Mahalia Jackson in her own words
Mahalia Jackson's legendary TV interview from 1971
Studs Terkel talks to Mahalia about her role in the civil rights movement.
"Person to Person" – The talk show that changed everything
Imagine being able to meet celebrities and public figures not in a sterile studio, but right in their own homes. That was the groundbreaking concept behind "Person to Person," the pioneering US talk show that revolutionized television from 1953 to 1961.
Intimate and unfiltered
Instead of coming to the studio, guests invited legendary presenter Edward R. Murrow (and later Charles Collingwood) to visit them virtually. Murrow sat in New York and conducted the interviews via video feed. This technology, revolutionary at the time, created a sense of closeness that had never before been seen on television. Viewers were given an intimate glimpse into the private homes and lives of stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Jerry Lewis, and even future president John F. Kennedy, and of course Mahalia Jackson.
A window into the soul of the stars
The show dispensed with elaborate staging and instead focused on honest, unfiltered conversations. "Person to Person" was more than just a talk show—it was a window into the souls of celebrities and established a format that continues to resonate today.
The TV program featuring the interview dates back to 1958.
Laurraine Goreau talks with Mahalia Jackson at her home on June 23, 1967, in Chicago.