Description
Jerome Robinson (1910-1976) was the official photographer for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in New York (1930-31), published
a book titled,
The complete plays of Gilbert and Sullivan (1938), joined the staff of
Theater arts and Stage magazines, and did theater features for
Life magazine. He moved to Hollywood, California (1943) and worked as the official photographer for the Pasadena Playhouse (1943-58).
He was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1950 and declared an unfriendly witness because
he refused to testify. He never worked in a motion picture studio again, although his career in the theater continued until
1958. The collection consists of approximately 10,000 photographs and 20,000 negatives taken by Robinson of theatrical performances
and performers in New York, Pasadena, and Los Angeles.
Background
Robinson was born in New York City on February 25, 1910; an uncle gave him a camera as a birthday gift, and he won first prize
in the Radio City Music Hall opening photographic contest; official photographer, D'Oyly Carte Opera Company performing Gilbert
and Sullivan operettas in New York, 1930-31; Robinson published a book titled, The complete plays of Gilbert and Sullivan (1938); later joined the staff of Theater arts and Stage magazines and even did theater features for Life magazine; decided to move to Hollywood, California, in 1943; official photographer, Pasadena Playhouse, 1943-58; began working
in major film studios in 1944; called before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1950 and declared an unfriendly
witness because he refused to testify; he never worked in a motion picture studio again, although his career in the theater
continued until 1958; did free-lance work for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Association, the Biltmore Theatre, the Los
Angeles Philharmonic, the Circle Theatre, the Ivar, and many others; died July 9, 1976.Jerome Robinson was born in New York City on February 25, 1910, son of Barney and Nettie Robinson. He had one sister, now
Beatrice (Mrs. Wilbur) Schreiber, and many aunts and uncles, sisters and brothers of his mother. He attended public schools
in New York, and though he read continuously, he never liked school mainly because he was not getting the art training he
wanted. At 16 he quit school and found a job as a painters' "devil" in a fabric design company. He did, however, continue
art studies at both Art Center and Cooper Union at night. By age 19 he was himself a designer of floral prints and "happi-coats."
Extent
15.0 Linear Feet
(26 boxes, 2 cartons, and 2 oversize boxes)
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Availability
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on this page.