Lela Swift, 96: TV director

[Linnie]

Lela Swift, whose TV career began in the secretarial pool shortly after WWII, evolved into directing during the 1950s, and had her greatest successes starting in what we now (apparently) would call the "Mad Men" era, has died at age 96. Ms. Swift enjoyed a multi-decade career in a profession mostly dominated by males, then and now-- indeed for years, was the ONLY female director working in TV.

Beginning at WCBS (during which period she also married and started her family of 2 sons) Ms. Swift slowly climbed the career ladder, making it to assistant director but then being stalled and discouraged. However, by the end of the 1950s, she had directed numerous episodes for drama anthologies, including an episode featuring the young beginner James Dean-- an encounter that both would remember with mutual respect.

Eventually, she worked on documentaries and public-affairs programs; she won her first Emmy for "The Purex Specials For Women." In 1966, she began an association with Dan Curtis, who was launching his gothic/suspense/(and later) horror serial DARK SHADOWS on rival network WABC. MS. Swift directed 580 of the 1245 episodes, and was to mentor producer Curtis as director of his own soap opera, to prepare him for his first foray into movie direction, HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS. The efforts would later pay off hugely when Curtis produced and directed his epic pair of miniseries, WINDS OF WAR and WAR AND REMEMBRANCE.

In the final seasons of DS, Ms. Swift also became a producer of the show.

Ms. Swift went on to direct some other Curtis productions, then went on to an Emmy-winning 14-year directing stint on RYAN'S HOPE (825+ episodes), until she retired in 1989.

At the time of her death, Ms. Swift was residing in Santa Monica, CA. She is survived by her brother, her 2 sons, their wives, and 5 grandchildren.

http://www.collinsporthistoricalsoci...ll-you-it.html

http://www.welovesoaps.net/2015/08/r...-director.html

http://www.themarysue.com/pioneering...t-passed-away/

http://www.shemadeit.org/meet/biography.aspx?m=55

http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/lela-swift-pioneering-director-ryans-hope-dead-96-1201556990/