Michael Redstone
Michael Redstone | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Rothstein April 11, 1902[1] |
| Died | April 4, 1987 (aged 84) |
| Nationality | United States |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman; theater owner |
| Spouse | Belle Ostrovsky Redstone |
| Children | Edward Redstone Sumner Redstone |
| Relatives | Brent Redstone Shari Redstone |
Michael Redstone (born Michael Rothstein; April 11, 1902 - April 4, 1987) was the founder of the Northeast Theater Corporation which is now National Amusements, Inc.[2]
Biography
Redstone was born in Boston.[3] In 1940, at the behest of his son Sumner Redstone, he agreed to change their surname from "Rothstein" to "Redstone" ("Red stone" is a literal translation of the German-Jewish name, "Rothstein").[4] He started a trucking firm as a young man and then he worked as an usher at the Scollay Square Olympia theater before starting the Boston branch of the Latin Quarter nightclub. Thereafter he founded the movie theater ownership company Northeast Theater Corporation[3] which became National Amusements, Inc.
His son, Sumner Redstone, grew National Amusements into one of the largest media conglomerates in the United States, owning one of the three broadcast networks in CBS, the cable television and content provider Viacom (which includes MTV Networks and BET), and the movie studio Paramount Pictures. In addition, they are equal partners in MovieTickets.com.
References
- ^ SSDI entry for Michael Redstone.
- ^ http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/16/us/sumner-redstone-fast-facts/index.html
- ^ a b Boston Globe: "MICHAEL REDSTONE, OWNED THEATERS, LATIN QUARTER NIGHTCLUB; AT 85 April 6, 1987
- ^ CNN: "Sumner Redstone Fast Facts" May 16, 2013