John Arnold was a technical pioneer in the development of cinema as well as a cinematographer. He earned a degree in engineering at Columbia University and later joined the engineering department of the Thomas Edison company. Eventually he went on to work with early film companies such as Biograph where he made many technical advances. In 1915, he began working as a cinematographer and became noted for his successful experiments with lighting and special effects. During the 1920s, he was recognized as one of the premiere cinematographers in film. Arnold retired from actual photography in 1929, but then he went on to helm the American Society of Cinematographers from 1931 through 1936. Beginning in 1931, Arnold also began his 25-year stint as the head of the MGM camera department.