JOE SHERE: 1917 - 2008
March 18, 2009 | Source: Monroe Gallery of Photography
We were very saddened to recently learn of the passing of the photographer Joe Shere. Shere began his career as a darkroom printer and apprentice photographer, working for Hearst Publications and International News Photos. In 1936 his brother, Sam Shere, shot the prize winning Hindenburg disaster photograph.In 1938, Shere joined Hillman Periodicals (A Pulp Magazine Publisher) as a studio photographer, illustrating stories and shooting covers. In 1941 Shere enlisted in U.S. Army Signal Corp as Chief of Photo Division, Newport News, Virginia until the War ended.
After the War he was sent to Hollywood by Hillman Publications as west coast manager and photojournalist. Shere continued to photograph for many publications, including Movieland, Pageant and TV Magazine. Starting in the late 1960's, he worked as a freelance photographer and for several years produced the annual history of the Academy Awards for the Motion Picture Academy.
Shere shot the famous image of Jayne Mansfield and Sophia Loren at Romanoff's, in Beverly Hills.