Van Nest Polglase

Born in Brooklyn, Van Nest Polglase studied architecture and interior decoration. In 1919 he began at Famous Players-Lasky, which became Paramount. He went to RKO in 1932, where he was head of the art department. Although Polglase did not actually design any sets at RKO (a job actually supervised by unit art directors such as his colleague, Carroll Clark), his name appeared on credits as a representative of the art department as a whole. Polglase moved to the Columbia studio in 1943.