Herk Harvey

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Herk Harvey
Pale man with dark shadows around his eyes, reaching forward
Herk Harvey as "The Man" in Carnival of Souls.
Born(1924-06-03)June 3, 1924
DiedApril 3, 1996(1996-04-03) (aged 71)
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, film producer, actor
Years active1950–1983
Spouse(s)Bernice Luella Brady (1950–1960) (divorced)
Pauline G. Pappas (1969–1996) (his death)[1][2]

Harold Arnold "Herk" Harvey (June 3, 1924 – April 3, 1996) was an American movie director, screenwriter, actor and movie producer.[3]

Early life[change | change source]

Harvey was born in Windsor, Colorado. He grew up in Waverly, Illinois and in Fort Collins. Harvey came to Lawrence, Kansas in 1945 to study at the University of Kansas. He majored in theater.[2] He acted in many college stage productions.

Centron Films[change | change source]

While teaching and directing at the University of Kansas, Harvey got into the film business as an actor. He acted in some of the movies being made by Centron Corporation of Lawrence. Centron was an independent industrial and educational movie production company. Harvey joined it in 1952. He was a film director, writer, and producer for over 30 years. They made many kinds of short industrial, educational, documentary, and government films.

Harvey wrote an article in the March 1956 issue of American Cinematographer. It was about special effects and techniques that Centron had created.[4]

He retired in 1985.[2]

Carnival of Souls[change | change source]

Herk Harvey as "The Man" in Carnival of Souls

Harvey is best known for his only feature movie, Carnival of Souls. It was a low budget 1962 horror film that had Candace Hilligoss. It was created and directed by Harvey for about $33,000. Carnival of Souls never got much public attention when was first released. However, it has since become a cult classic.

The Academy Film Archive preserved Carnival of Souls in 2012.[5]

References[change | change source]

  1. "Genuine Kansas - Herk Harvey - Film Director".
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Papers of Herk Harvey". University of Kansas. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  3. "Herk Harvey". The New York Times. 25 February 2022.
  4. "American Cinematographer 1956-03". American Cinematographer. March 1956. Retrieved July 6, 2019. pg. 162 and 178.
  5. "Preserved Projects". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Other websites[change | change source]