James Wall

Stage Manager / Performer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his four-and-a-half hour Archive interview, James Wall (1917-2010) candidly discusses his experiences as an African-American actor and stage manager on Broadway and in early television. He worked on entertainment programs, sports and news programs including stage managing 60 Minutes and CBS News with Walter Cronkite. Mr. Wall also speaks of his work on Captain Kangaroo, first as stage manager, and later as "Mr. Baxter," a teacher on the program, who he lobbied for and created. Mr. Wall continued to work as a stage manager in New York until shortly before his death. Michael Rosen conducted the interview in New York, NY on October 21, 1999.

"There are a lot of things that I've done where I was the first black face to be out there and I was able to destroy the myth that a black person is incapable of doing this. That, to me, is a biggie. I made a lot of stage managers, and taught them, bridged them, so that they've gotten in."

Highlights

Stage manager James Wall on CBS News' coverage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral

03:51

James Wall on Captain Kangaroo; on stage-managing the series

16:10

James Wall on stage-managing some 60 Minutes telecasts

04:35

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early years; on growing up in the 1920s

Chapter 2

On his service during World War II; on his start in performing

Chapter 3

On his World War II service; on working in radio; on the advent of television; on working on The Goldbergs

Chapter 4

On some of his early television roles on Robert Montgomery Presents, The Defenders, and others; on auditioning for Amos 'N' Andy; on working on Broadway

Chapter 5

On being the first African-American stage manager to work on Broadway

03:47

On initially being turned down by CBS for a stage manager position; on later being hired to be stage manager for CBS' Captain Kangaroo; on narrating Air Power

07:52

On being stage manager (from 1962 to 1968) on Captain Kangaroo; on playing Mr. Baxter on the series (from 1968 to 1980)

16:49

Chapter 6

On Captain Kangaroo; on stage-managing the series

16:11

On the basic role of a stage manager for television

12:53

Chapter 7

On his role as a stage manager (cont.)

18:32

On being a stage manager for CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite

09:53

Chapter 8

On news coverage; on CBS News' coverage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral

05:38

On covering various news stories with Walter Cronkite including the space program, the 1968 political conventions

15:15

On stage-managing various telecasts of 60 Minutes; on stage-managing the U.S. Tennis Open

Chapter 9

On his legacy; on his career high-points; on his advice to aspiring stage managers

17:36

On some photos illustrating his career

Shows

60 Minutes

James Wall on stage-managing some 60 Minutes telecasts

04:35

Amos 'N' Andy

James Wall on trying out for the role of "Kingfish" on Amos 'N' Andy

03:53

CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite

James Wall on stage-managing CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite

09:53

Captain Kangaroo

James Wall on being stage manager (from 1962 to 1968) on Captain Kangaroo; on playing Mr. Baxter on the series (from 1968 to 1980)

16:49

James Wall on Captain Kangaroo; on stage-managing the series

16:10

Goldbergs, The

Actor James Wall on performing on The Goldbergs

04:11

Jack Carter Show, The

James Wall on performing on The Jack Carter Show

01:49

Sing It Again

James Wall on performing a dance on Sing it Again

00:52

Topics

JFK Assassination and Funeral

James Wall on how he heard about the shooting of President Kennedy while working as a stage manager on Captain Kangaroo

01:36

Minorities

James Wall on being initially turned down by CBS when he applied for a stage manager position at the network

04:52

Moon Landing

Stage manager James Wall on accompanying Walter Cronkite on U.S. space mission coverage

02:42

We Cried

Stage manager James Wall on CBS News' coverage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral

03:51

Professions

Stage Manager

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James Wall on being the first African-American stage manager on Broadway

03:47

James Wall on the basic role of a stage manager for television

12:53

Genres

Sports

James Wall on stage managing many years of the U.S. Tennis Open

People

Walter Cronkite

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James Wall on stage-managing CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite

09:53