 His career as an art director started in television, beginning with NBC's "Matinee Theatre" and moving on to such programs as "Gomer Pyle, USMC" and "The Andy Griffith Show".He would go on to serve as art director on several films, and also began working as production designer with the 1971 Cannes Film Festival Jury Grand Prize-winning film "Johnny Got His Gun", all the while continuing his career as an illustrator and storyboard artist.Michelson worked on two films for Mel Brooks, first as production designer on "History of the World, Part I" and later as art director for "Spaceballs".