During WWII, the Department of Cinema experiences the loss of faculty to military service. Classes are rescheduled to accommodate accelerated degree programs "to provide trained men and women for the national war effort."

In 1945, returning GIs pour into the university. During the postwar years, about 70 percent of film students - among them William Fraker - attended USC on the GI Bill.

"Films for Television" is added to the Cinema Department's course list in 1947.

In 1949, the Cinema Department introduces a class in documentary production and direction.

In 1955, cinema instructor Wilbur T. Blume wins the Academy Award in the best two-reel short subject category for producing The Face of Lincoln, and is also nominated for Best Documentary for the film.

USC President Rufus von KleinSmid, Sophia Loren, George Cukor, and Judy Garland at a DKA event circa 1959.

Bernard Kantor is appointed chair of USC's Cinema Department in 1965.

USC student George Lucas wins the National Student Film Festival (NSFF) award for his futuristic Electronic Labyrinth: THX1138 4EB in 1967.

Also in 1967, USC student John Milius is honored by NSFF for his animated short, Marcello, I'm So Bored.

Actress Sally Kellerman presents USC cinema student John Longenecker, producer of The Resurrection of Broncho Billy, with the 1970 Academy Award for Best Live-Action Short Subject.

Longenecker penned the film, along with co-writers John Carpenter (who also composed the music and edited the film), Nick Castle (who also did the cinematography), Trace Johnston and James R. Rokos (who also directed). Broncho Billy was distributed theatrically by Universal.