About
"I remember I was doing ['Today's FBI'] for Dave Gerber, and he asked me afterward, 'Why are the actors better with you? What do you tell them? Because I'd like to be able to tell my other directors.' And I said, 'I don't know, David.' So I asked one of the actors, I said, 'What do I tell you that's different from the others?' And he said, 'No, you don't tell us anything, Jimmy, you just make us feel comfortable and loved.'"
In his three-hour interview, James Sheldon (1920-2016) speaks about breaking into the business as an NBC page, and, after a few years in advertising, turning his attention to directing for television. He describes his work on several shows from the 1950s including such diverse fare as the sitcom Mister Peepers, daytime variety series The Eddie Albert Show, military anthology West Point, and the drama The Millionaire. He tells stories of memorable guest stars on the radio-turned-television-show We, The People, and also speaks in great detail about his relationship with then-budding actor James Dean. He discusses directing "live" television productions of Armstrong Circle Theatre and Robert Montgomery Presents, as well as his work on the anthology series The Twilight Zone, including directing the classic episode "It's A Good Life" starring Billy Mumy. Other series he discusses include Family Affair, My Three Sons, Route 66, Cagney & Lacey, and M*A*S*H. B-roll consists of photos from shows Sheldon worked on and Sheldon himself at work. Karen Herman conducted the interview on April 6, 2005 in New York, NY.
Highlights
James Sheldon on a nearly disastrous appearance by Billie Holiday on We, The People
James Sheldon on not being allowed to cast Eddie Albert on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre because of the Blacklist
James Sheldon on nearly casting James Dean on Mama and helping him get an agent
James Sheldon on the birth of his son being announced on The Eddie Albert Show
James Sheldon on why he enjoyed directing Route 66 and Naked City
James Sheldon on directing Clint Eastwood in an episode of West Point, and finding out at an inopportune moment that Eastwood could not ski
James Sheldon on advice to an aspiring director
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on studying theater at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and becoming an NBC Page in New York after graduation
On working in NBC's International Division during World War II; on becoming a radio director
Chapter 2
On getting a job at the radio station, WOR-AM; on directing the radio show "We, The People," which was then simulcast on television and radio and became a regular television show
On working with sponsors; on becoming the producer-director of We, The People
Chapter 3
On directing a teleplay for Philco-Goodyear Playhouse; on being hired to direct the pilot of Mister Peepers by producer Fred Coe
On directing the first season of Mister Peepers; on directing The Eddie Albert Show; on his relationship with James Dean
Chapter 4
On directing Robert Montgomery Presents; on moving to California and working in Hollywood
On directing West Point; on the Hollywood Blacklist
Chapter 5
On directing The Millionaire; on directing The Fugitive
On directing The Twilight Zone; on working with Rod Serling, George Clayton Johnson, and Billy Mumy
Chapter 6
On directing The Twilight Zone; on directing various other shows, including The Virginian, M*A*S*H, and Cagney & Lacey
On his decision to retire; on his approach to directing; on career highs and advice to aspiring directors
Chapter 7
On the total number of shows he's directed (perhaps 1,000); on how he prepared to direct shows; on how he would like to be remembered
Photos from his career
Shows
Anna and the King
James Sheldon on directing Anna and the King, and being reassigned to direct M*A*S*H instead
Armstrong Circle Theatre
James Sheldon on not being allowed to cast Eddie Albert on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre because of the Blacklist
James Sheldon on James Dean's behavior on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre: "The Bells of Cockaigne"
Cagney & Lacey
James Sheldon on directing one episode of Cagney & Lacey
Eddie Albert Show, The
James Sheldon on directing The Eddie Albert Show and working with Eddie Albert
James Sheldon on the birth of his son being announced on The Eddie Albert Show
Espionage
James Sheldon on directing Espionage in London
Front Row Center
James Sheldon on directing Front Row Center
Fugitive, The
James Sheldon on filming an episode of The Fugitive and getting a shot in despite the fact that there was a fire burning nearby
James Sheldon on directing The Fugitive
Holiday Hotel
James Sheldon on directing Holiday Hotel
M*A*S*H
James Sheldon on directing Anna and the King, and being reassigned to direct M*A*S* H instead
Mama
James Sheldon on nearly casting James Dean on Mama and helping him get an agent
