Menu
Elmer Raguse

Elmer Raguse

Known For Sound
Birthday May 09, 1901
Died Mar 02, 1972 (70)
Birthplace Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Popularity 0.6 (history)
Updated Aug 18, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Aug 18, 2025
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

RAGUSE, ELMER (Elmer Roy Raguse) Born May 9, 1901, Springfield, Massachusetts. A ham radio enthusiast at 16, Raguse was a chief telegraph operator on ships for the Marconi Wireless Company before joining the phonograph record industry in 1924. He designed the first electrical recording system for B ... ell Telephone and installed it for Columbia Records and the Victor Talking Machine Company, which hired him as Assistant Supervisor of Recording; Raguse designed and built portable recording equipment used by Victor around the world. In 1928, Elmer supervised the recording of music and effects scores for the last of the L&H and Our Gang silents at Victor’s studios in Camden, New Jersey. He was sent to the Roach studios in Culver City to install sound recording equipment, and also insulate and redesign the stages. Raguse worked on 30 L&H films, sometimes without credit, and also recorded the sound for most of the foreign-language pictures. He remained as chief sound engineer until Henry Ginsberg fired him in a cost-cutting move in December 1931. Raguse worked at Fox and for radio producer C.P. MacGregor until Roach rehired him in January 1934; he remained there through 1957. He then worked for Desilu and finally returned to theatrical films with 20th Century-Fox. He retired to Florida in 1967. His work on Topper, Of Mice and Men, and other films earned him five Oscar nominations for sound recording and two for special effects. Elmer’s brother Roy and nephew Richard also worked at the Roach studio. Died of heart failure March 2, 1972, Palm Beach, Florida; age 70.

Known For

Filmography

No data available

Von Ryan's Express

Von Ryan's Express

1965

Sound

The Reward

The Reward

1965

Sound

Dear Brigitte

Dear Brigitte

1965

Sound

Shock Treatment

Shock Treatment

1964

Sound

What a Way to Go!

What a Way to Go!

1964

Sound

Goodbye Charlie

Goodbye Charlie

1964

Sound

Move Over, Darling

Move Over, Darling

1963

Sound

Inner Sanctum

Inner Sanctum

1948

Sound Recordist

Topper Returns

Topper Returns

1941

Sound

Way Out West

Way Out West

1937

Sound Supervisor

General Spanky

General Spanky

1936

Sound

The Chimp

The Chimp

1932

Sound

Any Old Port!

Any Old Port!

1932

Sound

The Tabasco Kid

The Tabasco Kid

1932

Sound

Helpmates

Helpmates

1932

Sound Recordist

Pardon Us

Pardon Us

1931

Recording Supervision

Hasty Marriage

Hasty Marriage

1931

Sound

One Good Turn

One Good Turn

1931

Sound

Thundering Tenors

Thundering Tenors

1931

Sound Recordist

The Pip from Pittsburg

The Pip from Pittsburg

1931

Sound Recordist

Dogs Is Dogs

Dogs Is Dogs

1931

Sound Recordist

Chickens Come Home

Chickens Come Home

1931

Sound Recordist

Come Clean

Come Clean

1931

Sound

Brats

Brats

1930

Sound Recordist

Hog Wild

Hog Wild

1930

Sound Recordist

Teacher's Pet

Teacher's Pet

1930

Sound Recordist

Another Fine Mess

Another Fine Mess

1930

Sound Recordist

The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case

The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case

1930

Sound Engineer

Blotto

Blotto

1930

Sound

Bear Shooters

Bear Shooters

1930

Sound Engineer

When the Wind Blows

When the Wind Blows

1930

Sound

Boxing Gloves

Boxing Gloves

1929

Sound Engineer

Small Talk

Small Talk

1929

Sound Engineer

Men O'War

Men O'War

1929

Sound

Lazy Days

Lazy Days

1929

Sound Engineer

Railroadin'

Railroadin'

1929

Sound Engineer

Bouncing Babies

Bouncing Babies

1929

Recording Supervision

Moan & Groan, Inc.

Moan & Groan, Inc.

1929

Recording Supervision

No data available

No data available

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

No data available

No data available

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 1 2 1
2024 7 1 1 1
2024 8 1 1 1
2024 9 2 4 1
2024 10 1 1 1
2024 11 1 1 1
2024 12 1 1 1
2025 1 2 4 1
2025 8 0 1 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
No trending metrics available.

Return to Top