Prologue:

Hollywood history is chock full of myths and misinformation and Raymond K. Johnson / Raymond K. Johnston is an example. For years, those name variations were assumed to be aliases used by low budget movie producer / director Bernard B. Ray.

C. Jack Lewis (1924 - 2009) was a retired Marine officer, movie screenwriter, co-founder of Gun World magazine, more. In his memoir White Horse, Black Hat: A Quarter Century on Hollywood's Poverty Row (Scarecrow Press, 2002), Lewis reinforced the notion that Johnson / Johnston was another name for Bernard B. Ray. From Lewis' book:

" ... he worked under various names, mostly to keep his projects from looking like one-man shows! Names he used were Ray Bernard, Raymond Johnson, Raymond K. Johnson, Raymond Johnston, Raymond K. Johnston, Bernard Ray, Raymond Samuels, and Franklin Shamroy."

Raymond K. Johnson / Johnston were NOT Bernard B. Ray pseudonyms. Many years ago, I did an Old Corral biography on B film producer Harry S. Webb, with info and photos from his son Bob Webb. One of Bob's comments related to Raymond K. Johnson:

"This is an actual person who I had the pleasure of meeting in the sixties at MGM, where he had become head of the camera department."

May, 1957 issue of American Cinematographer magazine confirms Johnson at MGM: "The ASC last month elected to Associate Membership in the Society Raymond K. Johnson, head of the camera department at M-G-M studio ..." (ASC is the American Society of Cinematographers.)

Here's Raymond K. Johnson.

(Courtesy of the Estate of Marion Johnson Hayter, half-sister to Gladys Johnson and Raymond Johnson) Above - Ray Johnson at M-G-M. From the mid 1940s through mid 1950s, Johnson was assistant to John Arnold, the head of M-G-M's camera department. When Arnold retired in 1956, Johnson became camera department boss.

Raymond Kingsbury Johnson was born November 24, 1901 in Leeds Township, Benson County, North Dakota to Andrew L. and Myrtle Alice Kingsbury Johnson. His movie career began in the 1920s, and one of his early jobs was the filmed-in-Alaska THE CHECHAHCOS (Alaska Moving Pictures/Associated Exhibitors, 1924). Filmed in 1923, Raymond K. Johnson was a cameraman and his sister Gladys Johnson had a supporting role. Chris Beheim has been researching that film and more details are further down on this webpage.

Then Raymond directed a couple of silents. First was NORTH OF NOME (Great Northern Film Company/Arrow, 1925) which was originally titled THE ETERNAL FRONTIER. Sister Gladys was the female lead. Next was the filmed-in-Utah THE EXODUS / ALL FACES WEST (1928). EXODUS got tied up in a bankruptcy. A few years later, EXODUS was auctioned off, some opening narration was added, and the film was released in 1931 by Syndicate as CALL OF THE ROCKIES.

Trade publications have a few traces of "Raymond Johnson Productions" being formed and creating some aviation shorts in 1933 for Perfex Pictures Corporation which was headquartered in New York City.

In 1935 - 1940, Johnson helmed about twenty B grade features - westerns and non-westerns - for independent, Poverty Row producers C. C. Burr (1891 - 1956) and Harry S. Webb (1892 - 1959). His films for Burr included four singing cowboy yarns with melodious Fred Scott. And for Harry S. Webb, he did a couple of Rin-Tin-Tin Jr. adventures, a Bob Steele western, and a half dozen oaters with Monogram's sagebrush crooner Jack Randall.

In July, 1942, forty year old Raymond K. Johnson enlisted in the Army for World War II service. The 1943 Film Daily Yearbook has listings of Hollywood people serving in the military. Under the category of "directors, assistant directors and unit managers" were Frank Capra, George Cukor, John Ford, William Witney ... and "Raymond K. Johnson, U. S. A."

Below are military photos of Raymond with Staff Sergeant or Technical Sergeant (Sergeant First Class) stripes. One was taken in 1942 at Camp Young, Indio, California, and Camp Young was headquarters of General George S. Patton's Desert Training Command. An undated photo has him with Technical Sergeant stripes (three stripes and two rockers - equivalent to a Sergeant First Class). Unsure of his discharge date, but indications are that he was home in late 1945 and re-connected with C. C. Burr. That was short-lived as Burr's time as a film producer was over.

In the mid 1940s, Johnson did a career change and joined MGM's camera department which was headed by John Arnold (1889 - 1964). When Arnold retired in 1956, Johnson became camera department boss.

