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1-41 of 41
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Candy Johnson was born on 8 February 1944 in San Gabriel, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Pajama Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964) and Muscle Beach Party (1964). She died on 20 October 2012 in Corona, California, USA.- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
This old codger film favorite, born in 1869 (some reports say 1875), got into the entertainment field at an early age, first as a circus performer (aerialist and trapeze artist). When acting sparked his interest, he worked in a series of stock companies while writing stage plays that he himself could star in. He married actress Anna Chance around the turn of the century, and they remained a devoted couple until her death 47 years later. They had no children. Charley came into his own in films at the ripe old age of 60 as the ultimate humorous, toothless character in a range of films with rustic settings. Notable movies include The Petrified Forest (1936) with Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart, The Good Earth (1937) with Paul Muni and Luise Rainer, and They Died with Their Boots On (1941) with Errol Flynn. However, his best-remembered parts were as huggable Uncle Henry in the classic The Wizard of Oz (1939), ornery Grandpa Joad, who refused to leave the homestead in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Inspector Queen in the Ellery Queen whodunits that ran from 1940 through 1942, and the amiable ne'er-do-well Jeeter Lester in Tobacco Road (1941). A soft, humorous presence who seemed frail around the edges, he was a thorough delight, his folksy presence gracing over 100 films. He died in 1956.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Nan Peterson was born on 7 July 1931 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She was an actress, known for The Hideous Sun Demon (1958), Shotgun Wedding (1963) and The Twilight Zone (1959). She was married to Dr. James Clifford Doyle and James Edwin Moore. She died on 15 August 2023 in Corona del Mar, California, USA.- Animation Department
- Director
- Writer
Starting as a cel washer, Chuck Jones worked his way up to animator and then director at the animation division of Warner Bros. He is famous for creating such beloved cartoon characters as Wile E. Coyote, Henery Hawk, Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, Ralph Wolf, Road Runner, Sam Sheepdog, Sniffles, and many others, as well as adding to the development of Warner favorites such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and countless others.
His most famous cartoons tend to have been created with writer Michael Maltese. Jones' autobiography, published by Simon & Schuster "Chuck Amuck"--a pun on his Daffy Duck short Duck Amuck (1953)--gives a very amusing account of his life. It is liberally sprinkled with hundreds of cartoons with some color plates.- Kane Richmond was born on 23 December 1906 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He was an actor, known for The Lost City (1935), Spy Smasher (1942) and Brick Bradford (1947). He was married to Marion Burns. He died on 22 March 1973 in Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach, California, USA.
- Walter Janovitz was born on 18 January 1913 in Teplitz-Schönau, Austria-Hungary [now Teplice, Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for The Jazz Singer (1980), Hogan's Heroes (1965) and Burke's Law (1963). He died on 27 May 1997 in Corona, California, USA.
- Richard Genelle was born on 12 October 1961 in New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993) and Power Rangers Zeo (1996). He was married to Rosa Isela Sanchez. He died on 30 December 2008 in Corona, California, USA.
