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Volume 7754

JOE MUSSO REMEMBERED
November 5, 1941 — September 14, 2023

Joe Musso with Fans Peter Ogden, George McWhorter and Bill Hillman

Sue-On and I always enjoyed meeting Joe Musso at Burroughs conventions. Joe was a Hollywood legend for his decades of award-winning storyboard, set and matte designs. But most ERB fans probably knew him best for his collection of ERB memorabilia, which included knives used by Tarzan film actors such as Johnny Weissmuller, Gordon Scott and Christopher Lambert.

Joe was very active in the California Dum-Dums and ECOFs which included the Tarzana ERB/Tarzan Stamp unveiling celebrations. He was also a longtime member of the LAsubERBs. ERB fans are quite familiar with his appearances, articles, photos and letters in Burroughs fanzines which included The Fantastic Worlds of ERB, Gridley Wave and Burroughs Bulletin (both the original and new series).

Tarzana and beyond..... ECOF 1989
by Laurence G. Dunn
During that 1989 ECOF, an additional attraction was Joe Musso,
who was showing off his collection of authentic movie-prop knives used by Johnny Weissmuller.
Fans took turns holding a knife in a threatening manner
while having their photos taken with a movie poster in the background.

Back row: Don Frailey with his wife, Jim Thompson, Doreen Westwood,
Joan and Rich Dumont, Gigi Barrett, Ward Orndoff, Michael Shaw, Shawn Cassidy.
Front row: Joe Musso, Unknown, John McGuigan, Unknown, Bill Ross,
Tony Menegazzo, Bob Barrett, Frank Westwood, Danton and Dejah Burroughs

ERBzine REFERENCES
Frank Westwood's The Fantastic Worlds of ERB: Issue No. 22: Pages 1-20
www.erbzine.com/mag48/4833.html

LA SubERBs Meeting in 2004
www.erbzine.com/mag8/0871.html

Gridley Wave #255: December 2003.
www.erbzine.com/gwbb/gw255.html

Bill Hillman with Joe Musso - The Knife Man
TARZANA 2012 ECOF CONVENTION
BURROUGHS HOME March 1, 2012 Open House
www.erbzine.com/mag35/3574.html

Joe Musso, Pete Ogden, George McWhorter ECOF 1989
From Peter Ogden Remembered by Laurence Dunn
www.erbzine.com/mag73/7399.html

Tarzana and beyond..... ECOF 1989
by Laurence G. Dunn
www.erbzine.com/mag5/0529.html

Tarzana Dum-Dum 2012: August 16-18
www.erbzine.com/mag41/4101.html
www.erbzine.com/mag41/4112.html

Unveiling Celebration of the Special ERB/Tarzan Stamp in Tarzana
www.erbzine.com/mag41/4107.html

Plus
A Multitude of Joe's Articles and Letters in the
Burroughs Bulletin -- Official Publication of the Burroughs Bibliophiles
www.burroughsbibliophiles.com

Biography:

By Joseph Musso.
http://bigerboat.com/indexfx/?p=882

I graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree and served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps, before starting at Warner Bros. Studios in November of 1964 on Frank Sinatra’s production of Marriage on the Rocks. I’ve been a member of the Art Director’s Branch of the Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1979. I had been president of Local 790, I.A.T.S.E., The Illustrators and Matte Artists, since 1978

Besides the various matte paintings I did on Flesh Gordon, I also painted the scenic backdrop landscape for the end monster sequence and animated the constellation sequence through which the Queen Amora swan ship flies.
In addition to Flesh Gordon, I also executed matte paintings for Irwin Allen’s When Time Ran Out.The mattes I did on this film include:
* The cliff sequences where Newman, Holden and the rest are climbing on showing the sheer, rugged cliffs on the side and below them.
* The cliff where the Hawaiian father of the 2 children falls in.
* The entire POV of the father (including the father) laying on the rocks below.
* End shot of the ships coming to the rescue (the ships).
* Various shots that I added terrain and foliage to help out the compositing of the live action FG with the miniature on the Volcano in the BG, including Paul and Jackie on the beach and the hotel.

I also made the matte paintings for Richard Brooks’ “Wrong Is Right”.

As a production illustrator, I do not only conceptual illustrations of the sets and storyboards of the film’s sequences, but also when the occasion demands, designing the matte (now CGI) shots for the film productions. Several films that immediately come to mind that I designed mattes for, include the various Irwin Allen projects: The Towering Inferno, The Swarm, When Time Ran Out and Alice in Wonderland; as well as Alfred Hitchcock’s The Torn Curtain, Tora! Tora! Tora!, The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox, Annie, Megaforce, Wrong Is Right, Volcano, Naked Gun 33 1/3, Escape from LA, Volcano, Star Trek: First Contact, Space Cowboys, Phantom of the Opera (2004), The Santa Clause 2 & 3 and Flags of Our Fathers.

