Grey, Romer, 1909-1976
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 10 Collections and/or Records:
Claire Wilhelm collection on Grey family, approximately 1900-1956
This subseries contains photographs and postcards of Zane Grey, his siblings, Ellsworth, R. C. and Ida Grey, his wife, Lina Elise Grey, his children, Romer, Betty Zane and Loren Grey, and various other members of his family from approximately 1900 to 1956.
Zane Grey papers
The Zane Grey papers consist of correspondence, legal records, financial records, manuscripts, photographs, ephemera, and other materials. The papers document Zane Grey's personal life, career as an author, and fishing expeditions as well as materials about his wife Lina "Dolly" Grey and children, Romer, Betty Zane, and Loren dating from approximately 1890 to 1990.
Romer Grey photographs, approximately 1915-1980
Contains photograph documenting Romer Grey's family and life, mostly after the death of his father in 1939. It contains photographs of Romer Grey from when he was a child, with his wife, Octave "Bea" Grey, and with his son, Romer Grey III. It also documents his role in the Flying Sphynx Ranch, Zane Grey Trails, and his relationship with Margaret A. Ingram dating from approximately 1915 to 1980.
Zane Grey family photographs, approximately 1890-1943
This subseries contain photographs documenting Zane and Lina Elise Grey's family life. It contains portraits and casual photographs of family members, including Zane Grey's children, siblings, and parents. It also contains photographs of family gatherings outside the Grey homes in Altadena and Catalina, California dating from approximately 1890 to 1943.
Zane Grey miscellaneous photographs, approximately 1900-1960
This subseries contains unidentified or miscellaneous photographs dating from approximately 1900 to 1960. It contains photographs of actresses, people and places with an unknown connection to Zane Grey or his family.
Zane Grey photographs, approximately 1890-1960
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.
Zane Grey photographs of camping, approximately 1890-1940
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.
Zane Grey photographs of films, approximately 1925-1936
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.
Zane Grey photographs of fishing, approximately 1890-1940
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.
Zane Grey photographs of properties, approximately 1940-1955
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.