Loretta Swit. Photo courtesy The Loretta Swit Archives and B. Harlan Boll Public Relations
Actress Loretta Swit at the Hollywood Museum, posing in front of the special lobby exhibit honoring her portrayal of Major Margaret Houlihan on M*A*S*H. Photo courtesy The Loretta Swit Archives and B. Harlan Boll Public Relations
The Watercolour Artistry of Loretta Swit
Original Airdates: June 6-9, 2025
TVC 693.1: From January 2017: Emmy Award-winning actress Loretta Swit joins Ed for a conversation about her lifelong interest in watercolor painting, her “proprietary relationship” with wildlife, her vast stage career (including her then-recent portrayal of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt), and, of course, a few questions about M*A*S*H, including a discussion of “The Nurses,” the famous episode, written by Linda Bloodworth-Thompson and directed by Joan Darling, that forever changed the trajectory of the character of Major Margaret Houlihan; the woman on whom Loretta based her portrayal of Margaret; and the close-knit, almost theatre-like camaraderie between Loretta and her fellow cast members on M*A*S*H. Also in this segment: A quote from Loretta’s longtime co-star Jamie Farr, courtesy of B. Harlan Boll. Loretta Swit passed away on Friday, May 30 at the age of eighty-seven.
At the time we spoke to Loretta in 2017, she had just released SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit, a collection of sixty-four full-color paintings and drawings, all done by Loretta herself, and all accompanied by anecdotes and stories about Loretta’s life, career, and work on behalf of animals.
All proceeds from sales of SwitHeart will continue to support various animal rights organizations as part of Loretta’s endless campaign to end animal suffering and cruelty.
Loretta Swit as Major Margaret Houlihan on M*A*S*H. Photo courtesy The Loretta Swit Archives and B. Harlan Boll Public Relations
Host Ed Robertson with actress Loretta Swit at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, California
A Walk in the Park with Loretta Swit
Original Airdates: June 6-9, 2025
TVC 693.4: From February 2019: Ed, Tony, and Donna accompany Emmy Award-winning actress, artist and animal rights activist Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H, SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit) on a walk through Central Park as she discusses her efforts on behalf of all animals; her support of our veterans; how she keeps herself in shape; and why she will never retire.
All proceeds from sales of Loretta’s book, SwitHeart, her SwitHeart greeting cards, and her signature perfume, SwitHeart, will continue to support various animal rights organizations as part of Loretta’s endless campaign to end animal suffering and cruelty. Loretta Swit passed away on Friday, May 30 at the age of eighty-seven.
Carl Reiner: An Angel in Real Life
Original Airdates: July 24-26, 2020
TVC 503.6: Emmy Award-winning actress Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H, SwitHeart) talks to Ed about acting with and being directed by Carl Reiner in the “Good Neighbor Maxine” episode of his short-lived but fondly remembered comedy anthology series Good Heavens (ABC, 1976). Topics include how, in many respects, the premise of Good Heavens embodied who Reiner was as a person. Also in this segment: How Reiner later immortalized the fedora that he wore when he played Mr. Angel on Good Heavens.
