Ernest Bachrach (1899-1973) had one of the longest careers as a studio portrait photographer of the Golden Era. He was the still photographer for King Kong and Citizen Kane as well as most of RKO's classic output. He was especially well-known for his portrait studies of great actors and actress, including a series of color shots of Marilyn Monroe; also admired for his versatility, Bachrach's production work on King Kong is noted for the various effect shots and composites he produced both for continuity and the promotional campaign. Bachrach was with RKO-Radio Pictures from its 1929 founding until its purchase by Desilu in 1958. During this time, he crystallized star images of the previously unknown Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Orson Welles. While meeting the demands of a publicity department, Bachrach managed to impose a personal aesthetic on this work, a considerable feat in Hollywood, and, in 1947 he won the Academy Award for Still Photography.