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Grey, Romer, 1909-1976

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1909 - 1976

Biographical History

Romer Grey (1909-1976) was the oldest son of Zane and Lina Elise Grey, a producer, writer, and executive of Zane Grey Inc. and Romer Grey Inc.

Romer Zane Grey was born on October 1, 1909 at Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania. Romer followed in the footsteps of his father in many ways including with his love of the outdoors and with his career pursuits. He contributed to his father’s work on occasion by suggesting ideas for books including Western Union, and characters such as Tex Thorne. He is also accredited with writing the "Big Little Books," which were his father's stories, but composed by Romer. He would later write various western novels, many of which included aspects of and characters used by his father. He also spent a lot of time on fishing expeditions with his father, which gave him the expertise to write two books on fishing. From 1930 to 1931, he pursued a career in animation employing many of the most prominent animators of the era. Despite creating the character of Binky the Bear-Cub, the studio never took off and little is remaining.

Romer married Dorothy Chasen in 1930 and had one child before they divorced, and was married another three times during his life. He served in the Pacific in World War II as a pilot and acted as president of Zane Grey, Inc. He built his own company entitled Romer Grey, Inc. but always found it difficult to live in the shadow of his father and was never able to break free from that feeling. He died on March 8, 1976 at Pasadena, California.

Citation:
His The cruise of the "Fisherman," 1929.

His The other side of the canyon, 1981: ǂb t.p. (Romer Zane Grey)

Wikipedia, website viewed Sept. 29, 2011 (Romer Grey; oldest son of Zane and Lina Elise Grey, a producer, writer, and executive of Zane Grey Inc. and Romer Grey Inc.; born, 1 October 1909 at Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania; contributed to his father’s work on occasion by suggesting ideas for books including Western Union, and characters such as Tex Thorne; accredited with writing “Big Little Books”; wrote various western novels; fishing expeditions with his father; married Dorothy Chasen, 1930; had one child before they divorced; married another three times; served in the Pacific in World War II as a pilot; acted as president of Zane Grey, Inc.; built Romer Grey, Inc.; died, 8 March 1976 at Pasadena, California.)

www.awn.com/articles/profiles/lost-studio-romer-grey/page/1%2C1, website viewed Sept. 29, 2011 (pursued a career in animation employing many of the most prominent animators of the era, 1930-1931; created Binky the Bear-Cub, the studio never took off and little is remaining)

Found in 37 Collections and/or Records:

Zane Grey photographs, approximately 1890-1960

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8316 Series 6
Scope and Contents

This series contains photographs documenting Zane Grey's family, fishing and camping expeditions, and properties. It contains photographs that document his trips to the Western United States that inspired his novels, and fishing trips that inspired his tales of fishing dating from approximately 1890 to 1960.

Dates: approximately 1890-1960

Zane Grey photographs of camping, approximately 1890-1940

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 8316 Series 6 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

This subseries contains photographs documenting camping expeditions and trips in the American West and abroad. It contains photographs of Zane Grey hunting lions and bears, at Betatakin, the Glass Mountains, Death Valley, Rainbow Bridge, the Grand Canyon, and various other locations in Utah, Arizona, Idaho, and California. It also contains photographs at Winkle Bar, the Tonto Basin, Rogue River, Bateman's Bay in Australia, and others dating from approximately 1890 to 1940.

Dates: approximately 1890-1940

Zane Grey photographs of films, approximately 1925-1936

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 8316 Series 6 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

This subseries contains photographs of the actresses and crew from the films based on the Zane Grey novels entitled WILD HORSE MESA and WHITE DEATH, dating from approximately 1925-1936.

Dates: approximately 1925-1936

Zane Grey photographs of fishing, approximately 1890-1940

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 8316 Series 6 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

This subseries contains photographs documenting Zane Grey's fishing expeditions and achievements. It contains photographs of fishing on the Lackawaxen River, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Nova Scotia, California, Oregon, and other places. Many of the photographs document experiences that were used in Zane Grey's fishing tales and date from approximately 1890 to 1940.

Dates: approximately 1890-1940

Zane Grey photographs of properties, approximately 1940-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 8316 Series 6 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

This subseries contains photographs documenting the properties of Zane Grey. It includes photographs of the interiors and exteriors of their homes in Altadena and Catalina, California, dating from approximately 1940 to 1955.

Dates: approximately 1940-1955

Zane Grey property records, 1926-1937

 Sub-Series — Box 2: Series 1; Series 2; Series 3 [Barcode: 31197233647665], Folder: 10
Identifier: MSS 8316 Series 2 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

The subseries contains a letter between Lina Elise Grey and George G. Schutt regarding Grey land on Long Key, a letter between Lina Elise Grey and Bernice Campbell Cleary confirming an agreement for money owed to Cleary, and a trust deed granting a property known as the Grogan Tract to Lina Elise Grey from Betty Zane Grey, dating from 1926 to 1937.

Dates: 1926-1937

Zane Grey publishing correspondence, 1904-1938

 Sub-Series — Box 1: Series 1 [Barcode: 31197233647673], Folder: 11-16
Identifier: MSS 8316 Series 1 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

This subseries contains correspondence regarding the publishing of Zane Grey works from 1904 to 1938. It includes early letters from publishers rejecting Zane Grey's manuscripts, correspondence with Harper & Bros. after signing a deal with Zane Grey, and correspondence with various other publishers that published works of Zane Grey in book or magazine article form.

Dates: 1904-1938