On my spare time I do historical research, writing, collecting and painting. I’m currently involved in two book projects on the Alamo defender, James Bowie, as well as the Mexican Army during the Texas Revolution of 1835-36. . A bit of Trivia is the fact that two original, antique bowie knives from my collection were used as the basis for Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett’s knives in the 2004 The Alamo film. I also own the movie prop knives that were used in John Wayne’s The Alamo, Disney’s Davy Crockett, The Last Command, The Iron Mistress, Comanche Territory, Man From the Alamo, The First Texan, the Jim Bowie TV Series, as well as a couple of Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan knives.

Joseph Musso Trivia from IMDB
www.imdb.com/name/nm0615894/

Joseph Musso was an actor, known for Stealth (2005), Star Trek: First Contact (1996) and Volcano (1997). He died on September 14, 2023 in Sylmar, California, USA.

    Universal Studios' Stage 28, the Lon Chaney 1925 B&W feature film "Phantom of the Opera" interior European three tiered box seat horseshoe theatre and stage proscenium existed as a permanent studio stage standing set. In 2014, this is the oldest existing standing set in Hollywood. The Universal Studios' stage 28 "Phantom of the Opera" theatre interior set was also used in Alfred Hitchcock's 1966 feature film "The Torn Curtain." In 1965, the Paris Opera theatre interior set had fallen into disrepair, but Universal gave permission for Hitch to use it in the climax of his film. Hitch had his crew (including Joe Musso, a young budding illustrator) restore the theatre set back to the way the stage set was originally built for the 1925 Lon Chaney film. The original blueprints for the 1925 Chaney film no longer existed in 1964, but Joe Musso had a great 8"x10" photo collection from the Chaney film that showed the Paris Opera theater interior in great detail. Based on these archived B&W photos, the production designer, Hein Heckroth, art director, Frank Arrigo, and assistant art director, Joe Alves, had the set designers recreate new blueprints for the construction crew to restore the stage theatre set properly. Hitchcock had the original seats reupholstered and put back into the audience floor space, filling the theater floor and the European style horseshoe three tiered box gallery with 500 extras, along with Paul Newman and Julie Andrews. The set designers who worked on the film included John Corso, Burwell Hamrick, William "Bill" O'Brien, Tom Cranham. Mort Rabinowitz also worked on the film as an illustrator. Mort Rabinowitz became a production designer shortly after working on the Hitchcock feature film. Joe Musso did the set illustrations on the opera house in color and painted Hitchcock's film crew in the audience besides Newman, Julie and Hitch. Hitchcock kept Joe Musso's illustration as his private and personal souvenir.

    Universal Studios' Stage 29, the Lon Chaney 1925 B&W feature film "Phantom of the Opera" interior European three tiered box seat horseshoe theatre and stage proscenium existed as a permanent studio stage standing set. The Universal Studios' stage 29 "Phantom of the Opera" theatre interior set was also used in Alfred Hitchcock's 1966 feature film "The Torn Curtain." In 1965, the Paris Opera theatre interior set had fallen into disrepair, but Universal gave permission for Hitch to use it in the climax of his film. Hitch had his crew (including Joe Musso, a young budding illustrator) restore the theatre set back to the way the stage set was originally built for the 1925 Lon Chaney film. The original blueprints for the 1925 Chaney film no longer existed in 1964, but Joe Musso had a great 8"x10" photo collection from the Chaney film that showed the Paris Opera theater interior in great detail. Based on these archived B&W photos, the production designer, Hein Heckroth, art director, Frank Arrigo, and assistant art director, Joe Alves, had the set designers recreate new blueprints for the construction crew to restore the stage theatre set properly. Hitchcock had the original seats reupholstered and put back into the audience floor space, filling the theater floor and the European style horseshoe three tiered box gallery with 500 extras, along with Paul Newman and Julie Andrews. The set designers who worked on the film included John Corso, Burwell Hamrick, William "Bill" O'Brien, Tom Cranham. Mort Rabinowitz also worked on the film as an illustrator. Mort Rabinowitz became a production designer shortly after working on the Hitchcock feature film. Joe Musso did the set illustrations on the opera house in color and painted Hitchcock's film crew in the audience besides Newman, Julie and Hitch. Hitchcock kept Joe Musso's illustration as his private and personal souvenir.

Filmography:

