Al Lichtman

Al Lichtman
Lichtman in 1919
Born	Alexander Lichtman (1888-04-09)April 9, 1888 Monok,Hungary
Died	February 20, 1958(1958-02-20)(aged 69) Los Angeles,California,U.S.
Occupations	Film salesman film producer

Alexander Lichtman(April 9, 1888 – February 20, 1958) was a film salesman, occasionally working as a film producer. He was president ofUnited Artistsin 1935. He proposed the process ofblock bookingtoAdolph Zukor,which became industry standard practice.Varietycalled him "perhaps the greatest film salesman in the history of the business".

Biography

Al Lichtman Tribute menu cover

Lichtman was born inMonok,Hungary. His parents were Joseph Lichtman and Pepe (aka Josephine) Zuckermandel. The family emigrated to the US when Lichtman was 10 but his parents died within the next 3 years.

He started work as an usher at a burlesque house in New York and later joined the circus and also gave monologues for Gus Sun'sGus Sun Timebefore joining Powers Motion Pictures Co. in New York. He tried to persuade Adolph Zukor to let him produce a film ofThe Count of Monte Cristobut was instead hired as a field manager for Zukor atFamous Playersin 1912, gaining a 10% interest in the company. Two years later, he left to form his own distribution company,Alco Films,however it entered bankruptcy a year later when his partner absconded with most of the assets so Lichtman rejoined Zukor to formArtcraft Pictures.Alco was reorganized asMetro Pictures.Artcraft was later merged with Paramount and others intoFamous Players–Laskywith Lichtman becoming general manager. Lichtman suggested to Zukor that the studio produce 52 films a year and that they introduce a block booking system to sell all their product to exhibitors as a bundle, which became industry practice.

In 1921 he joined United Artists but left to become president ofPreferred Picturesin 1923. He rejoined United Artists as sales manager in 1926 and, following the death ofHiram Abrams,Lichtman was made vice president in 1927, heading domestic distribution.He was promoted to president of the company in 1935, but resigned after only a few months due to a fallout withSam Goldwynover the production ofBarbary Coast(1935).

In November of that same year he joinedMGMas a special sales adviser and became an executive producer with them in 1938.He helped reorganize MGM and closed the deal withDavid O. Selznickto releaseGone With the Wind(1939) and oversaw a successful period at the studio.He was also an executive producer onThe Wizard of Oz(1939).He left MGM in 1949 due to poor health caused by his asthma but was persuaded to join20th Century Foxin 1950 and became head of distribution and stayed there until his retirement in 1956 due to ill health. He was prominent in Fox's launch ofCinemaScope.He returned to Fox as a producer a year later, producingThe Young Lions(1958) which was released after his death.

He died at his home in Los Angeles, California, following acoronary occlusion.Lichtman has a "Star" on theHollywood Walk of Fame.

External links

• Al LichtmanatIMDb
• Lichtman's Testimony in an Antitrust case