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1-46 of 46
- Joe Keaton and wife Myra were grade-Z vaudeville performers in the early 1900s. Their son Buster joined the act when he was only a few months old. The act was a rough-and-tumble one, with Buster being thrown around on stage most of the time. As the years went by, Joe Keaton became an alcoholic, which forced Buster to quit the act by the time he was a teenager. However, after he hit it big in silent film, Buster provided Joe with small parts in several movies. Myra and Joe split up long after Buster had become an adult. She'd had it with the constant verbal and physical abuse Joe put her through. He lived alone in a Hollywood hotel for many years and was said to have stopped drinking after becoming a Christian Scientist. Buster said Joe died as a result of being run over by a passing car.
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Cinematographer
Michael Stone was born on 4 April 1949 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was a cinematographer, known for National Treasure (2004), In the Line of Fire (1993) and Dressed to Kill (1980). He died on 29 July 2005 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Alex Gerry was born on 6 October 1904 in Manhattan, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Funny Face (1957), The Bellboy (1960) and Back Street (1961). He was married to Toni Gerry. He died on 18 May 1993 in Ventura County, California, USA.
- Ruth Wells Brennan was born on 8 December 1897 in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA. She was married to Walter Brennan. She died on 12 January 1997 in Ventura County, California, USA.
- Makee K. Blaisdell was born on 15 November 1931 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. He was an actor, known for Johnny Lingo (1969), Star Trek (1966) and Mission: Impossible (1966). He died on 21 February 1988 in Ventura County, California, USA.
- John J. Fox was born on 24 April 1924 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor, known for Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), Night Gallery (1969) and Harlow (1965). He died on 9 November 1984 in Ventura County, California, USA.
- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Rene Daalder was born on 3 March 1944 in Texel, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. He was a writer and director, known for Hysteria (1997), Here Is Always Somewhere Else (2007) and Population: 1 (1986). He died on 31 December 2019 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Cliff Nazarro was born on 31 January 1904 in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. He was an actor, known for Forged Passport (1939), Ding Dong Williams (1946) and Hillbilly Blitzkrieg (1942). He died on 18 February 1961 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Stunts
- Actor
- Producer
Chris Carnel was born on 26 August 1963. He was an actor and producer, known for Iron Man (2008), Ford v Ferrari (2019) and The Island (2005). He died on 4 October 2020 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Franklin Adreon was born on 18 November 1902 in Gambrills, Maryland, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Panther Girl of the Kongo (1955), Cyborg 2087 (1966) and King of the Carnival (1955). He died on 10 September 1979 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Animation Department
- Director
- Art Department
Gerry Chiniquy was born on 23 June 1912 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He was a director, known for Muppet Babies (1984), Baggy Pants & the Nitwits (1977) and The Super 6 (1966). He was married to Olve Lee Bailey. He died on 22 November 1989 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Ruth Brennan was born on 22 September 1924 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for California Passage (1950), Oh! Susanna (1951) and Schlitz Playhouse (1951). She was married to Dixon Lademan. She died on 27 October 2004 in Ventura County, California, USA.
- Writer
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Harold Shumate was born on 7 September 1893 in Austin, Texas, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Escape by Night (1937), The Love Trader (1930) and The River Woman (1928). He died on 5 August 1983 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Bill Severn spent his brief career at MGM as a child actor, known as Little Billy Severn. His brother Christopher was also a child actor. As an adult, he was a world-known evangelist, based in Ventura, California. His ministry took him and his family to far-flung places such as Indonesia during the 1965 revolution, Israel, the UK and also every corner of the USA by way of the Trinity Broadcasting Network. He was a devoted husband and father. He was in the midst of a busy schedule in 1983 when he died suddenly - he was exercising in his weight room when he was stricken by a massive heart attack. This was a dreadful shock because he seemed to be the in the peak of health. He was only 45 years old. He was laid to rest in Pierce Brothers-Valley Oaks Memorial Park, in Westlake Village, California, beside his mother.
- John Gruber was born on 19 December 1942 in Oklahoma, USA. He was an actor, known for Emergency! (1972), Corky (1972) and Trouble Man (1972). He died on 24 November 1981 in Ventura County, California, USA.
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Frederick Hazlitt Brennan was born on September 23, 1901 in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Jesse K. (1865-1936) and Mary Sharpe Brennan. His father and brother (Jesse K. Jr.) were Episcopalian ministers. Brennan attended the University of Missouri, but left after a couple years to work for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, where he became a rewrite man and political reporter. In 1923 he began working as a movie critic, feature and editorial writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. While at the Post-Dispatch Brennan wrote an expose on a murder investigation that led to indictments against a circuit attorney, an assistant prosecutor, four lawyers and an attaché of the district attorney's office. His story also played a part in the defeat in the next general election of the judge responsible for the case and the governor Missouri.
