Jerry Crandall was born in La Junta, Colorado, on April 1, 1935. As an artist, Crandall has done several commission paintings of the historical west and of aviation. Due to his expertise on the American West, he served as Historical Consultant for the early segments of the TV series Centennial and also for the Charlton Heston movie The Mountain Men. A member of the Screen Actor's Guild, Crandall enjoys working in the movies, he has appeared in the highly acclaimed movie Tombstone as well as several nationally televised commercials.
When he was just few years old, his family movied to the West Coast, but returned to La Junta when he was barely a teenager. "It was during that time back at my birthplace that really got me interested in the Old West, even though the experience was to last only a few years before we returned to California," Jerry recalled. He would sit in the school library reading about Kit Carson, Jim Bridger, Fitzpatrick and gaze over the prarierie toward the
Jerry Crandall
(1935 - )
Bent's Fort site, imagaining what life was really like in the early 1880s.
"It was my exposure to J.F. Buck Burshears that piqued my interest in the American Indian. He asked me to join his world famous Koshare Indian Dancers. By the age of 15, I had read more than thirty books on the American Indian and had made a complete dance costume. We danced for numerous dignitaries throughout the West. It was one of the fienst times in my life."
Shortly after attaining the Brave Rank in the Koshare organization Crandall and his family moved back to California. "While in high school, my painting of a rodeo scene was selected for a tour of American Art Students' work in Europe." After high school and a few years in the Army, Jerry attended Woodbury College in Los Angeles majoring in commercial art.
He was employed by Caler Publishing to illustrate World War II aircraft books and then later emplyed by McConnell Douglas as a techincal illustrator. In the early 1960s, Crandall participated in several Civil War Centennial battle re-enactments. He has been in numerous Indian wars, cavalry campaigns, mountain men rendezvous and cowboy rides since then.
His expertise in western history was carried into his artwork, with his work being historically acurate. "A subject won't be painted until I have exhausted all my resources assuring it authenticity. While a specific battle, for instance, may not be depicted in my art, a typical engagement utilizing correct clothing, guns, horses, tack as well as the scenery will be portrayed. As long as I am painting history, there is no reason not to be historically accurate for the period."
In 1976, Jerry participated in the 100th Anniversary Re-ride of the Custer Battle. In 1984, he was asked to ride and carry the Arizona State Flag during the opening and closing ceremonies for the Official Wild West show for the Summer Olympics; this was a private party held at Griffith Park Equestrian Center in Los Angeles and was hosted by R. E. Petersen, publisher and commissioner of the Olympic Shooting Events. His wife, Judy, also rode her horse and carried the Texas State flag.
Jerry and Judy Crandall formed their own publishing company in November of 1977. Later the publishing company was reformed as Eagle Editions Ltd.
Crandall is also an authority on fighter aircraft and has an extensive collection of diaries, uniforms and taped interviews with many aircraft fighters as well as hundreds of rare, unpublished photos of their aircraft. He is an associate member of the United States Fighter Aces Association and holds memberships in several other aviation societies. He has traveled all over the country giving talks on World War II pilots and their aircraft.
