Ray Mala (1906-1952) is the First Native American Movie Star and is the most prolific film star that the State of Alaska has thus far produced. He starred in MGM's Academy Award winning "Eskimo/Mala The Magnificent" produced by the legendary Irving Thalberg and directed by Woody Van Dyke. "Eskimo" won the First Oscar ever for Best Film Editing at the Academy Awards in 1935. There is only one beginning of the Academy Awards... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,854 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... Irving Grant Thalberg (May 30, 1899 - September 14, 1936) was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. ... Woodbridge Woody Strong Van Dyke II (March 21, 1889 - February 5, 1943) was an American film director. ... The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ... The Academy Award for Film Editing was first given for films issued in 1934. ... The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ...

History

Alaska

Ray Mala was born in Candle, Alaska during a very unique period in Alaskan history. At that time Alaska was still a territory of the United States and very much still a mystery to the rest of America. In 1921 an explorer named Capitain Frank Kleinschmidt went to Alaska on an expedition to film a picture called "Primitive Love" in which Mala makes his film debut at age 16. Not only does Mala act in front of the camera but he serves as a cameraman as well for the picture. From here young Mala accompanied Knud Rasmussen, the Danish Arctic explorer and writer on his trip called "The Great Sled Journey" from 1921 to 1924 to collect and describe Inuit songs and legends as the official cameraman. Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,854 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... Knud Johan Victor Rasmussen (June 7, 1879–December 21, 1933) was a Greenlandic polar explorer and anthropologist. ...

Hollywood

In 1925 Mala made his way to Hollywood and got a job as a cameraman with Fox Studios. Not long after Mala landed his first lead role in "Igloo" for Universal Pictures. "Igloo" was a success and led to his being cast as the lead in MGM's "Eskimo/Mala the Magnificent". Louis B. Mayer sent Director Woody Van Dyke to Alaska to film with an all Alaska Native Cast. "Eskimo" was produced by the legendary Irving Thalberg. "Eskimo/Mala the Magnificent" premiered to much fanfare at the famed Astor Theatre in Times Square, New York in 1934 and was a huge success. "Eskimo" was billed as "The Biggest Picture Ever Made" by MGM. "Eskimo" won the First Oscar Ever for Best Film Editing at the Academy Awards. MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Woodbridge Woody Strong Van Dyke II (March 21, 1889 - February 5, 1943) was an American film director. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,854 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,854 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... Irving Grant Thalberg (May 30, 1899 - September 14, 1936) was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. ... MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... OSCAR is an acronym for Orbital Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. ... The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ...

Image File history File links Astor_Theatre. ...

Mala gained International Stardom following "Eskimo" and as a result MGM cast Mala as the lead in "Last of the Pagans" (1935). "Last of the Pagans" was written by John Farrow (Mia Farrow's father) and directed by Richard Thorpe. "Last of the Pagans" was filmed entirely on location in Tahiti and performed respectably at the box office. Mala's next big role came in "The Jungle Princess (1936)" which launched Dorothy Lamour's career (she went on to co-star with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in the wildly popular "Road To...." movies). According to the book "The Paramount Story", "The Jungle Princess was a huge success and was a whopping money maker for the studio". He also starred as himself in Republic Pictures' "Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island" (1936) which was one of the first serials the studio had ever made. Mala co-starred with Herman Brix in Republic's "Hawk of the Wilderness" (1938) which many consider of of the top 10 best serials ever made. Other notable films include "Green Hell" (1940) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" (1940), Cecil B. DeMille's "Union Pacific" (1939), "Son of Fury" (1942) starring Tyrone Power, "The Tuttles of Tahiti" (1942) starring Academy Award winner Charles Laughton, and many other films of Hollywood's Golden Era. MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... John Farrow was an award-winning film director, producer and screenwriter, born John N.B. Villiers-Farrow on February 10, 1904 in Sydney, Australia. ... Farrow on the cover of Glamour, 1968 Mia Farrow (born Maria de Lourdes Villiers-Farrow on February 9, 1945), is an American actress. ... Richard Thorpe (February 24, 1896 - May 1, 1991) was an American film director. ... We dont have an article called The Jungle Princess Start this article Search for The Jungle Princess in. ... Dorothy Lamour (December 10, 1914 – September 22, 1996) was an American motion picture actress, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, died in Hollywood, California. ... Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), born Leslie Townes Hope, was a famous British-born American entertainer who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, on radio and television, in movies, and in performing tours for U.S. Military personnel. ... Harry Lillis Bing Crosby (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer and actor whose career lasted from 1926 until his death in 1977. ... Look up Paramount on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Paramount can refer to: Paramount, California, a city in Los Angeles County Paramount Pictures, a motion picture company Paramount Records, a record label United Paramount Network (UPN), a television network in the United States, owned by Viacom Inc. ... We dont have an article called The Jungle Princess Start this article Search for The Jungle Princess in. ... Bennett in Sudden Fear Actor Bruce Bennett (sometimes credited as Herman Brix) was a movie and television actor. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Douglas Elton Fairbanks, Jr. ... Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe is a 1940 twelve episode serial film about Flash Gordon. ... Cecil Blount DeMille (August 12, 1881 – January 21, 1959) was one of the most successful filmmakers during the first half of the 20th century. ... The Union Pacific Railroad (NYSE: UNP) is the largest railroad in the United States. ... Tyrone Power in Charles Laughtons production of John Browns Body, photo by Carl Van Vechten, March 3, 1953 Tyrone Edmund Power, Jr. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... Charles Laughton (1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was an English stage and film actor. ... ...

