Ric Burns:  The interview was conducted on Wednesday, January 8, 2003, in the late morning, on the top floor of Al’s house on east 95th Street. Present were Arthur and Barbara Gelb, Louise Kerz Hirschfeld, myself, a producer named Steve Rivo, and a cameraman named Peter Nelson. At his drafting table, with winter light coming in a north facing window to his left, Al sat as per usual on an ancient dentist’s chair, which I understand was his preferred drafting perch. A cat was also in attendance, intermittently curled under Al’s arm as he worked. It was a cold day, and Al wore a shawl. No one ever had bluer eyes, or clearer ones. His 99 year old hand never shook. He was working from a drawing of O’Neill done decades earlier – a notably Nina-less caricature, with arms folded. Al happily added Ninas when prompted by onlookers, making the picture unique. He died 12 days later on Monday, January 20th, 2003. What an extraordinary life.

Arthur Gelb:  I persuaded Al (my very dear friend) and Louise to agree to Al drawing O'Neill just for our documentary, and I participated in the interview, partly as he drew, asking Al questions about his going with O'Neill to the six-day bike races at the old Madison Square Garden, his love of the jazz joints on 52nd Street, etc. When the interview and drawing were finished, I asked Al if he'd be willing to give Ric the drawing, Al's last completed one.

Recorded in preparation for the PBS American Experience program, Eugene O’Neill – A Documentary Film, the interview never made it into the final film. The documentary aired on March 17, 2006, and was directed by Ric Burns, written by Arthur & Barbara Gelb and Ric Burns, produced by Steve Rivo, Marilyn Ness, and Ric Burns, and was a co-production of Steeplechase Films and WGBH/Boston.

This video was edited from raw footage graciously made available to eOneill.com by Mr. Burns, and is presented with the support of Louise Kerz Hirschfeld, archivist David Leopold, and the Hirschfeld Foundation Board.