Irving Gertz
Encyclopedia
Irving Gertz is an American composer recognized for his compositions for many fantasy and horror B-movies and TV series of the 1950s and 1960s.
Gertz was born on May 19, 1915, in Providence, Rhode Island
, and played the clarinet, piano, string bass and tuba as a youth, and attended the Providence College of Music. Gertz studied composition privately with composer and music theorist Walter Piston
. He was hired by Columbia Pictures
in 1938, but left to serve in the United States Army Signal Corps
during World War II
.
After his military service, he studied with composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
.
Along with this work, much of his library music has also been used in many films.
Amongst his most recognized works are the music for the western Top Gun
in 1955 and many horror films such as The Leech Woman
, The Alligator People
and Curse of the Undead
.
He also worked on the popular TV series Land of the Giants
and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
.
He also worked on a single Warner Bros.
cartoon Daffy Rents in 1966, filling in for regular composer William Lava
.
Gertz retired from film and television scoring in 1968.
Gertz was born on May 19, 1915, in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, and played the clarinet, piano, string bass and tuba as a youth, and attended the Providence College of Music. Gertz studied composition privately with composer and music theorist Walter Piston
Walter Piston
Walter Hamor Piston Jr., , was an American composer of classical music, music theorist and professor of music at Harvard University whose students included Leroy Anderson, Leonard Bernstein, and Elliott Carter....
. He was hired by Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
in 1938, but left to serve in the United States Army Signal Corps
United States Army Signal Corps
The United States Army Signal Corps develops, tests, provides, and manages communications and information systems support for the command and control of combined arms forces. It was established in 1860, the brainchild of United States Army Major Albert J. Myer, and has had an important role from...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After his military service, he studied with composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco was an Italian composer. He was known as one of the foremost guitar composers in the twentieth century with almost one hundred compositions for that instrument. In 1939 he migrated to the United States and became a film composer for some 200 Hollywood movies for the next...
.
Along with this work, much of his library music has also been used in many films.
Amongst his most recognized works are the music for the western Top Gun
Top Gun (1955 film)
Top Gun is a 1955 Western about an ex-gunslinger who arrives in a small town warning of an impending attack by his old gang...
in 1955 and many horror films such as The Leech Woman
The Leech Woman
-Plot:A mysterious old woman approaches Dr. Paul Talbot and promises to reveal to him the secret of eternal youth. Following her to Africa, he and his wife June Talbot witness the secret ceremony that utilizes orchid pollen and a victim's pineal gland secretions...
, The Alligator People
The Alligator People
The Alligator People is a 1959 science fiction horror film directed by Roy Del Ruth.-Plot:After she is administered the drug pentothal by psychiatrists Dr. Erik Lorimer and Dr. Wayne McGregor, nurse Jane Marvin recalls a series events from her forgotten past when she was known as Joyce...
and Curse of the Undead
Curse of the Undead
Curse of the Undead is a 1959 American vampire/Western film directed by Edward Dein and starring Eric Fleming, Michael Pate, Kathleen Crowley, John Hoyt, Bruce Gordon, and Jimmy Murphy.-Plot:...
.
He also worked on the popular TV series Land of the Giants
Land of the Giants
Land of the Giants was an hour-long American science fiction television program lasting two seasons beginning on September 22, 1968 and ending on March 22, 1970. The show was created and produced by Irwin Allen. Land of the Giants was the fourth of Allen's science fiction TV series. The show was...
and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is an American science fiction film, produced and directed by Irwin Allen, released by 20th Century Fox in 1961. The story was written by Irwin Allen and Charles Bennett. Walter Pidgeon starred as Admiral Harriman Nelson, with Robert Sterling as Captain Lee Crane...
.
He also worked on a single Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
cartoon Daffy Rents in 1966, filling in for regular composer William Lava
William Lava
William "Bill" B. Lava was a musical composer and arranger who worked on the Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies animated cartoons from 1962 onwards, replacing the deceased Milt Franklyn. Lava's music was very different from that of Franklyn and previous composer Carl Stalling...
.
Gertz retired from film and television scoring in 1968.
External links
- http://www.allvoices.com/people/Irving_Gertz