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Here was Eddie Albert's stance against violence in film and TV
"I might lose a lot of friends in the industry by saying this..." Albert took a firm stance against violence in TV and film.
Eddie Albert was known for telling it like it is. He was passionate about his beliefs, whether it was saving the planet from pollution, providing education television for children, or raving about Eva Gabor; he was never shy about speaking his mind.
He was also known for being even-tempered and kind, and he always had a series of wise words to share. He was the opposite of an action star, TV outlaw, or villain; he was much like his character, Oliver Wendell Douglas, on the 1965 series Green Acres.
With his squeaky-clean reputation in the entertainment industry and his desire to help people in his personal life, it makes sense that Albert was not too keen on violence.
According to a 1967 interview with The San Francisco Examiner, Albert described himself as a "tolerant" man, who felt very strongly about the recurring moments of violence in TV and film of the 1960s.
"I might lose a lot of friends in the industry by saying this, but this trend toward excessive violence demonstrates one truth—when you have no talent and you want to make an easy buck, be sure you have a lot of mayhem to splatter around your screen," Albert said.
Albert said he found it increasingly difficult to be both funny and poignant on TV because viewers would rather tune in to see explosions, shootouts and violence. He was worried that people's minds were starting to shift by all the violence on TV.
During his six-season run on Green Acres, these were some of the most violent shows on television at the time: The Wild Wild West, The FBI, I Deal in Danger and Mannix. In contrast, Green Acres focused on quirky, small-town antics.
"I think that the harm which is done to our young people by watching the viciousness is incalculable," Albert said. "After all, how else does a youngster learn except by example? Kids who are reared on violence as a way of life cannot be expected to resist practicing when the opportunity arises."
"That's why it's no longer safe to take an evening stroll in the park," Albert continued. "And a fair fight, in the old tradition of fair play, is a thing of the past. Now, it's 10 against one."
According to the interview, Albert wouldn't even accept a role where the main focus was violence. He didn't want to promote it or watch it.
Albert wasn't sure who to place the blame on—whether it was the entertainers, the writers, the producers, or the money was pouring in greater amounts than he'd like to admit. Whoever was at fault for increased violence on TV, Albert wanted to have a word.
"I don't pretend to have the answers but I think we must come to terms with these questions," Albert said. "These issues are so important that they could change the very shape and texture of our society."
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