James Wall
Stage Manager
About This Interview
James Wall (1917-2010) was interviewed for four-and-a-half hours in New York, NY. Wall candidly discussed 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 spoke 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. The interview was conducted by Michael Rosen on October 21, 1999.
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Chapters
- 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
- 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
- On being stage manager (from 1962 to 1968) on Captain Kangaroo; on playing Mr. Baxter on the series (from 1968 to 1980)
- Chapter 6
- On Captain Kangaroo; on stage-managing the series
- On the basic role of a stage manager for television
- Chapter 7
- On his role as a stage manager (cont.)
- On being a stage manager for CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite
- Chapter 8
- On news coverage; on CBS News' coverage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral
- On covering various news stories with Walter Cronkite including the space program, the 1968 political conventions
- 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
- On some photos illustrating his career
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