Hyman "Hy" Hirsh (October 11, 1911, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania â€"
November 1961, Paris, France), was an American photographer and
experimental filmmaker. He is regarded as a visual music filmmaker, as
well as one of the first filmmakers to use electronic imagery (filmed
oscilloscope patterns) in a film.Hy Hirsh was born in 1911 to Russian
immigrants Max and Olga Hirsh. The family moved to Southern California
in 1916 where Hy Hirsh developed an interest in filmmaking and
photography. At age 19 he began working in Hollywood and was employed
by Columbia Studios from 1930 to 1936 as a cameraman and still
photographer. He began side work as an art photographer in 1932 and
had his first solo exhibition in 1935.In 1936 Hirsh was employed as a
photographer by President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration,
and in 1937 he turned to avant-garde cinema, playing a comic role in
the satirical experimental film, Evenâ€"As You And I. In 1937, Hirsh
moved to San Francisco where he became the official photographer for
both the California Palace of the Legion of Honor and the M. H. de
Young Memorial Museum, where he photographed artwork, processed film
and made prints. He also discreetly used the museum's darkroom for his
own artistic pursuits until he left the museum in 1954.
November 1961, Paris, France), was an American photographer and
experimental filmmaker. He is regarded as a visual music filmmaker, as
well as one of the first filmmakers to use electronic imagery (filmed
oscilloscope patterns) in a film.Hy Hirsh was born in 1911 to Russian
immigrants Max and Olga Hirsh. The family moved to Southern California
in 1916 where Hy Hirsh developed an interest in filmmaking and
photography. At age 19 he began working in Hollywood and was employed
by Columbia Studios from 1930 to 1936 as a cameraman and still
photographer. He began side work as an art photographer in 1932 and
had his first solo exhibition in 1935.In 1936 Hirsh was employed as a
photographer by President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration,
and in 1937 he turned to avant-garde cinema, playing a comic role in
the satirical experimental film, Evenâ€"As You And I. In 1937, Hirsh
moved to San Francisco where he became the official photographer for
both the California Palace of the Legion of Honor and the M. H. de
Young Memorial Museum, where he photographed artwork, processed film
and made prints. He also discreetly used the museum's darkroom for his
own artistic pursuits until he left the museum in 1954.
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