Editorial Memorabilia

Fifty-Five Years Ago

The Universal editing department presents a good luck scroll to Bernie Burton, promoted to producer in early 1942. The artwork was by Jack Foley (of "foley" fame). A short time later, during World War II, Philip Cahn was also made a producer, followed by Frank Gross. The award given to Phil is shown below. At that time, Universal was very partial to promoting editors. Earlier, Cahn and Carruth were also given opportunities to direct.

Front row: Ed Curtiss, Frank Gross, Jack Dolan, Frank Bunny, Bernie Burton (receiving plaque), Edgar Zane, Milton Carruth. Back row: Vicor Lewis (partially hidden), Charley Maynard, Mickey Schwarz, Paul Landres, Harry Kaufman, Philip Cahn, Jack Foley, Lew Sackin, Russ Schoengarth, Al Todd.

The cartoon given to Philip Cahn on his promotion to producer at Universal, signed by all the editors in the department. The wolf, representing the pitfalls Phil would encounter along the road as producer, refers to the points for purchasing rationed food during the war. The artwork was by Jack Foley.

Thanks to Dann Cahn for this bit of editorial history. Dann (son of Phil and father of Daniel, editors all) was an apprentice at the time, driving an old Modela truck to the backlot vaults. Read more history in the next Newsletter when we celebrate sixty years of solidarity and commemorate the beginnings of what became the Motion Picture Editors Guild.