"When a show was live, it was live. That was it. Then the main thing was we all had to get it right."

    About This Interview

    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.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
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    Stewart MacGregory on the infamous "water closet incident" from The Tonight Show with Jack Paar

    04:31
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    Stewart MacGregory on the atmosphere and logistics of a live television broadcast

    02:55
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    Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager for NBC's coverage of the 1960 Presidential Elections 

    06:21
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    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

    10:15
    Thumbnail of Stewart MacGregory

    Stewart MacGregory on what represents the best of television 

    02:42
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on radio shows he listened to; on attending Emerson College

    15:26

    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

    13:32

    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

    13:41

    On his experiences in World War II; on returning to NBC radio after World War II; on going to work for NBC television 

    15:40

    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 

    13:33

    On acting as stage coordinator for Chevrolet on Broadway; on Chevrolet on Broadway  being a live presentation 

    16:17

    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

    12:34

    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

    12:16

    Chapter 5

    On acting as stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre and Martin Kane, Private Eye; on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre

    13:57

    On how the advent of color affected his job as stage coordinator; on acting as unit manager of Wide Wide World

    15:41

    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

    11:48

    On being unit manager on the  Bell Telephone Hour; on the types of acts that appeared on the Bell Telephone Hour

    09:35

    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

    07:45

    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 

    15:49

    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

    12:09

    Chapter 8

    On being unit manager for the 1966 World Series; on being unit manager for Today; on being unit manager for The Doctors

    16:36

    On being unit manager for NBC: The First Fifty Years; on being unit manager for Saturday Night Live

    12:08

    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

    15:14

    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

    11:03

    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

    02:17

    Armstrong Circle Theatre

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre

    01:27

    Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre and Martin Kane, Private Eye

    05:30

    Barney Blake, Police Reporter

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Americana and Barney Blake, Police Reporter

    04:19

    Bell Telephone Hour, The

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Bell Telephone Hour

    05:40

    Stewart MacGregory on the types of acts that appeared on The Bell Telephone Hour

    03:53

    Stewart MacGregory on Ray Bolger on The Bell Telephone Hour

    01:01

    Chevrolet Tele-Theater aka Chevrolet on Broadway

    Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Chevrolet on Broadway

    07:38

    Stewart MacGregory on Chevrolet on Broadway  being a live presentation 

    08:13

    Doctors, The

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for The Doctors

    02:15

    Jack Paar Program, The (1962-65)

    Stewart MacGregory on working with Jack Paar on The Jack Paar Program

    06:55

    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

    10:17

    Stewart MacGregory on working with Perry Como on The Kraft Music Hall

    01:30

    Kraft Television Theatre

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Kraft Television Theatre produced by David Susskind

    03:46

    Stewart MacGregory on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre

    03:32

    Martin Kane, Private Eye

    Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre and Martin Kane, Private Eye

    05:28

    Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

    06:59

    Saturday Night Live

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for Saturday Night Live for a few weeks in 1977

    04:27

    Stewart MacGregory on returning to Saturday Night Live in 1981

    03:16

    Today

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for Today

    11:45

    Tonight Starring Jack Paar aka The Jack Paar Show

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar

    01:24

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

    04:31

    Wide Wide World

    Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager of Wide Wide World

    12:00

    Stewart MacGregory on Dave Garroway, host of Wide Wide World

    01:26

    Stewart MacGregory on the technical aspects of being a unit manager on Wide Wide World

    05:32

    Stewart MacGregory on favorite segments from Wide Wide World

    02:48

    Stewart MacGregory on the cancellation of Wide Wide World

    02:03

    World Series

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for the 1966 World Series

    02:36

    1939-40 World's Fair

    Stewart MacGregory on seeing television at the 1939 World's Fair

    02:24

    Advertising and Sponsorship

    Stewart MacGregory on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre

    03:32

    Comedy-Variety

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for NBC Television starting in 1948

    05:16

    Creative Influences and Inspiration

    Stewart MacGregory on his mentors

    03:38

    First Big Break

    Stewart MacGregory on going to work for NBC television 

    01:38

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Stewart MacGregory on seeing television at the 1939 World's Fair

    02:24

    Stewart MacGregory on getting into radio in New York and the onset of World War II

    09:24

    Stewart MacGregory on his experiences in World War II

    08:25

    Stewart MacGregory on becoming a cryptograph specialist in World War II

    04:34

    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

    10:17

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Stewart MacGregory on the Hollywood Blacklist

