About
"When a show was live, it was live. That was it. Then the main thing was we all had to get it right."
In his four-and-a-half-hour interview, Stewart MacGregory (1917-2007) discusses his early years as a radio sound effects specialist. He remembers being called to active duty during World War II, where he served as a cryptologist for the military. He talks about starting his television career at NBC working on the production team of live shows including Chevrolet on Broadway, Kraft Television Theatre, and Philco Television Playhouse. MacGregory outlines becoming one of four unit managers for NBC's Wide Wide World, a show that consisted of live remotes from around the country hosted by Dave Garroway. He outlines his time as unit production manager on a variety of other programs and specials including The Bell Telephone Hour, the 1960 Democratic and Republican Conventions, Kraft Music Hall, Today, The Doctors, and Saturday Night Live. He recounts later joining NBC's business affairs department before retiring in 1983. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on June 28, 1999 in Larchmont, NY.
Highlights

Stewart MacGregory on the infamous "water closet incident" from The Tonight Show with Jack Paar

Stewart MacGregory on the atmosphere and logistics of a live television broadcast

Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager for NBC's coverage of the 1960 Presidential Elections

Stewart MacGregory on going to work for The Kraft Music Hall with Perry Como and traveling to Dallas to film the day after John F. Kennedy was shot

Stewart MacGregory on what represents the best of television
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on radio shows he listened to; on attending Emerson College
On seeing television at the 1939 World's Fair; on New York City in the early '40s; on getting into radio in New York and the onset of World War II
Chapter 2
On his time doing sound effects for NBC radio; on radio shows he worked at on NBC; on the process of creating sound effects for radio shows
On his experiences in World War II; on returning to NBC radio after World War II; on going to work for NBC television
Chapter 3
On being stage coordinator for NBC Television starting in 1948; on the early attitude toward people working in the television industry; on the duties of a stage coordinator
On acting as stage coordinator for Chevrolet on Broadway; on Chevrolet on Broadway being a live presentation
Chapter 4
On the atmosphere and logistics of a live television broadcast; on the cameras and other equipment used in the Golden Age of Television; on being stage coordinator for Americana and Barney Blake, Police Reporter
On being stage coordinator for Kraft Television Theatre produced by David Susskind; on being stage coordinator for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse; on being stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre
Chapter 5
On acting as stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre and Martin Kane, Private Eye; on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre
On how the advent of color affected his job as stage coordinator; on acting as unit manager of Wide Wide World
Chapter 6
On Dave Garroway, host of Wide Wide World; on the technical aspects of being a unit manager on Wide Wide World; on the cancellation of Wide Wide World
On being unit manager on the Bell Telephone Hour; on the types of acts that appeared on the Bell Telephone Hour
On acting as unit manager for NBC's coverage of the 1960 Presidential Elections; on being unit manager on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar
Chapter 7
On Ray Bolger on The Bell Telephone Hour; on the infamous "water closet incident" from The Tonight Show with Jack Paar; on going to work for The Kraft Music Hall with Perry Como and traveling to Dallas to film the day after John F. Kennedy was shot
On working with Perry Como on The Kraft Music Hall; on working with Jack Paar on The Jack Paar Program; on becoming a unit manager for NBC Sports in 1964
Chapter 8
On being unit manager for the 1966 World Series; on being unit manager for Today; on being unit manager for The Doctors
On being unit manager for NBC: The First Fifty Years; on being unit manager for Saturday Night Live
Chapter 9
On joining NBC's Business Affairs department in 1978; on what represents the best of television; on the then-current state of NBC; on the Hollywood Blacklist
On the difference between a unit manager and a production manager; on his mentors; on various people with whom he worked in his career and his wife, Betty
On b-roll pictures from his career- on the set of Armstrong Circle Theater; the set of the Armstrong Circle Theater; on location for Wide Wide World
Shows
Armstrong Circle Theatre
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre
Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre and Martin Kane, Private Eye
Barney Blake, Police Reporter
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Americana and Barney Blake, Police Reporter
Bell Telephone Hour, The
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Bell Telephone Hour
Stewart MacGregory on the types of acts that appeared on The Bell Telephone Hour
Stewart MacGregory on Ray Bolger on The Bell Telephone Hour
Chevrolet Tele-Theater aka Chevrolet on Broadway
Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Chevrolet on Broadway
Stewart MacGregory on Chevrolet on Broadway being a live presentation
Doctors, The
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for The Doctors
Jack Paar Program, The (1962-65)
Stewart MacGregory on working with Jack Paar on The Jack Paar Program
Kraft Music Hall, The
Stewart MacGregory on going to work for The Kraft Music Hall with Perry Como and traveling to Dallas to film the day after John F. Kennedy was shot
Stewart MacGregory on working with Perry Como on The Kraft Music Hall
Kraft Television Theatre
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Kraft Television Theatre produced by David Susskind
Stewart MacGregory on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre
Martin Kane, Private Eye
Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre and Martin Kane, Private Eye
Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Saturday Night Live
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for Saturday Night Live for a few weeks in 1977
Stewart MacGregory on returning to Saturday Night Live in 1981
Today
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for Today
Tonight Starring Jack Paar aka The Jack Paar Show
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar
Stewart MacGregory on the infamous "water closet incident" from The Tonight Show with Jack Paar
Wide Wide World
Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager of Wide Wide World
Stewart MacGregory on Dave Garroway, host of Wide Wide World
Stewart MacGregory on the technical aspects of being a unit manager on Wide Wide World
Stewart MacGregory on favorite segments from Wide Wide World
Stewart MacGregory on the cancellation of Wide Wide World
