Douglas G. Shearer was a Canadian American pioneer sound designer and recording director who played a key role in the advancement of sound technology for motion pictures.
Background
Shearer was born in Montreal, Quebec to a prominent upper-class family, but his family fell on hard times after his father"s business failed, which ultimately led to his parents" separation. Douglas remained with his father in Montreal while his two younger sisters, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer star Norma Shearer and Athole, moved to New York City with their mother.
Career
In 2008, he was inducted into Canada"s Walk of Fame. Unable to afford university, Douglas Shearer left school, working at a variety of jobs. At Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he pursued an interest in adding sound to film.
This interest led to a forty-year career in films.
He was a significant innovator in motion picture sound technology. One of his many contributions was a recording system that eliminated unwanted background noise.
He is credited as Recording Director at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on most films produced between 1930 to 1953. In 1955, he was appointed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer"s director of technical research.
Shearer died in Culver City, California in 1971.