, during which he spent more time answering "the kids'" questions...and believe me when I say the kids sat on the windowsills of an auditorium filled to capacity. We loved him, and it was obvious that he basked in that and gave as good as he got.

[@stevevirginia308]

And those appearances were like rock concerts. The kids loved him. But the tenured professors were not impressed with Rod Serling and his television celebrity.

[@VeillonBusinessConsu]

What a creative man. Gee i miss him a lot. He was the best at his craft.

[@GUDGODDON6034]

The Twilight Zone was an integral part of my childhood. I'm 21. Hearing Rod say nothing he wrote would be remembered one hundred years on is heart breaking to me. I know, should I be alive in 2058, I and many others will still remember and love the twilight zone. Rod serling was one of the finest writers of the 20th century.

[@domesticengineerlifecoach6938]

This man is a BADASS!!!! Thank you for the twilight zone Mr Serling .

[@MrAnthonyVance]

Thank you for this post. I especially enjoyed Rod Serling's presentation. He is missed beyond measure. He was truly a pathfinder and torch bearer for television. He fought the good fight against censors and overly done commercials both of which presented potential interference to dramatic content. I think Rod was such a genuine person and it showed in his prolific and in many ways genius writing. Clearly, he was beloved by his audience. And Rod (The Voice) will indeed be fondly remembered in ways he never banked on. Twilight Zone cannot be shaken. Nearly 60 years later and it lives on. And so does Rod -- its creator, writer, and host. It's a package deal. Twilight Zone. Rod Serling. The two are inseparable and will forever be memorialized and treasured by all who love a good story. I know lots of his narrations word for word (literature unto itself) and I still watch the shows.

[@invaderzim4052]

I would have loved to have met Rod in his lifetime. He seems like a very nice and respectful man.

[@jrbleau]

In my youth, I considered Serling the greatest narrator by far.

[@bewiseasowls]

This is an amazing event and a Gem in television history. Rod Serling seems to be enjoying himself with the audience. A genuine man with a superb talent of giving people the gift in depth of thought! It is hard to believe this was over 40 years ago!

[@Stevedup]

A brilliant man. I wish I could've met him in person! What he said about science-fiction on television (and the TV medium in general) made a lot of sense. His prediction about VHS videocassettes came true. How ironic that he elaborated on his addiction to nicotine...a bad habit that ultimately led to his early death. RIP Mr. Serling.

[@Romancefantasy]

What a brilliant speaker. His wisdom is broad and deep.

[@joelcarver8932]

A very open and honest person, respect him a great deal.

[@shihanUKS]

His voice and manner taught me posture and public speaking. An Incredibly sober minded and learned individual. His early work. The essays. He penned a story called "The Gymnasium" . He recruited Charles Beaumont . Famous seventies actors cut their teeth on his show. His ability to map his thoughts so when he speaks, its firm, its decisive, and his tonal rhythm lubricates his speech where he doesn't have to repeat himself. He rebukes the ear with blistering honesty and sensibility.

[@jomic9060]

serling was a visionary writer. a genius in his own right. always leave them with a zinger at the end. such is irony. humbled, articulate, and somewhat abrasive, serling spoke his mind and pulled no punches. he told you like it is, was, or how it should be told. and as bonus, his voice is one that compels you to listen.

[@TruthIsNeverGossip]

I love how he praises all in the family, which, if the date is correct had only been on the air a few months, and how he just rags on this is your life, which, by today's standards was only the mildest of intrusions in a person's life. He'd have a field day with what's going on today.

[@chuckabbate5924]

Oh big time!

[@leftykoufax7084]

Brilliant, funny, self deprecating in a positive way, and most of all, a wonderful human being, thank you for this post!

[@Distractingly_Dope]

4 years from his death. He was so jaded. No disparaging. He was just so sick of Hollywood

[@CronoXpono]

Definitely. The shit that gets me is that either here or in this interview/group conversation he did earlier, he mentions how shite the programs are but how the studios LOVED to say that their big accomplished shows were the more artful ones, such condescending garbage. They wanna say that Breaking Bad is what they are pushing but it’s basically garbage tv that nets the most money. Go figure.

[@ashroskell]

Thank you, UCLA. Videos like this have more value than I can put into words brief enough for this medium. But, that there are people out there curating such enormously encouraging stuff for writers (or anyone) to listen to, is so reassuring. Thanks ✌️👍

[@UCLADrasninArchive]

Thanks! We're working hard to digitize more of the material in our archive. Hopefully it will be about a half million hours of content when we're finally finished. See spark.ucla.edu/project/11101 for more info.

