Frances Buss Buch
Encyclopedia
Frances Buss Buch was the first female television director
in the United States.
. In the early 1940s she relocated to New York City, where she had taken acting classes and appeared in some off-Broadway productions. In July 1941 she was hired by CBS for a temporary job as receptionist.
She transferred to the fledgling CBS Television two weeks after the Federal Communications Commission
allowed commercial TV broadcasts in 1941. With Gil Fates
as producer and host, she was scorekeeper on CBS Television Quiz
the earliest U.S. live television
game show
.
"I had seen TV at the World's Fair
, but I had no idea this existed in New York. CBS was a radio network," Buch told a reporter from the Asheville Citizen-Times
in 2008.
Along with CBS Television Quiz, she helped coordinate news coverage of the attack on Pearl Harbor
.
When TV broadcasts were suspended in 1942, Buch began producing and directing U.S. Navy training films. She returned to CBS in 1944 and was promoted to director in 1945.
In 1951 she directed Premiere, the first color TV broadcast in the United States. She also directed the first television talk show, Mike and Buff (1951–1953), which featured Mike Wallace
and his then-wife Buff Cobb.
In 1949 she married Bill Buch, whom she had met in Florida while making Navy training films. She resigned from CBS in 1954 to be a full-time homemaker.
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
in the United States.
Career
Buch grew up in St. Louis and attended Washington UniversityWashington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
. In the early 1940s she relocated to New York City, where she had taken acting classes and appeared in some off-Broadway productions. In July 1941 she was hired by CBS for a temporary job as receptionist.
She transferred to the fledgling CBS Television two weeks after the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
allowed commercial TV broadcasts in 1941. With Gil Fates
Gil Fates
Joseph Gilbert Fates was an American television producer.Nicknamed "Gil", Fates was the executive producer of What's My Line?. Fates produced the game show its entire quarter-century span of CBS and syndicated runs...
as producer and host, she was scorekeeper on CBS Television Quiz
CBS Television Quiz
CBS Television Quiz was the first live television game show ever to be broadcast regularly, running from July 2, 1941 to May 25, 1942 on the fledgling CBS Television network. Quiz was an in-house network production and broadcast in black and white...
the earliest U.S. live television
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
.
"I had seen TV at the World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
, but I had no idea this existed in New York. CBS was a radio network," Buch told a reporter from the Asheville Citizen-Times
Asheville Citizen-Times
The Asheville Citizen-Times is the major daily newspaper of Asheville, North Carolina. It was formed in 1991 as a result of a merger of the morning Asheville Citizen and the afternoon Asheville Times. It is owned by Gannett.-History:...
in 2008.
Along with CBS Television Quiz, she helped coordinate news coverage of the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
.
When TV broadcasts were suspended in 1942, Buch began producing and directing U.S. Navy training films. She returned to CBS in 1944 and was promoted to director in 1945.
In 1951 she directed Premiere, the first color TV broadcast in the United States. She also directed the first television talk show, Mike and Buff (1951–1953), which featured Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (journalist)
Myron Leon "Mike" Wallace is an American journalist, former game show host, actor and media personality. During his 60+ year career, he has interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers....
and his then-wife Buff Cobb.
In 1949 she married Bill Buch, whom she had met in Florida while making Navy training films. She resigned from CBS in 1954 to be a full-time homemaker.