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{{Short description|American businessman and film producer (1921–1996)}}
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'''Irving H. Levin''' (born September 8, 1921 in [[Chicago, Illinois]], died March 20, 1996 in [[Brentwood, California]] <ref>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0505616/</ref>) was an American film producer and business executive with the [[National General Pictures|National General Corporation]]. He was also the owner of the [[National Basketball Association]]'s [[Boston Celtics]] and [[Los Angeles Clippers|San Diego Clippers]].
{{Infobox person
| name = Irv Levin
| caption =
| birth_name =Irving H. Levin
| birth_date = September 8, 1921
| birth_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1996|3|20|1921|9|8}}
| death_place = [[Brentwood, Los Angeles]], U.S.
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| known_for =
| education =
| alma mater =
| employer =
| occupation = film producer
| title =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party =
| boards =
| spouse =
| children = 1 son, 2 daughters
| parents =
| relatives =
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}}
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'''Irving H. Levin''' (September 8, 1921 – March 20, 1996<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0505616/|title=Irving H. Levin|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>) was an American film producer and business executive with the [[National General Pictures|National General Corporation]]. He was also the owner of the [[National Basketball Association]]'s [[Boston Celtics]] and [[Los Angeles Clippers#1978–1984: San Diego Clippers|San Diego Clippers]].


==Biography==
Levin began his film career as the president of Filmmakers Releasing Organization, a film distribution company founded by independent producers [[Collier Young]] and [[Ida Lupino]].<ref>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=STUDIO WILL FILM TWO VIDEO SERIES; 'Medic' and 'Racket Squad' |url= |quote= |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=Nov 4, 1955 |accessdate=2010-03-17 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=THOMAS M. PRYOR |coauthors= |title=IDA LUPINO ENTERS DISTRIBUTION FIELD; She and Collier Young Set Up Filmakers Releasing Unit With Outlets in 29 Cities |url= |quote= |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 26, 1953 |accessdate=2010-03-17 }}</ref> When [[American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres|American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, Inc.]] decided to expand to film production in 1956, Levin was named the first president of the Am-Par Picture Corporation.<ref>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=Company Formed to Produce Films |url= |quote= |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=Nov 16, 1956 |accessdate=2010-03-17 }}</ref> The company dissolved in 1959 and he moved to Atlantic Pictures Corp.<ref>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=BUSINESS AND PEOPLE |url= |quote= |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=Aug 28, 1959 |accessdate=2010-03-17 }}</ref>
Levin was raised in [[Chicago]].<ref name=Branch>{{Cite news|first= John|last=Branch |authorlink= |title= Clippers for Sale, and the Owner Who Was Desperate |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 10, 2014 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/sports/basketball/clippers-for-sale-and-the-owner-who-was-desperate.html }}</ref> He is of [[American Jews|Jewish descent]].<ref name=Branch/> He served as a bombardier during [[World War II]] stationed in [[California]].<ref name=Branch/> He later moved to California where his father-in-law helped him to get a job in the film industry.<ref name=Branch/>


Levin began his film career as the president of Filmmakers Releasing Organization, a film distribution company founded by independent producers [[Collier Young]] and [[Ida Lupino]].<ref>{{cite news |title=STUDIO WILL FILM TWO VIDEO SERIES; 'Medic' and 'Racket Squad' |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=Nov 4, 1955 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=THOMAS M. PRYOR |title=IDA LUPINO ENTERS DISTRIBUTION FIELD; She and Collier Young Set Up Filmakers Releasing Unit With Outlets in 29 Cities |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 26, 1953 }}</ref> When [[American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres|American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, Inc.]] decided to expand to film production in 1956, Levin was named the first president of the [[List of production companies owned by the American Broadcasting Company#American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres Pictures|Am-Par Picture Corporation]]. AB-PT sold Levin and Harry L. Mandell AB-PT Pictures and AB-PT Distribution Corporation in May 1958<ref name="bc1959-05-11">{{cite news |title=New film producers |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1959/1959-05-11-BC.pdf |access-date=February 25, 2020 |work=Broadcasting |date=May 11, 1959 |page=77}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Highlights of Corporate 1958|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Df0HAQAAIAAJ&q=%22AB-PT+Pictures%22|access-date=April 11, 2018|work=The Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures|publisher=Film daily.|date=1959|language=en}}</ref> and reformed the company as Atlas Pictures Corporation.<ref name="bc1959-05-11"/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Heffernan|first1=Kevin|title=Ghouls, Gimmicks, and Gold: Horror Films and the American Movie Business, 1953–1968|date=2004 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=0822385554 |page=71 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sXvM3DZdKMcC&q=%22AB-PT+Pictures%22&pg=PA71 |access-date=April 11, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Levin and Mandell then brought on Maurice Duke and Henry F. Ehrlich to form a TV production company, Sindee Productions Inc. with its first series ''Pancho Villa'' through distributor MCA.<ref name="bc1959-05-11"/>
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In 1961, Levin joined National Theaters & Television, Inc. as a vice president.<ref>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=Business & People |url= |quote= |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=Nov 27, 1961 |accessdate=2010-03-17 }}</ref> In 1962 [[Eugene V. Klein]] restructured the company into National General Corp., where Levin served as the executive vice president from 1962–1969 and president and CEO from 1969–1972. Levin was also president of NGC's entertainment assets, which included [[National General Pictures]] and [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre|The Chinese Theatre]].


