Biography
RAGUSE, ELMER (Elmer Roy Raguse) Born May 9, 1901, Springfield, Massachusetts. A ham radio enthusiast at 16, Raguse was a chief telegraph
operator on ships for the Marconi Wireless Company before joining the phonograph record industry in 1924. He designed the first electrical recording system for Bell Telephone and installed it for Columbia Records and the Victor Talking Machine Company, which hired him as Assistant Supervisor of Recording; Raguse designed and built portable recording equipment used by Victor around the world. In 1928, Elmer supervised the recording of music and effects scores for the last of the L&H and Our Gang silents at Victor’s studios in Camden, New Jersey. He was sent to the Roach studios in Culver City to install sound recording equipment, and also insulate and redesign the stages. Raguse worked on 30 L&H films, sometimes without credit, and also recorded the sound for most of the foreign-language pictures. He remained as chief sound engineer until Henry Ginsberg fired him in a cost-cutting move in December 1931. Raguse worked at Fox and for radio producer C.P. MacGregor until Roach rehired him in January 1934; he remained there through 1957. He then worked for Desilu and finally returned to theatrical films with 20th Century-Fox. He retired to Florida in 1967. His work on Topper, Of Mice and Men, and other films earned him five Oscar nominations for sound recording and two for special effects. Elmer’s brother Roy and nephew Richard also worked at the Roach studio. Died of heart failure March 2, 1972, Palm Beach, Florida; age 70.
Filmography
all 43
Movies 43
The Reward (1965)
Von Ryan's Express (1965)
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! (1965)
The Pleasure Seekers (1964)
Goodbye Charlie (1964)
What a Way to Go! (1964)
Shock Treatment (1964)
Move Over, Darling (1963)
Inner Sanctum (1948)
Topper Returns (1941)
Way Out West (1937)
General Spanky (1936)
The Chimp (1932)
Any Old Port! (1932)
The Tabasco Kid (1932)
Helpmates (1932)
Hasty Marriage (1931)
Dogs Is Dogs (1931)
One Good Turn (1931)
Come Clean (1931)
Pardon Us (1931)
Haunted at Midnight (1931)
The Pip from Pittsburg (1931)
Chickens Come Home (1931)
Thundering Tenors (1931)
Another Fine Mess (1930)
Night of Goblins (1930)
The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case (1930)
Hog Wild (1930)
Bear Shooters (1930)
The Night Life (1930)
When the Wind Blows (1930)
Brats (1930)
The First Seven Years (1930)
Blotto (1930)
Shivering Shakespeare (1930)
Moan & Groan, Inc. (1929)
Bouncing Babies (1929)
Boxing Gloves (1929)
Lazy Days (1929)
Men O'War (1929)
Railroadin' (1929)
Small Talk (1929)
Ratings
Information
Known ForSound
GenderMale
Birthday1901-05-09
Deathday1972-03-02 (70 years old)
Birth PlaceSpringfield, Massachusetts, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known As E.R. Raguse , E. Raguse , Elmer A. Raguse , Elmer R. Raguse , Elmer Roguse, Elmer Roy Raguse
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