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Alumni News
U.S. Army Pictorial Center
Number Fifty-One – February 1998
#50 October 1997
- #51
February 1998
Army Pictorial Center was such an
unusual place with such a distinctive aggregation of personnel that it
generated a remarkable loyalty among those formerly assigned there.
These alumni worked to maintain their
connection to the many others who shared their experiences.
Following closure of APC, they
continued their association through a monthly newsletter, the Alumni
News, and annual reunions at the studio.
Don
Fednyak
supplied copies of the Alumni News from which this material is excepted.
The February 1998 Alumni News included these posts:
Mark Lewis
Charles Joshua
Doran Topolosky
Arthur Levy
Ken Smith
Tess Feder
Eileen Sullivan
Austin Hay
Old Films
Paul A. Bue
Murray Cohen
Mike Damiano
Henry Strano
Mark Lewis
Mark
Lewis
wrote, “Saddened by the news from both
Frank Napoleon
and Herman 'Rich' Richards
on Frank Little‘s
passing. I remember Frank and
Genevieve (Dorio Napolion) from our
days in animation back in WWII at E. 32nd St. He was in uniform
and I was a civilian. I do not know
Mr. Richards. Frank Little and I went out to lunch together every single
day for some 20 years
or more. As Frank N. says, 'He was a very sweet man'.
“I remember a tragic story, I believe
it was in the 70s, when (Little’s) daughter's very young child was
kidnapped by her South American husband.
They had broken up, and he had the
child on a routine visitation. Of course, he took the child to S.A.
Frank went on a wild goose chase to try and find the both of them in
South America, in vain naturally. A fond farewell to a very good
friend.”
Charles Joshua
Charles
Joshua
was cited in the February 1998 Alumni News. “The following excerpts are
from his biography: ‘As the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Central Brooklyn Coordinating Council, Inc., he represents over 135
social and human agencies. He has implemented various programs in
employment, welfare, senior citizen, anti-crime, children and family,
housing and foster child care, and services for the disabled. As the
names of these programs indicate, Chief Joshua has struggled
relentlessly for social and economic betterment.’
“For those who did not know him at APC,
he served as a Production Controller in the Laboratory Branch. Chief
Joshua and his wife, Anita,
have one daughter, Sharon, who has given them a grandson and a
granddaughter. They also have one great granddaughter.”
Doran Topolosky
Doran
Topolosky
wrote, “Paul and Sandy Bue
visited us recently. We were roommates while at APC in the mid 50s. An
enjoyable visit talking about
events at APC that seem like yesterday.”
Arthur Levy
Arthur Levy
wrote, “Sorry to inform you of a Fadeout –
Herman Richards
(Transportation). I knew him since 1948 before we went to APC. Short
illness.
“I worked in Cost Accounting.”
Ken Smith
Ken Smith
wrote, “I have a copy of every News letter I ever received. I often go
looking through them! I miss the good old days.”
Tess Feder
Tess
Feder
wrote, “I am sorry to inform you that
Herman ‘Rich’ Richards passed away Sep.
26th (1997).” (Condolences could be sent to his sister, Mrs.
Terry Lightman.)
“Sorry to hear about Frank Little. I remember him fondly. When I
retired, 30 years ago, Frank drew a terrific cartoon of me, as
Transportation Officer of APC, showing me in the caboose of a train and
surrounded by many other types of transportation. There were about 100
signatures of APCers, including yours, Les.”
Eileen Sullivan
“Sorry to add another Fadeout,” the
Alumni News reported. “Eileen Sullivan
passed away. Our Condolences to Mike.”
Austin Hay
Austin
Hay
wrote, “To Sam & Les, Cheery Felicitations this joyous Holiday Season.
Sanguine wishes for a (camera) dolly-full of delights and good health
for all those tomorrows of the New Year.”
Old Films
Alumni News Editor
Les Binger
wrote, “The N.Y. Times carried a feature article on December 1, 1997,
titled, ‘For Old Films, the Ending Almost Always Comes Out the Same.’
This was about motion picture release prints from the early days of
nitrate, thence to cellulose, and now, polyester.
Eastman Kodak acquired a film recycling
company years ago which is located in Mountain City, Tenn., where the
prints are chopped into flakes and used with other material as fuel.
“This brought back memories to your Editor about the time a new
projector repair man was discussing nitrate film, while outside a heavy
rain storm was pounding the sidewalk. He realized that his listeners
were not impressed, so he grabbed a 35mm nitrate reel, telling his
listeners to follow, as he tore off several strips; he lit 3 of them,
and as they burned he threw them on the sidewalk, and the rain covered
them – but they continued burning! The point he had been making,
‘nitrate film supplies its own oxygen even underwater,’ was no longer
lost on the group.
