- In 1911 he made the first wireless news report using equipment he designed.
- In 1913 he made wireless news reports to The Los Angeles Times on the Mexican revolution.
- He taught himself the fundamentals of cinematography using a borrowed movie camera.
- He developed a variable diffusion system which was bought by the Mitchell Camera Company.
- He developed a composite printing system that was purchased by the Williams Process Company.
- He developed the Electra-Zoom lens which was sold to RCA and the Zeiss Optical Corporation.
- During World War II, he developed cryptographic and aerial equipment.
- He designed and built wide angle lenses for the Todd-AO system.
- He was Frank Capra's favorite DP and shot 18 of his films.
- On his 84th birthday, he was inducted into the Motion Picture Hall of Fame for "outstanding contributions in the art of making motion pictures."
- The Board of Governors of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences chose him as the first recipient of the Gordon Sawyer Award for "numerous important contributions for the advancement of the motion picture industry.
- Member of A.S.C. (American Society of Cinematographers).
- Prior to becoming a cinematographer, he had a career in electronics. Throughout his life he became known as a brilliant inventor and innovator.
- His family moved to Venice, California in 1910. He became an assistant to Dr. Lee De Forest.
- In 1912 he built the first wireless transmitters for airplanes and automobiles.
- In 1914 he began his film career with a days work on a picture. This led to shooting newsreels for Gaumont News, Kinograms and Hearst-Selig News.
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