Meredith Merle Nicholson
Encyclopedia
Meredith Merle “Nick” Nicholson (11 March 1913–18 August 2005) was an American
cinematographer
. He worked behind the camera on low-budget films of the 1950s, hit television series in the 1960s, and comedies, dramas, and made-for-TV movies in the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1953, Nicholson, along with his two sons and three other partners, created the company Panavision
. While working as an administrator there, he was able to take occasional quick jobs as a cameraman. He was eventually forced out of Panavision in 1960, and devoted the rest of his career to filming.
Nicholson's first job as cinematographer was working for his friend Richard Cunha on Cunha's second film She Demons in 1958. This was followed by work on Cunha’s Frankenstein's Daughter
(also in 1958), and Missile to the Moon
in 1959. Nicholson is credited with achieving amazing results on these films, despite severe budget and time limitations. Each of these films was shot in eight days or fewer. This allowed time for Nicholson to also work on the film The Decks Ran Red
at MGM.
After leaving Panavision, Nicholson joined the production crew of the television series My Three Sons
. He also was the cinematographer on the television series The Blue Angels and two films by Edgar Ulmer, Beyond the Time Barrier
and The Amazing Transparent Man
. He later worked on the more obscure films Dangerous Charter, The Devil's Hand
, and Escape from Hell Island.
Nicholson’s work after these films was exclusively in television. He worked on the series The Fugitive
, Twelve O'Clock High
, Get Smart
, Batman
, and The Invaders
. In the 1970s he worked on M*A*S*H, Get Christie Love!
, Mork & Mindy, and The Odd Couple
. Nicholson continued to work in television until the late 1980s. The last television series he worked on was My Sister Sam
, which ended in 1988.
Nicholson died on 18 August 2005. He is survived by his daughter Linda Ahern and two sons.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
. He worked behind the camera on low-budget films of the 1950s, hit television series in the 1960s, and comedies, dramas, and made-for-TV movies in the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1953, Nicholson, along with his two sons and three other partners, created the company Panavision
Panavision
Panavision is an American motion picture equipment company specializing in cameras and lenses, based in Woodland Hills, California. Formed by Robert Gottschalk as a small partnership to create anamorphic projection lenses during the widescreen boom in the 1950s, Panavision expanded its product...
. While working as an administrator there, he was able to take occasional quick jobs as a cameraman. He was eventually forced out of Panavision in 1960, and devoted the rest of his career to filming.
Nicholson's first job as cinematographer was working for his friend Richard Cunha on Cunha's second film She Demons in 1958. This was followed by work on Cunha’s Frankenstein's Daughter
Frankenstein's Daughter
Frankenstein's Daughter was the third of four drive-in films crafted by producer Marc Frederic and director Richard E. Cunha in the late 1950s. In it, Victor Frankenstein's grandson repeats his grandfather's grisly experiments.-Plot:...
(also in 1958), and Missile to the Moon
Missile to the Moon
Missile to the Moon is a 1958 black-and-white science fiction film directed by Richard E. Cunha, and is a remake of the 1953 film Cat-Women of the Moon.-Plot:...
in 1959. Nicholson is credited with achieving amazing results on these films, despite severe budget and time limitations. Each of these films was shot in eight days or fewer. This allowed time for Nicholson to also work on the film The Decks Ran Red
The Decks Ran Red
The Decks Ran Red is a 1958 M-G-M sea-going suspense drama based on the book Infamy at Sea, and directed by Andrew L. Stone. The feature starred, James Mason, Dorothy Dandridge, Broderick Crawford, and Stuart Whitman....
at MGM.
After leaving Panavision, Nicholson joined the production crew of the television series My Three Sons
My Three Sons
My Three Sons is an American situation comedy. The series ran from 1960 to 1965 on ABC, and moved to CBS until its end on August 24, 1972. My Three Sons chronicles the life of a widower and aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas , raising his three sons.The series was a cornerstone of the CBS...
. He also was the cinematographer on the television series The Blue Angels and two films by Edgar Ulmer, Beyond the Time Barrier
Beyond the Time Barrier
Beyond the Time Barrier is a 1959 Cold War era black and white time travel science fiction film filmed in ten days in Texas. It was produced by and starred Robert Clarke and was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. Ulmer's wife Shirley acted as a script editor whilst their daughter Arianne Arden...
and The Amazing Transparent Man
The Amazing Transparent Man
The Amazing Transparent Man is a 1960 science fiction film starring Marguerite Chapman. It is an American B-movie which follows the story of an insane ex-U. S. Army major who uses an escaped criminal to steal materials to improve the invisibility machine his scientist prisoner made. It was one of...
. He later worked on the more obscure films Dangerous Charter, The Devil's Hand
The Devil's Hand
-Plot summary:Rick Turner is engaged to Donna Trent and is having nightmares of a beautiful blonde woman who appears to be dancing in the sky. One night, he is mysteriously driven to enter a doll shop, and in the next morning he returns to the place with Donna...
, and Escape from Hell Island.
Nicholson’s work after these films was exclusively in television. He worked on the series The Fugitive
The Fugitive (TV series)
The Fugitive is an American drama series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from 1963 to 1967. David Janssen stars as Richard Kimble, a doctor from the fictional town of Stafford, Indiana, who is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given the death...
, Twelve O'Clock High
Twelve O'Clock High (TV series)
Twelve O'Clock High or 12 O'Clock High is an American drama series set in World War II. This TV series originally broadcasted on ABC-TV for two-and-one-half TV seasons from September 18, 1964, through January 13, 1967; was based on the motion picture Twelve O'Clock High...
, Get Smart
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
, Batman
Batman (TV series)
Batman is an American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to...
, and The Invaders
The Invaders
The Invaders, a Quinn Martin Production , is an ABC science fiction television program created by Larry Cohen that ran in the United States for two seasons, from January 10, 1967 to March 26, 1968...
. In the 1970s he worked on M*A*S*H, Get Christie Love!
Get Christie Love!
Get Christie Love! is a 1974 made-for-television film starring Teresa Graves as an undercover female police detective who is determined to overthrow a drug ring. This film is based on Dorothy Uhnak's crime-thriller novel, The Ledger...
, Mork & Mindy, and The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple (TV series)
The Odd Couple is a television situation comedy broadcast from September 24, 1970 to July 4, 1975 on ABC. It starred Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison. It was based upon the play of the same name, which was written by Neil Simon.Felix and Oscar are two divorced men....
. Nicholson continued to work in television until the late 1980s. The last television series he worked on was My Sister Sam
My Sister Sam
My Sister Sam is an American situation comedy series that aired on CBS from 1986 to 1988. It was created by Stephen Fischer and executive produced by Diane English.-Synopsis:...
, which ended in 1988.
Nicholson died on 18 August 2005. He is survived by his daughter Linda Ahern and two sons.