- Actress
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Virginia Davis was born on December 31, 1918, in Kansas City, Missouri. Her father was a traveling furniture salesman and spent much time away from home. With her husband gone for weeks at a time, Margaret Davis, a housewife, focused all her attention on her daughter; she began taking Virginia to dancing lessons and modeling auditions when she was 2. A striking child with long curls, Virginia was soon appearing in advertisements that played between films in local theaters. She also entered Georgie Brown's Dramatic School in Kansas City, where she studied drama and dance. In the summer of 1923, 22-year-old Walt Disney, a struggling but ambitious director, saw Virginia in an advertisement in a Kansas City theater and immediately decided to hire her. He quickly contacted Margaret Davis, who was eager to advance her Virginia's career. Alice's Wonderland (1923), the first short film of the Alice series, was filmed at the Davis home in Kansas City; both Margaret Davis and Walt Disney made brief appearances (which marked Disney's first live appearance in one of his own cartoons). After filming, Disney returned to Hollywood and began to build his movie empire with only forty dollars and one short film starring little Virginia Davis. The Davis family soon followed Disney to Hollywood, although their daughter's career was not the only reason for the move; Virginia had suffered a pneumonia and other health problems, and her doctor told her parents that she would be healthier in a drier, warmer climate. Virginia signed her first contract with Disney for a salary of $100 a month, and she began filming the Alice shorts in Walt Disney's first studio, his uncle's garage. His brother Roy O. Disney was the cameraman, and the Disney family dog Peggy appeared in many of the films. The Alice shorts became very popular, providing Disney with his first national success. But as the series progressed, Disney became more interested in the animation aspect, which minimized Virginia's live-action role; she only made about thirteen of the Alice shorts before her contract was severed. She later auditioned for the role of voice of Snow White in Disney's film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), but she didn't get the role because her mother refused to accept the frugal salary. Virginia had some small roles in full-length films, including The Harvey Girls (1946), before she left acting to earn a degree from the New York School of Interior Design. She later became an editor for the 1950s magazine "Living for Young Homemakers," and in the 1960s, she began working for real estate agents in Connecticut and later California. In 1992, interest was renewed in the Alice series. Living in retirement in Montana, Virginia was suddenly overwhelmed by the number of fans seeking to honor her and the remarkable role she played in the birth of Walt Disney Studios. She was the guest of honor at the Pordonone Silent Film Festival in Italy in 1992, and she was inducted as a Disney Legend in 1998. Virginia also became very active in silent film festivals and events at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.- Drue Leyton was born on 12 June 1903 in Somers, Wisconsin, USA. She was an actress, known for Charlie Chan in London (1934), Blackmailer (1936) and Alibi for Murder (1936). She was married to Jacques Terrane. She died on 8 February 1997 in Corona Del Mar, California, USA.
- Brick Huston was an actor, known for Mannix (1967), The Streets of San Francisco (1972) and Police Story (1973). He was married to Lynne Marta. He died on 20 August 2018 in Corona Del Mar, California, USA.
- Chris Spotz was born on 29 June 1984. He was an actor, known for Pickman's Model (2015), Silent and Forgotten (2018) and Statues (2018). He died on 22 March 2018 in Corona, California, USA.
- Actress
Born Christine Mae in Chickasha, Oklahoma, to Tip and Orrie Gossett and the last surviving and youngest of three children. She had two brothers, William Thomas Gossett of Birmingham, MI and Wayne I. Gossett of Rancho Santa Fe, California. Mr. and Mrs. Gossett owned and operated hotels in Oklahoma and then in Salt Lake City, Utah. A beautiful woman, aspiring to be an actress, Gossett moved with her family to Salt Lake City, and attended the University of Utah but, after moving to Hollywood, California, eventually found herself under contract to 20th Century Fox Studios where she met her future husband of 55 years and became Mrs. Leon Ames in 1938. Christine Ames became a devoted housewife to Leon and mother to Shelley in 1940 and to Leon, Jr. in 1943. The Ames family lived in Studio City, California, for well over 30 years and, in addition to the acting profession of her late husband, Leon, she served as president of their family owned car dealerships, originally coined Gossett-Ames Ford in Studio City. Leon and Chris Ames moved to Corona del Mar in 1978 where they enjoyed a warm and comfortable retirement until the death of Leon in 1993. Christine remained in their home the remainder of her life. Christine Gossett Ames passed away peacefully October 27, 2005 in Corona del Mar, California.- Maxine King was born on 5 October 1911 in Sanford, Colorado, USA. She died on 13 May 2009 in Corona, California, USA.
- Karen Obediear was born on 6 September 1962 in Westchester, California, USA. She was an actress, known for A Force of One (1979), Sybil (1976) and Sierra (1974). She died on 21 March 2009 in Corona, California, USA.
