Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/407863
72 CINEMONTAGE / NOV-DEC 14 LARRY HEATH FILM EDITOR NOVEMBER 14, 1925 – AUGUST 16, 2014 Film Editor Larry Heath passed away August 16, 2014 at the age of 88. He was born November 14, 1925, in Bellerose, New York. His father Frank Heath worked in the silent film industry at the Vitagraph Studios in Brooklyn and the Astoria Studios in Queens. In 1935, Larry's father began working as an assistant director at the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. In 1943, Larry began working at Warner Bros. Studios in film shipping, as a new member of the Society of Motion Picture Film Editors (SMPFE). In November 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army. Assigned to the 69th Infantry Division and dispatched to Europe, Larry was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Infantryman's badge, in which he took great pride. In 1944, while in Europe, Larry received notification that the SMPFE had become IATSE Local 776, Motion Picture Film Editors, as members of the society had voted to join the IATSE that August. Returning home in May of 1946, Larry began working in the editorial department of RKO Studios. On November 27, 1947, he married Raylene Spencer, daughter of Tim Spencer — a founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers, a Western singing group that included Roy Rogers. While Larry's career began working on motion pictures, he transitioned into television and was a pioneer in the new industry. He became a sound editor on early television programs such as The Buster Keaton Show and Beulah with Hattie McDaniel. In the early 1950s, he became a member of the editorial staff on The Burns and Allen Show. Starting as an assistant film editor, Larry moved up to sound editor and then film editor. He also became editorial department head of McCadden Productions, supervising the editing on Burns and Allen as well as I Married Joan and The Bob Cummings Show. In Larry's editing career, he edited numerous television shows, pilots and feature films. After Burns and Allen, he edited PASSAGES Hennesey with Jackie Cooper. In the 1960s, he edited The Fugitive, The New Breed and Gilligan's Island. In the 1970s, he worked on Rhoda and Angie, and cut the feature film Billy Jack. The 1980s brought Larry to Universal Studios, where he edited House Calls and eight seasons of Simon & Simon. Larry retired from the film industry in 1990. Larry and Raylene lived in Burbank, raising six children. Larry is survived by his son John, a film editor (and 40-year Guild member), TV producer and director, along with his wife Patty; and son David (a 32-year Guild member), currently an editorial department head (content versioning department) at Universal Studios, along with his wife Bonnie. Larry is also survived by his daughter Mary Strawser and sons Larry, Jr. and Tim. He was predeceased by his fifth child Joseph, an attorney in Long Beach, who passed away in April 2014. Above: Larry Heath, right, with George Burns. Left: Larry Heath, left, with Jackie Cooper. IN MEMORIAM F. ARNOLD BAKER Film Editor (August 11, 1928 – June 29, 2014) 46 years as a member OSCAR "PETE" DENENBERG Assistant Editor (April 1, 1927 – September 13, 2014) 61 years as a member LAWRENCE HEATH Film Editor (November 14,1925 – August 16, 2014) 71 years as a member ELIZABETH "LIZA" MCDONALD Film Editor (October 4, 1949 – September 3, 2014) 20 years as a member WILLIAM E. PETTITE Librarian (January 31, 1961 – September 16, 2014) 20 years as a member MARIA M. PROCTOR Lab Film Technician (June 19, 1942 – April 22, 2013) 46 years as a member SAMUEL REYNOLDS Sound Editor (October 19, 1923 – July 29, 2014) 54 years as a member CRAIG T. ROSEVEAR Sound Editor (July 5, 1959 – August 9, 2014) 17 years as a member MURRAY SCHAFFER Sound Editor (November 5, 1919 – August 17, 2006) 53 years as a member