Biography

In the Spring of 1968, Jim designed one of Andy Williams Specials "Kaleidoscope and Company" (air date 4-28-1968) with guests Simon and Garfunkel, Ray Charles, Cass Elliot, and Burt Bacharach with an orchestra background set. The idea for the specials' title was Jim's concept for Andy William's solo opening. Andy walking in a mirrored Kaleidoscope singing his favorite medleys. Each segment was transformed into a different kaleidoscope image. The first set was a 8' x 8' mirrored square box. The second set was a 10' x 10' mirrored triangle. The third set was another 8' x 8' mirrored box with a mirrored back wall and a double reflective front mirror. The preceding set units were open in the front and back. This last box was a real kaleidoscope reflection. The camera lens shot through (reduced in scale and size) mirrored camera port box/triangular units reflecting Andy's full figure pose with no head shot inserts. The show opening and closing graphics imitated the kaleidoscope images. Cass Malloy performed on a super-sized 6' high x 24' diameter drum, matching her flamboyant full figure's floral psychedelic print gown. Burt Bacharach, seated at a black concert grand piano, with a full orchestra behind him. His set was a circular silver mirror framed portal in white with black detailed trim. Visually, the sets were spectacularly stunning.

Jim Trittipo was friends with the Swedish actress Signe Hasso.

Set design and art director of "The Guy Mitchell Variety Show" and "The Ernie Kovaks Comedy Show" broadcast by ABC-TV. Jim Trittipo did not like to treat his set design realistically, preferring to paint his sets an off white treatment, and using a sawdust mixed into the white paint for a texture treatment, again in the toned down white paint treatment. Jim had started painting his sets white when he was designing theater and ABC television productions in New York. This became his design style which producers acknowledged. But this "style" treatment backfired on the Kovaks show. The set of assorted street facade's, painted white, loaded into the studio stage. When Kovaks saw the white set, he yelled for his art director. Trittipo had flown up to San Francisco where he was designing a musical for Paul Gregory. Ed Habit, in charge of ABC Scenic Service brought a scenic artist crew onto the stage, repainting the street in realistic colors, satisfying Kovaks. Upon Jim's return to Hollywood he learned he had been fired.

Stagehands, painters and carpenters gave Jim Trittipo a nick-name, Tippy Toes! Because as he would stride into the mill, carpenter and paint shop, or into a stage, his 6'2" body frame would "bob" up in the air.

From 1964 through 1971 during the production of "The Hollywood Palace" - Jim was extremely inventive and creative designing scenic backgrounds. His "design look" initially was for his scenery being painted an overall tech shadow white, without any color. Jack Denton, the lighting director, would "gel" his stage Fresnel's to paint the scenery with color. When ABC engaged the color camera for 1966, Nick Vaniff informed Jim that the Network wanted painted colorful sets! No more white scenery. Surprisingly, Jim was not really comfortable painting sets in color. Experimenting, he was gradually able to utilize color with a greater design competence. Relying on a performer's costume color, his sense of color design combined a range of shades to complement the performer. When he designed for the stage, he had a better color sense in painting his scenery.