Hal Gordon Gausman (November 13, 1917 - June 10, 2003) was an American set decorator. He was nominated for five

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

in the category

Best Art Direction The Academy Award for Best Production Design recognizes achievement for art direction in film. The category's original name was Best Art Direction, but was changed to its current name in 2012 for the 85th Academy Awards. This change resulted fro ...

Biography

Gausman was born in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

in 1917, as the second son to Harvey Elwood Gausman (1886–1944) and his wife, Maude F. Coffy. His older brother was Harvey Elwood Gausman, Jr. (1913–1981). Gausman married in 1947, and moved to Oxnard, California. He was hired by

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

in 1961, to be the set decorator for ''

The Absent-Minded Professor ''The Absent-Minded Professor'' is a 1961 American science fiction comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and based on the short story "A Situation of Gravity" by Samuel W. Taylor, originally published in the May 22, 1943 issue of ''Li ...

''. Having done set decorations for films since 1952, Gausman took the offer, and since then has done set decorations for films including ''

Mary Poppins It may refer to: * ''Mary Poppins'' (book series), the original 1934–1988 children's fantasy novels that introduced the character. * Mary Poppins (character), the nanny with magical powers. * ''Mary Poppins'' (film), a 1964 Disney film sta ...

'', '' Bedknobs and Broomsticks'', ''

Escape to Witch Mountain ''Escape to Witch Mountain'' is a science fiction novel written by Alexander Key in 1968. It was adapted for film by Disney as ''Escape to Witch Mountain'' in 1975 which spawned the ''Witch Mountain'' franchise. The novel was illustrated by L ...

'', '' Back to the Future'' and '' Jaws: The Revenge''. Gausman retired from set decorations in 1989, and died at home on June 10, 2003. He was 85 years old.

Selected filmography

Gausman was nominated for five Academy Awards for Best Art Direction: * ''

'' (1961) * ''

'' (1964) * '' Bedknobs and Broomsticks'' (1971) * ''

The Island at the Top of the World ''The Island at the Top of the World'' is a 1974 American live-action lost world fantasy adventure film directed by Robert Stevenson (director), Robert Stevenson and produced by Winston Hibler. It was released by Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney ...

'' (1974) * '' The Untouchables'' (1987) Additional film credits include: * ''

Animal House ''National Lampoon's Animal House'' is a 1978 American comedy film directed by John Landis and written by Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney and Chris Miller. It stars John Belushi, Peter Riegert, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Verna Bloom, Thomas Hu ...

'' (1978) * ''

The Blues Brothers The Blues Brothers are an American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by comedians Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on ''Saturday Night Live''. Belushi and Aykroyd fronted the band, in character, respective ...

'' (1980) * '' Back to the Future'' (1985) * '' Jaws: The Revenge'' (1987)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gausman, Hal 1917 births 2003 deaths American set decorators