Sid Smith

Sidney Smith was a television director and producer whose career spanned half a century.

Smith got his start in the advertising business, which led to the opportunity to direct television commercials. He moved into programming in the era of live television on classic programs such as The Jimmy Durante Show, and went on to direct numerous acclaimed specials with icons such as Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny and Elizabeth Taylor. Smith also had a passion for jazz, and worked with many of the greats, including Lionel Hampton and Louis Armstrong.

In addition, Smith directed and produced the award-winning Bell Telephone Hour, featuring such classical artists as Rudolf Nureyev and Joan Sutherland. He received an Emmy nomination for the show in 1964.

His other credits included All Star Revue and The Colgate Comedy Hour, as well as newsworthy shows such as Wide Wide World, Bill Moyers' Journal and the groundbreaking VD Blues for PBS.

Smith also traveled the world doing Miss Universe and specials for Bob Hope, with whom he worked for nearly 20 years. He was gone so often and so long that his brother once remarked, "If Sid ever misses a plane, he'll be late for the rest of his life."

When he retired from the entertainment industry, Smith became a poet. Known for his wit and irreverent rhymes, he published a book of poems about financial folly, Money Funnies.

Smith died on January 13, 2015, at his home in Palm Springs, California. He was 93.