The March 26, 1999 issue of the Palm Springs, California The Desert Sun paper had a death notice - 97 year old Raymond Kingsbury Johnson of Thousand Palms, California, passed away March 23, 1999 at the Rancho Mirage Healthcare Center in Rancho Mirage, California. He was a photographer for MGM and a World War II Army veteran.

Above - 1926 theater ad for NORTH OF NOME (Great Northern Film Company/Arrow, 1925), Raymond K. Johnson's first directing job ... and his last name is misspelled "Johnston". The president of the Great Northern Film Company was George Edward Lewis, who was the second husband of Raymond Johnson's mother Myrtle. 1938 Above is the 1938 organization chart for C. C. Burr's company which produced singing cowboy Fred Scott's last four westerns. Raymond K. Johnson was multi-functional, serving as Vice President, production supervisor (producer), and he directed the four Scotts. In the 1937 issues of the Film Daily Yearbook and Motion Picture Almanac, the C. C. Burr organization has Johnson as Secretary-Managing Director, producer, and scenario writer.
Above - screen capture from the opening titles and credits with Raymond K. Johnson directing the Fred Scott CODE OF THE FEARLESS (Spectrum, 1939) for producer C. C. Burr. Above - screen capture from the opening titles and credits from Fred Scott's IN OLD MONTANA (Spectrum, 1939). Johnson directed this and also got partial credit for the script and story.	Above - pressbook ad for Bob Steele's PINTO CANYON (Metropolitan, 1940) which Johnson helmed for producer Harry S. Webb.
In the late 1930s, Johnson connected with low budget producer Harry S. Webb, who with Bernard B. Ray, had operated Reliable Pictures. After Reliable folded, Webb formed Metropolitan Pictures company, and had Johnson directing oaters and some non-westerns. Johnson's films included Bob Steele in PINTO CANYON (Metropolitan, 1940) and Rin-Tin-Tin Jr. adventures, FANGS OF THE WILD (Metropolitan, 1939) and LAW OF THE WOLF (Metropolitan, 1939). Soon after, Webb took his production unit to Monogram Pictures and Johnson directed a half dozen with Jack Randall. (From Old Corral collection) Above is the title lobby card from the Jack Randall starrer WILD HORSE RANGE (Monogram, 1940), one of the half dozen Randalls directed by Raymond K. Johnson. Notice a problem with the lobby card? Randall has his sixgun in his left hand and his neckerchief is tied on the right side. Note the reddish colored inset on the bottom left with Charlie King, George Chesebro and Randall, who is wearing a single holster on the right side and his kerchief tied on the left. The large image was reversed by the folks doing the lobby card design. (From Old Corral collection) RIDIN' THE TRAIL was the last of singin' cowboy Fred Scott's series for Spectrum films and was filmed in 1939. However, it got lost or misplaced during Spectrum's financial meltdown and collapse. Trade publications indicate that Monogram had the film and planned a June 27, 1940 release ... and then it's listed as postponed. Independent distributor Arthur Ziehm acquired the film and released it in late 1941 - early 1942.

(Courtesy of the Estate of Marion Johnson Hayter, half-sister to Gladys Johnson and Raymond Johnson) Centered between two unidentified soldiers is Raymond K. Johnson, and rank on his right sleeve is either Staff Sergeant or Technical Sergeant. Writing on the back of this photo reads: "Raymond at Camp Young, Indio, California 1942". Johnson enlisted in the U. S. Army on July 31, 1942 in Los Angeles. He had to have some speciality or talent in order to receive Sergeant stripes that quickly. Camp Young was the headquarters of General George S. Patton's Desert Training Command. More at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Young (Courtesy of the Estate of Marion Johnson Hayter, half-sister to Gladys Johnson and Raymond Johnson) No date on the above photo - and no unit insignia on his left shoulder. His rank is Technical Sergeant which became Sergeant First Class in the late 1940s (SFC E-7 in today's Army). Wikipedia has info on the Technical Sergeant and Sergeant First Class ranks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_first_class

Below are a highlights from various trades and newspapers which provide a timeline on Raymond K. Johnson:

