American Cinematographer - March 2012 - 79

In Memoriam
Torben Johnke, ASC, a Clio Awardwinning cinematographer who shot more than 2,000 commercials in addition to features, shorts and documentaries, died Dec. 25, 2011, at the age of 89. Johnke was born on April 5, 1922, in Copenhagen, Denmark. His interest in photography was sparked when he inherited a camera from his brother, and he followed his growing passion through to the Robertson School of Photography and the Danish Polytechnic University, where he studied photochemistry and optics. He also earned a Master of Photography degree from the Copenhagen Institute of Technology. Johnke worked as an apprentice to cameraman Hans Robertson before forming his own company, Illustra Films, in 1943. Illustra produced commercials, shorts and animation. In a 2008 conversation with AC, Johnke recalled his time at Illustra: “I contacted Technicolor in London to rent a successive-frame Technicolor camera. They were unable to provide one, but they sent me the blueprints for the construction of one. In an antique store, I managed to find a camera built by Pathé in 1905. Using it as a basis, I built a successive-frame camera, photographed a cartoon and sent the negative to London, where it was processed and returned with comments about the excellent quality of the negative.” By 1948, Johnke felt ready for a change. “I had the urge to get out and see the world,” he told AC. “I arrived in New York in the spring of 1948 and planned to go straight to Hollywood, but friends convinced me to stay. At that time, very few features were produced in New York, but there was work on independent productions of many kinds. Fortunately, I had a 35mm sample reel that gave me an entry to

Torben Johnke, ASC, 1922-2011
New York production houses. I was soon working on industrials, documentaries, independent features and a variety of TV projects. Then came TV commercials, which have dominated a great deal of my career.” Johnke’s growing body of work attracted attention in Hollywood, and in 1956, Ray Fernstrom, ASC recommended Johnke for ASC membership. Johnke was voted into the Society on Sept. 10, 1956. Graciously accepting the honor, he wrote to the Board of Governors, “I am very proud and pleased at this occasion, and I shall always do my best to be a good member of your organization.” Around the same time, Johnke served as vice president of Astor Pictures Corp., where he produced and shot the opera pictures La Traviata and Cavalleria Rusticana, both of which were photographed in Eastmancolor. Johnke held successive positions as a staff cinematographer at Robert Lawrence Productions, E.U.E. Screen Gems and TeleVideo Inc. In 1962, he revived Illustra, opening facilities in New York and at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios in Hollywood. In 1968, he took a job as staff cinematographer for M.P.O. of California. In 1973, Johnke moved to Toronto, Canada, to work for Glen Warren Productions, and he lived in that area for the rest of his life. He taught cinematography at Ryerson University’s School of Image Arts. He also co-created and co-produced the educational video series Craft of Cinematography. Johnke is survived by his son, Erik, and three grandchildren. — Jon D. Witmer ●

Photo courtesy of Erik Johnke.

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American Cinematographer - March 2012

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