Y. Frank Freeman

For other people named Frank Freeman, seeFrank Freeman (disambiguation).

Y. Frank Freeman circa 1910

Young Frank Freeman(14 December 1890 – 5 February 1969)was studio head atParamount Picturesfrom 1938 to 1959. Freeman was born inGreenville, Georgia,as the second child and first son of Young Frank Freeman Senior, a cotton farmer and merchant. He graduated from theGeorgia Institute of Technologyin 1910.In addition to his work with Paramount, he also worked in the fields of banking, real estate, higher education, and athletics.

He set up a telephone company inOcilla, Georgiabut sold out in 1912 to take over his father's business.He married Margaret Harris in 1913 and after struggling in the cotton industry for three years, they moved toFitzgerald, Georgiawhere he worked for his father-in-law who owned properties, including the Amusu Theatre. Freeman operated the theatre for six months and gained an interest in the film industry.

He joinedS.A. Lynchin Atlanta who were building a theater circuit and became general sales manager in 1916. He later moved to New York but returned to Atlanta as vice president and general manager of Southern Enterprises, a theater chain co-owned by Lynch and Paramount. In 1922, Paramount bought out Lynch's theater interests and Freeman joined Lynch's real estate operations in Georgia and Florida.

In 1932, he joined Paramount in New York to oversee their real estate holdings. He rose through Paramount's ranks and in 1934 took over their theater operations.In 1935, he was elected vice president in charge of theater operations and by 1938 he had been persuaded to move to Hollywood and had been named vice president in charge of studio operations. He remained in this role until 1959. He retired from Paramount on January 1, 1967.Varietycalled him an "effective organizer and administrator, with a reputation of personal and business integrity."His secretary, Alice Marchak, described him as pushy.

He was president of theAssociation of Motion Picture Producersfrom 1940 to 1944 and chairman in 1947–48.He was also chairman of the Motion Picture Research Council and three term campaign chairman and president of the Motion Picture Permanent Charities Committee and also a fundraiser for theMotion Picture Relief Fund.

He was a governor of theAcademy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciencesand was the first winner of theirJean Hersholt Humanitarian Awardin 1957, for his charitable work.

He was a member of the board of trustees forGeorgia Techfor six years after graduation and received a distinguished service medal. He was also a trustee at theUniversity of Southern California.He was also chairman of LA Bureau of theFederal Reserve Boardfrom 1944 to 1947 and deputy chairman in San Francisco in 1954–55.Freeman supportedThomas Deweyin the1944 United States presidential election.

He was awarded a star on theHollywood Walk of Fameon February 8, 1960.

He died at theGood Samaritan Hospitalin Los Angeles and was buried atWestview Cemeteryin Atlanta.

He and Margaret's son, Y. Frank Freeman Jr., was a movie producer at Paramount during the 1950s but died in 1962.

References

Sources

• Archives, Library and Information Center."Y. Frank Freeman Papers (MS #003)".Georgia Institute of Technology.Archivedfrom the original on September 10, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 10,2018.
• United Press International(7 February 1969)."Y. Frank Freeman Dies at 78; Retired Paramount Executive".The New York Times.p. 37.Retrieved2008-01-17.
• "Y. F. Freeman Dies; Movie Executive".Atlanta Constitution.7 February 1969. p. 41.Archivedfrom the original on July 31, 2019.RetrievedJuly 31,2019– vianewspapers.