After leaving the newspaper business in the late 1920s Brennan began working as a scenario writer for Metro Golden Mayer, Fox Films and First National Films and as a free-lance fiction writer, contributing stories to such magazine as Liberty, Collier's, Red Book, Saturday Evening Post, Cosmopolitan and others. In the 1950s he began writing for television, eventually becoming chief writer on the ABC series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955).
A few examples of works by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan include: "God Got One Vote" (1927), "The Matron's Report" (1929), "Pie in the Sky" (1931), "Battleship Gertie" (1934), "One Young American" (1937),"The Sin of the Father" (1941), "The Manager" (1936), "They Sell Sailors Elephants" (1941), "The Wookey" (1941), "Memo to a Firing Squad" (1943), "Smith's Life of Jones" (1949), "The Irish Lullaby" (1950) and "One of Our H-bombs is Missing" (1955). In 1948 Brennan wrote the libretto to Brazilian composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos' operetta Magdalena
In 1937, Brennan was seriously injured in an automobile accident that occurred on New Year's eve near Wickeburg, Arizona. Two others died in the collision and his wife received severe cuts and bruises. Brennan and his wife were released from a Phoenix area hospital after a 30 day stay to recuperate at home.
Frederick Hazlitt Brennan chose to end his life on June 30, 1962, at his Hidden Valley home with a .38 caliber revolver. Depression over his diabetes, a recent heart attack and work stress were thought to have been contributing factors. Brennan was credited with coining the word ergophobia to describe an abnormal and persistent fear of work. He was survived by his wife and three children.- Rear Admiral George Henry Strohsahl, Jr. (May 24, 1937 - May 22, 2011) was a highly-decorated Navy strike fighter and test pilot who flew missions in Vietnam. He portrayed the USS Nimitz's Air Boss, a position he actually held, in the 1980 film The Final Countdown starring Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen.
Spending 35 years in the Navy, Strohsahl distinguished himself as an outstanding fighter and test pilot. A 1959 honors graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he flew in the Vietnam conflict and commanded A-4 and A-6 squadrons from both Atlantic and Pacific fleets. He made more than 500 arrested landings on 11 different aircraft carriers, and at one point, he was the air officer aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68). He amassed more than 4,300 flight hours during his Navy career.
He flew both the A-6 and the F/A-18 Hornet in a variety of test projects and initiated development of a night attack version of the Hornet.
In his first flag assignment as program director of Tactical Aircraft Programs for Naval Air Systems Command, Strohsahl coordinated the management of all Navy tactical aircraft programs. As the program manager of the F/A-18 Naval Strike Fighter, Strohsahl was responsible for managing the acquisition and initial support of 1,377 strike fighters valued at more than $40 billion, the largest nonstrategic procurement program in the Navy. He was also responsible for procuring F/A-18 aircraft for the air forces of Australia and Spain, and he supported the Canadian F/A-18 procurement program.
He spent two years as commander of Pacific Missile Test Center at Point Mugu, California, before returning to Naval Air Systems Command, where he served as vice commander. He assumed command of the Naval Air Warfare Center in January 1992.
After retiring from active duty in 1994, Strohsahl was executive manager of the Joint Strike Fighter Program for Boeing in Seattle before returning to Ventura County. In his retirement, a key proponent of Naval Base Ventura County who is credited with saving thousands of jobs at Point Mugu during the second round of base realignments and closures in 2005. He died of cancer in 2011. - Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Robert Franklyn was born on 30 April 1918 in New Jersey, USA. He was a composer, known for My Fair Lady (1964), Them! (1954) and Porgy and Bess (1959). He died on 5 November 1980 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Actor
- Soundtrack
The mute male member of the popular musical comedy hillbilly trio "The Weaver Brothers and Elviry," Frank was known as "Cicero" and, similar to Harpo Marx's act, performed silently on stage via pantomime, gesturing and whistling while the other two provided active voices.
Born on February 2, 1891, in Ozark, Missouri, Frank was raised on a farm, and was inspired by older brother Leon Weaver to leave farm living and venture into a life of entertainment. Their parents, always musically inclined, encouraged the brothers and they grew up becoming efficient on several home-made instruments. After Leon struck out on his own and earned a place as part of the Doctor A.B. Christy's Traveling Medicine Show, Frank eventually joined the shows as well. In these medicine show performances, the actors were often utilized to sell "cure-all elixirs".
