Charles Cappleman

Executive


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In his over four-hour interview, Charles "Cappy" Cappleman (1926-2021) discusses his tenure at the NBC Summer Radio-TV Institute at Northwestern University, and his interactions with Chicago television greats including Dave Garroway, Bob Banner, and the cast of Kukla, Fran and Ollie. He recalls his early years at CBS in the mid-1950s, working as a floor manager on programs including The Judy Garland Show, The Red Skelton Show, and Climax! Next, Cappleman talks about becoming manager of stage operations and his involvement in programs such as Playhouse 90, Studio One, Person to Person, and The Ed Sullivan Show. He also touches on his work with the production electronics department, and his promotion to director of program production services, where he worked on programs including The Carol Burnett Show and All in the Family. Finally, he discusses his role as the general manager of Television City. Sam Denoff conducted the interview on December 13, 2000 at CBS Television City in Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"If you simply say to a person, 'here's what I expect of you,' and leave him the hell alone, they'll probably give you a much better job than you could have dreamed of if you'd have written very tight specifications -- because that's what they do for a living."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Charles Cappleman on various people he worked with as a stage manager, including Judy Garland and Jack Benny
09:57
Charles Cappleman on celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of The Carol Burnett Show on stage 33 at Television City with the cast of the show
02:45
Charles Cappleman on being hired by Bob Daly to become general manager of Television City
05:02
Charles Cappleman on then-current projects, including implementing HDTV, and the emergence of new media
08:20
Charles Cappleman on the advent and development of video tape, and how it impacted production
04:33
Charles Cappleman on his involvement with NASA and covering the space program
03:46
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on the first time he saw television, and on his early experience with it
On his experiences as a disc jockey; on attending Northwestern University, and on witness the birth of television while interning at the NBC affiliate in Chicago; on the technology at the dawn of television

Chapter 2

On playing "race records" as a disc jockey; on working with Kukla, Fran & Ollie creator Burr Tillstrom at NBC in Chicago; on working with Studs Terkel on Studs' Place, and on Chicago in the 1950s
On his experiences during the Korean War; on becoming a stage manager at CBS; on stage managing for My Friend Irma and The Red Skelton Show
On how CBS in Los Angeles was structured in the 1950s; on working for William S. Paley and Frank Stanton; on his involvement with NASA and covering the space program

Chapter 3

On his duties as a stage manager, and on working on Climax! and Playhouse 90; on working with Judy Garland on Ford Star Jubilee, and on working with big stars; on stage managing for the series Meet Millie and My Favorite Husband
On stage managing That's My Boy! and The Jo Stafford Show; on the stages at CBS Television City; on celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of The Carol Burnett Show on stage 33 at Television City with the cast of the show
On various people he worked with as a stage manager, including Judy Garland and Jack Benny

Chapter 4

On becoming manager of stage operations at CBS; on working on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person; on the production challenges of Playhouse 90, and on working with John Frankenheimer and Fred Coe
On casting director Ethel Winant and producer David Susskind; on the directors and writers of Playhouse 90; on Studio One, and on Herbert Brodkin and Worthington Miner
On The Ed Sullivan Show; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on his duties as assistant director of design and production operations at CBS in the 1960s

Chapter 5

On managing the production electronics department at CBS; on the technological innovation he oversaw at CBS as manager of production electronics; on attending the Don Martin School of Broadcasting
On the role CBS executives like Frank Stanton played in technological innovation while he was manager of production electronic, and on its impact on news gathering; on how new technology impacted the CBS coverage of political conventions
On his duties as director of special projects at CBS; on his duties as director of program production services at CBS; on The Carol Burnett Show

Chapter 6

On working with Joe Hamilton and Dave Powers on The Carol Burnett Show; on All in the Family produced by Norman Lear, and on director Paul Bogart; on the cast of All in the Family, including Jean Stapleton, Carroll O'Connor, and Rob Reiner
On Captain & Tennille ; on CBS Playhouse; on being hired by Bob Daly to become general manager of Television City
On the various stages at CBS Television City; on the technological innovations that emanated from CBS Television City; on the advent of video tape, and the impact it had on production

