Garry Simpson papers

1930-1979

Garry Simpson (1914-2011) was an American television producer, director, and screenwriter for more than thirty-five years.

Simpson was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on February 16, 1914, and grew up in San Jose, California. He served in the National Guard for three years after graduating from high school in 1932. In 1938 Simpson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and drama from Stanford University. He acted in summer stock in San Francisco before accepting a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Simpson declined an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in order to accept the scholarship and moved to New York City in 1938.

Simpson worked as an actor and director's assistant with the Old Globe Theatre Company at the New York World's Fair in 1939. While there, he frequently attended television technology demonstrations hosted by the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and their parent company, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). After the Fair ended, Simpson was hired by RCA as an announcer and director for closed-circuit experimental television programs. In this role, he toured the country in order to educate the public about new technologies in television. Simpson was then promoted to stage manager at NBC, the first person in the company to hold that position.

As stage manager, Simpson worked on every show produced by the studio, including the Mobile Unit Programs. Some of his directing credits include Mary Kay and Johnny (1947-1950), Eye Witness (1953), and Wide Wide World (1955-1958). Throughout his career, Simpson also wrote and produced commercials for Lucky Strike, Bell Telephone, Jell-O, and others; directed anthology shows including The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre (1948-1950) and Campbell's Soundstage (1953-1954); and live broadcasts, including the first televised heavyweight boxing match, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Heisman Trophy Awards.

At the end of 1958, NBC fired most of their directing staff, including Simpson. He remained in New York City and and joined WPIX Education Television, where he produced shows in a variety of subject areas including science, math, music, and fine arts. He then joined N.W. Ayer & Son (1962-1966) and also produced television commercials and industrial films with the United States Army Signal Corps Pictorial Center.

In 1968, Simpson moved to Vermont to spearhead the formation and development of the Vermont Educational Television Station (now Vermont Public). While serving as Director of Programming, he wrote, produced, and directed shows, including Portrait of America: The Art of Currier and Ives (1978); Talisman Barra (1970); and The 14th Star (1977). Simpson retired in 1980.

Simpson was a three-time Emmy Award recipient from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and was a member of the Director's Guild of America and the Actor's Equity Association.

Garry Simpson died in his Middlebury, Vermont, home on November 19, 2011.