Dann Cahn, Pioneering Picture Editor Renowned for I Love Lucy and More
Cahn help to establish the fundamentals of multi-camera production, many of which remain in use today.
Dann Cahn, a picture editor who helped to shape much of early television production as a key figure in the iconic comedy series I Love Lucy, died November 21, 2012, in Los Angeles. He was 89.
According to news reports, he died of natural causes.
Cahn, the last surviving member of the original creative team behind I Love Lucy, worked on the show for its entire 1951-1957 run.
A significant innovation of the production was in introduction of multi-camera shooting. The technique allowed for a show to be filmed continuously and in sequence, like a stage play.
Cahn went on to become editing supervisor at Desilu, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's production company. Over the ensuing years he oversaw editing for numerous other series, including Our Miss Brooks, The Real McCoys, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Texan, Make Room for Daddy, The Eve Arden Show and The Untouchables. His other series included The Beverly Hillbillies, The Fall Guy, Police Woman and many made-for-television movies.
In addition, he worked on some feature films, including Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Zero to Sixty and Forever Darling.
Cahn was born into an editing family. His father was Philip Cahn, a film editor who co-founded the Motion Picture Editors Guild in 1937. Dann Cahn’s son, Daniel, also became an editor, and is currently president of the Guild cofounded by his grandfather.
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