World Series
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for the 1966 World Series
Topics
1939-40 World's Fair
Stewart MacGregory on seeing television at the 1939 World's Fair
Advertising and Sponsorship
Stewart MacGregory on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre
Comedy-Variety
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for NBC Television starting in 1948
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Stewart MacGregory on his mentors
First Big Break
Stewart MacGregory on going to work for NBC television
Historic Events and Social Change
Stewart MacGregory on seeing television at the 1939 World's Fair
Stewart MacGregory on getting into radio in New York and the onset of World War II
Stewart MacGregory on his experiences in World War II
Stewart MacGregory on becoming a cryptograph specialist in World War II
Stewart MacGregory on going to work for The Kraft Music Hall with Perry Como and traveling to Dallas to film the day after John F. Kennedy was shot
Hollywood Blacklist
Stewart MacGregory on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Stewart MacGregory on the Hollywood Blacklist
JFK Assassination and Funeral
Stewart MacGregory on going to work for The Kraft Music Hall with Perry Como and traveling to Dallas to film the day after John F. Kennedy was shot
John F. Kennedy
Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager for NBC's coverage of the 1960 Presidential Elections
Stewart MacGregory on going to work for The Kraft Music Hall with Perry Como and traveling to Dallas to film the day after John F. Kennedy was shot
Pivotal Career Moments
Stewart MacGregory on going to work for NBC television
Stewart MacGregory on his mentors
Richard M. Nixon
Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager for NBC's coverage of the 1960 Presidential Elections
Technological Innovation
Stewart MacGregory on how the advent of color affected his job as stage coordinator
Television and the Presidency
Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager for NBC's coverage of the 1960 Presidential Elections
Stewart MacGregory on going to work for The Kraft Music Hall with Perry Como and traveling to Dallas to film the day after John F. Kennedy was shot
Television Industry
Stewart MacGregory on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre
Stewart MacGregory on what represents the best of television
Stewart MacGregory on the then-current state of NBC
Stewart MacGregory on the Hollywood Blacklist
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Stewart MacGregory on the atmosphere and logistics of a live television broadcast
Stewart MacGregory on the cameras and other equipment used in the Golden Age of Television
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for NBC Television starting in 1948
War
Stewart MacGregory on getting into radio in New York and the onset of World War II
Stewart MacGregory on his experiences in World War II
Stewart MacGregory on becoming a cryptograph specialist in World War II
World War II
Stewart MacGregory on getting into radio in New York and the onset of World War II
Stewart MacGregory on his experiences in World War II
Stewart MacGregory on becoming a cryptograph specialist in World War II
Professions
Production Professionals
Stewart MacGregory on how the advent of color affected his job as stage coordinator
Stewart MacGregory on the technical aspects of being a unit manager on Wide Wide World
Stewart MacGregory on the difference between a unit manager and a production manager
Stewart MacGregory on the duties of a stage coordinator
Stage Manager
Stewart MacGregory on how the advent of color affected his job as stage coordinator
Stewart MacGregory on the duties of a stage coordinator
Unit Production Manager
Stewart MacGregory on the technical aspects of being a unit manager on Wide Wide World
Stewart MacGregory on the difference between a unit manager and a production manager
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Kraft Television Theatre produced by David Susskind
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre and Martin Kane, Private Eye
Stewart MacGregory on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Bell Telephone Hour
Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Chevrolet on Broadway
Comedy Series
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for Saturday Night Live
Commercials
Stewart MacGregory on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Americana and Barney Blake, Police Reporter
Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre and Martin Kane, Private Eye
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for The Doctors
Game Shows
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Americana and Barney Blake, Police Reporter
Late Night
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar
Stewart MacGregory on the infamous "water closet incident" from The Tonight Show with Jack Paar
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for Saturday Night Live
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Stewart MacGregory on working with Perry Como on The Kraft Music Hall
News and Documentary
Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager of Wide Wide World
Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager for NBC's coverage of the 1960 Presidential Elections
Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager for Wide Wide World
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for Today
Sports
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for the 1966 World Series
Talk Shows
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar
Stewart MacGregory on working with Jack Paar on The Jack Paar Program
Stewart MacGregory on the infamous "water closet incident" from The Tonight Show with Jack Paar
People
Ray Bolger
Stewart MacGregory on Ray Bolger on The Bell Telephone Hour
Perry Como
Stewart MacGregory on working with Perry Como on The Kraft Music Hall
Fielder Cook
Stewart MacGregory on various people with whom he worked in his career: Fielder Cook
Gordon Duff
Stewart MacGregory on various people with whom he worked in his career: Gordon Duff
Dave Garroway
Stewart MacGregory on Dave Garroway, host of Wide Wide World
John F. Kennedy
Stewart MacGregory on going to work for The Kraft Music Hall with Perry Como and traveling to Dallas to film the day after John F. Kennedy was shot
Delbert Mann
Stewart MacGregory on various people with whom he worked in his career: Delbert Mann
Jack Paar
Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar
Stewart MacGregory on the infamous "water closet incident" from The Tonight Show with Jack Paar
Stewart MacGregory on working with Jack Paar on The Jack Paar Program
Ira Skutch
Stewart MacGregory on various people with whom he worked in his career: Ira Skutch
Dick Smith
Stewart MacGregory on various people with whom he worked in his career: Dick Smith
David Susskind
Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Kraft Television Theatre produced by David Susskind