Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Overview
 
Table of contents What's This?
Description
The collection consists of production files; television files; client and project files; correspondence; contracts; financial information; notebooks and photographs concerning special effects for various films, including those from RKO in the 1940s; and material documenting Dunn’s lectures and presentations at festivals and colleges. There is also extensive material on Film Effects of Hollywood, including contract files and financial statements.
Background
Linwood G. Dunn (1904-1998) was born in Brooklyn, New York. In 1923, he worked as a projectionist in New York City for the American Motion Picture Corporation. In 1925, he began working as an assistant cameraman for his uncle Spencer Gordon Bennet on the Pathé serial THE GREEN ARCHER (1925) and continued working on serials including SNOWED IN (1926) and HAWK OF THE HILLS (1927) until becoming first cameraman on the Pathé serial QUEEN OF THE NORTHWOODS (1929). After Pathé ran into financial difficulties, Dunn freelanced for a period during which he served as an extra cameraman on FLIGHT (1929) and HELL'S ANGELS (1930). In 1929, Howard Hurd offered Dunn a position as assistant cameraman at the newly-formed Photographic Effects Department at RKO where he would remain until 1957. During this time, Dunn worked in various capacities on the creation of the RKO logo, and films such as THE CASE OF SERGEANT GRISCHA (1930), DANGER LIGHTS (1930), CIMARRON (1931), THE PHANTOM OF CRESTWOOOD (1932), ACES OF ACES (1933), FLYING DOWN TO RIO (1933), KING KONG (1933), CITIZEN KANE (1941), CAT PEOPLE (1942), RINGSIDE (1949), MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1949), THE THING (1951), and THE NARROW MARGIN (1953).
Extent
43 linear ft. of papers 201 item(s) of artworks
Restrictions
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.
Availability
Available by appointment only.