Virgil Apger Art
American, 1903-1994
Virgil Apger (1903-1994)
Virgil Apger was born in Indiana on June 25, 1903. Apger interest in photography began when he was a child in Goodland, Idaho. His father, the local sheriff, took photographs of the town's criminals. In 1929 his brother-in-law, Eugene Robert Richee, who was head of the portrait gallery at Paramount, hired Apger as his assistant. Apger developed Richee's negatives, worked with the dryers, and made prints.
He assisted Richee for a time and then went to work for MGM in 1931 doing the same thing Richee had done for years. He was an assistant to Clarence Sinclair Bull for awhile. Soon Jean Harlow gave Apger his start as a production still photographer by requested him to shoot photos on "China Seas" (1935). He had already worked for the publicity department. From then on he shot the stills on all her films. "Doing stills was invaluable training for gallery work," Apger explained.
Apger's enthusiasm on the set made him extremely popular with the stars, and Greer Garson, whose films he worked on, requested him for her portait photographer.
He is noteworthy in Oscar history as well for being the only photographer to receive an Academy Award for "Mrs. Miniver" in 1942 for Best Production Still.
Later, he was put in charge of the portrait gallery in 1947 for MGM, superseding C. S. Bull in that department and for the next 20 years he shot all of their stars: Esther Williams, Clark Gable, Lana Turner, Greer Garson, Judy Garland, Robert Taylor, Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Kay Kendall, Stewart Granger, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor. Between 1948 and 1952, Apger had the distiction of having more magazine covers--among them, Life, Look and Photoplay--than all of the other photographers at all of the other studios combined.
He had a long career photographing stars on the set of great classics and as a portrait photographer, photographing many sexy shots of Ava Gardner in fishnet stockings and leotards. Gardner was one of his favorite subjects. Their work together is comparable to that of Hurrell's work with Crawford or that of Bull's work with Garbo but with more sexuality, glamour and a friendly sort of approachability.
Some of the many films he did still photography for are: "Spinout", "Bells Are Ringing", "That Forsyte Woman," "Julia Misbehaves", "A Date with Judy", "Homecoming", "Eyes in the Night," and the all time classic favorite, "The Wizard of Oz."
He also took photos of Debbie Reynolds, Bette Davis, Marlon Brando, Arlene Dahl, Ann Blyth, Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, and the Marx Brothers among others.
When Apger retired from his job as MGM's gallery portrait photographer in 1969, he had been there for 40 years. For twenty of those years he was the only gallery photographer on the lot.
He died at the ripe old age of 90 in San Diego, California on May 19, 1994.to
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Artist: Virgil Apger
Marilyn Monroe Monkey business
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EKtachrome Vintage 1953 .20x15cm
Category
1950s Modern Virgil Apger Art
Materials
Photographic Film
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Virgil Apger art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Virgil Apger art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Virgil Apger in film, photographic film, silver gelatin print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Virgil Apger art, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Clarence Sinclair Bull, Morris Engel, and Ed Feingersh. Virgil Apger art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $176 and tops out at $176, while the average work can sell for $176.