Chapter 7

On where CBS produced their shows before Television City; on the advent and development of video tape, and how it impacted production; on CBS Television City converting to color broadcasting
On attending a yearly CBS affiliates conference; on how the distribution of shows to the CBS affiliates changed over time
On William S. Paley and Frank Stanton; on James T. Aburey and Robert D. Wood; on how Frank Stanton leaving CBS impacted the network
On William S. Paley's management style; on Laurence A. Tisch

Chapter 8

On the consolidation of Viacom, CBS, and Infinity, and on Mel Karmazin and Leslie Moonves; on how Television City has changed over the years; on implementing HDTV at CBS
On the emergence of new media; on his advice to aspiring television executives; on his involvement in various charities
On his mentors and career achievements and regrets; on how he would like to be remembered; on various people he worked with in his career

Chapter 9

On various people with whom he worked in his career
Shows

All in the Family

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on All in the Family produced by Norman Lear
02:50
Charles Cappleman on All in the Family director Paul Bogart
01:52
Charles Cappleman on the cast of All in the Family, including Jean Stapleton, Carroll O'Connor, and Rob Reiner
03:27

CBS Playhouse

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on CBS Playhouse
01:58

Captain & Tennille

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on Captain & Tennille
01:20

Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of The Carol Burnett Show on stage 33 at Television City with the cast of the show
02:53
Charles Cappleman on The Carol Burnett Show
03:55
Charles Cappleman on working with Joe Hamilton and Dave Powers on The Carol Burnett Show
04:30

Climax!

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on his duties as a stage manager, and on working on Climax! and Playhouse 90
05:58

Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on The Ed Sullivan Show
02:57

Ford Star Jubilee

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Judy Garland on Ford Star Jubilee, and on working with big stars
01:55
Charles Cappleman on working with Judy Garland on Ford Star Jubilee
03:06

Jack Benny Program, The

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Nat Perrin and Jack Benny on The Jack Benny Program
02:11

Kukla, Fran & Ollie

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Kukla, Fran & Ollie creator Burr Tillstrom at NBC in Chicago
04:19

Meet Millie

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on stage managing for the series Meet Millie and My Favorite Husband
03:11

Person to Person

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on working on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person
03:55

Playhouse 90

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on his duties as a stage manager, and on working on Climax! and Playhouse 90
05:58
Charles Cappleman on the production challenges of Playhouse 90, and on working with John Frankenheimer and Fred Coe
05:22
Charles Cappleman on the directors and writers of Playhouse 90
01:12

Red Skelton Show, The

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on stage managing for My Friend Irma and The Red Skelton Show
02:09

Studio One

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on Studio One, and on Herbert Brodkin and Worthington Miner
01:35

Studs' Place

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Studs Terkel on Studs' Place, and on Chicago in the 1950s
00:53

That's My Boy!

View Show Page
Charles Cappleman on stage managing That's My Boy! and The Jo Stafford Show
02:42
Topics

Advice

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on his advice to aspiring television executives
01:32

Classic TV series episodes

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on his duties as a stage manager, and on working on Climax! and Playhouse 90
05:58

Creative Influences and Inspiration

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on his mentors
00:45

Drama

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on his duties as a stage manager, and on working on Climax! and Playhouse 90
05:58

First Big Break

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on becoming a stage manager at CBS
01:44

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on the Korean War interrupting his broadcasting career
10:12

Hollywood Blacklist

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on the Hollywood Blacklist
04:59

Industry Crossroads

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on the Hollywood Blacklist
04:59

Korean War

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on his involvement in the Korean War
10:12

Media Consolidation

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on the consolidation of Viacom, CBS, and Infinity, and on Mel Karmazin and Leslie Moonves
04:30

New Media

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on the emergence of new media
05:00

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on becoming a stage manager at CBS
01:44
Charles Cappleman on his mentors
00:45

Pop Culture

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on his duties as a stage manager, and on working on Climax! and Playhouse 90
05:58

Studio and Network Management

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on William S. Paley
03:04
Charles Cappleman on Frank Stanton
02:21
Charles Cappleman on James T. Aburey and Robert D. Wood
03:19
Charles Cappleman on William S. Paley's management style
01:07

