LOS ANGELES -- The founder and head of a major movie industry camera supply firm was found stabbed to death Thursday in his Bel-Air mansion and a houseguest he had quarreled with was arrested for his murder.
Robert Gottschalk, 64, the Academy Award-winning president of Panavision Inc., was killed in his home in the hills above the exclusive Bel-Air Country Club.
Ronnie Chuman, 27, who has lived with him for two years and works at Panavision, called police about 9 a.m. to report finding the body, sprawled in the master bedroom and clad in pajamas.
Chuman was arrested several hours later after allegedly giving conflicting statements during questioning. Police also confiscated a knife described as the apparent murder weapon.
'Evidently they were quite good friends and this friendship may have played a part in the murder,' said police Lt. Glenn Ackerman.
Another officer, who asked not to be identified, implied the men had a homosexual relationship, then added:
'A domestic quarrel broke out sometime after midnight and a fight ensued in which the victim was stabbed to death.'
'Physical evidence found on Mr. Chuman indicated he possibly may have been involved in a fight,' Sgt. Glen Varner said.
John Geisenhoff, 68, a longtime friend of the victim's who had lived in the home since 1968, was also questioned, but police said he would not be charged.
Gottschalk's company has been a leading producer of professional movie equipment since he founded the company in 1955. More than half the feature films and TV series produced in the nation last year were filmed with leased Panavision equipment.
Gottschalk invented the first Panaflex camera in his home about 25 years ago, according to a spokesman for Warner Communications Inc., which wholly owns Panaflex.
The slaying was 'a great shock' to employees, Michael Piazzola, Gottschalk's executive assistant, said.
Panavision is a trade name for a group of wide-screen film processes, which involve the use of 35mm film and a special lens.
Another process developed by Panavision -- called Super Panavision or Panavision 70 -- was first used in the Oscar-winning film 'Ben Hur' in 1959. That year Gottschalk and two other men won plaques from the movie academy for development of the system.
