|
Abraham Joseph Balaban, known as A. J. Balaban or Crocodile Balaban (April 20, 1889 – November 1, 1962), was a Chicago-based showman whose particular influence on popular entertainment in the early 20th century led to enormous innovations in the American movie-going experience. Following the leasing and operation of a modest nickelodeon house in 1909,〔Balaban (1942), p.18.〕 Balaban oversaw the commission and design of Chicago's great movie palaces for the Balaban & Katz (B&K) exhibition chain, integrated live performers into themed stage extravaganzas with full orchestras and forever changing vaudeville,〔 〕〔Tucker (1945), p.90.〕 and inspired numerous and novel ideas for theatre management. A. J. Balaban's most productive period of achievement was from 1909 to 1929. It was a measure of his success and respect that in 1929, the February 27 issue of ''Variety''〔 〕 was dedicated to him, and the following August a massive Citizens' Dinner in Chicago was organized to bid him farewell upon his move to New York to assume a creative position with Paramount/Publix, with which B&K had merged in 1926.〔Balaban (1942), p.104.〕 The artistic and managerial genius of the Balaban & Katz team (brother Barney was known for his financial and real estate acumen, while Katz was a lawyer),〔Cullen (2006), p.60.〕 A. J. Balaban—from his earliest years as a young man singing in small theatres to illustrated glass slides, to the mastery of "presentations" that featured singers, dancers, and musicians in a variety of turns culminating into lavish ''tableaux''—had as an overarching inspiration the comfort and satisfaction of the audience. According to Abel Green, editor of ''Variety'', the venerable show business trade newspaper, Balaban "did more than any individual to glorify the cinema setting",〔 〕 and his theatre management established a successful model for other national exhibitors. As for performers and the production of effective shows and pacing, William Morris Senior, the talent manager, wrote in an open letter in ''Variety'' to Balaban, "You have done more for () proper presentation than any other man ever connected with it."〔 Among Balaban's many show-business innovations were large theatres seating thousands of people in grand architectural palaces that resembled "fairy-lands";〔Balaban (1942), p.33.〕 the integration of movies and stage shows, alternating throughout the day; the presentation on movie-theatre stages of many of the giants of American show business, including The Four Marx Bros.,〔Balaban (1942), p.32-33.〕 Sophie Tucker,〔Balaban (1942), p.33, 85-86.〕 Gladys Swarthout,〔Balaban (1942), p.60, 76, 181.〕 Ginger Rogers,〔Balaban (1942), p.84, 180.〕 organist Jesse Crawford,〔Balaban (1942), p.75.〕 and the orchestras of Paul Whiteman and John Philip Sousa,〔 among many others; stage bands for every theatre, each with its own master of ceremonies, usually a gifted orchestra conductor "M.C." like S. Leopold Kohls〔Balaban (1942), p.52-53.〕 or Paul Ash;〔Sengstock (2004), p. 151.〕〔Sengstock (2004), p. 5.〕〔Balaban (1942), p.81-85.〕 rigorous training for theatre ushers, drawn from the local male college population;〔Balaban (1942), p.69.〕 theatre checkrooms with courteous "no-tipping" service; and single admission charges for continuous performances.〔 Between bouts of elective retirement in Geneva, Switzerland, and other locales, Balaban returned to the film and exhibition business periodically. Beginning in 1942, Balaban began nearly a decade as Executive Director of New York's Roxy Theatre at the request of Spyros Skouras of 20th Century-Fox,〔 restoring the theatre to profitability with access to first-run Fox films, as well as the production and presentation of first-class live shows. During this time, Balaban installed an ice rink on the Roxy stage, and instigated the first-ever "four-a-day" by the New York Philharmonic for two weeks in September 1950. Although the "presentation style" mix of movies and elaborate stage shows is no longer in popular or economic favor, it was Balaban's pioneering success in Chicago with this combination that today is often associated with Radio City Music Hall in New York.〔Minnelli (1974), p. 52.〕 ==Early life and career== A.J. Balaban was the second of eight children born to Russian Jewish parents Israel and Augusta (née Mendeburskey) Balaban in Chicago.〔()〕 Barney, the financial mainstay of the family, was the first born and in young adulthood would come to work for the Western Cold Storage Company,〔Balaban (1942), p.13.〕 earning $25 a week.〔Balaban (1942), p.19.〕 After A.J. came a daughter, Ida, followed by brothers John, Max, Dave, Harry and Elmer.〔 〕 The large family lived in back of a grocery store run by the parents.〔Balaban (1942), p.1.〕 At an early age, the two oldest boys would go to plays at local Chicago theatres,〔Balaban (1942), p.6.〕 and Balaban confessed that "theatre fascinated me".〔Balaban (1942), p.11.〕 After a variety of odd jobs,〔Balaban (1942), p.8-9.〕 Balaban found steady employment as an errand boy for local clothiers, hauling woolens and delivering suits.〔Balaban (1942), p.9-10.〕 In his off hours, he pursued opportunities to sing, with his sister accompanying him on the piano.〔 At his older brother's urging, he prepared a business card that read: "Abe Balaban, Singer. Character Songs."〔Balaban (1942), p.15.〕 On New Year's Eve, just before 1917 rolled in, Balaban proposed to Carrie Strump, a girl he had known in grade school〔Balaban (1942), p.8, 106-107.〕 and with whom he had become recently reacquainted. In April 1918, Balaban and his fiancé traveled to New York, where Balaban phoned ''Variety'' to get the name of a good rabbi to perform the marriage ceremony.〔Balaban (1942), p.108.〕 The couple was wed on April 7, 1918.〔Balaban (1942), p.57, 111.〕 In September 1922, Balaban's sister Ida, now Mrs. Sam Katz, died.〔Balaban (1942), p.72.〕 Balaban's first child, Idajoy, named after her deceased aunt, was born in December.〔 (Balaban and wife Carrie had two other children—daughter Cherry Blossom, born on her father's birthday in April 1924, and son Bruce in August 1928.)〔Balaban (1942), p.112.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「A. J. Balaban」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|