[@martinhyizna3299]

I find this recording to capture the time quite accurately. Serling is charming and enlightening. And honest, which sometimes can be blunt. Like when a student asks him if he has advice to a young screenwriter, and he replies, "do you have any relatives who work at NBC?" He was also quite humble, in his assessment of his work and legacy. He WILL be remembered in 2071, contrary to what he predicted.

[@thegalaxybeing]

Martin Hyizna If Rod were still alive I bet he would realize that his works would be remembered. In the early 70's there was a ongoing trend that anything which wasn't modern wasn't cool. Fortunately, now most see these great early TV series as the timeless classics they really are (the same is true of older music). Although Mr Serling often sold himself short, the fact is, he wouldn't be able to deny that the fan base of his talents not only continues but increases as more and more young people become exposed to his works.

[@llongone2]

Thanks for posting this. Great to hear Rod talk about a variety of topics. He was a real American treasure.

[@stanmangers6931]

Amazing, for anybody to write like this, had to be a very good person! In the Mike Wallace, interview 1959, Serling, talks about success money, and not getting caught up in the money material things, glamour, that naturally are a buy product. He says what's really important in life, family and the quality wanting what's best for your children. Yes...........a little abrasive language, but genuine. There was nothing phony about him. He kind of reminds me of C.S. Lewis, like a self fulfilled prophet, like I felt Fred Rogers, was and others in the showbiz industry. RIP. Rod Serling. Hope, "The Twilight Zone" comes back and I want to be the host! LOL...........God Bless

[@s.r.4522]

Wonderful - thanks for this recording. I met him once.

[@TexasEmperor]

How old are you? I love him & his classic work/voice.

[@Virginiashadow]

So dang intelligent. Ive become a big fan.

[@covechgo]

He was so well spoken. We don't articulate like this these days. It's too bad.

[@artmaltman]

Thank you for posting this to KZbin. It is a gift.

[@erigerontriteleia]

This was in 1971 - Rod Serling was so optimistic for the coming generation that they’d be intellectually-oriented generation. Unfortunately, he didn’t foresee the dumbing-down of the population we see today in USA (1990’s, 2020’s to present). Too bad his prediction didn’t come true.

[@vichy7661]

I sincerely doubt your post, stop, take a look around

[@dongmo1]

“Think about how stupid the average person is and then realize half of them are stupider than that” George Carlin

[@drohegda]

What a Good Man my opinion the best of the best in sci-fi.Thanks for the video.

[@Overton_Windows]

Holy shit. The part about his military experience and John Wayne was brilliant. Then again most of what he said was.

[@paulkersey1007]

I believe Mr. Serling was put on this Earth to educate us and give us a dire warning about what will happen in the future. The future is now and we are in the Twilight Zone. If he was alive, he would be heartbroken that his fantasy has turned into reality.

[@melissahirst3078]

💯

[@lesselp]

He was only 46,here,yet seemed to consider himself onerously old.His main writing theme concerned looking back to a lost youth.Dying at 50 is artistically consistent.It would be fascinating to hear his view on the timeliness,or otherwise,of his own death.

[@libradragon]

That would be an awesome lecture!

[@marymarysmarket3508]

He knew his time was short...all his life

[@lesselp]

@@marymarysmarket3508 Yes, his father died 'young' and that must limit expectations. Also, with Jewish heritage there was always the thought of a 3am knock on the door.

[@Dousch]

Usually I look at 1971 and 2021 and it’s like two different worlds. But here, next to Serling, most of the audience members sound like they’re from today.

[@DialHForHorror]

That was a different world. If Rod Serling wa a writer today, he'd either be in extreme poverty or a manager at Taco Bell. This climate would never allow his freedom of voice and would hate his unique ideas. He would get one job writing a sequel movie to an old TV show and then be shown the door.

[@cynthiacollins2832]

Rod is funny off camera n doesn't want to be praised with applause.A good smart man:)

[@zoefang4563]

[@abelcompany]

Rod Serling served in WWII with my uncle in the South Pacific. The first chapter of my AudioBook is on the Phoenix Lights!! And I saw a mid-afternoon UFO in the mid 1980's in Scottsdale, Arizona. I wanted to go to Roswell this year for the commemorative events...Stan Friedman just had a heart attack, so he missed it. My uncle was mixed up in Roswell but at a tangent...he was MacArthur's personal bodyguard for 6 years after we dropped the bombs on Japan...this was during the Roswell incidents...MacArthur had been tasked with answering the UFO question by FDR, resulting in the first formal team of investigator/crash retrievers...this was the Interplanetary Phenomenon Unit of the U.S. Army...it existed...and they created a 20,000 page "MacArthur File" which was then turned over to the Operation Blue Book folks...so basically, Mac created the original "Men in Black" while my uncle was nearly always by his side. I wrote a book about it, which is selling like heck as an AudioBook..."MacArthur and the UFOs"...Amazon...