- Make-Up Department
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Makeup artist Clay Campbell was born in Chicago in 1901, but grew up in Toronto, Canada. After graduating high school he journeyed to Los Angeles, where he got a job with a wax factory, creating and producing the faces of wax figures. His company was contracted to supply such figures for the Warner Bros. film Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), and Campbell's work was noticed by Perc Westmore, chief of Warners' makeup department. He hired Campbell to be his assistant. After gaining experience there, Campbell left Warners and went to work for 20th Century-Fox, heading its makeup department, then to Columbia Pictures, where he ran that studio's makeup division. His work can be seen in such films as Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), The Son of Dr. Jekyll (1951), and The Werewolf (1956). He retired in 1966.- Camera and Electrical Department
- Actor
- Cinematographer
Jack Wilson was born in 1881. He was an actor and cinematographer, known for Tarzan of the Apes (1918), Midnight Secrets (1924) and The Supreme Test (1915). He died on 30 April 1979 in Corona Del Mar, California, USA.- Producer
- Production Manager
- Director
After completing his education at the University of Pennsylvania, Hugh McCollum moved to Los Angeles and worked a variety of odd jobs before being hired as an assistant to an executive at First National Pictures. He later served as a business manager for several studios, and in 1929 joined Columbia Pictures as secretary to studio chief Harry Cohn. McCollum was promoted to assistant to the studio production chief, and in 1934 became business manager of Columbia's short subjects division. In 1937 he was elevated to executive producer of the department, a position he shared with Jules White. Although McCollum's duties tended more toward the business end of the department than the production end, he did in fact personally produce several comedy shorts, and even directed a handful, including several entries in The Three Stooges series. In 1952 he left Columbia to join Gene Autry's Flying A Productions as its production manager. He kept that position until his retirement.- Evelyn Francisco was born on 13 August 1904 in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. She was an actress, known for Madame Behave (1925), King of the Herd (1927) and O.U. West (1925). She was married to Samuel Isaac Bernheim and Francis Ardell Stearns . She died on 27 January 1963 in Corona, California, USA.
- Anthony Galla-Rini was born on 18 January 1904 in Manchester, Connecticut, USA. He is known for Behind the Bellows: A Documentary About the Accordion (2009). He died on 30 July 2006 in Corona, California, USA.
- Animation Department
- Writer
- Art Department
Dorothy Jones was born on 31 March 1907 in Oregon, USA. She was a writer, known for Gay Purr-ee (1962) and Viva Willie (1934). She was married to Chuck Jones. She died on 28 February 1978 in Corona Del Mar, California, USA.- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hayes Goetz was born on 24 November 1915 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a producer and assistant director, known for The Hour of 13 (1952), The Human Jungle (1954) and Hold Back the Night (1956). He was married to Martha Stevenson. He died on 28 June 2005 in Corona Del Mar, California, USA.- Leon Beaumon - also credited as Leon Beauman, Beaumont, and Leon Duval
- was a minor stage and film actor during the 1920s and 1930s. He was
Leon's filmography is largely a mystery, due to the passage of time and his legendary attempts to hide his true age; thus he gave few details of his Hollywood career to his children. From a scrapbook, archival sources, and his lifelong friend and fellow actor, the late Bob St. Angelo, it is known so far that he had credited roles in A Fight to the Finish (1925), Clancy of the Mounted (1933), Pioneer Trail (1938) and The Law Comes to Texas (1939). He had uncredited roles in Cleopatra (1934), Folies Bergère de Paris (1935), Fugitive at Large (1939), Les Misérables (1935), Call of the Wild (1935), The Freshman (1925), The Mighty Barnum (1934) The Sea Wolf (1930), The Wizard of Oz (1939), The Vagabond King (1930) and Western Frontier (1935). He often played the bad guy in Ken Maynard's westerns. During his acting days, Leon ran an ice cream shop in Hollywood. He was also an inventor, creating one of the first wireless radios, the record changer on record players, and numerous other gadgets. During World War 2, Leon joined the Army Air Corps and remained stateside. Subsequently he became a real estate broker, and eventually an industrial landlord. Leon remained single until 1961 when he married Theresa (Hermine Gruber). They made their home in a Los Angeles suburb and had three children, Florence, Anthony and Monique. Leon never retired, even putting a roof on a building when he was in his 70s. His beloved wife preceded him in death, in 1978. Leon passed away from cancer in 1981, at the age of 83. His nephew and his nephew's wife, Jim and Marj Smerber, generously took care of him in his illness and finished rearing his minor children. - Director
- Writer
- Producer
Ibne Mizan was born on 7 October 1930 in Sirajganj, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Sirajganj, Bangladesh]. He was a director and writer, known for Laily Majnu (1983), Ek Mutho Bhat (1976) and Chandon Diper Rajkonna (1984). He died on 27 March 2017 in Corona, California, USA.- Allan Eckert was born on 30 January 1931 in Buffalo, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for The Legend of Koo-Tan (1973), Wild Journey (1972) and Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (1963). He was married to Joan. He died on 7 July 2011 in Corona, California, USA.
