Rita Gillespie; Trendsetting TV Director

Rita Gillespie, 65, one of the first women to direct live television, including the Beatles’ first special. She began her career in Britain as a production assistant for the BBC and was soon promoted to camera director for the rock ‘n’ roll television show “Oh, Boy.” After establishing herself as a director, she moved to the United States, where she became the first woman to direct a network variety show, “Shindig” on ABC. She developed basic techniques for shooting rock ‘n’ roll that have been widely followed for three decades. In the 1980s, Ms. Gillespie helped writer-producer Ronald M. Cohen create such programs as “American Dream,” “Call to Glory” and “Fortune Dane” for ABC and “The Exile” for CBS. During her years in Los Angeles, she also grew award-winning flowers and other plants. On May 28 in London of cancer.