[@ErikBlue]

This is nothing short of fantastic.

[@markproulx1472]

My goodness, what a marvelous way to spend an hour.

[@dixieelder3203]

Brilliant thinker. I got my moral compass from Rod Serling

[@jackmorley242]

thank you for this

[@stevevandien310]

I wish nobody would think of Serling as a horror writer. Nope. He was a WRITER. Some of his best writing had nothing to do with "The Twilight Zone" or "Night Gallery." No, check out "Patterns," "Seven Days in May," and his short-lived but outstanding Western, "The Loner."

[@RDX1981]

He had way with words . amazing human . Gone but never , forgotten ! in year 4759 twilight zone will still be a hit

[@ror312gallery19]

great guy,great writer, cheers all robert

[@njdedual]

Mind blown when at 48:28 the kid he's mentioning is, in fact, George Lucas.

[@hansenmv]

sci fi -- THX??? TH??? something

[@suzphillips8162]

The other kid he mentioned---that African-American one he cast in "Storm in Summer", was the son of the guy who was in " Hogan's Heroes".

[@libertynow4047]

Robert Duvall played the lead role

[@tomato1040]

Purpose over profit is Rod 'Sterling'. Profit over purpose is road stealing. When a story has its way of healing It cures those who love high dealing.

[@mrmtn37]

Phenomenal Writer, Human Being, and Authority.

[@positivitysuccessvideos]

This is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing it here!

[@UCLADrasninArchive]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@spb7883]

8:58 - Incredibly prescient with respect to current popular culture (t.v., music, and film). Certainly, Serling's assertion in part underscores the fact that current popular culture is as it has always been: safe and trendy.

[@rebekahsebring-waidelich7538]

"Thank you" what a wonderfully intelligent, Artis, a man who know his shit! He was a sexy man & Very intelligent man! Rest in peace my brother! God bless you all Love & light! 💙

[@UberNeuman]

35:24 Rod Serling was on top of the video revolution. \a talent gone far too soon.

[@libertynow4047]

My ears perked up immediately after hearing that. A true visionary who died way too young

[@PilotViewProductions]

@@libertynow4047 He made that statement a full 4 years before the Betamax was released in Japan.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

One of my idols. Just four years after this, he was gone. Taken from us far too soon 😢

[@bjdeee1239]

Im a big TZ -head, a real treat

[@stevenjamesosma3246]

Oh Rod… you have and will be remembered

[@jeffreynocera4017]

Great discussion. Loved when he said he doesn't like his writing messed with. Neither do I..

[@jackieeick]

I understand Rod Serling . It could be that im born Christmas day . Who knows, ive always loved everything he ever did

[@maxchau6973]

He was gold. TY for sharing this amazing audio clip

[@jonahansen]

He's wrong about his stuff not being remembered in 100 years. I bet it will...

[@darkworld9850]

Watched my first twilight video last week.

[@libradragon]

@@darkworld9850 Time to continue. The first 156 episodes from the original series are out there. :) Waiting.

[@melissahirst3078]

He wasn't wrong about much.... but you're right on that one!! ❤️

[@sibengerard1856]

a truly gifted mind...

[@sdgakatbk]

Fantastic. Love to hear him talk about the old Twilight Zones. He's Alive is a good episode and one of my faves from season 4 though I didn't pick up on what he said about Dennis Hopper's performance until this video. If he had creative control, then why was Hopper used in the episode? I would have liked to hear him discuss Deaths-Head Revisited where an SS Captain goes back to the concentration camp he commanded. I thought the cinematography was excellent in that, particularly the scene where the Captain comes to after fainting in the room with all the prisoners he had sent to death. I also thought both Joseph Schildkraut who played the keeper of the camp and Oscar Beregi Jr. who played the Captain were excellent.

[@fallspeed]

That was excellent. I understand now why Ray Bradbury and Serling never really worked together. Interesting to hear him talk about his smoking addiction.

