E. Jay Krause, Emmy-Winning Set Designer Behind ‘Hollywood Squares,’ ‘Laugh-In,’ Dies at 98

E. Jay Krause, the set designer who won two Primetime Emmy Awards and created the influential looks of “The Hollywood Squares” and “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” died April 12 in Los Angeles. He was 98.

Over the course of his decades-spanning career from the ’50s to the ’70s, Krause designed sets for over 180 productions, working with performers like Bob Hope, the Jacksons, Diana Ross and Mitzi Gaynor. His credits ranged from “Shirley Temple’s Storybook,” “NBC Follies,” “The Bob Hope Show,” “The Hollywood Squares,” “Bob Hope’s World of Comedy,” “The Gong Show,” “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” to “The Jerry Lewis Show,” with his work playing a role in shaping the golden age of television. His Emmys were awarded for his set design work on “The Diana Ross Special” and “The Mitzi Gaynor Special.”

Krause founded Omega Cinema Props in 1983, which went on to become a major independent prop house in Los Angeles. He curated a collection alongside his wife, Doris, over the course of his career.

Krause was born in Los Angeles and served with distinction in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following his military service and fight in the 82-day Battle of Okinawa, he began pursuing design at Pepperdine University and kicked off his entertainment career at NBC in 1951.

Over the years, Krause also amassed a few producing credits, including for TV specials “Danny Thomas’ the Wonderful World of Burlesque: Second Edition,” 1966’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass” with Agnes Moorehead and “Carol Channing and 101 Men.”

Krause is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Carson and Barry Pritchard, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.