Entrepreneur. William S. Paley is recognized as being the American businessman, who founded the media empire of CBS or Columbia Bradcasting System. Born William Paley into a Jewish-Ukrainian household, his father was a prominent cigar manufacturer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He added the middle "S" to his name years later. After studying at the University of Chicago, he transferred to University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, graduating in 1922. In 1928 he purchased a struggling radio network for $400,000, which later turned into CBS media empire. He made CBS into a $3-billion-a-year conglomerate encompassing television, films, records and publishing. CBS also helped to introduce such diverse programs as Edward R. Murrow's documentaries and Lucille Ball's "I Love Lucy" and the "Ed Sullivan Show" into millions of homes. During World War II, he served at the rank of colonel in Office of War Information under General Dwight Eisenhower. During the 1963 to 1964 television season, 14 of the top 15 shows on prime-time television and the top 12 shows of daytime television were on CBS. He retired as CEO of CBS in 1977 but remain chairman until his death. He married twice. His first wife, Dorothy Hart Hearst, was the former wife of William Randolph Hearst, Jr., of the Heart newspaper empire. His second wife was Barbara "Babe" Cushing Mortimer. He had two children with each wife. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.
Entrepreneur. William S. Paley is recognized as being the American businessman, who founded the media empire of CBS or Columbia Bradcasting System. Born William Paley into a Jewish-Ukrainian household, his father was a prominent cigar manufacturer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He added the middle "S" to his name years later. After studying at the University of Chicago, he transferred to University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, graduating in 1922. In 1928 he purchased a struggling radio network for $400,000, which later turned into CBS media empire. He made CBS into a $3-billion-a-year conglomerate encompassing television, films, records and publishing. CBS also helped to introduce such diverse programs as Edward R. Murrow's documentaries and Lucille Ball's "I Love Lucy" and the "Ed Sullivan Show" into millions of homes. During World War II, he served at the rank of colonel in Office of War Information under General Dwight Eisenhower. During the 1963 to 1964 television season, 14 of the top 15 shows on prime-time television and the top 12 shows of daytime television were on CBS. He retired as CEO of CBS in 1977 but remain chairman until his death. He married twice. His first wife, Dorothy Hart Hearst, was the former wife of William Randolph Hearst, Jr., of the Heart newspaper empire. His second wife was Barbara "Babe" Cushing Mortimer. He had two children with each wife. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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