Frank left the medicine show circuit after WWI broke out and he served in the military. He rejoined his older brother in 1921 and they worked up "The Weaver Brothers" act, which was discovered by Alexander Pantages, who signed them up. Out on the vaudeville circuit, they gained a name and eventually Leon's wife, June joined the act as "The Weaver Brothers and Elviry" and the hayseed trio subsequently rose to the top at the Grand Ole Opry and in various theater halls. They also found audiences abroad in Europe, and one of their tours culminated in a command performance for the Queen of England.
Leon and June's marriage broke up after nine years and they divorced. Surprisingly, younger brother Frank and June fell in love and married. This fortunately did not hurt the trio's reputation, however, and the trio remained in tact and amicable. At their peak, "The Weaver Brothers and Elviry" shared billing with such top acts as Al Jolson, Beatrice Lillie, Jack Benny and George Burns and Gracie Allen.
Warner Brothers decided to parlay their Grand Ole Opry fame to film and the cornpone trio first appeared in support opposite none other than Humphrey Bogart, Penny Singleton and Louise Fazenda in Swing Your Lady (1938). Republic Studios moved in quickly to feature the group in their own money-making song-and-dance comedy vehicles for the next several years. Down in 'Arkansaw' (1938) with Ralph Byrd, Jeepers Creepers (1939) with Roy Rogers, In Old Missouri (1940), Grand Ole Opry (1940), Tuxedo Junction (1941), Shepherd of the Ozarks (1942), The Old Homestead (1942) and Mountain Rhythm (1943) were not very popular with the critics, but war-era film audiences nevertheless enjoyed the hokey escapism they provided with their silly but folksy homespun gags and musical talents on prime display. A niece, Loretta Weaver often appeared in their films as the ingénue, Violey. Due to the Weavers' success, Republic went on to star country star Judy Canova in her own raucous, hayseed starrers.
Missing the live audience feel that films didn't provide, the trio left Hollywood by 1943 and returned to their stage roots back in the Mid-West (notably Missouri). Following Leon's death in 1950, Frank and June returned to Los Angeles. He died in 1967.- Writer
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Sidney Morse was born on 29 May 1920 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Sidney was a writer and producer, known for The Veil (1958), The Doris Day Show (1968) and Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers (1956). Sidney died on 30 November 2003 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Cinematographer
- Visual Effects
- Special Effects
Frank D. Williams was born on 21 March 1893 in Nashville, Missouri, USA. He was a cinematographer, known for An Arabian Knight (1920), Queen of the Sea (1918) and The Dragon Painter (1919). He was married to Mildred E. Hansen and Porter Lee. He died on 16 October 1961 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Sound Department
Mick D'Andrea was born on 13 May 1952 in California, USA. He is known for Masters of the Universe (1987), Ghostbusters II (1989) and Monkey Shines (1988). He died on 3 November 1996 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Writer
- Additional Crew
- Animation Department
Cliff Roberts was born on 14 April 1929 in Pennsylvania, USA. He was a writer, known for Baggy Pants & the Nitwits (1977), Drak Pack (1980) and Lucky Luke (1983). He died on 10 April 1999 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Carroll Case was born on 18 February 1908 in New York City, New York, USA. Carroll was a producer, known for Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970), The Magnificent Matador (1955) and Billy the Kid Versus Dracula (1966). Carroll was married to Josephine Dunn. Carroll died on 2 January 1978 in Ventura County, California, USA.
- Born in New York City, New York, USA; Wilson was raised in Santa Paula, where her parents ran a fabric store. Wilson left the area to study art at UC Berkeley and then architecture at USC. An architect since the 1940s. Her marriage to filmmaker Michael Wilson and the birth of their two daughters required her to take a few breaks from her architecture practice. When Michael was blacklisted in 1952 after co-producing a film about New Mexico zinc miners, Zelma took a leave from architecture during the couples' self-imposed exile in France. In France, Zelma studied sculpting at L'Ecole de Beaux Arts in Paris. When she returned from France, she settled with her family in Ojai, Ventura County, California, USA in the mid-1960s. Architecture once again garnered much of her attention. She opened her office, where she designed churches, schools, libraries, day-care centers, a shopping center and public buildings. Many of her designs won awards. Her design for Creek Road Bridge, Oak Grove Elementary and Secondary schools, and a new building for Saint Andrews Episcopal all won commendations. A member of dozens of architecture and civic boards and commissions, Wilson's battle with emphysema during the past 10 years seemed not to have slowed her down.