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P E R S P E C T I V E | M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 6 45 as president. The organization was already operating in its new headquarters building on Wilshire Boulevard, its television contract with the American Broadcasting Company had been in place for several years, and would continue for decades more. The US movie business was in the midst of a mild, yet decided, upswing during 1983, 1984 and I 985. The Academy was supporting additional programs, steadily augmenting its impact and the new Goldwyn Theater provided an invaluable stream of salutes, tributes, lectures and screenings. The Allen administration, as its particular stamp, justifiably placed a fresh emphasis upon art and design itself, and the Academy hosted a number of exhibitions, lectures and seminars regarding these important, entertaining subjects. Mr. Allen's energies, and veteran organizational ability, did nothing but continue the Academy's upward trend. He also traveled abroad on behalf of the Academy, under the aegis of the United States Information Agency, during his presidential terms, to China, as well as to various European nations, including those in the Eastern bloc. He was awarded the Torch of Freedom Award from the nation of Israel in 1983. Early in his Academy presidency, regarding the Margaret Herrick Library, he said: "We need more space and we're looking for a building." This sustained an ongoing search which culminated, several years later, in the Academy's Center for Motion Picture Study, located on La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills. In July 1985, Robert Wise was elected Academy President, and Gene Allen was elected his first vice president. That nothing earthshaking resulted during Mr. Allen's two presidential terms, is far more to his credit than not. It is no accident that Navy veteran Mr. Allen's lifelong avocation has been sailing. He is a man who comprehends the value of a firm hand on the tiller. His tenure as Academy President mirrored well his equally measured tenure at the Society of Motion Picture and Television Art Directors. He was a leader who fully expected to possess the power of change, yet also one who was measured in his use of that power. It must also be mentioned that Mr. Allen has, since his youth, possessed another career, which really was his first. He is a pictorial artist, a man with paintbrushes. His talents, earlier expressed largely via motion pictures, turned toward more personal expression during his productive retirement from movies. His paintings have been on display, in galleries and in residences, and the room in which An Oral History With Gene Allen took place was his sunny Newport Beach studio, lined with canvases completed, in progress, and those yet to be. It was a pleasure to speak with Mr. Allen. He is concise, focused, a good listener and an honest speaker, a man who enjoys some abstract analysis and even, upon occasion, well-grounded speculation. He is also cheerful. As fellow ex-Academy President Richard Kahn described him, he is "guileless, and that is a rarity in this business." With a life as described above, you might expect Mr. Allen to be within the tough-guy realm: a cop, sailor, union official. You would not be too surprised. He is tough, and these various endeavors have benefited from his toughness. Yet, he is not at all cynical. He is more fully a fair, loving fellow, an attentive husband, father and grandfather, a person who simply gives his all, without apology, yet with a graceful, wry sweetness. Truly, Mr. Allen has led a life of various and profound service to motion pictures, to those who labor in its vineyards, and of such service to society as a whole. I am proud and humbled to have counted Mr. Allen among my friends. ADG "It must also be mentioned that Mr. Allen has, since his youth, possessed another career, which really was his first. He is a pictorial artist, a man with paintbrushes. His talents, earlier expressed largely via motion pictures, turned toward more personal expression during his productive retirement from movies. His paintings have been on display, in galleries and in residences, and the room in which An Oral History With Gene Allen took place was his sunny Newport Beach studio, lined with canvases completed, in progress, and those yet to be."