“The Times ends it best: ‘The final irony – the destination for
those worn out copies of ‘The Graduate' has no natural resources of its
own. Mountain City, where thousands of films go each year to die, has no
movie theatre.’”
Paul A. Bue
Paul
A. Bue
wrote, “Since I'm under orders to get rid of all the stuff you don't
need I hope that you haven’t become a casualty of operation clean- up.
“This year saw three of my old APC
buddies. Fred Parsons
(2nd Signal) and wife Nan
stopped by enroute to Florida. Dick
and Ann Hartsook (TV Div) stopped by
enroute home. And, we visited with
Doran & Nancy Topolosky (Production
Division) in Charleton, SC. As we talked it didn’t seem like forty years
have come and gone so quickly. All are retired now. Top from civil
service, Fred from industry, and Richard from the University of Alabama.
It only seems like yesterday; but the calendar doesn't lie.
“If I may I‘d like to let
Paul Heller
know that his efforts were not in vain. I believe that we were at APC
and recall him coming by to say so long to
Herb Spoonts.
Some time later I inherited the Air Borne TV system (old FU # 4) block
III Xmtrs, Air Planes, Helicopter & all. I remember Sgt
Mario Iezzoni
assuring me one of these days we’ll get it to work all the time. From
these efforts a surveillance system was developed and employed with
success during the Vietnam war some years later.
“Much of the research conducted by
Joe Kanner,
& Drs. Katz and Rosenstein
was the foundation for other educational applications and uses by the
CONARC schools. Many of the former APC Alumni, such as
Neal Upchurch,
Bob Grimes,
were hired. You couldn‘t go to an Army school without finding an Alumnus
there. As for still photographers, who can forget the classic taken by
Gae Faillace
of General Mac returning to the Philippines, The Life cover by
Don Uhrbrock
of America's reply to Sputnik, or perhaps the greatest training film
ever made ‘The Late Company B’? Some of the other Alums made their mark
in advertising, or in Hollywood (Dick Zanuck). APC provided a nurturing
environment for creative talents of playwrights (‘No Time For
Sergeants’), writers, producers, directors, and technicians. APC was a
whole lot more than training films.
It took a lot of talented people to
make it work.
All had a part to play, and while you
didn’t see personnel, reproduction, security, supply, maintenance, troop
command, admin, operations, casting, procurement, editing, writing
writing, sound, animation, camera, transportation, finance, and
distribution, they were the ones who put their best effort behind the
scenes.
“Les, I know you are up to your neck in alligators, but hopefully
you can jot a few lines here and there, and preserve the history and the
soul of APC. Just an idea...maybe you could do it on video tape and cut
down on the writing?
“P.S. Almost forgot quality control and Lab.”
Murray Cohen
Murray
Cohen
wrote, “It is difficult to imagine that more than 27 years have passed
since the final scene at APC. If it were not for the Alumni paper that
you fellows issue, all we would have is just our mental memories of
APC.”
Mike Damiano
Mike
Damiano
wrote, “Thank you for the two Museum passes. Yes, the stages were fond
memories. I remember walking on Main Stage to ‘Cohen’s Greasy Spoon
Café’. I shook hands with John Wayne,
Dana Andrews.
And, of course, many Hollywood stars did their bit on our stages. Great
times at APC.”
Henry Strano
From Henry Strano, “Hank called Les to find out how he was doing,
so we compared a few notes, as did Nina and Joy. Unfortunately, many of
the terms were unknown to a least 50% of our group. So, Joy suggests
that an Alumnus do a column in the News, entitled "APC's Alumni
Thesaurus of Ailments." Volunteers?”
Sam Polidoro,
Prod/Dir
Les Binger,
Editor
Named mentioned
in this February 1998 issue:
Mark Lewis
Herman 'Rich' Richards
Frank Little
Frank and Genevieve (Dorio)
Napolion
Charles Joshua
Anita Joshua
Doran Topolosky
Paul and Sandy Bue
Arthur Levy
Ken Smith
Tess Feder
Mrs. Terry Lightman
Eileen Sullivan
Austin Hay
Les Binger
Fred and Nan Parsons
Dick and Ann Hartsook
Nancy Topolosky
Paul Heller
Sgt Mario Iezzoni
Joe Kanner
Drs. Katz and Rosenstein
Neal Upchurch
Bob Grimes
Gae Faillace
Don Uhrbrock
Dick Zanuck
Murray Cohen
Mike Damiano
John Wayne
Dana Andrews
Henry Strano
Sam Polidoro
(Posted August 4, 2020.)
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