Lydecker brothers

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Howard Lydecker
Born 8 June 1911
Havana, Cuba
Died 26 September 1969
Cause of death Cerebral hemorrhage
Other names "Babe"
Occupation Special Effects
Employers Republic Pictures

Howard and Theodore Lydecker, always known - and billed - as such, were Howard "Babe" Lydecker (8 June 1911-26 September 1969) and Theodore Lydecker (7 November 1908-25 May 1990), a special effects team primarily working as contract staff members of Republic Pictures. They are best remembered as the producers and photographers of some of the best miniature effects of their time.

They both worked at Republic from its creation in 1935 until the company could no longer afford to maintain full-time contract players and behind-the-camera artists in the middle 1950s, after which they went freelance and found themselves in significant demand for both film and television work. Their miniature effects made Republic serials the best for visual effects, far outstripping their competitors at Universal (where special effects maestro John P. Fulton was forbidden from working on serials) and Columbia Pictures. Their success came from building large, detailed models and filming them in natural light, often in forced perspective to create realistic impressions that they were in fact life-size in relation to other objects and people in a shot, instead of the small models used by others, and the use of slow motion to give the models the appearance of realistic weight when in motion.[1] For instance, in The Adventures of Captain Marvel, the visuals of Captain Marvel flying appear to be an actual man in flight, not a matted or superimposed image.

They were nominated for an Best Visual Effects Oscar in 1941 for "Women in War" and Howard was nominated again in 1943 for Flying Tigers.

Later they worked in feature films and Irwin Allen productions such as Lost in Space and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. In 1966 Howard won the Emmy for "Individual Achievement In Cinematography" with L. B. Abbott for Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. [2]

Theodore Lydecker
Born 7 November 1908
Englewood, New Jersey Flag of the United States United States
Died 25 May 1990
Occupation Special Effects
Employers Republic Pictures

[edit] Partial Filmography

[edit] References

  1. ^ Howard & Theodore Lydecker: Miniature Effects Geniuses, retrieved 10/04/07
  2. ^ Emmy Awards Individual Achievements In Cinematography, retrieved 10/04/07

[edit] External links

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Republic serials
Pre-war Serials
(1936-1942)
War-time Serials
(1942-1945)
Post-war Serials
(1945-1955)
The Phantom Rider • King of the Forest Rangers • Daughter of Don Q • The Crimson Ghost • Son of Zorro • Jesse James Rides Again • The Black Widow • G-Men Never Forget • Dangers of the Canadian Mounted • Adventures of Frank and Jesse James • Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc • Ghost of Zorro • King of the Rocket Men • The James Brothers of Missouri • Radar Patrol vs Spy King • The Invisible Monster • Desperadoes of the West • Flying Disc Man from Mars • Don Daredevil Rides Again • Government Agents vs Phantom Legion • Radar Men from the Moon • Zombies of the Stratosphere • Jungle Drums of Africa • Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe • Canadian Mounties vs Atomic Invaders • Trader Tom of the China Seas • Man with the Steel Whip • Panther Girl of the Kongo • King of the Carnival
Actors and Actresses
Stunt Performers
Production Crew
See also