Lewis E. McAfee

Biography

Lewis Elijah McAfee was born 1890 in Streator Illinois. He moved to California as a young man, riding his early Henderson motorcycle, and worked as an electrician for Standard Oil in San Francisco. He met is his wife, Ruby Stenmark, daughter of Capt John Stenmark of East Brother Light Station, in Richmond California. He would later be hired on as electrician for MGM and become chief electrician. Lewis was hand picked by director W. S. Van Dyke to be gaffer for his 3 expedition films; White Shadows in the South Seas 1928, Trader Horn 1931 and Eskimo 1933. Lewis retired from the electrical department of MGM and played a role on as gaffer for many MGM movies throughout his career.