• 1923 in Alaska - Raymond is a cameraman on THE CHECHAHCOS (Alaska Moving Pictures/Associated Exhibitors, 1924).
• May 2, 1925 Motion Picture News: "Arrow has changed the title on its Alaska-made picture and it will be released ... as 'North of Nome' instead of 'The Eternal Frontier.'" ; "... leading feminine role is enacted by Gladys Johnston [sic], selected by a group of native Alaskans as the most beautiful girl in the territory." ; "The picture ... was directed by Raymond K. Johnston [sic] ..."
• December 4, 1928 Exhibitors Daily Review: "Raymond K. Johnston [sic] is titling and editing 'The Exodus' which he wrote and directed. (THE EXODUS / ALL FACES WEST, starred Ben Lyon and Marie Prevost. The production company went into receivership and the film was sold off, retitled to CALL OF THE ROCKIES, and released in 1931.)
  July 19, 1930 Salt Lake (Utah) Telegram newspaper had a lengthy legal notice on the auction / sale of the film - "The script and motion rights of the story known as 'The Exodus' ... from George Edward Lewis, who had previously acquired and purchased the said motion picture rights to the said story from Raymond K. Johnston [sic] ..." ; "... all positive and negative films delivered by said coporation to said Raymond K. Johnston [sic] ..."
• December 22, 1931 Variety had an announcement of the new Standard Pictures Corporation. Among their feature film plans: "First is 'Yukon,', an original story by Finis Fox with Lila Lee, Johnny Mack Brown, Lew Cody, Eddie Gribbon, Wheeler Oakman and Bert Roach in the cast. Raymond K. Johnson is directing." (That film was never made.)
• January, 1933 issues of Hollywood Reporter and Film Daily noted that "Raymond Johnson Productions" had been formed to do some features.
• August 11, 1933 Film Daily: "Raymond K. Johnson, producer of 'The Skylarks,' 12 single-reel aviation thrillers, has closed a deal for release through Perfex Pictures Corp."
• August 19, 1933 Motion Picture Herald: "Raymond K. Johnson returned to Los Angeles after signing a deal in New York with Perfex Pictures for distribution of his six aviation subjects."
• July 16, 1935 Film Daily had a blurb on the C. C. Burr production of airplane adventure SKYBOUND: "Ray K. Johnson, the director, and Irving Akers, the cameraman, are both licensed pilots, having served in the World War."
• July 8, 1936 Variety: Headline: "Burr-Strotz-Johnson Production Company" ; "Hollywood, July 7 (1936). BJS Pictures was organized yesterday to produce 12 features yearly. Officers are C. C. Burr, president and production head; Harold Strotz, treasurer, and Ray Johnson, v.p. Indie outfit will make six outdoor musicals and six melo-comedies ..."
• December 21, 1936 Film Daily: "Raymond K. Johnson, director, and Phil Dunham, scenarist, have been placed under a long term contract by C. C. Burr, producer of 'Special Agent K-7' series of detective pictures."
• December 26, 1936 Motion Picture Daily: "Raymond K. Johnson starts Special Agent K-7 at the International Studios."
• Film Daily Yearbook for 1938 has R. K. Johnson as Vice President and one of the Production Supervisors (producers) for C. C. Burr Productions, Inc.
• 1935 - 1941 - there's lots of Raymond K. Johnson blurbs in various trade publications. These were primarily related to his westerns with singing cowboys Fred Scott and Jack Randall and the Rin-Tin-Tin Jr. adventures.
• 1943 Film Daily Yearbook has listings of Hollywood people serving in the military. Under the category of "directors, assistant directors and unit managers" is "Raymond K. Johnson, U. S. A."
• October 3, 1945 Variety: "Sacramento, Oct. 2 (1945). New film producing company, Astra Attractions, Inc., received incorporation papers with permission to capitalize at $1,200,000. Listed as directors are C. C. Burr ... Raymond K. Johnson ..."
• May, 1957 American Cinematographer magazine confirms Johnson at MGM: "The ASC last month elected to Associate Membership in the Society Raymond K. Johnson, head of the camera department at M-G-M studio ..." (ASC is the American Society of Cinematographers.)
• October, 1963 American Cinematographer magazine: M-G-M's Ray Johnson is a member of the Research and Educational Committee of the American Society of Cinematographers.

  Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Raymond K. Johnson and his sister Gladys:

Raymond K. Johnson: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1262881
His sister Gladys Johnson did a few films in the mid to late 1920s: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8956022

The American Cinematographer website has an interview with Fred J. Koenekamp (1922 - 2017) and his credits include THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974), PATTON (1970), and TV show THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (1964). Koenekamp mentions John Arnold and Ray Johnson as "terrific people" at MGM's camera department: https://theasc.com/magazine/feb05/koenekamp/page2.html

Info on Raymond K. Johnson and sister Gladys Johnson came from Family Search (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), Fold3 Military records (subscription), Rootsweb (free), Newspaper Archive (subscription), California Death Index, and Social Security Death Index (SSDI).

Their mother Myrtle divorced her first husband and married George Edward Lewis sometime in the 1920s. Lewis was involved in the production of THE CHECHAHCOS and NORTH OF NOME films - see the 1920 and 1930 census below.

