About

History:
Cinematographer Robert De Grasse lived here in 1930 and 1940. Coming from a show-business family (his brother Joseph De Grasse was a director and his uncle Sam De Grasse was an actor), De Grasse entered the business as an assistant cameraman while still a high school student, and showed such promise that he was made a full-time cinematographer by age 21. He shot many silent pictures, mostly low-budget action films. When sound films arrived De Grasse went back to being a camera operator – apparently his own idea – but by the mid-’30s he was again a cinematographer, and photographed many of RKO’s more prominent films. (Source: Internet Movie Database)

Atwater Construction Company, architect.

1930 Census:
4312 Ambrose Avenue (Value: $7,000): 1) Robert De Grasse, owner and head of household; 30 year old white married male; married at age 25; born in New Jersey; father born in French Canada, mother in New Jersey; camera man in the motion picture industry. 2) Eva G. De Grasse, wife; 31 year old white married female; married at age 26; born in England; parents born in England; to US in 1912, a naturalized citizen; not working. 3) Joan De Grasse, daughter; 1 month old white female; born in California. (17th ED, page 13A, lines 36-38).

1940 Census:
4312 Ambrose Avenue (Value $6,000): 1) Robert De Grasse, head of household; white married male 40 years of age; born in New Jersey; camera man, motion pictures; earns $5,000. 2) Eva De Grasse, wife; white married female 41 years of age; born in England; not working. 3) Joan De Grasse, daughter; white female 10 years of age; born in California; in school. (ED 60-79; Page 13A; Lines 6-8).