McMillan & Wife
James Sheldon on trying to connect with Rock Hudson over James Dean on the set of MacMillan and Wife
Millionaire, The
James Sheldon on directing The Millionaire
Mister Peepers
James Sheldon on being hired to direct the pilot of Mister Peepers by producer Fred Coe
James Sheldon on casting Tony Randall as "Harvey Weskit" on Mister Peepers
James Sheldon on Marion Lorne as "Mrs. Gurney" on Mister Peepers
James Sheldon on directing Mister Peepers and Wally Cox's humor on the show
My World ... and Welcome to it
James Sheldon on My World and Welcome to It being his favorite piece of work
Naked City
James Sheldon on why he enjoyed directing Route 66 and Naked City
Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
James Sheldon on directing a teleplay for Philco-Goodyear Playhouse: "A Softness in the Wind" and the challenges of being a director in the early years of television
Red Buttons Show, The
James Sheldon on being fired from The Red Buttons Show
Route 66
James Sheldon on why he enjoyed directing Route 66 and Naked City
James Sheldon on the first episode of Route 66 that he directed
Twilight Zone, The
James Sheldon on directing The Twilight Zone
James Sheldon on working with writer George Clayton Johnson on The Twilight Zone: "A Penny for Your Thoughts"
James Sheldon on the two Twilight Zone episodes he did with child actor Billy Mumy: "Long Distance Call" and "It's a Good Life"
James Sheldon on directing child actor Billy Mumy on The Twilight Zone
James Sheldon on directing The Twilight Zone
Virginian, The
James Sheldon on directing The Virginian
We, The People
James Sheldon on directing the radio show "We, The People," which was then simulcast on television and radio and became a regular television show
James Sheldon on the challenge of making We, The People visual, since it had started as a radio show
James Sheldon on the first time he heard of the Blacklist: when he tried to hire Madeline Lee Gilford on We, The People
West Point
James Sheldon on directing West Point
Topics
Advice
James Sheldon on advice to an aspiring director
Hollywood Blacklist
James Sheldon on the Hollywood Blacklist
James Sheldon on nearly being fired because of a mix up involving another man named James Sheldon during the Hollywood Blacklist era
James Sheldon on why he doesn't remember many details of the Blacklist era
Industry Crossroads
James Sheldon on the Hollywood Blacklist
James Sheldon on nearly being fired because of a mix up involving another man named James Sheldon during the Hollywood Blacklist era
James Sheldon on why he doesn't remember many details of the Blacklist era
Pivotal Career Moments
James Sheldon on moving to California instead of staying in New York and directing the musical "West Side Story"
Technological Innovation
James Sheldon on the television exhibit he would show to visitors as an NBC Page in the early 1940s
Television Industry
James Sheldon on changes in the television business in the 1950s that led to directors becoming freelancers rather than employees of advertising agencies or networks
James Sheldon on advice to an aspiring director
James Sheldon on the Hollywood Blacklist
James Sheldon on nearly being fired because of a mix up involving another man named James Sheldon during the Hollywood Blacklist era
James Sheldon on why he doesn't remember many details of the Blacklist era
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
James Sheldon on changes in the television business in the 1950s that led to directors becoming freelancers rather than employees of advertising agencies or networks
James Sheldon on directing the radio show "We, The People," which was then simulcast on television and radio and became a regular television show
Professions
Directors
James Sheldon on changes in the television business in the 1950s that led to directors becoming freelancers rather than employees of advertising agencies or networks
James Sheldon on the challenges of being a director in the early years of television
James Sheldon on how he approached directing an episode or two of a preexisting show
James Sheldon on his approach to rehearsals
James Sheldon on advice to an aspiring director
James Sheldon on working with cameramen as a television director who had "live" television experience
James Sheldon on the fact that scripts for shows were often not ready with enough time to allow him to prepare to direct
James Sheldon on how he prepared to direct a show
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
James Sheldon on why he enjoyed directing Route 66 and Naked City
James Sheldon on directing an episode of The Fugitive and getting a shot in despite the fact that there was a fire burning nearby
James Sheldon on directing The Fugitive
James Sheldon on the first episode of Route 66 that he directed
Classic Anthology Series
