Newland's early career in show business began as a song-and-dance man with a vaudeville troupe, "The Vikings", known for their distinctive gold capes. He then transitioned to acting in stock with the Stuart Walker Company, followed by work on the New York stage alongside Milton Berle at the Roxy, Capitol, and Loew's State Theatres.
In addition to his stage work, Newland also acted in radio and toured nationally on the vaudeville circuit, performing in respected plays such as "The Petrified Forest". After serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Newland embarked on a short film career under contract to Warner Brothers, which unfortunately ended in an "immediate failure".
Undeterred, Newland turned his attention to directing early television and went on to create the paranormal anthology series "One Step Beyond" in 1959, which he also hosted in his distinctive voice and deadpan style. This series was a contemporary of "The Twilight Zone" and boasted high production values, with a respectable budget of $30,000 to $50,000 per episode. The show consistently featured good actors, including a young Warren Beatty, William Shatner, and Suzanne Pleshette.
Although an attempt to revive the franchise with "The Next Step Beyond" in 1978 failed to re-ignite public interest, Newland considered his work on "One Step Beyond" to be the highlight of his career. He continued to be in high demand as a television director, working on a variety of genres including soap opera, espionage, westerns, and cop shows, such as "Peyton Place", "The Man Who Never Was", "Daniel Boone", and "Police Woman".
Until the mid-1970s, Newland's sonorous voice also continued to be heard on radio's CBS Mystery Theater, solidifying his status as a versatile and respected figure in the entertainment industry.
