Jimmy Hirschfeld (born January 9, 1929) is a television director and
producer known for his work on Captain Kangaroo and Picture Pages.In
1951, Hirschfeld took a job as a stagehand with WCAU-TV under Bill
Bode where he eventually worked his way up Assistant Director. In
1954, he became a staff director (under John Facenda) and then
producer and director for the "Shock Theater" which starred John
Zacherle. Hirschfeld was also the director of numerous WCAU-TV
documentaries and for shows produced by Gene London and Jane Norman's
Pixanne telecasts. He directed various shows during his career
including the Philadelphia segments of the CBS Thanksgiving Parade
(1959 to 1979); the annual Philadelphia Orchestra Concerts series
(1960 to 1989) and; NFL Football broadcasts for CBS (which owned
WCAU-TV at the time) from 1960 to 1980. In 1967, WCAU-TV named him
Program Manager and Executive Producer; and in 1971, he was named
Program Director. In 1973, he moved to New York City where he was the
producer of CBS-TV's Captain Kangaroo. In 1978, he moved to Los
Angeles where he worked for CBS-TV as the producer of the Mary Tyler
Moore Comedy Hour. In 1979, he became the director of "Bill Cosby's
Picturepages also for CBS-TV; and in 1981, he returned to Captain
Kangaroo serving as Director and Executive Producer for CBS-TV and
then PBS.Hirschfeld has won 3 Emmy Awards for Captain Kangaroo (1978,
1983, and 1984); and won the 1981 Gold Award at the International Film
and TV Festival for "Picturepages." On November 22, 2013, he was
inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia's "Hall of
Fame."Hirschfeld was married to Janet Susan Rubner at Rodeph Shalom
Synagogue in Philadelphia; their daughter is CNN political analyst
Julie Hirschfeld Davis. His wife died in 1998.
producer known for his work on Captain Kangaroo and Picture Pages.In
1951, Hirschfeld took a job as a stagehand with WCAU-TV under Bill
Bode where he eventually worked his way up Assistant Director. In
1954, he became a staff director (under John Facenda) and then
producer and director for the "Shock Theater" which starred John
Zacherle. Hirschfeld was also the director of numerous WCAU-TV
documentaries and for shows produced by Gene London and Jane Norman's
Pixanne telecasts. He directed various shows during his career
including the Philadelphia segments of the CBS Thanksgiving Parade
(1959 to 1979); the annual Philadelphia Orchestra Concerts series
(1960 to 1989) and; NFL Football broadcasts for CBS (which owned
WCAU-TV at the time) from 1960 to 1980. In 1967, WCAU-TV named him
Program Manager and Executive Producer; and in 1971, he was named
Program Director. In 1973, he moved to New York City where he was the
producer of CBS-TV's Captain Kangaroo. In 1978, he moved to Los
Angeles where he worked for CBS-TV as the producer of the Mary Tyler
Moore Comedy Hour. In 1979, he became the director of "Bill Cosby's
Picturepages also for CBS-TV; and in 1981, he returned to Captain
Kangaroo serving as Director and Executive Producer for CBS-TV and
then PBS.Hirschfeld has won 3 Emmy Awards for Captain Kangaroo (1978,
1983, and 1984); and won the 1981 Gold Award at the International Film
and TV Festival for "Picturepages." On November 22, 2013, he was
inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia's "Hall of
Fame."Hirschfeld was married to Janet Susan Rubner at Rodeph Shalom
Synagogue in Philadelphia; their daughter is CNN political analyst
Julie Hirschfeld Davis. His wife died in 1998.
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