Oral Histories

Interview of Albert Obregon

Scenic artist at NBC Studios from 1958 to 1987. Began work at ABC Studios after a time as head of own company, Premiere Scenery, which did work for the Golden Globes and other productions.
Series:
The Crafts in Hollywood: Production Design
Topic:
COVID-19 Pandemic
Film and Television
Biographical Note:
Scenic artist at NBC Studios from 1958 to 1987. Began work at ABC Studios after a time as head of own company, Premiere Scenery, which did work for the Golden Globes and other productions.
Interviewer:
Collings, Jane
Interviewee:
Obregon, Albert
Persons Present:
Obregon and Collings.
Place Conducted:
Sessions one to three: Obregon's home in Sunland, California. Because of the necessity of restricting personal contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fourth session was conducted by phone.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library’s Center for Oral History Research
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by Jane Collings, principal editor and interviewer, UCLA Center for Oral History Research; Ph.D., Critical Studies in Film and Television, UCLA.
Processing of Interview:
The interviewer prepared a timed log of the audio recording of the interview. Obregon was given the opportunity to review the log in order to supply missing or misspelled names and to verify the accuracy of the content but made no changes.Some months after the oral history interview was completed, the UCLA Center for Oral History Research recontacted Obregon to invite him to participate in another interview session documenting the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the film and television industry. The final session thus focuses primarily on the personal, professional, and industry-wide effects of the pandemic.
Length:
6.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Audio:
Series Statement:
This series of interviews was undertaken in collaboration with the Art Directors Guild. Its aim is to document the lives and work of Guild members and staff who have made a significant contribution to film and television history. Interviews capture the work of title artists, set designers, art directors, production designers, and many other categories. The contribution of labor unions in shaping the conditions of the work is also addressed.
Early life in Los Angeles--The Belvedere neighborhood--The World War II period--Introduced to art at high school--Grows up with sense of self as “second-class citizen”--Does artwork for military base while stationed in Germany during Korean conflict--Begins work at NBC and joins Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists Local 816.
The working environment at NBC--Had low expectations for his career development at the time--Ethnic makeup of art department--More on the working environment at NBC--The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson--Works at ABC--Scenic artists’ tendency to not reveal their techniques.
A labor dispute while at NBC--Protocol for advancement when Obregon joined the union--Struggle over issues of jurisdiction as digital tools become more prevalent--A labor dispute centering around exposure to asbestos--A racialized hiring practice in the case of an African American custodial worker--Works with Steve Ehler’s Shooting Gallery--Continuation of own artwork into retirement.
Initial response to news of virus—Household routines—Participates at food pantry—Church services—Dissatisfaction with response of federal government—Ethnic self-identification—Concerns for those who use food pantry—Participation in work on solving crisis of homelessness—Works for The Shooting Gallery as a scenic artist—Conflict regarding hazardous materials while at ABC—More on dissatisfaction with federal government response—A profound religious experience.