Technological Innovation

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on the technology at the dawn of television
05:22
Charles Cappleman on the technological innovation he oversaw at CBS as manager of the production electronics department
01:50
Charles Cappleman on the role CBS executives like Frank Stanton played in technological innovation while he was manager of the production electronics department, and on its impact on news gathering
06:42
Charles Cappleman on how new technology impacted the CBS coverage of political conventions
05:07
Charles Cappleman on the technological innovations that emanated from CBS Television City
02:30
Charles Cappleman on the advent of video tape, and the impact it had on production
02:40
Charles Cappleman on the advent and development of video tape, and how it impacted production
04:33
Charles Cappleman on CBS Television City converting to color broadcasting
01:25
Charles Cappleman on how the distribution of shows to the CBS affiliates changed over time
03:31
Charles Cappleman on implementing HDTV at CBS
03:20

Television Industry

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on how CBS in Los Angeles was structured in the 1950s
01:30
Charles Cappleman on the stages at CBS Television City
03:08
Charles Cappleman on the Hollywood Blacklist
04:59
Charles Cappleman on the various stages at CBS Television City
03:15
Charles Cappleman on where CBS produced their shows before Television City
01:00
Charles Cappleman on William S. Paley
03:04
Charles Cappleman on Frank Stanton
02:21
Charles Cappleman on James T. Aburey and Robert D. Wood
03:19
Charles Cappleman on William S. Paley's management style
01:07
Charles Cappleman on the consolidation of Viacom, CBS, and Infinity, and on Mel Karmazin and Leslie Moonves
04:31
Charles Cappleman on how Television City has changed over the years
05:25
Charles Cappleman on the emergence of new media
05:00
Charles Cappleman on his advice to aspiring television executives
01:32

War

View Topic
Charles Cappleman on the Korean War interrupting his broadcasting career
10:12
Professions

Executives

View Profession
Charles Cappleman on being hired by Bob Daly to become general manager of Television City
05:02
Charles Cappleman on attending a yearly CBS affiliates conference
03:52
Charles Cappleman on his advice to aspiring television executives
01:32

Production Professionals

View Profession
Charles Cappleman on his duties as a stage manager, and on working on Climax! and Playhouse 90
05:58
Charles Cappleman on his duties as assistant director of design and production operations at CBS in the 1960s
01:33
Charles Cappleman on managing the production electronics department at CBS
04:39
Charles Cappleman on the technological innovation he oversaw at CBS as manager of production electronics
01:50
Charles Cappleman on the role CBS executives like Frank Stanton played in technological innovation while he was manager of production electronic, and on its impact on news gathering
06:42
Charles Cappleman on how new technology impacted the CBS coverage of political conventions
05:07
Charles Cappleman on his duties as director of special projects at CBS
03:14
Charles Cappleman on his duties as director of program production services at CBS
01:32

Stage Manager

View Profession
Charles Cappleman on his duties as a stage manager, and on working on Climax! and Playhouse 90
05:58

Television Executive

View Profession
Charles Cappleman on being hired by Bob Daly to become general manager of Television City
05:02
Charles Cappleman on attending a yearly CBS affiliates conference
03:52
Genres

Classic Anthology Series

View Genre
Charles Cappleman on his duties as a stage manager, and on working on Climax! and Playhouse 90
05:58
Charles Cappleman on the production challenges of Playhouse 90
10:08
Charles Cappleman on Studio One, and on Herbert Brodkin and Worthington Minor
01:35
Charles Cappleman on CBS Playhouse
01:58

Comedy Series

View Genre
Charles Cappleman on stage managing for the series Meet Millie and My Favorite Husband
03:11
Charles Cappleman on stage managing That's My Boy! and The Jo Stafford Show
02:44
Charles Cappleman on The Carol Burnett Show
03:56
Charles Cappleman on All in the Family
08:09

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
Charles Cappleman on working with Judy Garland on Ford Star Jubilee, and on working with big stars
01:55
Charles Cappleman on stage managing That's My Boy! and The Jo Stafford Show
02:44
Charles Cappleman on celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of The Carol Burnett Show on stage 33 at Television City with the cast of the show
02:47
Charles Cappleman on The Ed Sullivan Show
02:57
Charles Cappleman on working with Joe Hamilton and Dave Powers on The Carol Burnett Show
04:29
Charles Cappleman on Captain & Tennille
01:20

News and Documentary

View Genre
Charles Cappleman on working on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person
03:55

Talk Shows

View Genre
Charles Cappleman on working on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person
03:55
People

