My first job at CBS was audio assist for Billy on the Cronkite News. I’d plug the mic in and test it during set up and then clip it on Walters tie after he sat down at the beginning of the show. Joe Schwartz and Dave Dorsett were the cameramen and during one of the commercial breaks Dave would have a move from one position to another and my job was to pick up Dave’s camera cable and move it along with Dave as he moved the camera. Then I’d break down the mic after the show. That was it. After about three weeks on the show when I went to put the mic on Walter who seemed like he was in a bad mood he spoke up really harshly to Arty Bloom who was directing and said, “Can the Director or Anyone in the control room hear me?” and Arty got on talk back and said “Yes, what do you need Walter?’ and Walter laid into him something fierce and said , “Isn’t anyone going to be polite enough to introduce me to this nice young man who’s been helping me with my mic for weeks now ?” and boy did everyone from Arty in the control room to Joe Schwarz and Lock Wallace the stage manager hop to and started apologizing to Walter who said ‘ don’t apologize to me, it’s this nice young man you need to apologize to ” after which Walter asked me my name and shook my hand and welcomed me to the show. Obviously a memory and moment in my career i will never forget.
Category: Binge
Mickey ,