John Crouse

For the American dentist, see John Nathan Crouse.

John Crouse
Born
Merwin John Seward Crouse[1]

(1907-03-08)March 8, 1907
Storm Lake, Iowa, United States
DiedMarch 17, 1982(1982-03-17) (aged 75)[2]
San Bernardino, California, United States
OccupationSpecial effects artist
Years active1944–1948
SpouseLeona Grace McGregor
Children2

Merwin John Seward Crouse, better known as John Crouse, (March 8, 1907 – March 17, 1982) was an American special effects artist and cameraman. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for work on the film The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944). After leaving the film industry he became a chicken farmer.

Life and career

Merwin John Seward Crouse was born on March 8, 1907 in Storm Lake, Iowa.[1][3] He was the son of Harry J. Crouse and his wife Ollie Crouse (née Thayer). They divorced in 1922. At that time his father was employed as a banker and secretary of the Farmers Loan & Trust Company in Sioux City, Iowa.[4] After the divorce he lived with his mother at 2755 Court St. in Sioux City.[5] He was educated in Sioux City at Bryant School[6] and Sioux City Central High School and Central Annex (graduated 1926).[7] While a teenager he played saxophone in the Criterions, a jazz band that played in local theaters and on local radio.[8][9]

By 1931 Crouse was living in Hollywood, California and was employed as a film cameraman.[10] That year he married Leona McGregor whom he knew from he growing up years in Sioux City.[11] Their first child, a daughter Janice, was born in Burbank, California in 1933.[12] This was followed by a son, Jimmy.[13] By 1944 he was under contract with Warner Bros. as a cameraman, and that year was a cinematographer for film made in aid of the American Red Cross.[5][14] He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Special Effects at the 17th Academy Awards for work on the film The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944).[15] He also did special effects for the film Adventures of Don Juan (1948).[16]

By 1949 Crouse and his wife were operating their own photography studio, Marjon Photo Center, in partnership with Martin and Dorothy Glovner in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles.[17] The Crouse family relocated to Sebastopol, California.[18] There they established a chicken farm in 1951.[19]

Crouse died on March 17, 1982 in San Bernardino, California.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b Merwin John Seward Crouse in the Iowa, U.S., Births (series) 1880-1904, 1921-1944 and Delayed Births (series), 1856-1940
  2. ^ "John Seward Crouse in 'California Death Index, 1940-1997'". familysearch.org. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  3. ^ Merwin Crouse in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
  4. ^ "Divorce to Banker's Wife". The Sioux City Journal. January 11, 1922. p. 11.
  5. ^ a b "Aids in Making Red Cross Film: John Crouse, Former Sioux Cityan, Helps as Cameraman". The Sioux City Journal. July 29, 1944. p. 2.
  6. ^ "Perfect Pupils in Three Cities". The Sioux City Journal. February 9, 1920. p. 10.
  7. ^ "115 Central High School Students Will Receive Diplomas". The Sioux City Journal. January 17, 1926. p. 20.
  8. ^ "Station WEAU Programs for the Week". The Sioux City Journal. November 23, 1924. p. 26.
  9. ^ "Station WEAU Programs for the Week". The Sioux City Journal. December 7, 1924. p. 21.
  10. ^ "Society". The Sioux City Journal. July 24, 1931. p. 9.
  11. ^ "Future Summer Brides Will be Guest of Honor at Prenuptial Parties Planned for This Week". The Sioux City Journal. July 12, 1931. p. 9.
  12. ^ "Society Clubs". The Sioux City Journal. December 12, 1933. p. 12.
  13. ^ "Society". The Sioux City Journal. November 22, 1938. p. 9.
  14. ^ "Great Work By Red Cross Being Filmed By Warners". Van Nuys Valley Times. June 1, 1944. p. 9.
  15. ^ "The 17th Academy Awards (1945) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  16. ^ McNulty, Thomas (2004). Errol Flynn: The Life and Career. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786468980.
  17. ^ "Marjon Spot Life". Valley Times. January 9, 1948. p. 7.
  18. ^ "Girl Wins Honors at Two Colleges". Valley Times. November 13, 1952. p. 21.
  19. ^ "6,000 Hens on 4 Acres is Poultry Man's Goal". The Press Democrat. July 8, 1951. p. 3, section Empire Magazine.
  20. ^ Merwin Seward Crouse in the California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.