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In 1961, Levin joined National Theaters & Television, Inc. as a vice president.<ref>{{cite news |title=Business & People |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=Nov 27, 1961 }}</ref> In 1962 [[Eugene V. Klein]] restructured the company into National General Corp., where Levin served as the executive vice president from 1962 to 1969 and president and CEO from 1969 to 1972. Levin was also president of NGC's entertainment assets, which included [[National General Pictures]] and [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre|The Chinese Theatre]].
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In April 1972, Levin and attorney Harold A. Lipton purchased the [[Boston Celtics]] for $3.7 Million. The sale was rejected by the NBA as a result of conflict of interest concerns due to fellow National General directors [[Sam Schulman]] and Eugene V. Klein owning the [[Seattle SuperSonics]].<ref>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=Celtics' owner dispute is more confused than ever |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QUYgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RpwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7195,4210919&dq |quote= |work=[[The Tuscaloosa News]] |date=July 22, 1974 |accessdate=2010-03-14 }}</ref> Levin and Lipton were forced to sell their shares to [[Robert Schmertz]] that May for $3.95 Million with an option for the two to repurchase half of the Celtics' stock.<ref>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=Celtics' owner dispute is more confused than ever |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QUYgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RpwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7195,4210919&dq |quote= |work=[[The Tuscaloosa News]] |date=July 22, 1974 |accessdate=2010-03-14 }}</ref> After two years of litigation, Levin and Lipton were able exercise their option.<ref>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=New Owner But Red Is Still Boss of Celts |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JaMgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mGgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5462,1797882&dq |quote= |work=[[Lewiston Evening Journal]] |date=Jan 14, 1975 |accessdate=2010-03-14 }}</ref> Ten months later they purchased the remaining stock from Leisure Technology.


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In April 1972, Levin and attorney [[Harold A. Lipton]] (father of actress [[Peggy Lipton]])<ref>{{cite news |last1=Branch |first1=John |title=Clippers for Sale, and the Owner Who Was Desperate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/sports/basketball/clippers-for-sale-and-the-owner-who-was-desperate.html |access-date=August 11, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=May 10, 2014}}</ref> purchased the [[Boston Celtics]] for $3.7 Million. The sale was rejected by the NBA as a result of conflict of interest concerns due to fellow National General directors [[Sam Schulman]] and Eugene V. Klein owning the [[Seattle SuperSonics]].<ref name="The Tuscaloosa News">{{cite news |title=Celtics' owner dispute is more confused than ever |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QUYgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RpwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7195,4210919&dq |work=[[The Tuscaloosa News]] |date=July 22, 1974 |access-date=2010-03-14 }}</ref> Levin and Lipton were forced to sell their shares to [[Robert Schmertz]] that May for $3.95 Million with an option for the two to repurchase half of the Celtics' stock.<ref name="The Tuscaloosa News"/> After two years of litigation, Levin and Lipton were able exercise their option.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Owner But Red Is Still Boss of Celts |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JaMgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mGgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5462,1797882&dq |work=[[Lewiston Evening Journal]] |date=Jan 14, 1975 |access-date=2010-03-14 }}</ref> Ten months later they purchased the remaining stock from Leisure Technology.
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In 1978, Levin and Lipton swapped their shares in the Celtics with [[John Y. Brown, Jr.]] and [[Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.]] for their shares in the [[Los Angeles Clippers|Buffalo Braves]]. The Braves were relocated to [[San Diego]], where they became the San Diego Clippers.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mark D. Director |coauthors= |title=The Boston-San Diego-Buffalo Shuffle |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1978/7/14/the-boston-san-diego-buffalo-shuffle-pbuffalo-ny-the/ |quote= |work=[[The Harvard Crimson]] |date=July 14, 1978 |accessdate=2010-03-17 }}</ref> On May 4, 1981 Levin sold the Clippers to [[Donald Sterling]] for $13.5 million.<ref>{{cite news |author=DAVE DISTEL |coauthors= |title=NBA Moves to Oust Sterling |url= |quote= |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=Sep 22, 1982 |accessdate=2010-03-17 }}</ref>

