Wikipedia

Claudio Guzmán

Claudio Guzmán (August 2, 1927 – July 12, 2008) was a Chilean-American television director, producer, art director, and production designer.[1]

Claudio Guzmán
Born
Claudio Elias Guzmán

(1927-08-02)August 2, 1927
Rancagua, O’Higgins Province, Chile
DiedJuly 12, 2008(2008-07-12) (aged 80)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)television director, producer, art director, and production designer
Years active1947–1991
Spouses
Audrey Bashore
​
​
(m. 1954; div. 1959)​
​
​
(m. 1964; div. 1974)​
Micki Gardiner
​
(m. 1981)​
Children2

Biography edit

Guzmán was born in Rancagua, Chile, in 1927.[1] As a young man, he enrolled at the University of Chile to study architecture, following in the footsteps of his architect father. In 1947, Guzmán had been appointed set designer for the Chilean National Ballet, the youngest ever up to that date.[2]

Sources conflict as to when Guzmán immigrated to the United States,[1][3][4] but by 1952 he had begun to establish himself as a set designer in Southern California.[2][5] Guzmán had also enrolled at the University of Southern California in order to continue his architectural studies. His lack of fluency in English deterred him from continuing, choosing instead to work at an assembly line in Anaheim. Guzmán later quit that job in order to study design, eventually being hired by Paramount Studios, where he became an art director. It was there that Guzmán met Desi Arnaz, who brought him to work at Desilu, where he remained for eight years.[6] During this period, Guzmán continued working in the theatre[7][8][9] and performed on a comedy sketch with Red Skelton on his long-running television show.[10]

Guzmán began his career at Desilu by heading the art direction on Where's Raymond?, later renamed The Ray Bolger Show.[11] In 1958, he directed the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse episode "Bernadette", a dramatic adaptation of the life of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes starring Pier Angeli.[12] According to Angeli, Guzmán shot the episode in chronological order "so the cast—just like the viewers—could feel the impact of Bernadette's discovery of the stream pointed out to her by the Blessed Mother."[13] The program earned Guzmán an Emmy Award in the "Best Art Direction in a Television Film" category.[14] Guzmán also directed Border Justice, starring Gilbert Roland,[15] and The Desilu Revue, which consisted of vignettes performed by Desilu's stars for the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse.[16]

Other Desilu programs that Guzmán produced and directed for were I Love Lucy, The Untouchables, and December Bride.[6] Guzmán was also color consultant and interior decorator for Arnaz's Western Hills Hotel at Indian Wells.[17][18]

In addition to I Dream of Jeannie, Guzmán directed such programs as Nancy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Good Life, The Fugitive,[19] The Patty Duke Show, The Flying Nun, The Partridge Family, and Harper Valley PTA. He was also an executive producer on the series Villa Alegre, for which he received two Daytime Emmy Award nominations. His rare film directing credits included the 1975 comedy Linda Lovelace for President, starring porn film actress Linda Lovelace.

Personal life edit

 
Anna Maria Alberghetti and Claudio Guzmán on their wedding day

In 1954, Guzmán married Audrey Bashore, a graduate of Duke University.[4] They divorced in 1959.[20]

His second wife was Anna Maria Alberghetti, whom he married on September 12, 1964 at Saint Victor Catholic Church in West Hollywood. Their wedding reception was hosted by Pierre Cossette in Brentwood.[21] Guzmán and Alberghetti had two children together before divorcing in 1974.[22] Their Benedict Canyon home[23] was sold to Liza Minnelli and Desi Arnaz Jr.[24]

Prior to the finalization of Guzmán's divorce from Alberghetti, he had developed a relationship with Micki Gardiner.[25] According to his obituary, Guzmán married Gardiner in 1981; she was referred to as his wife as early as 1977 in the press.[26] The couple subsequently lived in Chile until 1987 and remained together until Guzmán's death from pneumonia in 2008.[1]

Filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Producer of 'Villa Alegre' on PBS also directed 'I Dream of Jeannie'". Los Angeles Times. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Chilean designer created sets for revue". Daily News (Los Angeles). May 21, 1952. Retrieved October 24, 2021. Prior to leaving for America, Guzman, at 20, was the youngest set designer ever to be employed by the National Ballet company of Chile.
  3. ^ "Chilean Artist Designed Sets for New Ring Revue". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. Retrieved October 24, 2021. The 24-year-old designer is a former architectural student from the University of Chile in Santiago, who came to Hollywood several years ago.
  4. ^ a b "Announce Engagement of Audrey Bashore". Mitchell Index. March 25, 1954. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  5. ^ Harford, Margaret (June 19, 1952). "'The Milky Way' Revived: Comedy Well Received At the Players' Ring". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Riste, Tom (June 20, 1976). "Viva Villa Alegre". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, AZ. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  7. ^ Ringer, Roy (January 21, 1954). "Bravo! A Defeat for Censors". Daily News. Los Angeles. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Williams, Wylie (February 12, 1955). "Stage Society Opener Highlighted by Acting". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. Los Angeles. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  9. ^ Harford, Margaret (February 21, 1959). "'Carnival' Waggish Farce". Mirror News (Los Angeles). Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "WKY-TV This Week: Capture of U-Boat Shown on 'Victory'". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. February 22, 1953. p. 82. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  11. ^ Danson, Tom E. (December 29, 1953). "Bolger Show Set Costly But Effective". Napa Valley Register. Universal Radio and TV Features Syndicate. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  12. ^ "Pier Angeli To Star In Story of Miracle". Victoria Advocate. Victoria, TX. October 12, 1958. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  13. ^ Kubasik, Ben (October 10, 1958). "Pier Angeli Has Difficult Role As Saint Bernadette". Newsday (Melville). Melville, NY. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "Complete List of TV Emmy Award Winners". Los Angeles Times. May 7, 1959. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  15. ^ "Gilbert Roland Playhouse Star". Palm Springs Desert Sun. November 13, 1959. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  16. ^ "Top Television Stars to Be Guests". Palm Springs Desert Sun. December 24, 1959. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  17. ^ "Desi Arnaz' Western Hills Hotel Sets Preview Opening". Palm Springs Desert Sun. March 28, 1957. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  18. ^ Conrad, Tracy (March 8, 2020). "Palm Springs' splendor expands eastward: Opening of Desi Arnaz' hotel in 1957 brought fanfare, glitz to valley". Palm Springs Desert Sun. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  19. ^ Roberts, Jerry (5 June 2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow Press. p. 221. ISBN 978-0-8108-6378-1.
  20. ^ Carroll, Harrison (June 11, 1959). "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood". Brazil Daily Times. p. 21. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  21. ^ "Anna Maria Albergetti and Director Marry". Los Angeles Times. September 13, 1964. p. 2. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  22. ^ "Anna Maria Alberghetti to appear at Saenger". The Sun (Biloxi). Biloxi, Mississippi. October 17, 1982. p. 37. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  23. ^ "Southland". Los Angeles Times. May 12, 1974. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  24. ^ Manners, Dorothy (January 29, 1973). "British star evidently found someone who laughs". Anderson Daily Bulletin. Anderson, IN. King Features Syndicate. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  25. ^ O'Brian, Jack (February 28, 1973). "Voice of Broadway: Channing Goes for Cool Customers". Ashbury Park Press. King Features Syndicate. Retrieved October 25, 2021. Anna Maria Alberghetti's divorcing Claudio Guzman whose next will be Micki Gardiner.
  26. ^ "PARTY". Palm Springs Desert Sun. September 17, 1977. Retrieved October 25, 2021. Along with Hank [Dally] are (from left) television and motion picture director Claudio Guzman with wife Mickey[...]

External links edit

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