FEATURED GUESTS

FILM MAKERS

SPECIAL EFFECTS SET DESIGNER
MECHANICAL EFFECTS ENGINEER

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Frank Wurmser worked in motion pictures for over 20 years. He started out as an engineer and one of his many design jobs -- perhaps not as dramatic or as well known but certainly a valuable bit of machinery and still in use today, is the Pineapple- Picking Machine used by the DOLE PINEAPPLE COMPANY.

However, the more lucrative prospects of Hollywood film making was an irresistible lure and he and his wife, the beautiful actress, singer and dancer, Margaret Byrson, left Hawaii and returned to the Main land where he then use his artistic talents and training as an engineer to make more than 150 feature films working for almost every major film studio in town. .

Some of Frank's engineering efforts are easily recognizable. In one joint effort he and Bob Mattey and Joe Alves, designed the mechanical workings of Great White Shark for JAWS.

For Universal Studios Tours he engineered the Burning House. He designed the turbulence of the lake in JAWS. One other impressive engineering design, is the GREAT WHITE'S MOUTH. He is responsible for engineering the Sharks' mobility. "It was a real challenge. The collapsing Wharf? The collapsing wharf and the barrels; were relatively simple in comparison. "

Frank wanted everything to be just 'right'. His making certain that everything was 'perfect', resulted in many of his structures continuing to stand. In fact, once the filming the movie AIRPORT ended, the Minneapolis International Airport, purchased many of the film's props to use as permanent ticket counters.

The Sheriff’s Office, City Hall, Saloon, Church and Hotel in Old Tucson, Arizona are his. “EL DORADO was filmed there, and now, in addition to being a working set, it’s also a tourist attraction.”

A BRIEF FILMOGRAPHY

IN HARMS WAY
THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER
THE STING
AIRPORT
BEGUILED
EARTHQUAKE
HELLO DOLLY
ROLLER COASTER
DOCTOR DOLITTLE
EL DORADO
JAWS

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FRANK WURMSER
Contact: FilmMakers@MentorHuebnerArt.com

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