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Levin had long wanted to own a team in California, but knew that the NBA would not even consider letting him move the Celtics. In 1978, with this in mind, Levin and Lipton swapped their shares in the Celtics with [[John Y. Brown, Jr.]] and [[Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.]] for their shares in the [[Buffalo Braves]]. The Braves were relocated to [[San Diego]], where they became the San Diego Clippers.<ref name=snyder2016>{{cite news|last=Gleason|first=Bucky|url=http://sportsink.buffalonews.com/2016/04/22/braves-came-buffalo-left/|title=How the Braves came to Buffalo -- and why they left|work=The Buffalo News|date=April 22, 2016|access-date=April 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422202914/http://sportsink.buffalonews.com/2016/04/22/braves-came-buffalo-left/|archive-date=April 22, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Mark D. Director |title=The Boston-San Diego-Buffalo Shuffle |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1978/7/14/the-boston-san-diego-buffalo-shuffle-pbuffalo-ny-the/ |work=[[The Harvard Crimson]] |date=July 14, 1978 |access-date=2010-03-17 }}</ref> On May 4, 1981, Levin sold the Clippers to [[Donald Sterling]] for $13.5 million.<ref>{{cite news |author=DAVE DISTEL |title=NBA Moves to Oust Sterling |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=Sep 22, 1982 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
He divorced his first wife, Lenore, in 1971; they had three children: Donna, Lon and Sindee.<ref name=Branch/> His second wife, Michelle, died in a car accident.<ref name=Branch/>


==Films produced by Levin==
==Films produced by Levin==
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{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box | title=[[Boston Celtics]] principal owner | before=[[Ballantine Brewery]] | years=April 1972-May 1972 | after=[[Robert Schmertz]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Boston Celtics]] principal owner | before=[[Ballantine Brewery]] | years=April 1972-May 1972 | after=[[Robert Schmertz]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Boston Celtics]] principal owner | before=[[Robert Schmertz]] | years=1975-1978 | after=[[John Y. Brown, Jr.]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Boston Celtics]] principal owner | before=[[Robert Schmertz]] | years=1975–1978 | after=[[John Y. Brown, Jr.]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Los Angeles Clippers|Buffalo Braves/San Diego Clippers]] principal owner| before=[[John Y. Brown, Jr.]] | years=1978–1981 | after=[[Donald Sterling]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Los Angeles Clippers|Buffalo Braves/San Diego Clippers]] principal owner| before=[[John Y. Brown, Jr.]] | years=1978–1981 | after=[[Donald Sterling]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Levin, Irv
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American businessman and film producer
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1921-09-08
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1996-03-20
| PLACE OF DEATH =
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levin, Irv}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levin, Irv}}
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
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[[Category:American businesspeople]]
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[[Category:American philanthropists]]
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[[Category:Boston Celtics owners]]
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[[Category:Jewish American sportspeople]]
[[Category:Jewish philanthropists]]
[[Category:National Basketball Association owners]]
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[[Category:Businesspeople from Chicago, Illinois]]
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[[Category:Businesspeople from Los Angeles, California]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Philanthropists from Illinois]]
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[[Category:Boston Celtics owners]]
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[[Category:Businesspeople from Chicago]]
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[[Category:Businesspeople from Los Angeles]]
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[[Category:American film producers]]
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[[Category:Jewish film people]]
[[Category:NBA owners]]
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[[Category:20th-century American philanthropists]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]

Latest revision as of 04:43, 11 August 2024

Irv Levin
Born
Irving H. Levin

September 8, 1921
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 20, 1996(1996-03-20) (aged 74)
Brentwood, Los Angeles, U.S.
Occupationfilm producer
Children1 son, 2 daughters

Irving H. Levin (September 8, 1921 – March 20, 1996[1]) was an American film producer and business executive with the National General Corporation. He was also the owner of the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics and San Diego Clippers.

