Gene Callahan

Early April, 1988, Gene called Hub Braden, to discuss that he had been asked to design "Steel Magnolias" with Herbert Ross directing, filming the movie on location in Natchitoches, Louisianna. Putting together his art department package, Gene called Lee Poll to be his set decorator. Gene advised Hub that when the production manager called, to discuss the location rate for Hub's art direction weekly fee, to not agree with a low priced fee! When Hub and the production manager connected on the telephone, Hub asked for $6,000.00 a week! An hour afterwards, Gene called from Natchotiches, with his opening line, "When did you go CRAZY?" (Beat...) "I am not getting anything close to that pay!" Hub replied, "you said not to sell out by going ... cheap!" Settling on a weekly rate, Hub joined Gene at the Natchitoches Holiday Inn, with an expensive Hertz large car rental, a "Chrysler Town Car", the largest available at the Shreeveport air terminal. Instructed by Gene, "don't get a small car! We need a big car to carry everyone who arrives for scouting and going to dinner!" The "dark cherry maroon" carriage was used for three months, until the movie's transportation captain arrived with the show's fleet of vehicles.

Gene Callahan performed a cameo role as the tugboat captain in his 1968 film "Funny Girl". Gene's physical build and appearance (a distinctive beard) often had him cast by his director in a cameo role. Like Alfred Hitchcock, if Gene liked the producer and director, he would agree to perform in the film in a small cameo, otherwise, he would decline the proposal. Producer Ray Stark and Gene Callahan were always on the set during the "Funny Girl" filming. Ray made Gene agree to perform the tugboat captain while the scene was filmed at sea to keep Gene, available, on set.

In June, 1964, after winning his first AMPAS production design-art direction Oscar, the New York IATSE #829 Scenic Designers and Artists' Board of Directors and guild "invited" Gene Callahan to join their membership, stipulating, he must present his port-folio of drawings, drafting, sketches and set designs. Gene had Elia Kazan's New York office deliver the six reels of the "America, America" feature film to the union office.

Callahan's association with Dick Sylbert's film production design assignments, as his "set decorator", enabled a long close working relationship with director Elia Kazan. Kazan hired Gene to be his Production Designer for his 1963 film "America, America", which is Gene's first 'art director' credit in Gene's biography of film work. The film, also, is Gene's first Academy of Motion Picture "Oscar" for "Art Direction". After accepting his Oscar, the New York Scenic Designer's Union #829 notified Gene that he had to join their union membership, which also dictated the union's initiation and membership fee and dues; Gene was notified that the initiation requirement expected him to provide his portfolio for the membership admission panel's review. Gene had Kazan's office deliver the "America, America" film reels to the #829 union offices.

He was a set decorator and production designer, known for The Hustler (1961), Steel Magnolias (1989) and Grease 2 (1982).

Elia Kazan (Sept 7, 1909-Sept 2, 2003, age 94), producer and director, hired identical twin brothers, born April 16, 1928, Richard "Dick" (deceased March 23, 2002, age 74) and twin brother Paul Sylbert as his "Baby Doll" production scenic designers and art directors, both sharing art director credit. The Sylbert twins had primarily been working in New York City's live television production as IATSE #829 scenic designers and set decorators. The Sylbert twins had Kazan hire their fellow New York City CBS television studio set decorator Gene Callahan (Nov 7, 1923-Dec 26, 1990, age 67 cancer), who joined them in Benoit, Mississippi to scout local locations and prep the film's primary plantation house location. Consulting and working with Elia Kazan, Gene and the Sylbert twins shared their film designing duties. Knowing of Gene Callahan's Louisiana heritage, Gene was the perfect choice to decorate the squalid run down plantation house interiors and plantation sight exteriors. Gene found the "baby doll" iron bed in a local antique shop, which became a featured prop in the film's set and playbill advertisements. The Sylbert twins and Gene were always on the film set with Kazan and his cinema photographer, during cast/camera rehearsal blocking shot, subsequent filming, on every set up. This was a natural condition to a television art department team, being a part of the cast and crew rehearsal and filming schedule, day and night. When not with the film crew, they would be preparing the next scene/film shot for the company move. Upon completion of the Mississippi filming, Gene took the "iron Baby Doll bed" back with him to New York City, placing the bed in his spacious and large West Side apartment's living room, a conversation piece! Kazan relied on Gene's Southern upbringing and scene interpretation in his rehearsals and scene motivation. This professional "Baby Doll" film relationship and experience secured the Sylbert's and Callahan's future alliance with Elia Kazan's future creative film assignments. Elia Kazan took Gene to Istanbul, Turkey and Athens, Greece, as his production designer for the 1963 location film "America, America." Gene Callahan won the 1963 Academy Award for Best Art Direction Black-and-White for his painstakingly accurate scenic set designs.

Gene Callahan was born on November 7, 1923 in Louisiana, USA.