History |
|||||
|
Burton's career in TV included 2 Emmys |
|||||
By KELLY WELLS
|
|
Rita
Burton
A self-proclaimed workaholic, Burton spent 26 years in Los Angeles, starting out as a temporary employee at CBS before being promoted through the ranks. She later worked for Carsey-Werner Co.
Burton died Friday of cervical cancer. She was 57.
Numerous milestones punctuated her career, including becoming the first woman to work in the industry as a production supervisor, unit manager and director of production management services. She later was the first female vice president and general manager of a production facility.
"I always knew I wanted more than a job. I wanted to make a career. I was willing to start at the bottom, and I knew I could work my way up," she said in a 1999 Journal Sentinel interview. "My family taught me that whatever I wanted to do, I could. I'd just have to work hard at it."
She knew countless celebrities, flew aboard Bill Cosby's private jet, used the same accountant as Madonna and Candice Bergen and was introduced around town by Steve McQueen. Not bad for a girl from Port Washington who once said that when she made $35,000 a year, she'd retire, "because she thought that was the ultimate," said her niece, Deb DuFour.
Burton attended Port Washington High School, where she was a cheerleader, homecoming queen and yearbook editor besides being active in the Latin, French, drama, debate, forensics, ski, science, newspaper and athletic clubs. After high school, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in speech, radio, television and film.
She started with $400
Burton left for California after college with only $400. That year, she got an entry-level job at CBS.
In 1972, she was promoted to production supervisor at CBS Television City. Her first assignment was the game show "The Price Is Right," which was new at the time.
As production supervisor, she oversaw game shows, situation comedies, variety shows and specials. She worked on "The Lily Tomlin Special" and "The AFI Salute to James Cagney," both of which won Emmys, and "The 27th Annual Emmy Awards Show," according to a profile she created when she was added to her high school's alumni Wall of Fame in 1999.
Burton was promoted to manager of program production services three years after becoming the first female production supervisor for a network. Two years later, she was named director of program production services.
Burton moved back to the network's Studio Center in 1981 as director of production services. The next year, after CBS teamed up with 20th Century Fox, she was promoted to vice president and general manager of the CBS/Fox Studios, according to her profile. She was the first woman in her industry to hold the title.
She stayed until 1991. In those 10 years, the facility was home to dozens of projects, including the TV shows "WKRP in Cincinnati," "The Twilight Zone," "Hill Street Blues," "Seinfeld," "Roseanne" and "Falcon Crest" and the films "The Addams Family" and "Father of the Bride."
Burton went to work for Carsey-Werner, now Carsey-Werner-Mandabach, as vice president of production in 1991, becoming senior vice president within a year, she said in her profile. Before retiring in 1994, she managed more than eight TV shows, including "Roseanne," "The Cosby Show," "You Bet Your Life," "A Different World" and "Grace Under Fire."
After retirement, Burton returned to Wisconsin, moving to Wolf Lake in 1995 and later working part time for the Port Washington-Saukville School District. She loved to spend time with her four great-nieces and great-nephews, DuFour said, describing Burton as "really just a very generous and courageous person."
Burton is also survived by her mother, Mabel Burton, and sister, Sue Croatt, both of Port Washington, and brothers Michael Burton of Los Angeles and and Harry Burton of Williamsburg, Va.
Visitation is from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Poole Funeral Home, 203 N. Wisconsin St., Port Washington, with a Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 430 N. Johnson St., Port Washington, following at 7 p.m.