Mala also spent a considerable amount of time behind the camera as a cinematographer working with Academy Award winner Joseph LaShelle on many pictures including the Oscar winning "Laura" (1944) starring Gene Tierney and "Les Miserables" (1952). One vintage photograph shows Mala working on location in Santa Rosa as a cameraman on Alfred Hitchcock's "Shadow of a Doubt" (1943). Other films include "Meet Me After The Show" (1951) starring Betty Grable, "The Fan" (1949), "Igloo" (1932), and many more... A cinematographer (from cinema photographer) is one photographing with a motion picture camera (the art and science of which is known as cinematography). ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... Joseph LaShelle (July 9, 1900 - August 20, 1989) was a Los Angeles-born film cinematographer. ... OSCAR is an acronym for Orbital Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. ... Laura is a common given name for a female. ... Gene Tierney (November 19, 1920 – November 6, 1991) was an American actress. ... Les Misérables is an 1862 novel by the famous French novelist Victor Hugo, set in the Parisian underworld. ... Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE (August 13, 1899 – April 29, 1980) was a highly influential British director and producer who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres. ... Shadow of a Doubt is a 1943 film noir which tells the story of a young woman who thinks that her uncle might be a serial killer. ... Betty Grable Ruth Elizabeth Betty Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 3, 1973) was an American actress, singer, and pin-up girl whose famous bathing-suit poster was an icon of the World War II era. ... The Fan can refer to: The Fan is a neighborhood in Richmond, VA. The Fan is a movie. ...

In 1952 Mala came back in front of the camera to star in "Red Snow" (1952) opposite Guy Madison and according to the American Film Institute (AFI), "Red Snow" is the first film to deal with the cold war and the atomic bomb. Shortly after the release of "Red Snow" (1952), Mala passed away on the set of his last film. He was only 46 years old... Guy Madison Guy Madison (January 19, 1922 - February 6, 1996) was an American film and television actor. ... The American Film Institute (AFI) is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act. ... The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical, ideological, and economic struggle that emerged after World War II between the United States and its allies and the Soviet Union and its allies. ...

Marriage, Family and Personal Life

• The Los Angeles Times June 2, 1937- "Into his Hollywood igloo Mala, Eskimo Film Actor, took as his bride yesterday Galina Kropotkin, Russian Princess, sometimes known as Galina Liss".

• Mala was a devout family man. He married a beautiful woman named Galina Liss who was one of the Russian Princesses' Kropotkin (Los Angeles Times, 1937). They had one son whom they named Ted Mala. Ted Mala grew up to become the First Alaska Native Doctor. Dr. Mala served as the First Alaska Native Commissioner of Health and Social Servies on Governor Walter J. Hickel's cabinet (1990).
• Dr. Mala has two children: Ted Mala, Jr. and Galina Mala Liss (named after his mother).

• Mala and Galina had a very happy personal life. They counted such luminaries as Johnny Weissmuller (Tarzan), Bob Hope, and Stan Laurel as personal friends.

The Los Angeles Times (also L.A. Times) is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California and distributed throughout the Western United States. ... ... Categories: People stubs | 1919 births | Governors of Alaska | U.S. Secretaries of the Interior ... Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan in Tarzan and His Mate. ... Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), born Leslie Townes Hope, was a famous British-born American entertainer who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, on radio and television, in movies, and in performing tours for U.S. Military personnel. ... Arthur Stanley Jefferson (June 16, 1890 – February 23, 1965), better known as Stan Laurel was a comic actor, writer and director, famous as part of the comedy double act Laurel and Hardy, whose career stretched from the silent films of the early 20th Century until post-World War II. // Early...

Trivia

• Ray Mala is Inupiat Eskimo from Alaska.
• Ray Mala is the First Native American Movie Star.
• "Eskimo/Mala the Magnificent" won the First Oscar ever for Best Film Editing.
• "Last of the Pagans" - 50,000 feet of underwater footage was shot for this film, with a final total of 60 reels shot during the 22 weeks of production. It was eventually released as an 8-reel feature. The film was banned in Germany; French censors deleted scenes of natives being contracted unknowingly for 5 years of hard labor.
• "Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island" was the only sound serial ever produced to have 14 chapters.
• Ray Mala was an Actor and member of SAG as well as a Union Card carrying Cinematographer.

Distribution of Inuit language variants across the Arctic. ... OSCAR is an acronym for Orbital Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... SAG in your may refer to: Screen Actors Guild([1]) Seoul Auto Gallery([2]) SAG Electronics([3]) Society of Australian Genealogists([4]) Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero([5]) This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... A cinematographer (from cinema photographer) is one photographing with a motion picture camera (the art and science of which is known as cinematography). ...

External Links

• Ray Mala on the IMDb
• Galina Mala Liss on the IMDb
• "Eskimo" on the Turner Classic Movies Website
• "Last of the Pagans" on the Turner Classic Movies Website

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