June 26, 1928 -- Elson Irwin was born in Springfield, Illinois.
September 1932 - He moved with family to Golden Gardens (which later became Southern View Village.)
September - 1934 - Elson entered Southern View Grade School which his father and uncles built a few years earlier.
September - 1939 - His father, Raymond Oscar Irwin, died of pneumonia.
December - 1939 - Went to California alone on a Greyhound bus.
December - 1939 - Lived with the Russell French family at 2214 Huron St., Los Angeles CA
February - 1940 - Worked at MGM Studios as fledgling actor: age 11. Bit parts in comedy shorts involving
kid actors.
September - 1943 - Matriculated at Benjamin Franklin High School in Los Angeles.
February - 1944 - Worked at Columbia Studios with Charles Coburn in film "Colonel Effingham's Raid." Also Donald
Meek and Thurston Hall.
March 1944 - Made high school debut as a singer in a musical version of "The Lone Ranger." The character was Frank
Singoutra. The song was "I'll Walk Alone."
June - 1946 - Mother, Nellie Blake Irwin, died in Springfield, Illinois.
June 1946 - Was graduated from Franklin High.
September 1946 - Began classes at Los Angeles City College with James Coburn., Olga Schliapin, Emily Kuglen, Jerry
Bluth and others. Co-wrote "Heads I Win," which starred Coburn as Henry VIII. Helped fund Coburn's trip to New
York City where he broke into professional show business.
December 1946 - Wrote "The Dolls and Eve" one-act play which won the Santa Barbara One-Act Play Festival judged
by Aaron Spelling. (Later sold to television "Jane Wyman Theater." Sold other scripts during three-year span.)
January - 1947 - Formed a comedy act with Eddie Stephens called "Rastus amd Asbestos." Performed all over Southern
California area.
December - 1950 - Worked for Holmes and Narver Engineers publishing "Coral Island Breeze" on island of Eniwetok
in South Pacific. Also worked as DJ at radio station on Parry Island, Eniwetok Atoll. Witnessed atomic bomb test - range 27
miles on T-boat.
April 1951 - Entered US Army. Graduated Counter Intelligence Corps School at Baltimore, Md. Served in a linguistic
detachment (503rd CIC Detachment) which saw duty in southern Europe. Also was attached for special shows to Special
Services in military.
April 1953 - Honorably discharged from military and began study at Long Beach State College in journalism and
drama, after a brief stint as an insurance claims investigator, and some off-duty private-eye work.
July 6, 1956 - Married Joyce King in Long Beach CA Best man: Ronald Rodecker. Among ushers: Ross Newhan,
Hall of Fame baseball writer.
Sept 1957 - Daughter Meri Lee Irwin born in Anaheim, CA
June 1967 - Went to Japan (Stars and Stripes), as entertainment editor and columnist. Also was adviser
to Sony CBS in Japan and composed English lyrics for Japanese songwriters. Also did voice-overs for Japanese films and television
productions. Daughter, Meri Lee Irwin, worked in Japanese film and television.
July 1970 - Returned from Japan and was employed by San Diego Tribune as copy editor and sports copy editor and
occasional writer/reviewer. Interviewed many rock artists.
July 1975-1990 - Employed as actor by Murder Mystery Weekend - San Diego and Los Angeles companies on free-lance
basis. Wrote more than 150 scripts for murder mysteries during this period.
June 1990 - Founded first chapter of Seniors On Stage at La Jolla Recreation Center.
Sept. 1990 - Founded Murder Ink with actor Brett Weir for producing shows aboard cruise ships (Holland America,
Celebrity, Princess cruise lines, etc.)
Sept 1992 - Retired from San Diego Tribune.
Sept. 1992 - Employed as teacher for San Diego Community Colleges Adult Education (Seniors On Stage) at Point
Loma campus.
June 1999 - Moved to Hemet CA where he founded the second chapter of Seniors On Stage and staged first production
"Hemet Follies of 1999" at Golden Village Resort. Also produced murder mystery at Golden Village. Wrote and directed "Hemet
Follies" from 1999-present. Staged shows at Simpson Center.
July 2007- Contracted to do shows at Hamshaw Farms' Motte's Barn in Romoland. First show: "The Menifee Valley Hoedown.)
