Most people today probably haven’t heard of motion picture musical conductor Constantin Bakaleinikoff, but he was instrumental in setting up theatre orchestras around Los Angeles in the 1920s, before he became music director at several film studios.
Born in Moscow, Bakaleinikoff served in the Russian army in World War I before immigrating to the United States after the Bolshevik Revolution. He played the cello in the Los Angeles Philharmonic for several years. Likewise, his brother Vladimir later traveled to L.A. to play in classical groups as well.
Bakaleinikoff left the Philharmonic after a few years to head the Grauman’s Million Dollar Theatre Orchestra, where he compiled, composed, and orchestrated scores to accompany features. He would soon head the Egyptian Theatre Orchestra, and later the Criterion Theatre Orchestra.
In 1923, Bakaleinikoff married the silent film actress Fritzi Ridgeway, who had originally starred in silents before falling to supporting parts. They lived at 2837 Beachwood Drive in Hollywoodland, where Ridgeway would buy properties, hire an architect to design and build houses, before she sold them to consumers. By 1927, Bakaleinikoff had become a United States citizen. He and Ridgeway later divorced.
With the coming of sound, Bakalenikoff joined Paramount as a musical director, later serving MGM, Columbia and RKO. He usually employed the credit C. Bakaleinikoff onscreen. During his studio career, he composed scores for about 40 shorts, and was nominated four times for Academy Awards for Best Original Score. He also appeared in four films as a conductor.
During his film career, he found time to conduct at the Hollywood Bowl for more than 20 years, as well as the Greek Theatre and other local venues.
Bakaleinikoff retired from the film business in the late 1950s, but would lead the Burbank Youth Symphony and Burbank Symphony Orchestra within a few years. While working for the city of Burbank, he commented to the Times that the government should support the arts, which would provide increased opportunities for participation as well as adding jobs. He died in 1966.
Mary: Is Mischa Bakaleinikoff any relation to either of the men you mentioned?
He did a “ton” of scores for Columbia Pictures over the years.
Was just wondering.
Yes, he was also a brother.
With each successive photograph, Bakaleinikoff looks less and less Russian. Probably an accurate reflection of his life. As a credit reader since childhood, I recognized his name immediately. The magnetic attraction of the film industry created an amazing broth of world renown artists in the once provincial town of Los Angeles, particularly true through the early fifties. What a place that was.
Costia (short for Constantin) was my uncle. Thank you for writing this…it is wonderful.
Mischa was his younger brother, and my father, and he worked for Columbia Studios. Their older brother Vladimir ended up at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. How I wish I had one drop of their musical talent!
@Annie: Thanks! Responses like yours are one of the joys of doing the Daily Mirror.