Ted Mann

For other people named Ted Mann, see Ted Mann (disambiguation).
Ted Mann
Born(1916-04-16)April 16, 1916
Wishek, North Dakota, United States
DiedJanuary 15, 2001(2001-01-15) (aged 84)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation(s)Businessman, producer
Known forMann Theatres
Spouses
Ida Charon
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(m. 1934; div. 1968)​
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(m. 1977)​
Children2

Ted Mann (April 16, 1916 – January 15, 2001) was an American businessman involved in the film industry and head of Mann Theatres. In 1973, he purchased the National General Theatre chain and changed the name of Grauman's Chinese Theatre, which was a part of the chain, to Mann's Chinese Theater.

Biography

Born to a Jewish family in Wishek, North Dakota, Mann started off in the movie business as an usher around the time he attended the University of Minnesota in the 1930s.[1][2] He rented the Selby Theatre in Saint Paul, Minnesota, for $100 a month running it as a one-man shop serving as ticket seller and projectionist.[1] He was successful and he went on to purchase 25 other theaters and drive-ins in the Midwest.[1]

In 1970, Mann sold his theater chain to General Cinema Corporation (founded by Philip Smith and then led by Richard A. Smith) and moved to California. The first production to his credit was 1969's The Illustrated Man, based on a Ray Bradbury book. He didn't stay out of the theater business for long, and purchased the troubled 276-screen National General Theatre chain in 1973. Mann soon expanded the chain to 360 screens, but again sold off his theaters in 1986, this time to Gulf+Western, which later renamed itself to Paramount Communications (which itself became part of Viacom). Grauman's Theater eventually regained its original name in late 2001.

Both the Orpheum and Pantages venues of today's Hennepin Theatre District in Minneapolis were once owned by Mann. He eventually owned at least six theaters in the city's downtown region. The Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis is named for him.

Philanthropy

In 1984, he founded the Ted Mann Foundation which contributed to the Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Clubs, United Way, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, the United Jewish Fund, Operation Exodus, and the Jerusalem Foundation.[1]

Personal life

On June 24, 1934, Ted Mann married Ida Charon (1911–1997).[3] Before their divorce,[4] Ted and Ida Mann had two daughters, Victoria Mann Sims[5] and Roberta Lynn Mann-Benson (died 2010).[6] He married actress Rhonda Fleming in 1977, and they remained together until Mann died at age 84 in Los Angeles of complications from a stroke.[1]

Filmography

Producer/executive producer

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Oliver, Myrna (January 17, 2001). "Ted Mann; Theater Chain Owner Put His Name on Grauman's Chinese". The Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ "A philosophy for philanthropy For Minnesotan Blythe Brenden, philanthropy and engagement take center stage". Weizmann Magazine, Weizmann Institute of Science. Vol. 11. March 26, 2017. In establishing the original family foundation, the Ted Mann Foundation, before his death at age 84 in 2001, Mr. Mann stipulated that a percentage of the funds be allocated to Jewish causes; that was his only restriction. (He was Jewish, but Ms. Brenden's side of the family was not.)
  3. ^ "Paid Notice – Memorials MANN, IDA". The New York Times. December 23, 1997.
  4. ^ "Divorce settlement just not enough". Gadsden Times. July 30, 1978.
  5. ^ Foreman, Judy (March 2, 2014). "Dr. Victoria Mann Simms, Champion of Early Childhood Education, Opens Up about Cause". Noozhawk, Santa Barbara, California.
  6. ^ "Mann-Benson, Dr. Roberta". Star Tribune, Minneapolis. October 28, 2010.