- James F. Van Pelt Jr. was born on 7 July 1918 in Oak Hill, West Virginia, USA. He died on 10 December 1994 in Corona, California, USA.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Beebe received a degree in mathematics and physics from Occidental College in 1935 and applied for navy flight training. He was designated a naval aviator in December 1937 and led two squadrons in World War II, being credited with 10.5 Japanese planes shot down. In the Korean War he commanded Air Group 5 aboard USS Essex in 1951-52, where he met novelist James Michener who wrote "The Bridges at Toko-Ri". Subsequently Beebe was naval attaché' to Venezuela and, promoted to captain, he commanded two ships including the carrier USS Bon Homme Richard. He retired in 1963.- Mildred Smallwood was born on 26 January 1898 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for A Son of Satan (1924). She died on 20 August 1943 in Corona, Queens, New York City, New York, USA.
- Script and Continuity Department
Jean Baker was born on 29 November 1909 in Idaho, USA. Jean is known for Look for the Silver Lining (1949) and Wallflower (1948). Jean died on 3 September 1951 in Corona Del Mar, California, USA.- Art Department
Art Black was born on 21 May 1900 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Art died in June 1968 in Corona Del Mar, California, USA.- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
Vic Schoen was born on 26 March 1916 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Nightcrawler (2014), The Court Jester (1955) and Night Waitress (1936). He was married to Sally-Jan Calbeck, Marion Hutton, Kay Starr and Yvette Agnes Gowdy. He died on 5 January 2000 in Corona del Mar, California, USA.- Actress
George-Ellen Ferguson was born on 24 June 1909 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress. She died on 10 October 1989 in Corona, California, USA.- Jim Martin was born on 8 April 1924 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for Paper Lion (1968), The NFL on CBS (1956) and 1962 East-West Pro Bowl (1962). He died on 9 October 2002 in Corona del Mar, California, USA.
- Music Department
Giuseppe Creatore was born on 21 June 1871 in Naples, Italy. He is known for Way Down South (1929). He was married to Rosina De Marinis and Joanna. He died on 15 August 1952 in Corona, Queens, New York City, New York, USA.- Franklin Vranicar was born on 25 February 1937 in Joliet, Illinois, USA. He was married to Pat. He died on 7 October 2022 in Corona del Mar, California, USA.
- Milton Charles was born on 8 May 1897 in San Jose, California, USA. He died on 1 November 1991 in Corona, California, USA.
- Producer
- Production Manager
- Director
John Ward was a producer and production manager, known for The New Lassie (1989), My Therapist (1983) and Erotic Images (1983). He was married to Joan. He died on 11 May 2015 in Corona, California, USA.- Kennard F. Bubier was born on 11 October 1902 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. He was married to Naomi Rinehart Hafeskebring and Sophy B. Jorgenson. He died on 2 July 1983 in Corona del Mar, California, USA.
- Patsy Irish was born on 18 March 1929 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Waldo's Last Stand (1940). She died on 7 September 2008 in Corona, California, USA.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Arnold 'Jigger' Statz was born on 20 October 1897 in Waukegan, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Fast Company (1929) and The Winning Team (1952). He died on 16 March 1988 in Corona Del Mar, California, USA.- Music Department
Herbert Doerfel was born on 16 July 1924 in Zwota, Saxony, Germany. He is known for Operation Eichmann (1961). He died on 25 July 2011 in Corona, California, USA.- Bob Nieman was born on 26 January 1927 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. He died on 10 March 1985 in Corona, California, USA.