Gillespie (A. Arnold) photographs, 1936-1962

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Summary

Title:
A. Arnold Gillespie photographs
Dates:
1936-1962
Creators:
Gillespie, A. Arnold
Extent:
4.5 linear feet of photographs.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

A. Arnold Gillespie photographs, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Background

Scope and content:

The A. Arnold Gillespie photographs span the years 1936-1965 and encompass 4.5 linear feet. The collection consists entirely of 8x10 photographic frame enlargements of special effects created by Gillespie for 173 films produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Many titles include corresponding information sheets or notations on the reverse of the photographs, giving specific information about how each shot was achieved or used in the film as well as budget figures, scene numbers, and the personnel and equipment used.

Biographical / historical:

Albert Arnold "Buddy" Gillespie was a American special effects expert and art director employed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios from 1925 to 1965. He came to Hollywood in the early 1920s and by 1925 he was working as a set designer and art director at the newly formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio under the supervision of Cedric Gibbons. The studio made him head of the special effects department in 1936. Gillespie became known for his extensive work and expertise with miniatures. He received 12 Academy Award nominations, three of which resulted in Oscars: THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO (1944), GREEN DOLPHIN STREET (1947), and BEN-HUR (1959). He shared a 1963 Class III Academy Scientific Award with Douglas Shearer for the development of an improved background process projection system.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mrs. A. Arnold Gillespie, 1984
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series: 1. Motion picture production photographs

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Special Collections
Date Prepared:
© 2014
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from Inmagic. Date of source: June 24, 2014

Access and use

Restrictions:

Available by appointment only.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies or individuals before quoting from or publishing materials obtained from the library.

Preferred citation:

A. Arnold Gillespie photographs, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Location of this collection:
333 S. La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211, US
Contact:
(310) 247-3036 extension 2226
specialcollections@oscars.org
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