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Today is the 20th of January, 1987. We're at 870 U.N. Plaza, New York City. This is for the Columbia Oral History Collection. This is Jessica Holland. Would you state and spell your full name?

My name is Andrew Heiskell. Andrew you know how to spell;

H-e-i-s-k-e-l-l.

O.K. I think we're starting today with your joining LIFE. So why won't you describe that.

In 1937 I--working at the Herald Tribune at a very lowly wage, and after I had been there about six months--must have been the spring of '37--a friend of mine said that there was a job at this new magazine called Life, and if I felt like risking it, why didn't I apply. Well, I applied and was interviewed by the Picture Editor, Wilson Hicks. The job was a rather glorified copy-boy in the picture department. And he asked me all the usual questions, and I seemed to be doing quite well. And then he asked me one last question, which was: “And do you know anything about pictures?” And I said: “No, sir.” So that was the end of the interview, and I didn't get hired [laughs]. But two months went by, and I got a call to come over and