James Sheldon

Director

"There were two systems. At NBC, directors could not talk directly to the cameramen. They're union and you had to tell the technical director, who then told the cameramen. I have a very loud voice, so when I told the technical director something, I wanted to be sure that everybody heard it! At CBS you talked directly to the cameraman.... I don't know if that still exists today, but that's where it was in all the years that I did live television."

About This Interview

James Sheldon was interviewed for three hours plus in New York, NY. Sheldon spoke about breaking into the business as an NBC page, and after a few years in advertising, turning his attentions to directing for television. He described his work on several shows from the 1950s including such diverse fare as: sitcom Mr. Peepers, daytime variety series The Eddie Albert Show, military anthology West Point Story, and drama The Millionaire. He also spoke in great detail about working with then-budding actor James Dean in two “live” television productions of Armstrong Circle Theater and Robert Montgomery Presents. He discussed his work on the anthology series The Twilight Zone, for which he directed such classic episodes as “It’s A Good Life” starring Billy Mumy. Other series he discussed included Family Affair and My Three Sons. The interview was conducted by Karen Herman on April 6, 2005.