Accession 2014.013 - 2014 acquisition

Robert and Violet Crone are Canadian pioneers in the film and television industry. They have each had very influential careers and have worked across the globe. Their resumes are extensive, each with their own long list of awards.

Robert (Bob) Crone grew up in Peterborough, Ontario as the son of a minister. It was in high school where he began to take steps towards his future career behind the camera. He made his first film there, but quickly moved to Toronto to work for CBC, which had just begun national television broadcasting. After a short time there, Robert began to work as a free-lance cameraman, and then a film producer. He would supply publicity shots, news stories, and interviews to Pan-American Airways, Time-Life, CBC, and other Canadian magazines.

His career then took him across the globe. He spent seven years traversing Asia, Africa, Europe, and coming home to Canada every so often. He covered news, and was often calmly entering divided cities, and politically charged situation to capture each areas story on film. With a custom-made sound mixing console in his Toronto home basement, he was able to produce a complete audio-visual package for his clients.

In 1964, Robert decided, with the support of his wife Vi, to open a film processing house. At the time, there were no film laboratories in Canada. Film House Limited began, serving visiting film producers and Canadians alike. Film House sales took off, doubling about every 18 months. By 1968, they were processing 75 to 125 orders a day. After ten years of success, Robert Crone sold the company to an ad agency and returned to shooting.

Robert Crone, along with help from his son David Crone, has been credited for bring the Steadicam to Canada, being the top operators of the invention. The entry of the Steadicam to the film scene revolutionized how many shot, as the camera stabilizing system allowed for free camera movement.

Violet (Vi) Crone grew up in Peterborough, Ontario. She was the first female camera operator in Canada and has studied at the New York Institute of Photography