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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 2 Collections and/or Records:

Zane Grey legal records, 1924-1937

 Series — Box 2: Series 1; Series 2; Series 3 [Barcode: 31197233647665], Folder: 6-10
Identifier: MSS 8316 Series 2
Scope and Contents This series contains legal records, copyright assignments and property records for Zane and Lina Elise Grey dating from 1924 to 1937. It includes legal correspondence regarding royalties, creditor settlements, accusations of plagerism, relations with film companies, and other legal matters relating to Zane and Lina Elise Grey. It also includes assignments of copyrights, a list of published works with dates of publication and copyright registration numbers, correspondence regarding land...
Dates: 1924-1937

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