Raymond:

• North Dakota birth info on Raymond and Gladys Johnson is not available on Family Search or Ancestry.com. However, family trees and his World War II draft registration have Raymond Kingsbury Johnson born November 24, 1901 in Leeds, Benson County, North Dakota.
• 1910 census summary and census takers worksheet - living in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon are 29 year old Myrtle A. Johnson (born Illinois; married), her 10 year old daughter Gladys L. (born North Dakota) and 8 year old son Raymond K. (born North Dakota). They are living with Myrtle's parents, Daniel and Lillian Kingsbury, and several other relatives: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLY1-9QP
• 1920 census summary and census takers worksheet - owning their home at 150 1/2 Ainsworth Avenue, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon are 39 year old Myrtle Johnson (widowed; born Illinois), 18 year old son Raymond (born North Dakota), 20 year old daughter Gladys (born North Dakota) and 49 year old roomer George E. Lewis (born Michigan; occupation "Lecturer"). No occupation for Raymond but sister Gladys is a "Musician - Theater" and mother Myrtle is "Manager - Flats": https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M48D-VLZ
• 1930 census summary and census takers worksheet for Raymond's father who has re-married - 56 year old Andrew L. Johnson (born Iowa; occupation "Retail Merchant - Hardware"), his 40 year old wife Minnie C. (born North Dakota) and 4+ year old daughter Marion A. (born North Dakota) own their home in Leeds, Benson, North Dakota. (Marion is the half-sister of Raymond and Gladys per the MGM lion photo at the top this page.): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKJ5-L49
• 1930 census summary and census takers worksheet - renting at 5124 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles are 54 year old George E. Lewis (born Michigan; occupation "Lecture"), his 49 year old wife Myrtle A. (born Illinois), 29 year old stepdaughter Gladys S. Johnson (born North Dakota; single) and 28 year old stepson Raymond K. Johnson (born about 1902 in North Dakota; single). Raymond's occupation is "Director - Motion Pictures", and he answered "No" to the are you a veteran question. His sister Gladys is "Musician - Orchestra": https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCJY-R1K
• 1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - renting at 5815 1/2 Carlton Way, Los Angeles are 40 year old Gladys Johnson (born North Dakota; single) and she is head of the household. Living with her are 38 year old brother Raymond (born North Dakota; single), and 59 year old mother Myrtle Lewis (born Illinois). Raymond's occupation is "Writer - Motion Pict", and in 1939, he worked 26 weeks and earned $1,000.00. Sister Gladys is "Musician - Radio Orchestra", and in 1939, she worked 52 weeks and earned $1,000.00: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9CD-BPX
• Could not find his World War II draft registration on Family Search or Ancestry, but it was available on Fold3 military records - 40 year old Raymond Kingsbury Johnson registered on February 15, 1942 in Los Angeles. He was born November 24, 1901 in Leeds, North Dakota, and occupation was "Various Studios". He's 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 127 pounds. Home address was 6919 Paseo Del Serra, Los Angeles, and also residing there is his sister Gladys Johnson.
• Raymond K. Johnson enlisted in the U. S. Army on July 31, 1942 in Los Angeles, and his rank was Private - Signal Corps. He was single, without dependents; born about 1901 in North Dakota; completed about three years of high school; and his civilian occupation was Actors and actresses: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMFM-63T
• After World War II duty, Johnson went back to work with producer C. C. Burr. From the October 3, 1945 issue of Variety: "Sacramento. Oct 2 (1945). New film producing company, Astra Attractions, Inc., received incorporation papers with permission to capitalize at $1,200,000. Listed as directors are C. C. Burr ... Raymond K. Johnson ..."
• Rootsweb World Connect Project had genealogy info on Raymond K. Johnson, born November 24, 1901 in Leed's Township, Benson County, North Dakota to Andrew (A. L.) Johnson and Myrtle Kingsbury. He passed away March 23, 1999 in Thousand Palms, Riverside County, California: https://wc.rootsweb.com/trees/245084/I5280/raymondk-johnson/individual
• Social Security Death Index (SSDI) has a record for 98 year old Raymond K. Johnson. He was born November 24, 1901, passed away March 23, 1999, and last residence was Riverside County, California: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V95W-7JF
• A family tree on Ancestry.com has Raymond Kingsbury Johnson born November 24, 1901 in Leeds, Benson County, North Dakota and passed away March 23, 1999 in Thousand Palms, Riverside County, California, at the age of 97.
• Death notice for Raymond Kingsbury Johnson in the March 26, 1999 issue of the Palm Springs, California The Desert Sun newspaper: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47043117/obituary-for-raymond-kingsbury-johnson/

Gladys:

(Courtesy of Chris Beheim) Above - Gladys Johnson, circa 1923 - 1924.