[@martinhyizna3299]

I always felt Serling was a deeper and more direct writer than Bradbury. Bradbury felt the need to show what a great writer he was, while Serling simply wrote great material. And more original, too.

[@paulmartens2983]

Martin Hyizna o

[@zoefang4563]

Mr Serling I hope America does NOT turn into Maple Street during this coronavirus pandemic.

[@anthonyh3224]

this guy and Shelby Foote....could listen to them speak forever.

[@davidfraser6950]

His predictions on Tapes and TV as a whole were spot on over 52 years ago.

[@humanafterallTF2]

Damn this feels amazing to hear now concidering that time, 1970's.

[@cynthiacollins2832]

Amazing! I am buying all the Twilight Zones n Night Gallery shows on VHS during Covid-19 that I never seen with "no commercials", Think Rod would be very Happy! 😊

[@lburrell1965]

I wish I could have been there and asked my question !

[@haroldgilbert6707]

Opened my world up vastly ❤️

[@benjaminbrooks8508]

He was wrong about something...his work will be remembered 100 years later.

[@jeanettesmith765]

Rod Serling was a genius.

[@mikeyiniko]

I dug his comments about Incident at Owl Creek Bridge. It is one of my earliest memories of television, I couldn’t have been more than four years old when it aired. But it was so different from anything on television, even for a small child who was basically sat in front of the television constantly when I was very young. Obviously I didn’t understand the story, but the imagery was just that striking. Even to a small child. Years later, when I was older and could follow the plot, I remembered that imagery. It was that good. ,

[@dangerousliberty]

I'd like to hear mr serlings' take on the events over the last year or so.

[@dongmo1]

Rod wrote the screenplay for Seven Days In May. About an attempted Coup of the U.S government by a hidden wing of the U.S. Air Force. Be a good idea to see that film today!

[@rovvt1284]

He was fighting censorship 60 years ago. Imagine if he was here today? The colleges would not allow him to speak.

[@ab-dhulalifqadrmuhammad1949]

The original Mr. Swagger with cigarette

[@nunyabizness6595]

Rod would be pleased by the Zone bluray box set.

[@himoverthere6716]

I’m really surprised “Mighty Casey” is one of his favorites. That was actually one of the more overlooked, and easily forgotten episodes lol.

[@timhaskett1733]

This will be 40 years old shortly and it’s absolutely fascinating

[@UCLADrasninArchive]

[50]

[@motorheadbanger90]

35:40 holy shit he predicted video cassettes....what an insightful and brilliant man...The world may never have another insightful and articulate human being like him.

[@renelarrichio9823]

He predicted that science fiction will be bigger than anyone thought in part to “that college grad who made THX or whatever it’s called…”

[@zoefang4563]

Twilight--the hour between light and darkness where nothing is certain--between the conscious and subconscious where fantasy takes flight--and BAM Twilight Zone

[@susanprice7202]

During the 1958-59 school year, Rod Serling was the PTA President at Roosevelt Elementary in Santa Monica, CA. At the fall school carnival he wore his iconic suit/tie he is seen in Twilight Zone. The school principal asked him to help him get a glitzy gold lame gown, long blond wig, and all the trimmings to dress up in complete drag for the carnival. . I will admit it was a bit unnerving to see the principal in full drag at the school carnival. But Santa Monica has always been funky....even in the 50's.

[@vrldc8966]

Sterling really didn't think his writing would be remembered 100 later -- Thank God he was wrong.

[@warplanner8852]

Vrl Dc, well at the relative time of our comments, he has another 58-59 years to go.

[@dougg1075]

Serling

[@lburrell1965]

Who ever shared that will receive major karma feedback ! I am focusing all thanks on that dude !!!!!!!!!

[@elavke5441]

Love his view on trophy hunters. Mine exactly

[@jamesparker40]

I like Rod Serling but ultimately he was very naïve about the human condition and in this interview he has a very blasphemous mouth. He is very knowledgeable about the media and he is very humorous. The audience asked some good questions.

[@DennisMoore664]

15:00 - Well, damn, Mr Serling. That was savage!

[@fredrikliljeblad1209]

There seems to be a problem with the audio on this one that make it cut out about 3.00 minute into the programme. I've tried to watch it on 2 separate computers without any difference, so might I ask you to re-upload it?

[@UCLADrasninArchive]

+fredrik Liljeblad We're sorry that this is happening. We are unable to duplicate the problem on our end. Can you give me the specific time code that it cuts out for you? Do you mean 3:00 or 30:00? Where are you while listening to this?