You may know
RICK TRAUM b did you know... BY MANDY HAYNES • PHOTO BY SHERRY CARTER
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ou may know Rick Traum as a witty fellow with a great smile and sense of humor, but did you know he’s an Emmy Award-winning executive producer? Rick has produced numerous television specials, movies, and plays during his career, but did you know that Rick’s a musician? In high school, he played Timpani. “I had a band,” he grins. “What was the name of your band?” I ask. He flashes that smile and says, “Rick Traum, His Drums, and His Band.” When he graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City in 1958, the graduation was held at Carnegie Hall, and Rick played percussion. Did you know Rick graduated from the United States Air Force School of Aviation Medicine? He served as a medic for six months active duty, and five years in the reserves. I ask him what that was like. He raises an eyebrow. “A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing.” Rick’s father, Juddy Traum, was a theatrical aficionado. Rick followed in his father’s footsteps and studied television, motion pictures, and business management at New York 35 AMELIA ISLANDER MAGAZINE •
University. Rick graduated in 1967 and went to work as commercial producer for Johnny Carson at NBC. “He was great, Johnny made jokes out of everything,” says Rick, then shares a joke that still makes me laugh. “That’s not one I can print,” I tell Rick between laughs, “but it is one I’ll tell.” He became friends with Ed McMahon, who used to send Rick cases of Budweiser for his birthday. In 1976, Rick took a job as the head of Late Night Programming at NBC and became the Executive-In-Charge of “Saturday Night Live.” He was there when John Belushi and Bill Murray made SNL the late-night show to watch. He says that Gilda Radnor was the performer he enjoyed the most, a real sweetheart, and Al Franken’s sense of humor almost gave him an ulcer. “I love Al, he’s great,” Rick laughs, “a very bright guy. I had a great time working with SNL and made lots of friends. That was cool.” I asked Rick who was the easiest to work with on the set. “I guess I’d have to say Gilda. She was terrific.” continued on next page. JUNE 2021
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