Jimmy Hirschfeld
1951

Broadcast Pioneers member Jimmy Hirschfeld worked at WCAU-TV, Channel 10 in Philadelphia in the fifties, sixties and seventies - from 1951 to 1973. Among other things, he was an Assistant Director/Stagehand on "Action in the Afternoon" which originated out of Channel 10 and was broadcast live on the CBS Television Network. He became Bill Bode's right-hand man (Bill was one of the show's directors) right out of college.

In 1954, he became a staff director working with the legendary John Facenda. Later, he was the producer/director for the ever-popular "Shock Theater" which starred Broadcast Pioneers member John Zacherle as "Roland." For years, Hirschfeld was also the director on Gene London's programs and Jane Norman's "Pixanne" telecasts. Plus, he worked on many of the WCAU-TV documentaries.

Jimmy Hirschfeld
August 2013

He also did the annual "Philadelphia Orchestra Concerts" and from 1960 to 1980 did NFL Football for CBS, owner at that time of WCAU-TV. Jimmy was also the director of the Philadelphia segments of the "CBS Thanksgiving Parade" from 1959 to 1979.

In 1967, the station named Jimmy Hirschfeld Program Manager and Executive Producer. In 1971, he became the station's Program Director. 1973 Jimmy leave Philly to move to the Big Apple where he was the producer of CBS-TV's "Captain Kangaroo" until 1978.

During 1978 and 1979, he was based in Los Angeles for CBS-TV as the producer of the "Mary Tyler Moore Comedy Hour." Then he became the director of "Bill Cosby's Picturepages" for CBS-TV.

(Left to right) Jimmy Hirschfeld, Jane "Pixanne" Norman, Paul Big Bear & Gene London
The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Luncheon
Wednesday, October 17, 2007

1981 saw Jimmy return to the "Captain Kangaroo" broadcast as "Director" and "Executive Producer" for both CBS-TV and PBS.

Hirschfeld has won many awards including 3 National Emmys for Captain Kangaroo (1978, 1983 and 1984). He also won the Gold Award International Film and TV Festival in 1981 for "Picturepages."

On Friday evening, November 22, 2013, Jimmy Hirschfeld was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia's "Hall of Fame."

From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
1951 Photo originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Jimmy Hirschfeld
2007 Photo originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Gerry Wilkinson
2013 Photo originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Jimmy Hirschfeld
Bio written by Broadcast Pioneers member Gerry Wilkinson
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