Anne Nelson

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on Anne Nelson
01:09

Bob Barker

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on Bob Barker
00:25

Bob Daly

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on being hired by Bob Daly to become general manager of Television City
05:02
Charles Cappleman on Bob Daly
00:17

Bob Newhart

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on Bob Newhart
00:11

Burr Tillstrom

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Kukla, Fran & Ollie creator Burr Tillstrom at NBC in Chicago
04:19

Carol Burnett

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on The Carol Burnett Show
03:55

Carroll O'Connor

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on the cast of All in the Family, including Jean Stapleton, Carroll O'Connor, and Rob Reiner
03:27

Danny Kaye

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on Danny Kaye
00:27

Dave Powers

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Joe Hamilton and Dave Powers on The Carol Burnett Show
04:29

David Susskind

View Person Page
Chales Cappleman on David Susskind
02:39

Ethel Winant

View Interview Page
Chales Cappleman on casting director Ethel Winant
00:55
Charles Cappleman on Ethel Winant
00:46

Frank Stanton

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on working for William S. Paley and Frank Stanton
02:19
Charles Cappleman on the role CBS executives like Frank Stanton played in technological innovation while he was manager of the production electronics department, and on its impact on news gathering
06:42
Charles Cappleman on Frank Stanton
02:21
Charles Cappleman on how Frank Stanton leaving CBS impacted the network
01:35

Fred Friendly

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on Fred Friendly
00:12

Fred Silverman

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on Fred Silverman
00:21

Herbert Brodkin

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on Studio One, and on Herbert Brodkin and Worthington Miner
01:35

Hubbell Robinson

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on Hubbell Robinson
00:12

Jack Benny

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Nat Perrin and Jack Benny on The Jack Benny Program
02:30

James T. Aubrey

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on James T. Aburey and Robert D. Wood
03:19
Charles Cappleman on James T. Aubrey
00:16

Jean Stapleton

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on the cast of All in the Family, including Jean Stapleton, Carroll O'Connor, and Rob Reiner
03:27

Joe Hamilton

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Joe Hamilton and Dave Powers on The Carol Burnett Show
04:29

Judy Garland

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Judy Garland on Ford Star Jubilee
03:06
Charles Cappleman on Judy Garland
00:13

Laurence A. Tisch

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on Laurence A. Tisch
02:34
Charles Cappleman on Laurence A. Tisch
00:24

Leslie Moonves

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on the consolidation of Viacom, CBS, and Infinity, and on Mel Karmazin and Leslie Moonves
04:30
Charles Cappleman on Mel Karmazin and Leslie Moonves
00:13

Marion Ross

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on Marion Ross
01:00

Mary Tyler Moore

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on Mary Tyler Moore
02:48

Mel Karmazin

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on the consolidation of Viacom, CBS, and Infinity, and on Mel Karmazin and Leslie Moonves
04:30
Charles Cappleman on Mel Karmazin and Leslie Moonves
00:13

Michael Dann

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on Michael Dann
00:41

Nat Perrin

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Nat Perrin and Jack Benny on The Jack Benny Program
02:30

Norman Tokar

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Norman Tokar
00:34

Perry Lafferty

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on Perry Lafferty
00:15

Rob Reiner

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on the cast of All in the Family, including Jean Stapleton, Carroll O'Connor, and Rob Reiner
03:27

Robert D. Wood

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on James T. Aburey and Robert D. Wood
03:19
Charles Cappleman on Robert D. Wood
00:29

Seymour Berns

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Seymour Berns on The Red Skelton Show
03:04

Studs Terkel

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on working with Studs Terkel on Studs' Place, and on Chicago in the 1950s
00:53

Walter Cronkite

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on Walter Cronkite
00:42

Whoopi Goldberg

View Interview Page
Charles Cappleman on Whoopi Goldberg
00:17

William J. Bell, Jr.

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on William J. Bell, Jr.
00:31

William S. Paley

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on working for William S. Paley and Frank Stanton
02:19
Charles Cappleman on William S. Paley
03:04
Charles Cappleman on William S. Paley's management style
01:07

Worthington Miner

View Person Page
Charles Cappleman on Studio One, and on Herbert Brodkin and Worthington Miner
01:35

All Interviews

S