“Life” (production illustrator) (15 episodes, 2007-2009)
“Monk” (production illustrator) (5 episodes, 2006-2009)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) (production illustrator)
“Boston Legal” (storyboard artist) (1 episode, 2008)
Rails & Ties (2007) (production illustrator)
“Greek” (storyboard artist) (1 episode, 2007)
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006) (storyboard artist)
We Fight to Be Free (2006) (production illustrator)
Flags of Our Fathers (2006) (production illustrator)
Stealth (2005) (storyboard artist)
Be Cool (2005) (storyboard artist)
The Phantom of the Opera (2004) (production illustrator)
Ladder 49 (2004) (storyboard artist)
13 Going on 30 (2004) (production illustrator)
Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure (2003) (TV) (production illustrator)
Hulk (2003) (storyboard artist)
The Italian Job (2003) (storyboard artist)
The Santa Clause 2 (2002) (storyboard artist)
Vanilla Sky (2001) (illustrator) (uncredited)
Life as a House (2001) (illustrator) (as Joe Musso)
Ghosts of Mars (2001) (illustrator) (as Joe Musso)
Little Nicky (2000) (storyboard artist)
“The Fugitive” (production illustrator) (1 episode, 2000)
Space Cowboys (2000) (production illustrator)
Light It Up (1999) (production illustrator)
Goodbye Lover (1998) (production illustrator)
The Newton Boys (1998) (production illustrator)
Home Alone 3 (1997) (illustrator)
Volcano (1997) (illustrator) (as Joe Musso)
Star Trek: First Contact (1996) (illustrator)
2 Days in the Valley (1996) (illustrator)
Escape from L.A. (1996) (production illustrator)
Dragonheart (1996) (storyboard artist) (uncredited)
“Murder, She Wrote” (production illustrator) (2 episodes, 1995)
The Scarlet Letter (1995) (storyboard artist) (as Joe Musso)
Gordy (1995) (illustrator: map) (as Joe Musso)
Gambler V: Playing for Keeps (1994) (TV) (storyboard artist)
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) (illustrator)
Addams Family Values (1993) (storyboard artist)
Judgment Night (1993) (production illustrator)
Basic Instinct (1992) (production illustrator)
American Me (1992) (production illustrator)
“MacGyver” (production illustrator) (2 episodes, 1991)
Child’s Play 3 (1991) (production illustrator) (as Joe Musso)
Out for Justice (1991) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
Career Opportunities (1991) (production illustrator)
Queens Logic (1991) (production illustrator)
Almost an Angel (1990) (production illustrator)
“The Flash” (production illustrator) (7 episodes, 1990)
Ghost Dad (1990) (illustrator)
Dick Tracy (1990) (production illustrator)
Side Out (1990) (production illustrator)
“High Performance” (production illustrator) (3 episodes, 1983-1990)
Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon (1989) (TV) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
Nasty Boys (1989) (TV) (production illustrator)
Listen to Me (1989) (production illustrator)
Spellbinder (1988) (production illustrator)
Clean and Sober (1988) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
Phantasm II (1988) (production illustrator)
Sunset (1988) (production illustrator)
¡Three Amigos! (1986) (set illustrator) (as Joe Musso)
Playing for Keeps (1986) (production illustrator)
Outrage! (1986) (TV) (production illustrator)
Alice in Wonderland (1985) (TV) (production illustrator)
Misfits of Science (1985) (TV) (storyboard artist)
Movers & Shakers (1985) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
City Killer (1984) (TV) (production illustrator)
“Paper Dolls” (production illustrator) (1 episode, 1984)
Sheena (1984) (production illustrator)
The Jesse Owens Story (1984) (TV) (storyboard artist)
Streets of Fire (1984) (production illustrator)
The Day After (1983) (TV) (production illustrator)
The Man Who Wasn’t There (1983) (production illustrator) (as Joe Musso)
Wait Till Your Mother Gets Home! (1983) (TV) (production illustrator)
Having It All (1982) (TV) (storyboard artist)
Megaforce (1982) (production illustrator) (as Joe Musso)
Annie (1982) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
Wrong Is Right (1982) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
“Falcon Crest” (production illustrator) (1 episode, 1982)
Body Heat (1981) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) (illustrator) (as Joe Musso)
The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything (1980) (TV) (storyboard artist)
The Memory of Eva Ryker (1980) (TV) (production illustrator)
When Time Ran Out… (1980) (production illustrator)
Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979) (production illustrator)
The Swarm (1978) (production illustrator)
The Return of Captain Nemo (1978) (TV) (production illustrator)
Viva Knievel! (1977) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox (1976) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
Time Travelers (1976) (TV) (production illustrator)
“Swiss Family Robinson” (production illustrator) (2 episodes, 1976)
The Further Adventures of Major Mars (1976) (production illustrator)
Adventures of the Queen (1975) (TV) (production illustrator)
The Towering Inferno (1974) (production illustrator)
Flesh Gordon (1974) (storyboard artist) (uncredited)
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
“Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp” (production illustrator) (1 episode)
Up Tight! (1968) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
“Judd for the Defense” (production illustrator) (9 episodes, 1967)
In the Heat of the Night (1967) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
Caprice (1967) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
“The Lucy Show” (production illustrator) (2 episodes, 1967)
Torn Curtain (1966) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
The Blue Max (1966) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
Marriage on the Rocks (1965) (production illustrator) (uncredited)
Brainstorm (1965) (production illustrator) (uncredited)

Gallery
https://bigerboat.com/indexfx/?p=882

Two samples of Joe Musso's work at Towering Inferno, storyboard and FX illustration.

Joseph Musso working on a multiplane glass shot made for Flesh Gordon

Some matte shots from When Time Run Out.

Joe also was commissioned to paint some mattes for Wrong Is Right (1982)

Click for full size

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