Nathan B. Spingold
Nathan B. Spingold | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1886 Chicago,US |
| Died | June 14, 1958(aged 71–72) |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, newspaper reporter, agent, film executive |
Nathan Spingold(1886–June 14, 1958) was a motion picture executive and a leading administrator in the game ofcontract bridge.
Biography
[edit]Born in Chicago, Spingold studied law at theKent College of Lawbefore becoming a newspaper reporter.[1]He worked for theChicago Examiner,theChicago Record-Heraldand theChicago Tribune.[2]
Spingold entered show business whenWilliam Morriswanted a press agent for aHarry Laudertour. Morris asked his Chicago manager to "hire that reporter with the big nose" allegedly meaningJack Lait,but the manager hired Spingold instead.[3]He moved to New York in the early 1930s with theWilliam Morris Agencyand later joinedThe Shubert Organization,managing entertainment personalities. He joinedColumbia Picturesin 1932 in a public relations capacity where his career in the motion picture business saw him rise to the board of directors in 1940. In 1943, he became vice president of advertising, publicity and exploitation and in 1954 he became general vice-president of the company. Spingold was the third largest shareholder at Columbia, behind foundersHarry CohnandJack Cohn,and was one of the few executives who stood up to Harry.[1]
Bridge
[edit]Active in contract bridge from its earliest days, he donated theSpingoldTrophy in 1934 for the World Championship Masters Team-of-Four;[4]the trophy is still among the most prized achievements in the game. Spingold was named American Bridge League (ABL) honorary member in 1936 and became president of theAmerican Contract Bridge League(ACBL) in 1938, having been key to its creation by the merger of the ABL and the United States Bridge Association (USBA) the previous year. On the ACBL board of governors, its board of directors and also president of theCavendish Clubin New York, he was regarded as one of the most influential men in contract bridge administration in the 1930s and 1940s.[5]
Personal life
[edit]His wife, Frances, was known as Madame Frances, one of the most successfulcouturiers.They were patrons of the arts and had a significant art collection, including many FrenchImpressionistpaintings and contemporary American art.[2]They donated art toThe Metropolitan Museum of Art,theMuseum of Modern Artand a museum in Israel. They lived in New York City at 12 East77th Street(formerly owned byReginald Claypoole Vanderbilt) and also owned a mansion inPalm Beach, Floridawhich was a well known social centre. Spingold was also a director of the Palm Beach Country Club.[1]
He was a fellow ofBrandeis University.[1]
Illness and death
[edit]Spingold had been having issues with his vocal chords and been hospitalized for chest conditions which restricted his working. He was homebound throughout 1958 and died at home on June 14, 1958, after a long illness.[1]
Notes
[edit]- ^abcde"Another Pioneer, Nate Spingold, Dies".Variety.June 18, 1958. p. 5.RetrievedJanuary 16,2021– viaArchive.org.
- ^ab"Nate Spingold, 72, Film Official, Dies".The New York Times.June 15, 1958. p. 77.RetrievedJanuary 16,2021.
- ^Schoenfeld, Joe (April 7, 1954)."Jack Lait Was Vivid Showman & Newspaperman".Variety.p. 2.RetrievedDecember 28,2020– viaArchive.org.
- ^Francis, Henry G.;Truscott, Alan F.;Francis, Dorthy A., eds. (2001).The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge(6th ed.). Memphis, TN:American Contract Bridge League.p. 433.ISBN0-943855-44-6.OCLC49606900.
- ^Francis, Henry G.;Truscott, Alan F.;Francis, Dorthy A., eds. (2001).The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge(6th ed.). Memphis, TN:American Contract Bridge League.p. 741.ISBN0-943855-44-6.OCLC49606900.
External links
[edit]- The Nate and Frances Spingold collectionat The Metropolitan Museum of Art