News Digest
FATHERS OF THE SILVER SCREEN - II
Within a decade after film theaters called nickelodeons opened their doors,
Americans flocked to them by the tens of millions. Few existed before
1904; about 9,000 spanned the country only four years later. And by 1910,
26-million weekly patrons attended an hour of films for a nickel or dime.
An industry created by Jewish vision and dynamism was to become our
nation's first global enterprise. Even today, U.S. motion pictures remain a
leading, highly profitable export in worldwide trade.
Barney Balaban (1887-1971) fashioned the modern movie theater
and rose to the presidency of Paramount Pictures. William Fox (1879-
1952) formed the Fox Film Corporation that evolved into 20th Century Fox.
Jesse Lasky (1880-1958) was the "merger king" of Hollywood who helped
enormously expand the industry. Max Reinhardt (1873 1943) introduced
impressionism and advanced the star system with the Marlene Dietrich
mystique as its prototype. Others also led the way:
CARL LAEMMLE
(1867-1939) b. Laupheim, Germany Immigrating
to the U.S. at seventeen, the former clothing store
manager bought a ramshackle Chicago nick-
elodeon (1906) as a first step in acquiring and
refurbishing a dozen more. While building his
theater network, Laemmle became a leading
regional film distributor driven by higher ambition.
In a series of moves, he adroitly merged his com-
pany with those of smaller film producers to eventually form Universal
Studios. While at its helm, Laemmle produced Traffic in Souls, among
Hollywood's first full length feature movies whose smashing success in
1913 revolutionized film making. He was also the first to hire celebrated
stage performers such as Mary Pickford, launching the star system by
giving screen credits to his talent. Purchased by the Music Corporation of
America, Universal became the world's largest and most profitable
packager of TV films.
MARCUS LOEW
(1870-1927) b. New York City One of the
earliest to recognize the immense potential of
films, he teamed up with Adolph Zukor in the
penny arcade business before branching out to
establish a coast-to-coast chain of Loew theaters.
• In many of his majestic movie palaces he
pioneered "mixed media" programs which drew
ever-growing audiences to live vaudeville and
motion picture entertainment. In 1920, the Austrian immigrant's son turned
movie mogul purchased Metro Pictures Corporation, then the Goldwyn
Picture Corporation. From yet another merger with Louis B. Mayer
Pictures came Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a giant that dominated Hollywood
and established it as the center of the world's film industry. Lionized as the
great popularizer of motion pictures, Leow died prematurely at age 57.
JACK WARNER
(1892-1978) b. London, Ontario, Canada He was
the charismatic "showman" among the four sons
of Benjamin Eichelbaum, a Polish-born peddler.
In hand with his older brothers Harry, Albert and
Samuel, he flourished within the motion picture
dynasty that became a powerhouse of cinematic
invention and innovation. The Warners invaded
the Hollywood scene after great success in ac-
quiring movie theater and film distribution systems. And while heading up
studio production, Jack filmed the first talkie with dialogue and music: The
Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson (1927). The feat was repeated in a
landmark color feature two years later. Warner Brothers Pictures went on
to mesmerize movie goers with gangster films like Little Ceaser with
Edward G. Robinson (1930) and breathtaking musical jubilees by Busby
Berkeley. More recently, the company formed Time Warner Inc. by
merging with Time Inc., creating the world's largest news media/en-
tertainment conglomerate. - Saul Stadtmauer
-
12/7
2001
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N.Y. Mayor-Elect
To Visit Israel
New York/JTA — New York's mayor-
elect plans to make a solidarity visit to
Israel.
"Just like the people of Israel showed
solidarity with us in New York" after
the Sept. 11 attack, "we are doing the
same," Michael Bloomberg said
Tuesday.
The governor of New York state,
George Pataki, and the chairman of
the Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations,
Mortimer Zuckerman, plan to accom-
pany Bloomberg when he arrives in
Israel on Sunday.
U.S. To Freeze
Group's Assets
Washington/JTA — President Bush
froze the assets of a U.S. group
accused of funding Hamas terrorists.
U.S. officials said the freeze would
apply to the Texas-based Holy Land
Foundation for Relief and
Development.
The foundation said it raised $13
million last year and claimed that it
is the largest Muslim charity in the
United States. A spokeswoman for
the foundation denied it is a front
for Hamas. Bush also froze the assets
of two groups based in Palestinian-
controlled areas, the Al Aqsa
International Bank and the Beit El-
Mal Holdings Company.
"Those who do business with ter-
ror will do no business with the
United States — or anywhere else the
United States can reach," Bush said.
U.N. Resolutions
Are Anti-Israel
New York/JTA — The U.N. General
Assembly criticized Israel's treatment
of the Palestinians.
In a recent vote, the world body
passed four resolutions related to
Israeli-Palestinian relations. One of
the resolutions backed Palestinian
rights to an independent state based
on the principle of land for peace.
Before the vote, Israel's ambassador
to the United Nations, Yehuda
Lancry, called on assembly members
to "detach themselves from resolu-
tions which would endow
Palestinian terrorism with interna-
tional legitimacy."
The vote came after a weekend of
Palestinian terror attacks that killed
26 Israelis.
Dreidels Spin
On The Web
New York/JTA — Jews can play drei-
del online this Chanukah.
The Jewish Outreach Institute, an
organization that promotes outreach
to intermarried families, has created
SpinTheDreidel.com , a site that
teaches how to play the traditional
Chanukah game.
Visitors to the site use a mouse to
spin the computerized dreidel and
play against a group of lively and
noisy cartoon children. The site also
teaches Chanukah songs, blessings
and other information.
Suicide Bomber
Only Fatality
Jerusalem/JTA — A suicide bomber
blew himself up outside David's
Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem. The
attack took place early Wednesday
morning, lightly wounding at least
eight people.
The terrorist, who was wearing a
nail and metal-studded bomb for
added deadly effect, was targeting
Israeli government ministers, accord-
ing to Islamic Jihad, which claimed
responsibility for the attack.
Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert,
Public Security Minister Uzi Landau
and Religious Affairs Minister Asher
Ohana were at the hotel at the time
of the attack, Israel Radio reported.
Formerly known as the Hilton, the
hotel is located on King David
Street, close to the Old City and
downtown Jerusalem. Police believe
the bomber was planning to carry
out the attack in the city center, but
the device exploded prematurely.
Geneva Forum
Attacks Israel
Geneva/JTA — An international
conference told Israel to stop violat-
ing the rights of Palestinians.
At a one-day meeting Wednesday
of signatory states to the Fourth
Geneva Convention, a final declara-
tion called on Israel to "refrain from
committing grave breaches" of the
convention, including "willful killing,
torture and unlawful deportation."