Faxon M. Dean(1890-1965)
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Faxon M. Dean ASC was one of the earliest members of the American Society of Cinematographers. Throughout the 20's and 30's he principally worked for Jesse Lasky Productions. According to William Clothier (who became his assistant) he was the principal cinematographer on Paramount Pictures "WNGS" although many attribute the Akeley camera work to him. He remained an active member of the ASC and director of photography until the mid 1930's when he began building sound blimps and camera accessories that were very popular. Seeing that business profitable he took on associates including Mark Armistead and formed his own camera rental facility at 4516 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. During World War II John Ford formed the Navy Field Photographic Unit. Finding it difficult to secure camera equipment he spoke to Mark Armistead who persuaded Faxon Dean to rent equipment to the military and teach young cameramen going off to war. Mark Armistead took over the camera rental business for Faxon Dean, forming his own company that, for years, was on the Samuel Goldwyn Studios lot. Because of previous business John Ford and his cinematographers preferred equipment coming from Mark Armistead over the studio owned equipment.
Much of Faxon Dean's work has been forgotten but his relationship with cinematographers and directors of that era foreshadowed the style of business that Panavision developed in the 1950's.
Saxon Dean retired in Sunnyvale California and passed away in 1965 at 74 years of age.