James Sheldon

Director

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

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.

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

"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.'"

People Talking About ...

Highlights

James Sheldon on a nearly disastrous appearance by Billie Holiday on We, The People

05:35

James Sheldon on not being allowed to cast Eddie Albert on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre because of the Blacklist

01:26

James Sheldon on nearly casting James Dean on Mama and helping him get an agent

03:58

James Sheldon on the birth of his son being announced on The Eddie Albert Show

01:08

James Sheldon on why he enjoyed directing Route 66 and Naked City

01:23

James Sheldon on directing Clint Eastwood in an episode of West Point, and finding out at an inopportune moment that Eastwood could not ski

02:40

James Sheldon on advice to an aspiring director

00:42

Full Interview

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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

01:14

Armstrong Circle Theatre

James Sheldon on not being allowed to cast Eddie Albert on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre because of the Blacklist

01:26

James Sheldon on James Dean's behavior on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre: "The Bells of Cockaigne"

01:15

Cagney & Lacey

James Sheldon on directing one episode of Cagney & Lacey

02:25

Eddie Albert Show, The

James Sheldon on directing The Eddie Albert Show and working with Eddie Albert

03:30

James Sheldon on the birth of his son being announced on The Eddie Albert Show

01:08

Espionage

James Sheldon on directing Espionage in London

00:52

Front Row Center

James Sheldon on directing Front Row Center

00:29

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

00:36

James Sheldon on directing The Fugitive

02:21

Holiday Hotel

James Sheldon on directing Holiday Hotel

03:06

MAS*H

James Sheldon on directing Anna and the King, and being reassigned to direct M*A*S* H instead

01:14

Mama

James Sheldon on nearly casting James Dean on Mama and helping him get an agent

03:58

McMillan & Wife

James Sheldon on trying to connect with Rock Hudson over James Dean on the set of MacMillan and Wife

02:21

Millionaire, The

James Sheldon on directing The Millionaire

03:31

Mister Peepers

James Sheldon on being hired to direct the pilot of Mister Peepers by producer Fred Coe

02:36

James Sheldon on casting Tony Randall as "Harvey Weskit" on Mister Peepers

02:43

James Sheldon on Marion Lorne as "Mrs. Gurney" on Mister Peepers

01:20

James Sheldon on directing Mister Peepers and Wally Cox's humor on the show

00:44

My World ... and Welcome to it

James Sheldon on My World and Welcome to It being his favorite piece of work

00:30

Naked City

James Sheldon on why he enjoyed directing Route 66 and Naked City

01:23

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

05:20

Red Buttons Show, The

James Sheldon on being fired from The Red Buttons Show

01:48

Route 66

James Sheldon on why he enjoyed directing Route 66 and Naked City

01:23

James Sheldon on the first episode of Route 66 that he directed

00:59

Twilight Zone, The

James Sheldon on working with writer George Clayton Johnson on The Twilight Zone: "A Penny for Your Thoughts"

02:54

James Sheldon on the two Twilight Zone episodes he did with child actor Billy Mumy: "Long Distance Call" and "It's a Good Life"

03:22

James Sheldon on directing child actor Billy Mumy on The Twilight Zone

01:56

James Sheldon on directing The Twilight Zone

10:22

James Sheldon on directing The Twilight Zone

01:51

Virginian, The

James Sheldon on directing The Virginian

01:27

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

04:06

James Sheldon on the challenge of making We, The People visual, since it had started as a radio show

02:18

James Sheldon on the first time he heard of the Blacklist: when he tried to hire Madeline Lee Gilford on We, The People

01:29

West Point

James Sheldon on directing West Point

05:02

Topics

Advice

James Sheldon on advice to an aspiring director

00:42

Hollywood Blacklist

James Sheldon on the Hollywood Blacklist

04:53

James Sheldon on nearly being fired because of a mix up involving another man named James Sheldon during the Hollywood Blacklist era

01:12

James Sheldon on why he doesn't remember many details of the Blacklist era

01:02

Industry Crossroads

James Sheldon on the Hollywood Blacklist

04:53

James Sheldon on nearly being fired because of a mix up involving another man named James Sheldon during the Hollywood Blacklist era

01:12

James Sheldon on why he doesn't remember many details of the Blacklist era

01:02

Pivotal Career Moments

James Sheldon on moving to California instead of staying in New York and directing the musical "West Side Story"

02:12

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

James Sheldon on directing the radio show "We, The People," which was then simulcast on television and radio and became a regular television show

04:06

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

01:02

Technological Innovation

James Sheldon on the television exhibit he would show to visitors as an NBC Page in the early 1940s

01:03

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

01:02

James Sheldon on the Hollywood Blacklist

04:53

James Sheldon on nearly being fired because of a mix up involving another man named James Sheldon during the Hollywood Blacklist era

01:12

James Sheldon on why he doesn't remember many details of the Blacklist era

01:02

James Sheldon on advice to an aspiring director

00:42

Professions

Directors

View Profession

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

01:02

James Sheldon on the challenges of being a director in the early years of television

01:26

James Sheldon on working with cameramen as a television director who had "live" television experience

01:44

James Sheldon on how he approached directing an episode or two of a preexisting show

01:41

James Sheldon on his approach to rehearsals

00:28

James Sheldon on advice to an aspiring director

00:42

James Sheldon on the fact that scripts for shows were often not ready with enough time to allow him to prepare to direct

