Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’s 50th Anniversary, with Madeline Stuart

Radio Cherry Bombe

Young Madeline Stuart loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory so much, she suggested to her dad that the Roald Dahl classic children’s book would make a great movie. Fortunately, for the legions of Willy Wonka fans, Madeline’s dad was director and documentarian Mel Stuart… and the rest is Hollywood history. Madeline’s dad gave her $50 for the idea and the Stuart family would eventually move to Munich for the making of the movie. Madeline joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about the story behind the movie, the Quaker Oats connection, her father’s relationship with Dahl, the casting of Gene Wilder, and more. They also talk about Madeline’s career as a celebrated interior designer and her book, No Place Like Home: Interiors by Madeline Stuart.

Thank you to Kerrygold, makers of beautiful Irish butter and cheese from grass-fed dairy, and Ace Hotel Brooklyn, for supporting our show.

Radio Cherry Bombe is recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center. Visit cherrybombe.com/madeline-stuart-transcript later this week for a transcript of this episode.