James Sheldon on directing a teleplay for Philco-Goodyear Playhouse:"A Softness in the Wind," produced by Fred Coe, and the challenges of being a director in the early years of television
James Sheldon on directing The Twilight Zone
James Sheldon on directing Espionage in London
James Sheldon on not being allowed to cast Eddie Albert on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre because of the Blacklist
James Sheldon on directing The Millionaire
James Sheldon on directing child actor Billy Mumy on The Twilight Zone
James Sheldon on directing The Twilight Zone
James Sheldon on James Dean's behavior on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre: "The Bells of Cockaigne"
Comedy Series
James Sheldon on being hired to direct the pilot of Mister Peepers by producer Fred Coe
James Sheldon on casting Tony Randall as "Harvey Weskit" on Mister Peepers
James Sheldon on directing Mister Peepers and Wally Cox's humor on the show
James Sheldon on Marion Lorne as "Mrs. Gurney" on Mister Peepers
James Sheldon on nearly casting James Dean on Mama and helping him get an agent
James Sheldon on directing Anna and the King, and being reassigned to direct M*A*S*H instead
James Sheldon on My World and Welcome to It being his favorite piece of work
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
James Sheldon on directing one episode of Cagney & Lacey
James Sheldon on why he enjoyed directing Route 66 and Naked City
James Sheldon on trying to connect with Rock Hudson over James Dean on the set of MacMillan and Wife
Drama Series
James Sheldon on directing West Point
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
James Sheldon on directing The Eddie Albert Show and working with Eddie Albert
James Sheldon on directing Holiday Hotel
Talk Shows
James Sheldon on directing the radio show "We, The People," which was then simulcast on television and radio and became a regular television show
James Sheldon on the challenge of making We, The People visual, since it had started as a radio show
James Sheldon on the first time he heard of the Blacklist: when he tried to hire Madeline Lee on We, The People
Western Series
James Sheldon on directing The Virginian
James Sheldon on learning how to direct a Western television show while directing Zane Grey Theater
People
Eddie Albert
James Sheldon on directing The Eddie Albert Show and working with Eddie Albert
James Sheldon on not being allowed to cast Eddie Albert on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre because of the Blacklist
Don Ameche
James Sheldon on directing Holiday Hotel
Fred Coe
James Sheldon on directing a teleplay for Philco-Goodyear Playhouse:"A Softness in the Wind," produced by Fred Coe, and the challenges of being a director in the early years of television
James Sheldon on being hired to direct the pilot of Mister Peepers by producer Fred Coe
Wally Cox
James Sheldon on casting Tony Randall as "Harvey Weskit" on Mister Peepers and Randall's onscreen chemistry with Wally Cox
James Sheldon on directing Mister Peepers and Wally Cox's humor on the show
Bing Crosby
James Sheldon on directing Bing Crosby
James Dean
James Sheldon on nearly casting James Dean on Mama and helping him get an agent
James Sheldon on trying to connect with Rock Hudson over James Dean on the set of MacMillan and Wife
James Sheldon on James Dean's death
James Sheldon on James Dean's behavior on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre: "The Bells of Cockaigne"
Clint Eastwood
James Sheldon on directing Clint Eastwood in an episode of West Point, and finding out at an inopportune moment that Eastwood could not ski
Billie Holiday
James Sheldon on a nearly disastrous appearance by Billie Holiday on We, The People
Rock Hudson
James Sheldon on trying to connect with Rock Hudson over James Dean on the set of MacMillan and Wife
George Clayton Johnson
James Sheldon on working with writer George Clayton Johnson on The Twilight Zone: "A Penny for Your Thoughts"
Dorothy Kilgallen
James Sheldon on almost being fired from his job at the radio station, WOR-AM, because of a mix-up with columnist Dorothy Kilgallen
Marion Lorne
James Sheldon on Marion Lorne as "Mrs. Gurney" on Mister Peepers
Quinn Martin
James Sheldon on directing The Fugitive and working with Quinn Martin
Billy Mumy
James Sheldon on directing child actor Billy Mumy on The Twilight Zone
James Sheldon on the two Twilight Zone episodes he did with child actor Billy Mumy: "Long Distance Call" and "It's a Good Life"
Paul Newman
James Sheldon on Paul Newman's appearance on a show he was directing
Tony Randall
James Sheldon on casting Tony Randall as "Harvey Weskit" on Mister Peepers and Randall's onscreen chemistry with Wally Cox
David Sarnoff
James Sheldon on seeing David Sarnoff when he was an NBC Page in the early 1940s
Rod Serling
James Sheldon on directing The Twilight Zone and occasionally working directly with Rod Serling