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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