Roy Seawright
Encyclopedia
Roy Seawright born 19 November 1905 in Los Angeles, California, died 30 April 1991 in Torrance, California
was a Hollywood special effects technician, principally with Hal Roach Studios.
Seawright's father was the chief architect
of Hal Roach
's Culver City studios. He died in 1919 during a construction accident during the building of the complex. Roy joined Roach initially as a mail boy and errand boy in 1920.
Seawright worked his way up to Casting Director, then the Property Department, and later became the head of Roach's animation studio. Seawright's animation appeared in many of the Roach studio's shorts such as animating eyes, balloon captions, and other items drawn on the film. In 1934's Babes in Toyland
Seawright did a stop motion animation sequence for the toy soldiers
marching to attack the Bogeymen.
Credited as head of the Process Department in 1937, some of Seawright's most famous work was in Topper Takes a Trip
and One Million B.C.
where his dinosaur
footage was recycled countless times in many lesser films. Seawright was nominated for an Academy Award three times in succession for the latter two films and Topper Returns
.
During World War II Seawright was commissioned a Major in the US Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit
where he provided special effects for many military training film
s and Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress
. He left Hal Roach after returning from the Army, eventually working for Eagle-Lion Films
providing special effects for Phil Karlson
's The Big Cat and Port of New York.
Seawright entered a partnership with former Warner Brothers cartoon writer Dave Monahan as his director of photography for their Reel Services Hawaii.
Seawright and his wife Bernice "Bunny" Seawright were beach volleyball
fans and started Hermosa Beach's Seawright Tourney in 1968.
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
was a Hollywood special effects technician, principally with Hal Roach Studios.
Seawright's father was the chief architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
of Hal Roach
Hal Roach
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach, Sr. was an American film and television producer and director, and from the 1910s to the 1990s.- Early life and career :Hal Roach was born in Elmira, New York...
's Culver City studios. He died in 1919 during a construction accident during the building of the complex. Roy joined Roach initially as a mail boy and errand boy in 1920.
Seawright worked his way up to Casting Director, then the Property Department, and later became the head of Roach's animation studio. Seawright's animation appeared in many of the Roach studio's shorts such as animating eyes, balloon captions, and other items drawn on the film. In 1934's Babes in Toyland
Babes in Toyland (1934 film)
Babes in Toyland is a Laurel and Hardy musical film released in November 1934. The film is also known by its alternate titles Laurel and Hardy in Toyland, Revenge Is Sweet , March of the Wooden Soldiers and Wooden Soldiers .Based on Victor Herbert's popular 1903 operetta Babes in Toyland, the film...
Seawright did a stop motion animation sequence for the toy soldiers
Toy Soldiers
A toy soldier is a miniature figurine that represents a soldier, but the term may also refer to:In film and television:*Toy Soldiers , an action/drama film in which terrorists take a school hostage...
marching to attack the Bogeymen.
Credited as head of the Process Department in 1937, some of Seawright's most famous work was in Topper Takes a Trip
Topper Takes a Trip
Topper Takes a Trip is a 1938 film sequel of Topper . Constance Bennett, Roland Young, Billie Burke and Alan Mowbray reprised their roles from the earlier movie; only Cary Grant was missing . A ghost tries to reunite a couple who she had a hand in splitting up in the prior film...
and One Million B.C.
One Million B.C.
One Million B.C. is a 1940 American fantasy film produced by Hal Roach Studios and released by United Artists. It is also known by the titles Cave Man, Man and His Mate, and Tumak....
where his dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
footage was recycled countless times in many lesser films. Seawright was nominated for an Academy Award three times in succession for the latter two films and Topper Returns
Topper Returns
Topper Returns is the third and final entry in the initial series of films inspired by the novels of Thorne Smith. It followed Topper and Topper Takes a Trip...
.
During World War II Seawright was commissioned a Major in the US Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit
First Motion Picture Unit
The First Motion Picture Unit was the first unit of the United States Military to be made up entirely of motion picture personnel. It was also the title of a 1943 documentary about the unit.-Organization:...
where he provided special effects for many military training film
Training film
A training film is a form of educational film – a short subject documentary movie, that provides an introduction to a topic. Both narrative documentary and dramatisation styles may be used, sometimes both in the same production...
s and Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress
Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress
The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress is a 1944 documentary film which ostensibly provides an account of the final mission of the crew of the Memphis Belle, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. In May 1943 it became the first U.S...
. He left Hal Roach after returning from the Army, eventually working for Eagle-Lion Films
Eagle-Lion Films
Eagle-Lion Films was a British film production company owned by J. Arthur Rank intended to release British productions in the United States. In 1947 it acquired PRC Pictures, a small American production company, to produce B Pictures to accompany the British releases...
providing special effects for Phil Karlson
Phil Karlson
Phil Karlson was a film director known for his no-nonsense film noirs. Karlson directed 99 River Street, Kansas City Confidential and Hell's Island all with actor John Payne in the early 1950s...
's The Big Cat and Port of New York.
Seawright entered a partnership with former Warner Brothers cartoon writer Dave Monahan as his director of photography for their Reel Services Hawaii.
Seawright and his wife Bernice "Bunny" Seawright were beach volleyball
Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
fans and started Hermosa Beach's Seawright Tourney in 1968.
External links
- Seawright information 0780880/