Edwin Gillette
Encyclopedia
Edwin "Ted" Gillette was a cameraman and inventor notable for the development of the Syncro-Vox
technique of limited animation, which was used in the series Clutch Cargo
.
, graduated in 1929 from the Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and studied engineering at Stanford University
. His interest in film led to his first job in the entertainment field at Paramount Studios
, where he was Preston Sturges
' secretary. After producing training films as an officer with the Army Air Corps in World War II
, he returned to take a degree in cinema at USC
.
After working as the undersea cinematographer on the 1957
film Undersea Girl, he joined Clark Haas
' Cambria Studios
, where Syncro-Vox was put to use in their animated series, Clutch Cargo
(1959), Space Angel
(1962) and Captain Fathom
(1965). He retired as a partner in Cambria Studios in 1964.
Syncro-Vox
Syncro-Vox is a filming method which combines static images with moving images, the most common use of which is to superimpose talking lips on a photograph of a celebrity or a cartoon drawing. It is one of the most extreme examples of the cost-cutting strategy of limited animation...
technique of limited animation, which was used in the series Clutch Cargo
Clutch Cargo
Clutch Cargo is an animated television series produced by Cambria Productions and syndicated beginning on March 9, 1959. Notable for its very limited animation, yet imaginative stories, the series was a surprise hit at the time, and could be seen on 65 stations nationwide in 1960.- Plot :The...
.
Early life
Born to a Chicago architect, Gillette grew up in Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, graduated in 1929 from the Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and studied engineering at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. His interest in film led to his first job in the entertainment field at Paramount Studios
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, where he was Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges , originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated playwright, screenwriter and film director born in Chicago, Illinois...
' secretary. After producing training films as an officer with the Army Air Corps in 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...
, he returned to take a degree in cinema at USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
Career
Gillette developed the Syncro-Vox technique of animation which was first used in "talking animal" commercials of the early 1950s. He filed a patent for the technique in 1952, and obtained patent #2,739,505 for it on March 27, 1956.After working as the undersea cinematographer on the 1957
1957 in film
The year 1957 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 21 - The movie Jailhouse Rock, starring Elvis Presley, opens.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue-Awards:...
film Undersea Girl, he joined Clark Haas
Clark Haas
Clark S. Haas, Jr. was a cartoonist and, from 1957 to 1965, owner of Cambria Studios, which produced the limited animation series, Clutch Cargo .-Career:...
' Cambria Studios
Cambria Productions
Cambria Productions was the West Hollywood, California animation production studio most famous for its wide usage of the Syncro-Vox technique of animation developed by Edwin Gillette, who was a co-partner in the studio.Owned by Clark S. Haas, Jr...
, where Syncro-Vox was put to use in their animated series, Clutch Cargo
Clutch Cargo
Clutch Cargo is an animated television series produced by Cambria Productions and syndicated beginning on March 9, 1959. Notable for its very limited animation, yet imaginative stories, the series was a surprise hit at the time, and could be seen on 65 stations nationwide in 1960.- Plot :The...
(1959), Space Angel
Space Angel
Space Angel was an animated science fiction television series produced in the United States from early 1962 through 1964. It used the same Synchro-Vox lip technique as Clutch Cargo, the first cartoon produced by the same studio, Cambria Productions....
(1962) and Captain Fathom
Captain Fathom
Captain Fathom was an animated television series produced in 1965 by Cambria Studios. Like Cambria's other productions, Clutch Cargo and Space Angel, it was produced in Synchro-Vox. 18 30-minute episodes, all in color, were filmed. The episodes could be broken down into 5 6-minute segments in...
(1965). He retired as a partner in Cambria Studios in 1964.