People: Honorable Mention 2014 (professional)
ENTRY DESCRIPTION
One of a collection of photography taken by William Tynan on his Walk from Los Angeles to Mexico City in 1958-59
AUTHOR
Born during the Depression 1n Los Angeles in 1930. Enlisted in army and became a member of 7796 Signal Photo Co. in Korean War. Tynan earned a reputation as one of the top photojournalist in Europe and became one of General Eisenhower's personal photographer in Paris. He returned to California and worked in the camera dept for Disney, MGM, Deluxe, Technicolor and others.
In fall of 1958, motivated by his desire for adventure, embarked on a journey in which he gave up everything and walked totally by foot, from Los Angeles to Mexico City. A partner, Bill Bates joined him on this adventure. Both survived with little food or water, surviving unforeseen catastrophes, walking up to 25 miles a day or more. Exhausted, hungry, dirty in tattered clothes, Tynan managed to tote his Rolaflex camera the entire 2,300 miles, taking remarkable photographs with his determination to show the generosity of the Mexican people who both Tynan and Bates believed that they would never have reached Mexico City without. The Adventurers' Club made William Tynan a member in 1960.
In 2011,Tynan's home in the Hollywood Hills, caught fire and almost everything he owned was destroyed. Miraculously, what survived were some boxes that contained most of the photographs documenting their walk to Mexico. These photographs that survived, are proof of this great adventure.
Today, William Tynan continues his photography and remains a member of SAG for his past acting roles, and voice over work. His skill of speaking and storytelling has been well known. William has ad many, many different careers in his life and is always looking for a new adventure.
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