American Cinematographer - August 2019 - 36

A Storied History

The Clubhouse has long served as a gathering place for a wide range of activities, including hands-on
demonstrations of the latest tools of the trade.

the American Society of Cinematographers, stated its objectives
thusly:
"To advance the art and science
of cinematography, and to encourage,
foster and strive for excellence, artistic
perfection and scientific knowledge in
all matters pertaining to cinematography ... bringing into the closest confederation those leaders in the
cinematographic science whose achievements in that field entitle them to
membership in the Society ... maintaining the high standards set for themselves ... promoting the interest of all
who shall be called to membership ... to
the end that membership in this Society
may become a mark of honor and
distinction based on merit."
Their motto: Loyalty, Progress,
Artistry.
The next evening, on Dec. 22,
in the home of Fred LeRoy
Granville, the first ASC officers were
elected: Philip E. Rosen, president;
Charles Rosher, vice president;
Homer A. Scott, second vice president; William C. Foster, treasurer;
and Victor Milner, secretary.
On Jan. 8, 1919, the ASC was
August 2019

incorporated under California law
and received its charter, making it the
first professional organization of any
kind in the American motion-picture
industry. In this pursuit, the ASC has
served as the example for numerous
motion-picture guilds and organizations that have formed since. In
comparison, the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences was established in 1927, the Screen Actors
Guild in 1933, the Directors Guild of
America in 1936, and the Academy of
Television Arts & Sciences in 1946.
Most directly, the ASC inspired
the creation of cinematography societies around the world that would all
follow similar tenets, including the
British Society of Cinematographers
(BSC; founded in 1949), Canadian
Society of Cinematographers (CSC;
1957), Australian Cinematographers
Society (ACS; 1958), French Society of
Cinematographers (AFC; 1990),
Mexican Society of Cinematographers
(AMC; 1992) and Indian Society of
Cinematographers (ISC; 1995), among
many others.

ASC 100th Anniversary

More than 50 cinematographers
were invited to join the ASC in that
first year, and the first documented
appearance of the "ASC" credential in
a film's titles followed soon after, in
1920. The film was Sand, produced by
and starring William S. Hart - a
superstar of the era - and shot by
founding Society member Joseph H.
August. It was a tremendous boost to
the fledgling Society when Hart's
latest picture and its promotional
posters carried the credit line
"Photographed by Joe August, ASC."
After incorporating, the ASC
soon established offices within the
Markham Building on Hollywood
Blvd., at Cosmo Street. In 1924 the
Society moved into new headquarters
on the 12th floor at the Guaranty
Building at the corner of Hollywood
Boulevard and Ivar Avenue. At ASC
board meetings during the late 1920s
and early '30s, officers were often
compelled to pass the hat to collect
enough funds to cover staff salaries
and mortgage payments. That
changed in 1936 when the Society was
offered $20,000 (more than $350,000
today) to vacate the Guaranty

American Cinematographer - August 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - August 2019