Movie Studio Executive. Upon his graduation from the University of Chicago, he became a lawyer in 1930 and was senior partner of Spitz and Rooks and later headed the firm of Spitz and Adcock. His first entry into the entertainment field was representing the Balaban and Katz theatre chain plus arranging the merger of First National and Warner Bros. Studios in 1928. After two years as an executive at Paramount Pictures, Spitz became president and board chairman of RKO Radio Pictures, beginning in 1935 until 1938, as well as being on the board of the theatre chains for Keith-Albee-Orpheum and B.F. Keith. 1938 saw him return to Chicago to resume his law practice and he became a member of the Illinois Racing Commission from 1932 to 1941 and was chairman from 1936 to 1941. By 1942, he was back in Hollywood and with William Goetz established International Pictures. He arranged the merger with Universal and became head of production of Universal International in 1928. He retired as executive head of production at U-I in 1953 after a heart attack. He was known as a sportsman and a philanthropist and his time was divided between Chicago, New York and Beverly Hills.
Movie Studio Executive. Upon his graduation from the University of Chicago, he became a lawyer in 1930 and was senior partner of Spitz and Rooks and later headed the firm of Spitz and Adcock. His first entry into the entertainment field was representing the Balaban and Katz theatre chain plus arranging the merger of First National and Warner Bros. Studios in 1928. After two years as an executive at Paramount Pictures, Spitz became president and board chairman of RKO Radio Pictures, beginning in 1935 until 1938, as well as being on the board of the theatre chains for Keith-Albee-Orpheum and B.F. Keith. 1938 saw him return to Chicago to resume his law practice and he became a member of the Illinois Racing Commission from 1932 to 1941 and was chairman from 1936 to 1941. By 1942, he was back in Hollywood and with William Goetz established International Pictures. He arranged the merger with Universal and became head of production of Universal International in 1928. He retired as executive head of production at U-I in 1953 after a heart attack. He was known as a sportsman and a philanthropist and his time was divided between Chicago, New York and Beverly Hills.
Bio by: Winter Birds PA
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