Welcome to the jet age and the early 1960s—the world of Montclair resident Jacqueline Jacobson Scarfo, set deorator for the new ABC period drama "Pan Am" that premieres tonight—Sunday, Sept. 25 at 10 p.m.

“Pan Am," about employees and customers of the now-defunct Pan American World Airways, is supposed to have a bit of a "Mad Men" flavor, a stylish thriller featuring passion, jealousy, and espionage—all at 30,000 feet in the air.

It's one of 23 television series—a record—currently being filmed in New York City.

("Pan Am" also stars Christina Ricci—who attended Edgemont and Glenfield schools in Montclair—as Maggie.)

Patch sat down with Scarfo, a mother of a Glenfield student, to find out what it's like to work as a TV set decorator.

Q) How did you get started in set decoration ... tell us a bit about your background.

A) I was conflicted between art and politics at college. I ended up working on a sports talk show for five years as associate producer. I also worked on a game show, and a documentary about political campaigns. A producer from the game show recruited me to work as the set decorator on a short film. I absolutely loved set decoration and have never looked back. It was a career that I never imagined ... it was one of those days in your life you get a phone call or meet someone that changes your life forever. I started working on after school specials, then independent films, features and TV. I absolutely love what I do ... I give it everything and would not know how to do my job any other way. 

Q) What other shows have you worked on?

A) I have worked on many films and TV shows ... and of course many TV shows and pilots that did not make it. Some recent highlights include "Rescue Me" (seven seasons FX) and "The Job" (ABC) with Denis Leary, "The Bronx is Burning" (ESPN), "The Beautiful Life" (CW), "Rubicon" pilot (AMC), "Pan Am" pilot (ABC), and now the "Pan Am" series.

Q) What's been the biggest challenge with set decoration for "Pan Am"? What was the hardest thing you've had to track down?

A) I love the concept of "Pan Am" ... the dawn of the jet age ... the glamour ... the 60s. My first decade was the 60s and I grew up with a very glamorous grandmother and family. Their homes were designer decorated. They always had their hair coiffed (lol) ... and of course had closets filled with designer clothes. My first plane trip was to Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico and I remember getting all dressed up to travel. We had our wardrobe picked out for every night of our trip. My grandmother traveled all over the world and wherever she was I followed her. I love to travel and continue to travel every chance I get. So I was very excited to revisit the 60s and world travel.

The challenges of a show like "Pan Am" are budgeting and spending money very carefully. Everything can be hard to track down 50 years later, but we rely on research as a guide and if we can't find it we have it made up. Most importantly everything needs to pass the Glamourtron test. We have a fantastic crew working on "Pan Am" and day in and day out we pull off little and mostly big miracles of design!

Q) How do you do your research?

A) Our research is fantastic. We rely on photo services, Internet searches, YouTube videos, films from the period and books. I can spend hours on my computer researching. The research is inspiring ... so much fun it is very easy to get submerged in the research of a script. We compile a research binder for every episode and country. We have met with many former stewardesses and pilots. There are also a number of Pan Am collectors from around the country that we work with. 

Q) Why do you think "Pan Am" will be a success .. or different from other shows coming out this fall? There are so many new shows coming on the air this month.

A) I think "Pan Am" is a fantastic journey into the past ... the dawn of the jet age was a very exciting and glamorous time. People love to travel and learn about new cultures. You have the opportunity to travel the world in style with "Pan Am."