Richard Lyford, a visionary individual, was born in the year 1917 in the city of Seattle. As a young man, he was deeply inspired by the magic of silent films and stage plays, which fueled his creative spirit and led him to produce an astonishing 58 plays and 9 16mm films by the time he reached the age of 20.
With his own acting company, Lyford presented his live and filmed productions in a 50-seat basement theatre within the walls of his family home. His early endeavors in filmmaking, particularly with 16mm, caught the attention of the renowned Disney studios, and he went on to work on some of their most iconic classics, including "Dumbo", "Pinocchio", and "Fantasia".
Lyford was a pioneer in the field of animation, special effects, and models, and his work during World War II saw him creating films for the Army Air Forces. After the war, he continued to produce his own films and co-produced and directed the 1950 Academy Award-winning documentary, "The Titan", which told the fascinating story of Michelangelo's life and work.
In 1952, Lyford made history by becoming the first Western film crew to operate in Saudi Arabia, producing a number of films for the Kingdom. One of his most notable documentaries, "The Fly", was a groundbreaking piece that explored the prevention of the disease caused by the Tsetse Fly. His subsequent documentaries, however, faced protests due to the outbreak of the Middle Eastern War in 1956.
Despite these challenges, Lyford continued to create films, including "Boy With A Blindfold", a poignant documentary about sight restoration, narrated by the renowned actor Walter Pigeon. His work in filmmaking led him back to Disney, where he contributed to the production of "The Wonderful World of Color" on television, as well as numerous other projects.
Beyond his remarkable career in filmmaking, Lyford had a deep passion for aviation, which led him to purchase a surplus training plane for his backyard. He would often "taxi" the plane around his yard, indulging in his love for flight.
Richard Lyford's life came to a close in the year 1985, but his legacy as a pioneering filmmaker and aviation enthusiast continues to inspire and captivate audiences to this day.
