Born in Brooklyn, NY. One of the most influential production designers of the American cinema, he created elegant, atmosphere-laden sets for many landmark films of RKO and later Columbia. He studied architecture and interior decoration, and he entered American film at Famous Players-Lasky, which later became Paramount. He went to RKO in 1932, where he was head of the art department. Although Polglase did not actually design any sets at RKO (a job actually supervised by unit art directors such as his colleague, Carroll Clark), his name appeared on credits as a representative of the art department as a whole. Polglase moved from RKO to Columbia in 1943.  Nominated for Interior Decoration 1934: THE GAY DIVORCÉE - Art Director (w. Carroll Clark)  Nominated for Interior Decoration 1935: TOP HAT - Art Director (w. Carroll Clark)  Nominated for Interior Decoration 1938: CAREFREE - Art Director  Nominated for Interior Decoration 1939: LOVE AFFAIR - Art Director (w. Al Herman)  Nominated for Interior Decoration (Black & White) 1940: MY FAVORITE WIFE - Art Director (w. Mark-Lee Kirk)  Nominated for Interior Decoration (Black & White) 1941: CITIZEN KANE - Art Director (w. Perry Ferguson) 6 nominations