John "Jack" W Givens Jr.
Jack Givens wore many hats during the production of Night of the Living Dead, both in front of and behind the camera. He's one of just a few people to have played multiple roles on screen, appearing as several ghouls, a posse member and as a reporter in Washington DC.
Jack Givens was the chief audio engineer at Hardman Associates and would often travel with Karl Hardman and Marfilyn Eastman as they would produce shows around the country. Just prior to filming Night of the Living Dead, Givens traveled with Hardman and Eastman to record comedy routines with Rege Cordic, Karl's former radio partner.
Jack was responsible for not only recording and helping to create the sound effects for Night of the Living Dead, but together with Marshall Booth, most likely created some of the eerie, non-Capitol Hi-Q electronic cues heard during some of the film's most infamous scenes, notably the ghoul feast, Ben's retreat to the basement, and when the lights go out just before the ghoul's final siege on the farmhouse. Lee Hollihan, who eventually worked for Hardman Associates, tells the story of helping Jack to create a tape loop of cricket sounds in order to even out the audio that had been recorded on location.
At the time of production, Jack was married to Virginia "Ginger" Givens who is also thought to have played a ghoul in the same scenes as Jack, though that has yet to be verified.
In 1969 where Jack was in Zurich doing an Industrial Show for Univac with Hardman Associates. While visiting Zurich, Jack managed to climb the Swiss Alps in between the events.
John W. Givens: Aug 13, 1937
Text and photos © Image Ten, Inc.
If you know of any family, friends or acquaintances that appeared as extras in the original Night of the Living Dead, please contact John Vullo at jmv3683@gmail.com
