“Nicholas Ray at the Chateau Marmont,” an exhibit of Andy Romanoff Photographs

(c) Andy Romanoff

Readers of this blog know Andy Romanoff through his iconic 1960 photograph of an Albany Park biker and the memorable guest post he wrote, Bob and Ikey’s Wedding.

Back in 1956, Andy was part of the gang hanging out in front of Alba Bowl. In the early sixties, he was one of the motorcycle guys hanging at Napoli Pizza or just west of Kimball on Lawrence.

It’s a long way from Albany Park to Hollywood and Andy has been taking still photographs all along the way. He’s worked for 50-plus years in the film industry, as a photographer, cinematographer, imaging technologist, senior executive at Panavision and more. The film jobs kept Andy too busy to focus on exhibiting his own work, but now he’s starting to exhibit his personal photography.

Andy’s first solo exhibition, “Nicholas Ray at the Chateau Marmont,” opens at The Prospectus in the Pacific Design Center on September 19, 2012, from 5 pm to 9 pm. The show will run until November 2.

The exhibition features photographs taken during filming of Nicholas Ray’s last film, We Can’t Go Home Again (1976). Lost for all these years, the photographs recently turned up in a box of papers and now they are finally seeing the light of day.  They capture the director of Rebel Without a Cause at a troubled time in his life, not the Hollywood version of this great talent. The show is an honest portrayal of the moment and the man, highlighting his passion for his work in the face of mental and emotional turbulence.

For all you former Hollywood and Albany Parkers in LA, Andy would enjoy meeting you if you stop by the show. If  you can’t make the show, check out Andy’s work on his website.

“Nicholas Ray at the Chateau Marmont” at The Prospectus Gallery at the Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Avenue,  #226, West Hollywood. Opening is September 19 from 5 pm to 9 pm. The show run through November 2. In addition to Andy’s show, there are 15 galleries with openings on the same evening — a great night for art!