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This poster was found in the scrapbook of george austin Hay
The scrapbook and it\'s contents is included with this sale.If you so desire.
George Austin Hay (often credited simply as Austin Hay) was a remarkable Renaissance man from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, whose lifespan stretched from 1915 to 2018. He lived to the age of 102, weaving together parallel careers as a military film producer, writer, fine-art photographer, and bit-part actor. [1, 2]
🎬 Hollywood and the Arts Club
In the entertainment world, Hay was a member of both the Screen Actors Guild and the Actors Equity Association. He spent the first half of his professional life deeply involved in the New York arts scene as a producer and casting director. [1]
As a bit actor, he built up a handful of credits spanning several decades. Some of his most notable screen appearances included:
- Naked City (1959) – He appeared in the TV episode \"One to Get Lost\" appropriately playing the role of a photographer.
- Being There (1979) – The acclaimed Peter Sellers satire.
- Her Alibi (1989) – The Tom Selleck romantic comedy.
- North by Northwest (1959) & The Contender (2000) – He also claimed minor, uncredited involvements or background parts in these major films. [1, 2, 3]
His creative legacy remains honored by the Arts Club of Washington (where he served on the Board of Governors), which presents the annual Austin Hay One-Act Play Award to emerging playwrights. [1, 2]
🪖 Military and Government Career
Hay\'s connection to the military began during World War II, where he served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific theater. [1, 2]
His specialized film career kicked off in 1955, when he joined the Department of Defense as a motion picture producer and casting director at the Army Pictorial Center in Astoria, New York. At the time, this was the fourth-largest studio in the country and the primary hub for producing military training films, historical documentaries, and public relations footage. [1]
He eventually transitioned his communication skills into the civil service. He spent 37 years with the Federal Highway Administration under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as a multimedia specialist. Notably, he directed the filming of the U.S. bicentennial documentary chronicling the history of the American highway system. When he finally retired in 2010 at the staggering age of 95, he had completed 55 years of public government service. [1]
📸 Fine-Art Photography and Writing
Beyond moving pictures, Hay was a highly accomplished still photographer. His work was sophisticated enough to be recognized by major institutions; his chromogenic and gelatin silver prints—including scenic shots titled South Pacific (1945), Third Avenue \"El\" (1947), and a 1934 portrait of Amelia Earhart—were gifted to and preserved in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Library of Congress. [1, 2, 3]
As a writer, he authored and illustrated several works, frequently contributing historical and technical pieces to various periodicals regarding transportation and the arts. [1]
