A. Arnold Gillespie

Albert Arnold "Buddy" Gillespie (October 14, 1899 – May 3, 1978) was an American cinema special effects artist.[2]

A. Arnold Gillespie
Born
Albert Arnold Gillespie

(1899-10-14)October 14, 1899
El Paso, Texas
DiedMay 3, 1978(1978-05-03) (aged 78)
Los Angeles, California
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)[1]
OccupationSpecial effects artist
Years active1926–1965
Spouse(s)
​
(
m. 1933; div. 1944)
, 1 son
Nell Hill (1944-unknown), 1 son
Dora Ingram (unknown-1973)
Children2
AwardsAcademy Award for Best Visual Effects
1944 Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
1947 Green Dolphin Street
1959 Ben-Hur
Academy Award for Technical Achievement
1964

Biography

He was born on October 14, 1899, in El Paso, Texas. Gillespie joined MGM as a set designer in 1925, a year after it was founded. He was educated at Columbia University and the Arts Students League. His first project was the silent film Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, released that same year. He worked at the studio in various capacities until 1962. In 1936, he became the head of MGM's Special Effects Department.[3]

He died on May 3, 1978, in Los Angeles, California.

Legacy

He wrote a book, The Wizard of MGM: Memoirs of A. Arnold Gillespie. Gillispie's nickname was "Buddy."

Academy Award wins and nominations
Wins shown in bold

Personal life

Gillespie married Nell Hill in 1944. She died in 2000. They had one child, Thomas Scott Gillespie (1944–61). A. Arnold was previously married to aviator Ruth Elder, with whom he had a son, William Trent Gillespie (1940–2008).

Partial filmography for special effects

Inasmuch as he worked on numerous films (IMDb credits him with 203), only some of the better known ones and ones involving prominent special effects are listed below.

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References
  1. Arnold "Buddy" Gillespie at Find a Grave
  2. "A. Arnold Gillespie". International Dictionary of Film and Filmmakers. Retrieved 2010-10-28. Special Effects Technician and Art Director. Nationality: American. Born: A. Arnold Gillespie in El Paso, Texas, 14 October 1899. Education: Attended Columbia University, New York; Art Students League, New York. Career: 1922–24 – assistant art director at Paramount; 1924–36 – art director, MGM; 1936–65 – head of MGM's special effects department, working on some 600 films. Awards: Academy Award for Thirty Seconds over Tokyo , 1944; Green Dolphin Street , 1947; Plymouth Adventure , 1952; Ben-Hur 1959; Technical Award, 1963. Died: 3 May 1978.
  3. "Arnold A. Gillespie biography". NYTimes.com Movies & TV. The New York Times(All Movie Guide and Baseline). Retrieved 2010-10-28. Known as "Buddy" to friends and colleagues, A. Arnold Gillespie was educated at Columbia University and the Arts Students League. Entering films in 1922, Gillespie was an art director at MGM from 1924 to 1936. Thereafter, and until his retirement in the 1960s, he was in charge of the studio's special effects department. A. Arnold Gillespie received Academy Awards for his supervision of the matte, miniature, and back projection work on 30 Seconds Over Tokyo (1943), Green Dolphin Street (1947), Plymouth Adventure (1952) and Ben-Hur (1959) – and though he didn't win an award for Forbidden Planet (1956) the film was one of his best.
  4. "The 12th Academy Awards (1940) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  5. "The 13th Academy Awards (1941) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
  6. "The 14th Academy Awards (1942) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  7. "The 15th Academy Awards (1943) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
  8. "The 16th Academy Awards (1944) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
  9. "The 17th Academy Awards (1945) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
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