As noted, Raymond's sister Gladys had roles in THE CHECHAHCOS (Alaska Moving Pictures/Associated Exhibitors, 1924), NORTH OF NOME (Arrow, 1925), and THE EXODUS / ALL FACES WEST (1928).

Her profession was playing the cello and she's a "Musician" in the 1920, 1930 and 1940 census. A syndicated AP story in March, 1927 newspapers reported on cellist Gladys at radio station KGW (Portland, Oregon) ... and concentrating on a musical career in radio:

"Portland, Ore., March 14 (1927) - The lure of the microphone was strong enough to pull Gladys Johnson of Portland away from the movie studio. Although she was featured in two motion picture productions and was offered new contracts, she returned to the musical field. As cellist of station KGW, Miss Johnson is widely known to radio fans of the northwest. Besides playing in solo selections and in orchestra numbers, Miss Johnson devotes much of her time to program arrangement."

Trade and newspaper articles also mention her as a cellist at KTM (Los Angeles), KMTR (Los Angeles), and in the mid 1930s, she was assistant program director at ABC in San Francisco.

Gladys passed away October 11, 1989 in Thousand Palms, Riverside County, California:

• Rootsweb World Connect Project had genealogy info on Gladys L. Johnson, born December 30, 1899 in Leed's Township, Benson County, North Dakota to Andrew (A. L.) Johnson and Myrtle Kingsbury. She passed away October 11, 1989 in Thousand Palms, Riverside County, California: https://wc.rootsweb.com/trees/245084/I5279/gladysl-johnson/individual
• California Death Index has a record for Gladys Lillian Johnson. She was born December 30, 1899 in North Dakota, mother's maiden name was Kingsbury, passed away October 11, 1989, and last residence was Riverside County, California: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP8Q-6TF

Chris Beheim has been researching that film. Cast and crew included cameraman Raymond K. Johnson and his sister Gladys Johnson had a supporting role. Chris writes:

"Raymond and Gladys' mother was Myrtle Johnson who was a divorcee. (Census records report that she was a widow, but that was not correct.) She married George Edward Lewis in the early 1920s. In 1924, the year after filming THE CHECHAHCOS, Lewis, Raymond and Gladys returned to Alaska to film NORTH OF NOME. The interiors were shot in Portland. Raymond was listed as the Director.

In 1928, Raymond, Gladys, George Edward Lewis, and Lewis Moomaw (who directed THE CHECHAHCOS) traveled to Utah to make a movie about the Mormons, called THE EXODUS, starring Ben Lyon and Marie Prevost and Gladys in a supporting role. On December 16, 1928 the Los Angeles Times newspaper reported that film director Raymond was "arranging to have a Movietone accompaniment, making this the first big western to have sound effects." The title of the movie was changed to ALL FACES WEST and premiered in Salt Lake City in March of 1929. I'm not sure if it contained talkie features. George Edward Lewis' company went bankrupt, and the film was sold at public auction for $10,000. The title of the film was changed to CALL OF THE ROCKIES with a run time of 71 minutes, and contained talking and sound sequences. It was released to theaters in 1931.

60 minutes of CALL OF THE ROCKIES is available on DVD (from Alpha Video / oldies.com). For some reason, Bernard B. Ray's name appears on the DVD cover as the director of CALL OF THE ROCKIES, although Raymond K. Johnson's name appears in the movie credits."

Chris Beheim
February, 2019

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has photos and more on THE CHECHAHCOS (Alaska Moving Picture Corp./Associated Exhibitors, 1924) which was filmed in 1923 and released in 1924: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0014770/

Alaska's Digital Archives website has about forty photos from THE CHECHAHCOS: https://vilda.alaska.edu/digital/search/searchterm/Chechahcos,%20The%20(Film)/mode/exact

Article on THE CHEECHAKOS in the November 10, 1923 Los Angeles Times: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24683401/la-times-231110-real-alaska/

A 35mm print of THE CHECHAHCOS (1924) was found and preserved by the Alaska Film Archives at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the National Film Preservation Foundation: https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/t1-the-chechahcos-1924

The Utah Department of Heritage and Arts of has many stills from THE EXODUS / ALL FACES WEST (1928). Raymond directed and Gladys was in the cast: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6pp18kx

Find A Grave website has filmmaker, Alaska expert / lecturer, and Reverend George Edward Lewis (1867 or 1868 - 1942) interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Glendale, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85451329/george-edward-lewis

(Courtesy of Chris Beheim)

Above - camera crew in Alaska filming THE CHECHAHCOS in 1923.
Raymond K. Johnson is on the far right ... and in the crop/blowup.