Biography

[edit]

Levin was raised in Chicago.[2] He is of Jewish descent.[2] He served as a bombardier during World War II stationed in California.[2] He later moved to California where his father-in-law helped him to get a job in the film industry.[2]

Levin began his film career as the president of Filmmakers Releasing Organization, a film distribution company founded by independent producers Collier Young and Ida Lupino.[3][4] When American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, Inc. decided to expand to film production in 1956, Levin was named the first president of the Am-Par Picture Corporation. AB-PT sold Levin and Harry L. Mandell AB-PT Pictures and AB-PT Distribution Corporation in May 1958[5][6] and reformed the company as Atlas Pictures Corporation.[5][7] Levin and Mandell then brought on Maurice Duke and Henry F. Ehrlich to form a TV production company, Sindee Productions Inc. with its first series Pancho Villa through distributor MCA.[5]

In 1961, Levin joined National Theaters & Television, Inc. as a vice president.[8] In 1962 Eugene V. Klein restructured the company into National General Corp., where Levin served as the executive vice president from 1962 to 1969 and president and CEO from 1969 to 1972. Levin was also president of NGC's entertainment assets, which included National General Pictures and The Chinese Theatre.

In April 1972, Levin and attorney Harold A. Lipton (father of actress Peggy Lipton)[9] purchased the Boston Celtics for $3.7 Million. The sale was rejected by the NBA as a result of conflict of interest concerns due to fellow National General directors Sam Schulman and Eugene V. Klein owning the Seattle SuperSonics.[10] Levin and Lipton were forced to sell their shares to Robert Schmertz that May for $3.95 Million with an option for the two to repurchase half of the Celtics' stock.[10] After two years of litigation, Levin and Lipton were able exercise their option.[11] Ten months later they purchased the remaining stock from Leisure Technology.

Levin had long wanted to own a team in California, but knew that the NBA would not even consider letting him move the Celtics. In 1978, with this in mind, Levin and Lipton swapped their shares in the Celtics with John Y. Brown, Jr. and Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. for their shares in the Buffalo Braves. The Braves were relocated to San Diego, where they became the San Diego Clippers.[12][13] On May 4, 1981, Levin sold the Clippers to Donald Sterling for $13.5 million.[14]

Personal life

[edit]

He divorced his first wife, Lenore, in 1971; they had three children: Donna, Lon and Sindee.[2] His second wife, Michelle, died in a car accident.[2]

Films produced by Levin

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Irving H. Levin". IMDb.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Branch, John (May 10, 2014). "Clippers for Sale, and the Owner Who Was Desperate". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "STUDIO WILL FILM TWO VIDEO SERIES; 'Medic' and 'Racket Squad'". Los Angeles Times. Nov 4, 1955.
  4. ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (March 26, 1953). "IDA LUPINO ENTERS DISTRIBUTION FIELD; She and Collier Young Set Up Filmakers Releasing Unit With Outlets in 29 Cities". The New York Times.
  5. ^ a b c "New film producers" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 11, 1959. p. 77. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "Highlights of Corporate 1958". The Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures. Film daily. 1959. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  7. ^ Heffernan, Kevin (2004). Ghouls, Gimmicks, and Gold: Horror Films and the American Movie Business, 1953–1968. Duke University Press. p. 71. ISBN 0822385554. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  8. ^ "Business & People". Los Angeles Times. Nov 27, 1961.
  9. ^ Branch, John (May 10, 2014). "Clippers for Sale, and the Owner Who Was Desperate". The New York Times. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Celtics' owner dispute is more confused than ever". The Tuscaloosa News. July 22, 1974. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  11. ^ "New Owner But Red Is Still Boss of Celts". Lewiston Evening Journal. Jan 14, 1975. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  12. ^ Gleason, Bucky (April 22, 2016). "How the Braves came to Buffalo -- and why they left". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  13. ^ Mark D. Director (July 14, 1978). "The Boston-San Diego-Buffalo Shuffle". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  14. ^ DAVE DISTEL (Sep 22, 1982). "NBA Moves to Oust Sterling". Los Angeles Times.
Preceded by Boston Celtics principal owner
April 1972-May 1972 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Boston Celtics principal owner
1975–1978 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Buffalo Braves/San Diego Clippers principal owner
1978–1981 		Succeeded by
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