A. L. Whitey Schafer

At Columbia Schaefer photographed Rita Hayworth for more than five years.  When he photographed her, she was still known as 'the girl down the street' in several movies.  The studio realized that Hayworth had the potential to become something dynamic, but they weren't sure if she would be their Ann Sheridan or their Hedy Lamarr.  Hayworth had the physical presence of Sheridan--her body's energy and thrust were American--but the facial expression--withdrawn, languid, enigmatic--was European.  Both strains are apparent but not yet connected.  But Hayworth emerged.  She is American vitality combined with European allure.  With Hayworth the studio broke through and created for the first time an American exotic--Wedekind's 'Lulu' without the final sting.

A. L. Whitey Schafer, who had been in the top position at Columbia, went on to replace Eugene Robert Richee at Paramount.  During Schafer's first years at Paramount he took most of Veronica Lake's portraits, and at the beginning of the next decade worked with many new stars, such as Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift when they made 'A Place in the Sun', before his death in 1951.

(Excellent article:  Popular Science Feb. 1943 Vol. 142 No. 2--get it on ebay or amazon if you can. It's an article on photography by him).

Here is a excellent link to the man and shows his 'most' famous photo:

http://ladailymirror.com/2013/11/04/mary-mallory-hollywood-heights-mdash-a-l-whitey-schafer-simplifies-portraits/

Here are a sample of his great works of art:

Hedy Lamarr

Veronica Lake

Elizabeth Taylor

Rita Hayworth

Loretta Young

Marlene Dietrich

Joan Crawford

Dietrich again

Constance Bennett

Lucille Ball

Fay Wray: top and bottom

Maureen O'Sullivan

Shirley Temple

Back of Temple photo showing his famous stamp.

A different stamp

Whitey smiling at work with some sexy legs.

The Classics and "Ginger Rogers" photographer John Miehle

John Miehle was born on August 7, 1902 in Los Angeles, California.   Being born so close to Hollywood Miehle went to work as an assistant camera man on the 1931 movie "Delicious" starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. 

He then worked exclusively in the Camera and Electrical Department doing uncredited still photography on some of the best known films, such as "What Price Hollywood?," "Rain," "Little Women," "Top Hat," "Kitty Foyle," "Rope" and "Portrait of Jennie."

He photographed many of the greats as well including Constance Bennett, Joan Crawford, Irene Dunne, Ginger Rogers, Ann Harding, William Powell, Joel McCrea, Katherine Hepburn, Joan Bennett, Delores Del Rio, Randolph Scott, James Stewart, Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, Ruth Hussey, Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymoore, Laraine Day, Franchot Tone, Ann Blyth, Farley Granger, and Dana Andrews.

He did many films with the great Ginger Rogers including many with Fred Astaire, and he worked on two Hitchcock films, "Rope" and "The Paradine Case."

The film "Portrait of Jennie" was a flop at the time but has become a famous classic in the fantasy romance genre.  He did many fine photos for the film.

In addition, he did many publicity shots of such stars as Carole Lombard, Marilyn Monroe, and Lucille Ball.

He died at the young age of 49 on February 19, 1952 in Los Angeles, California.

As usual, when I find more on any of the photographer's listed, I will add the new information on each one. 

Here are some examples of his work:

Barbara Stanwyck

Carole Lombard

Many great images of Joan Crawford for "Rain."

 

 

The many faces of Ginger Rogers.

 

 

 

Dancing alone and with Fred Astaire above.

 

Shirley Temple and her newborn.

 

Jean Arthur

 

Jennifer Jones

Lucille Ball

Marilyn Monroe

Gloria Swanson

 

Alida Valli

 

Hitch directing "The Paradine Case."

 

Two copies of his stamp.