01:37

James Sheldon on how he prepared to direct a show

01:13

Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

James Sheldon on directing an episode of The Fugitive and getting a shot in despite the fact that there was a fire burning nearby

00:36

James Sheldon on directing The Fugitive

02:21

James Sheldon on why he enjoyed directing Route 66 and Naked City

01:23

James Sheldon on the first episode of Route 66 that he directed

00:59

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

05:20

James Sheldon on not being allowed to cast Eddie Albert on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre because of the Blacklist

01:26

James Sheldon on directing The Millionaire

03:31

James Sheldon on directing child actor Billy Mumy on The Twilight Zone

01:56

James Sheldon on directing The Twilight Zone

10:22

James Sheldon on directing The Twilight Zone

01:51

James Sheldon on directing Espionage in London

00:52

James Sheldon on James Dean's behavior on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre: "The Bells of Cockaigne"

01:15

Comedy Series

James Sheldon on being hired to direct the pilot of Mister Peepers by producer Fred Coe

02:36

James Sheldon on casting Tony Randall as "Harvey Weskit" on Mister Peepers

02:43

James Sheldon on directing Mister Peepers and Wally Cox's humor on the show

00:44

James Sheldon on Marion Lorne as "Mrs. Gurney" on Mister Peepers

01:20

James Sheldon on nearly casting James Dean on Mama and helping him get an agent

03:58

James Sheldon on directing Anna and the King, and being reassigned to direct M*A*S*H instead

01:14

James Sheldon on My World and Welcome to It being his favorite piece of work

00:30

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

James Sheldon on directing one episode of Cagney & Lacey

02:25

James Sheldon on why he enjoyed directing Route 66 and Naked City

01:23

James Sheldon on trying to connect with Rock Hudson over James Dean on the set of MacMillan and Wife

02:21

Drama Series

James Sheldon on directing West Point

05:02

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

James Sheldon on directing Holiday Hotel

03:06

James Sheldon on directing The Eddie Albert Show and working with Eddie Albert

03:30

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

04:06

James Sheldon on the challenge of making We, The People visual, since it had started as a radio show

02:18

James Sheldon on the first time he heard of the Blacklist: when he tried to hire Madeline Lee on We, The People

01:29

Western Series

James Sheldon on learning how to direct a Western television show while directing Zane Grey Theater

01:47

James Sheldon on directing The Virginian

01:27

People

Billie Holiday

View Person Page

James Sheldon on a nearly disastrous appearance by Billie Holiday on We, The People

05:35

Billy Mumy

View Person Page

James Sheldon on directing child actor Billy Mumy on The Twilight Zone

01:56

James Sheldon on the two Twilight Zone episodes he did with child actor Billy Mumy: "Long Distance Call" and "It's a Good Life"

03:22

Bing Crosby

View Person Page

James Sheldon on directing Bing Crosby

00:48

Clint Eastwood

View Person Page

James Sheldon on directing Clint Eastwood in an episode of West Point, and finding out at an inopportune moment that Eastwood could not ski

02:40

David Sarnoff

View Person Page

James Sheldon on seeing David Sarnoff when he was an NBC Page in the early 1940s

01:25

Dorothy Kilgallen

View Person Page

James Sheldon on almost being fired from his job at the radio station, WOR-AM, because of a mix-up with columnist Dorothy Kilgallen

02:56

Eddie Albert

View Person Page

James Sheldon on directing The Eddie Albert Show and working with Eddie Albert

03:30

James Sheldon on not being allowed to cast Eddie Albert on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre because of the Blacklist

01:26

Fred Coe

View Person Page

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

05:20

James Sheldon on being hired to direct the pilot of Mister Peepers by producer Fred Coe

02:36

George Clayton Johnson

View Interview Page

James Sheldon on working with writer George Clayton Johnson on The Twilight Zone: "A Penny for Your Thoughts"

02:54

James Dean

View Person Page

James Sheldon on nearly casting James Dean on Mama and helping him get an agent

03:58

James Sheldon on James Dean's death

02:27

James Sheldon on trying to connect with Rock Hudson over James Dean on the set of MacMillan and Wife

02:21

James Sheldon on James Dean's behavior on an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre: "The Bells of Cockaigne"

01:15

Marion Lorne

View Person Page

James Sheldon on Marion Lorne as "Mrs. Gurney" on Mister Peepers

01:20

Paul Newman

View Person Page

James Sheldon on Paul Newman's appearance on a show he was directing

01:40

Quinn Martin

View Person Page

James Sheldon on directing The Fugitive and working with Quinn Martin

02:21

Rock Hudson

View Person Page

James Sheldon on trying to connect with Rock Hudson over James Dean on the set of MacMillan and Wife

02:21

Rod Serling

View Person Page

James Sheldon on directing The Twilight Zone and occasionally working directly with Rod Serling

00:41

Tony Randall

View Interview Page

James Sheldon on casting Tony Randall as "Harvey Weskit" on Mister Peepers and Randall's onscreen chemistry with Wally Cox

02:43

Wally Cox

View Person Page

James Sheldon on casting Tony Randall as "Harvey Weskit" on Mister Peepers and Randall's onscreen chemistry with Wally Cox

02:43

James Sheldon on directing Mister Peepers and Wally Cox's humor on the show

00:44