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1-5 of 5
- Music Department
- Composer
- Art Director
Trained in classical music at Columbia University, Webb worked on Broadway by the time he was in his mid-20's, not only composing incidental music, but co-writing original plays with his older brother, the director Kenneth S. Webb. By 1923, he worked as conductor/arranger on hit shows like "Music Box Revue" and "Stepping Stones". Two years later, a collaboration with his illustrious peer Max Steiner led to a lasting friendship, as well as (by his own admission) profoundly influencing his own future career as a composer. At the end of the decade, Steiner, then head of the music department at RKO, persuaded Webb to accept an assignment in Hollywood, scoring the musical Rio Rita (1929).
Steiner remained in charge until his departure in 1935, when Webb effectively took his place, remaining a fixture at RKO until 1955. He often worked in conjunction with Bernard Herrmann and C. Bakaleinikoff, supervising, conducting and composing scores for literally hundreds of films. As a composer, his style was somewhat akin to that of Herbert Stothart, in that it was more subtle, less overtly dramatic, yet still perfectly integrated with the action, or imperceptibly underscoring the dialogue. A good example is the romantic violin-laden score for the sentimental drama The Enchanted Cottage (1945). The piano concerto from this film was performed later that year at the Hollywood Bowl.
Better still, were his understated, eerily effective horror themes, setting the mood for the films of Val Lewton, of which Cat People (1942) and The Body Snatcher (1945) are absolute standouts. Webb's other noteworthy contribution was in the field of thrillers and films noir, notably The Spiral Staircase (1946), Notorious (1946) and Out of the Past (1947). After RKO wound down, Webb free-lanced for several years, working variously at Warners, Paramount and for John Wayne's Batjac Productions. Though his entire collection of manuscripts was sadly lost in a house fire, copies of his scores from the RKO vaults have been preserved at UCLA.- Writer
- Actor
- Producer
Freeman F. Gosden was born on 5 May 1899 in Richmond, Virginia, USA. He was a writer and actor, known for Check and Double Check (1930), The Amos 'n Andy Show (1951) and The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935). He was married to Leta Marie Schreiber and Jane S. Gosden. He died on 10 December 1982 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jimmy Riddle was born on 3 September 1918 in Dyersburg, Tennessee, USA. He was an actor, known for Smoky Mountain Melody (1948), Country Style, U.S.A. (1957) and Hee Haw (1969). He died on 10 December 1982 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.- Colette Corder was born on 28 February 1894. She was an actress, known for Großstadtmädels - 3. Teil (1921), Die Ehe der Fürstin Demidoff (1922) and Verkommen (1920). She died on 10 December 1982.
- Anna Nikritina was born on 5 October 1900 in Chernigov, Russian Empire. She was an actress, known for Amphibian Man (1961), Vragi (1953) and Zelyonaya kareta (1967). She died on 10 December 1982 in Leningrad, RSFSR, USSR.