Barry Mahon
Born
Jackson Barrett Mahon

(1921-02-05)February 5, 1921
Bakersfield, California
DiedDecember 4, 1999(1999-12-04) (aged 78)
Las Vegas, Nevada
Other namesT.A. Dee / Barrett Mahon / J. Barrett Mahon / J. Barret Mahon / Jackson B. Mahon / James Michael
Occupation(s)Film director, cinematographer, producer
Years active1959–1994
SpouseClelle Mahon (? –1999)

Barry Mahon, born Jackson Barrett Mahon (February 5, 1921 – December 4, 1999) was an American film director, cinematographer and producer.[1]

Early years

Mahon was born in Bakersfield, California and attended the Page Military Academy (now Page Private School) in Los Angeles and graduated from Laguna Blanca Boys School in Santa Barbara, California.[2] He learned to fly while in high school.[3]

World War II

In 1941 he joined the Royal Air Force, and by the winter was flying combat with No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron, composed of American volunteers. Pilot Officer Mahon damaged three German fighters and two Focke-Wulf Fw 190s in April and a Messerschmitt Bf 109 in May, before scoring his first confirmed victories of two Fw 190s, downed in the Saint-Omer area, on June 8, 1942. On July 31 he destroyed two more Fw 190s over the Berck-Sur-Mer area and became an ace while covering the commando raid on Dieppe, August 19, 1942, his 98th fighter pilot mission. At 08:30, flying his Spitfire Vb, nicknamed "Barry", Mahon shot down an Fw 190 and another Fw 190 before his plane was hit and he was forced to bail out of the burning aircraft. Landing in the sea, he was taken prisoner. Although Mahon filed a claim for shooting down two Germans that day, he was only given credit for one after the war. Thus, for a tally-record of five confirmed, two probables and three damaged Mahon received the British Distinguished Flying Cross in 1985.

Mahon was imprisoned at Stalag Luft III and managed to escape, but was captured on the Czechoslovakian border. He escaped later, only to be recaptured again, and was finally liberated by Patton's 3rd Army in 1945.

Post war cinema career

After the war he became the personal pilot for, and later the manager of, Errol Flynn. Having produced a number of Flynn and Gina Lollobrigida pictures (including the abortive Story of William Tell), as well as a considerable output of children's programs, Mahon established The Production Machine, a high-tech film production company in Hollywood. He made motion pictures for theatrical and television release. Mahon was the first film producer to adapt and apply computer technology (as well spreadsheet applications, such as MultiPlan) to the breakdown, scheduling, budgeting and financial analysis of feature-length motion pictures and movies-of-the-week for Columbia Pictures.

Other names

T.A. Dee / Barrett Mahon / J. Barrett Mahon / J. Barret Mahon / Jackson B. Mahon / James Michael

Personal and family life

Mahon was married to Clelle until his death. He is the father of Columbia/CBS producer Doris Keating.

Selected filmography

Some of his films have been spoofed by the likes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Rocket Attack U.S.A.),[4] The Cinema Snob (Santa's Christmas Elf (Named Calvin)[5][6]) and RiffTrax (Wonderful Land of Oz, both versions of Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny featuring both Thumbelina and Jack and the Beanstalk).[7][8][9][10]

Notes

  1. ↑ Obituaries: Barry Mahon, 78: December 4, 1999 Lentz, Harris, III. Classic Images [Muscatine, Iowa] 01 Feb 2000: 52.
  2. ↑ "Jackson Barrett Mahon - American Air Museum in Britain". Americanairmuseum.com. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  3. ↑ Ryan, Craig Magnificent Failure: Free Fall from the Edge of Space Smithsonian Institution, 2 September, 2014
  4. ↑ MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: VOLUME XXVII (DVD)|Film Threat
  5. ↑ Santa's Christmas Elf (Named Calvin) - The Cinema Snob by Stoned Gremlin Productions on YouTube
  6. ↑ "The Cinema Snob" Santa's Christmas Elf (Named Calvin) (TV Episode 2017) - IMDb
  7. ↑ "'Santa and The Ice Cream Bunny': Strange holiday entertainment from the 1970s|Movies & TV|standard.net". Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  8. ↑ RiffTrax: 25 On-Demand Movies You Need to Watch|Den of Geek
  9. ↑ 'Santa And The Ice Cream Bunny' Gets RiffTrax Treatment - Chicago Tribune
  10. ↑ The Wonderful Land of Oz|RiffTrax

References

  • Frasier, David K. (1998). Russ Meyer : The Life and Films : A Biography and A Comprehensive, Illustrated, and Annotated Filmography and Bibliography. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. ISBN 0-7864-0472-8.
  • Meyer, Russ (2000). A Clean Breast : The Life and Loves of Russ Meyer (3 Volume Set). El Rio, Texas: Hauck Pub Co. ISBN 0-9621797-2-8.
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