Technical innovator who improved the design of the light valves used to transmit pictures over wire, developed VistaVision (Paramount's answer to CinemaScope) and, in 1948, invented the technique of magnetic sound recording for film and TV. Ryder earned 14 Academy Award nominations and an Oscar®, as well as a Special Award for SPAWN OF THE NORTH (1938), for which he simulated the sound of an avalanche by recording a pig's squeal and then playing it backwards!  Nominated for Sound Recording 1937: WELLS FARGO  Nominated for Sound Recording 1938: IF I WERE KING  Special Awards 1938: SPAWN OF THE NORTH - Sound Effects: For outstanding achievement in creating special effects in the Paramount production, SPAWN OF THE NORTH. Winners presented Plaques. (w. Harry D. Mills, Louis H. Mesenkop & Walter Oberst)  Nominated for Sound Recording 1939: THE GREAT VICTOR HERBERT  Nominated for Special Effects 1939: UNION PACIFIC - Special Effects (Sound)  Nominated for Sound Recording 1940: NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE  Nominated for Special Effects 1940: TYPHOON - Special Effects (Sound)  Nominated for Sound Recording 1941: SKYLARK  Scientific Or Technical (Class III) 1941: For pioneering the development of fine grain emulsions for variable density original sound recording in studio production. (w. Douglas Shearer)  Nominated for Sound Recording 1942: ROAD TO MOROCCO  Nominated for Sound Recording 1943: RIDING HIGH  Nominated for Sound Recording 1944: DOUBLE INDEMNITY  Nominated for Sound Recording 1945: THE UNSEEN  Scientific Or Technical (Class III) 1945: For the design, construction and use of the first dial controlled step-by-step sound channel line-up and test circuit. (w. Charles R. Daily)  Scientific Or Technical (Class III) 1949: For the development and application of the supersonic playback and public address system. (w. Bruce H. Denney & Robert Carr)  Scientific Or Technical (Class II) 1950: For the first studio-wide application of magnetic sound recording to motion picture production.  Nominated for Sound Recording 1953: WAR OF THE WORLDS  Nominated for Sound Recording 1954: REAR WINDOW - Sound Director  Scientific Or Technical (Class I) 1954: For developing a method of producing and exhibiting motion pictures known as VistaVision. (Included among the winners are "all the members of the technical and engineering staff"). (w. John R. Bishop) Winners presented a Statuette.  Scientific Or Technical (Class III) 1955: For a projection film index to establish proper framing for various aspect ratios. (w. Charles West & Harry Fracker)  Nominated for Sound Recording 1956: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS  Honorary and Other Awards 1978. Presented in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Winner presented Medal of Commendation. (w. Linwood G. Dunn and Waldon O. Watson) 14 nominations, 2 Honorary Awards, 6 Scientific/Technical Awards