    04:06

    Industry Crossroads

    Stewart MacGregory on the Hollywood Blacklist

    04:06

    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

    10:17

    John F. Kennedy

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

    06:21

    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

    10:17

    Pivotal Career Moments

    Stewart MacGregory on going to work for NBC television 

    01:38

    Stewart MacGregory on his mentors

    03:38

    Richard M. Nixon

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

    06:21

    Technological Innovation

    Stewart MacGregory on how the advent of color affected his job as stage coordinator 

    03:51

    Television and the Presidency

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

    06:21

    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

    10:17

    Television Industry

    Stewart MacGregory on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre

    03:32

    Stewart MacGregory on what represents the best of television 

    02:42

    Stewart MacGregory on the then-current state of NBC

    00:57

    Stewart MacGregory on the Hollywood Blacklist

    04:06

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

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

    02:55

    Stewart MacGregory on the cameras and other equipment used in the Golden Age of Television 

    05:20

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for NBC Television starting in 1948

    05:16

    War

    Stewart MacGregory on getting into radio in New York and the onset of World War II

    09:24

    Stewart MacGregory on his experiences in World War II

    08:25

    Stewart MacGregory on becoming a cryptograph specialist in World War II

    04:34

    World War II

    Stewart MacGregory on getting into radio in New York and the onset of World War II

    09:24

    Stewart MacGregory on his experiences in World War II

    08:25

    Stewart MacGregory on becoming a cryptograph specialist in World War II

    04:34

    Production Professionals

    Stewart MacGregory on how the advent of color affected his job as stage coordinator 

    03:51

    Stewart MacGregory on the technical aspects of being a unit manager on Wide Wide World

    05:32

    Stewart MacGregory on the difference between a unit manager and a production manager 

    01:53

    Stewart MacGregory on the duties of a stage coordinator 

    04:22

    Stage Manager

    Stewart MacGregory on how the advent of color affected his job as stage coordinator 

    03:51

    Stewart MacGregory on the duties of a stage coordinator 

    04:22

    Unit Production Manager

    Stewart MacGregory on the technical aspects of being a unit manager on Wide Wide World

    05:32

    Stewart MacGregory on the difference between a unit manager and a production manager 

    01:53

    Classic Anthology Series

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Kraft Television Theatre produced by David Susskind

    03:46

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre

    01:27

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

    06:59

    Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre and Martin Kane, Private Eye

    05:28

    Stewart MacGregory on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre

    03:32

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Bell Telephone Hour

    09:35

    Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Chevrolet on Broadway

    15:51

    Comedy Series

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for Saturday Night Live

    12:08

    Commercials

    Stewart MacGregory on live commercials for Kraft Television Theatre

    03:32

    Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Americana and Barney Blake, Police Reporter

    04:19

    Stewart MacGregory on acting as stage coordinator for Armstrong Circle Theatre and Martin Kane, Private Eye

    05:28

    Daytime/Primetime Serials

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for The Doctors

    02:15

    Game Shows

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Americana and Barney Blake, Police Reporter

    04:19

    Late Night

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar

    01:24

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

    04:31

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for Saturday Night Live

    12:08

    Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

    Stewart MacGregory on working with Perry Como on The Kraft Music Hall

    11:48

    News and Documentary

    Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager of Wide Wide World

    12:00

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

    06:21

    Stewart MacGregory on acting as unit manager for Wide Wide World

    11:49

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for Today

    11:45

    Sports

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager for the 1966 World Series

    02:36

    Talk Shows

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar

    01:24

    Stewart MacGregory on working with Jack Paar on The Jack Paar Program

    06:55

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

    04:31

    Ray Bolger

    Stewart MacGregory on Ray Bolger on The Bell Telephone Hour

    01:01

    Perry Como

    Stewart MacGregory on working with Perry Como on The Kraft Music Hall

    01:31

    Fielder Cook

    Stewart MacGregory on various people with whom he worked in his career: Fielder Cook

    00:30

    Gordon Duff

    Stewart MacGregory on various people with whom he worked in his career: Gordon Duff

    00:31

    Dave Garroway

    Stewart MacGregory on Dave Garroway, host of Wide Wide World

    01:23

    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

    10:17

    Delbert Mann

    Stewart MacGregory on various people with whom he worked in his career: Delbert Mann

    00:39

    Jack Paar

    Stewart MacGregory on being unit manager on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar

    01:24

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

    04:31

    Stewart MacGregory on working with Jack Paar on The Jack Paar Program

    06:55

    Ira Skutch

    Stewart MacGregory on various people with whom he worked in his career: Ira Skutch

    00:25

    Dick Smith

    Stewart MacGregory on various people with whom he worked in his career: Dick Smith

    00:53

    David Susskind

    Stewart MacGregory on being stage coordinator for Kraft Television Theatre produced by David Susskind

    03:46

    All Interviews

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