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Gordon Stulberg

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Gordon T. Stulberg
BornDecember 17, 1923
Toronto
DiedOctober 12, 2000(2000-10-12) (aged 76)
Cause of deathdiabetes
NationalityCanada
United States
EducationUniversity of Toronto
Cornell University
Known forpresident and chief operating officer of 20th Century Fox and Cinema Center Films
SpouseHelen Alden
ChildrenJac Stulberg
Sita Stulberg
Scott Stulberg
Lysianne Stulberg

Gordon T. Stulberg (17 December 1923 – 12 October 2000) was a Canadian film executive and lawyer, best known for a long stint as president and chief operating officer of 20th Century Fox and Cinema Center Films.[1]

Early life and education

Stulberg was born to a Jewish family[2][1] in Toronto, the son of a labor organizer.[1] He graduated with a B.A. from the University of Toronto and a J.D. from Cornell University before moving to Los Angeles.[1] He became a naturalised citizen of the US in 1951.[1]

Career

After school, he worked in entertainment law with the firm Pacht, Ross, Warne & Bernhard and represented among others the Writers Guild of America.[1] In the 1954 writers strike he served as chief counsel and negotiator for the guild helping to establish the concept of "separation of rights and residuals" which ensured that all writers would receive payment for their work regardless of the format in which it was used be it in plays, radio, television, film, or simply for sales promotion.[1] In 1956, Stulberg joined Columbia Pictures as an executive assistant to Ben Kahane, second in charge to Harry Cohn,[3][1] and worked his way up through the company, becoming in 1960, vice president and chief studio administrative officer.[1]

Studio Head

In 1967, Stulberg was hired by CBS president William S. Paley to run CBS' motion picture division, called Cinema Center Films[4] where he oversaw 26 films including Little Big Man (1970) and The Boys in the Band (1971).[1]

In 1971, he was poached by 20th Century Fox to be president and chief operating officer when Fox's future was threatened by banks intending to call in loans they would extend only if he were hired. He worked with chairman and CEO Dennis Stanhill.[5] Stulberg worked to turn around the studio's financial performance.[6][7] He had some notable successes and some failures as well but over all opinion on Stulberg's tenure was a strong positive in light of his salvaging and redirecting misused funds, revamping the studio's sagging image, and his foresight in making such films as the epic classic Star Wars (1977) and other cult favorites like Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), Young Frankenstein (1974) and Sounder (1972). [8] In 1974 Stulberg left Fox after differences with Stanhill and returned to practicing law at the entertainment law firm of Mitchell, Silberberg and Knupp for five years.[1]

He returned to the film business in 1980 and became president of Polygram Pictures making Endless Love (1981) and An American Werewolf in London (1981).[1] He later became head of American Interative Media, chairman of the board of Philips Interactive Media of America and a director of Trimark Pictures.[1]

Personal life

Stulberg was married to Helen (nee Alden) Stulberg (1925-2010); they had four children: Jac Stulberg (from Helen's first marriage), Sita Stulberg, Scott Stulberg and Lysienne "Lysa" Stulberg.[1][9] Stulberg died from complications related to diabetes.[1]

Selected Filmography

Films Made Under Stulberg at Cinema Center Films

Films Made Under Stulberg at 20th Century Fox

Films Made Under Stulberg at Polygram

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Gordon Stulberb obituary at Los Angeles Times
  2. ^ Erens, Patricia (1998). The Jew in American Cinema. Indiana University Press. p. 392. ISBN 978-0-253-20493-6.
  3. ^ TATELMAN BUYS NOVEL FOR MOVIE: Independent Producer Gets Rights to Robert Wilder's 'Wait for Tomorrow' Of Local Origin By THOMAS M. PRYOR Special to The New York Times.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 08 Mar 1956: 32.
  4. ^ C.B.S. FORMS UNIT TO PRODUCE FILMS: Full-Length Features to Be Distributed to Theaters By GEORGE GENT. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 17 Mar 1967: 83.
  5. ^ Stulberg Headed for Top Job at Fox? Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 23 Aug 1971: f12.
  6. ^ Fox Posts $4.3 Million Profit for 3rd Quarter in Turnaround: FOX PROFIT Dallos, Robert E. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 29 Oct 1971: d13.
  7. ^ Reality Enters Fox Dream Factory: Can a Businessman Create Movies---and Money? Reality Enters the Fox Dream Factory Dallos, Robert E. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 14 Nov 1971: i1.
  8. ^ Film Notes: Rising Stars and Falling Moguls By STEPHEN FARBER. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 19 Jan 1975: 119.
  9. ^ Los Angeles Times: "Helen Stulberg Obituary" February 18, 2010
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