KENNETH SWENSON, (1917-2011) Passed away October 21st 2011 of natural causes, he was 94.

Ken was a long time studio worker from the"Golden Era" of motion pictures. He started his career in 1934 when his parents moved from Oregon, where he was born and moved to Culver City, California.

The Swenson family moved to California hoping for a much better work climate than Oregon had to offer because of the depression. Ken would seek work at the studios when he was asked if he would work for no money until had had experience, he jumped at the chance. He would labor for eight to ten hours six days a week first in the camera department and then where ever they needed an extra hand for almost two years before he was put on payroll. Ken had found his life's work. He enjoyed his most enjoyable work running the property department at the old Revue Studios where he went to work after the war, until Universal had bought them out.

Ken went over to Universal while the deal was still in works and looked around their property department which was located where the Commissary is today. Ken took charge of the Universal property department. It wasn't long before a couple of new prop houses were built to store all props from Revue Studios and the exciting props that Universal had and there was plenty. Every available storage space was taken advantage in every nook and building that was on the lot was fair game for storage place for all of the props that did not fit in the two new prop warehouse "The Swede", as Jess Martin, long time main warehouse propman, would call him affectionately. Old hospital beds were stored in a shed at Singapore Lake, the Train Shed held most of the old refrigerators, outdoor tables wicker chairs, old oak desks, filing cabinets but no trains. Bristol Court was home of all the pool side furniture and concrete benches. The Cannon Barn held odds and ends, old refrigerators, wood burning stoves deli display counters, The cannons were stored on the outside of the building. The Gold Room, as it was called, a lock up storage space on stage 12 held some of the more expensive props from the movie "Flower Drum Song". The "KD" room, I have no idea what that stands for, was a small lock up underneath stage 28 (the "Phantom of the Opera" stage) held some old large front wheel bikes, some ship's radio equipment and odds and ends. All the stagecoaches and wagons were kept under a large tin canopy near western street not far from the stables and were kept neatly and in good repair by Bob Hermanna,a propman. He was also known as the chicken wrangler.

The two warehouses that made up the bulk of some the finest furniture, hand props, light fixtures, draperies, paintings, props guns and holsters and tapestries. The gun room, Ken had to be accountable to the F.B.I. for all the guns and rifles, all fire arms and to include "studio money", All this was available to ALL the Universal film and television shows for no cost, at least while Ken was in charge. We did not even need to check them out, except the hand props and guns. They were called warehouse A and B and Ken Swenson was in charge of it all. Ken would ride his bicycle around the lot checking where he might be able to keep a few people working by having them clean up sections at a time. Most of us worked almost year around under his system. Mr. Swenson had always kept the welfare of all those who worked in the property department for him, foremost in his mind at all times. Ken Swenson retired in 1970. He has been missed then and will be missed now, forever in our hearts.....

Ken is survived by his daughter Carol Sue Anderson, grand children Kelly Schreiber-Davis and Denise Foley, two great grandchildren, John Foley and Bailey Davis. Ken's wife, Phyllis passed away in Oct 2010, his son Kenny Swenson Jr. passed away in February 2011.