Frank Yablans was born in Brooklyn, New York to Annette and Morris Yablans. Yablans' father was a taxi driver. His older brother, Irwin Yablans, produced Halloween (1978).[1] Yablans was Jewish.[2][3][4][5]
Career
Yablans entered the motion picture business in 1956, joining Warner Bros. sales.[6] In 1959, he joined Buena Vista as the Milwaukee sales manager where he stayed until 1966.[6] He joined Sigma III and later transitioned to Filmways after it acquired Sigma III.[6]
He became executive vice president of sales for Paramount Pictures in June 1969,[6] where his marketing of the film Love Story (1970), led to his appointment as Paramount Studios' president on May 10, 1971.[6]
As head of Paramount, he oversaw the release and marketing of The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974), and Chinatown (1974).[7] He also personally supervised the 100th birthday celebrations of studio founder Adolph Zukor in January 1973. Following a reorganization at Paramount in which Charles Bluhdorn, the chairman and CEO of Gulf & Western Industries, was replaced by Barry Diller, Yablans announced his resignation as president on November 8, 1974.
Yablans was recruited by Kirk Kerkorian to head his troubled and debt-laden film company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).[8] While Yablans' reorganization of MGM and United Artists (UA) into a single entity (as MGM/UA) served to reduce costs and overhead, the company continued to lose value, and in 1986 was purchased by Ted Turner Productions for a reported $1.25 billion.[9] He then formed Northstar Entertainment Corporation, with a partnership at Producers Sales Organization.[10] In 1986, he set up a two-year, seven-picture agreement with low-budget studio Empire International to produce feature films.[11] In 1987, director Arthur Seidelman partnered with Yablans to produce feature films.[12]
In 2000, Yablans and partners Cindy Bond, Charlie Stuart Gay and Ron Booth founded Promenade Pictures, a production and marketing company committed to "family-friendly" entertainment. Its most ambitious project was the "Epic Stories of the Bible" series of CGI-animated features, starting with The Ten Commandments (2007) and Noah's Ark: The New Beginning (2012).
Death
Yablans died on Thanksgiving, November 27, 2014, from natural causes at the age of 79.[13][14] He had three children – Robert Yablans (deceased), Sharon Abrams, and Edward Yablans.[14]
References
^. Time. 18 March 1974. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
^Arnold, Gary (March 19, 1978). "Frank Yablans - 'Someone Has To Play the Heavy'". The Washington Post.
^Cones, John (April 2015). Motion Picture Biographies: The Hollywood Spin on Historical Figures. Algora Publishing. p. 108. ISBN9781628941166.
^Biskind, Peter (April 4, 1999). Easy Riders Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-And Rock 'N Roll Generation Saved Hollywood. Simon & Schuster. p. 145. ISBN9780684857084.
^ abcdeMurphy, A.D. (November 13, 1974). "Frank Yablans Resigns Par Presidency". Variety. p. 3.
^Cieply, Michael (28 November 2014). "Frank Yablans, Paramount Executive in Fertile '70s, Dies at 79". The New York Times.
^Lehmann-Haupt, Christopher (20 June 1990). "Books of The Times; What Went Wrong at M-G-M, by a Participant - New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
^Friendly, David T. (13 November 1986). "LEO ROARS HIS LAST AT THE OLD MGM STAND : Culver City Sound Stages Lose Some Old Trademarks and Take On a New Identity With New Owners ". Los Angeles Times.
^"Frank Yablans Unveil Prod. Plans In PSO Coventure". Variety. 1985-05-15. p. 5.
^Klein, Richard (1986-10-22). "Empire Has 40 To Lure Buyers". Variety. pp. 13, 312.
^Silverman, Marie Saxon (1987-01-28). "Vet Director Arthur Seidelman Teams Up With Frank Yablans". Variety. p. 14.
^Barnes, Mike. "Former Paramount President Frank Yablans Dies at 79". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
^ abSaperstein, Pat (27 November 2014). "Frank Yablans, Former Paramount President, Dies at 79". Variety. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
frank, yablans, august, 1935, november, 2014, american, studio, executive, film, producer, screenwriter, yablans, served, executive, paramount, pictures, including, president, studio, 1960s, filmmaker, best, known, writing, producing, film, mommie, dearest, 19. Frank Yablans August 27 1935 November 27 2014 was an American studio executive film producer and screenwriter Yablans served as an executive at Paramount Pictures including President of the studio in the 1960s and 70s As a filmmaker he is best known for writing and producing the film Mommie Dearest 1981 which was nominated for nine Razzies at the 2nd Golden Raspberry Awards and won Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay for Yablans Frank YablansYablans in 1972Born 1935 08 27 August 27 1935New York City New York U S DiedNovember 27 2014 2014 11 27 aged 79 Los Angeles California U S NationalityAmericanOccupation s Film producerStudio headKnown forPresident of Paramount PicturesSpouseRuth Edelstein m 1958 div 1990 wbr PartnerNadia PandolfoChildren3 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditFrank Yablans was born in Brooklyn New York to Annette and Morris Yablans Yablans father was a taxi driver His older brother Irwin Yablans produced Halloween 1978 1 Yablans was Jewish 2 3 4 5 Career EditYablans entered the motion picture business in 1956 joining Warner Bros sales 6 In 1959 he joined Buena Vista as the Milwaukee sales manager where he stayed until 1966 6 He joined Sigma III and later transitioned to Filmways after it acquired Sigma III 6 He became executive vice president of sales for Paramount Pictures in June 1969 6 where his marketing of the film Love Story 1970 led to his appointment as Paramount Studios president on May 10 1971 6 As head of Paramount he oversaw the release and marketing of The Godfather 1972 The Godfather Part II 1974 and Chinatown 1974 7 He also personally supervised the 100th birthday celebrations of studio founder Adolph Zukor in January 1973 Following a reorganization at Paramount in which Charles Bluhdorn the chairman and CEO of Gulf amp Western Industries was replaced by Barry Diller Yablans announced his resignation as president on November 8 1974 After leaving Paramount he became an independent producer working primarily through Paramount and 20th Century Fox He was executive producer of Silver Streak 1976 The Other Side of Midnight 1977 Congo 1995 and the HBO series Rome He also produced and adapted the screenplays for North Dallas Forty 1979 and Mommie Dearest 1981 both based on books The latter won a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay Yablans was recruited by Kirk Kerkorian to head his troubled and debt laden film company Metro Goldwyn Mayer MGM 8 While Yablans reorganization of MGM and United Artists UA into a single entity as MGM UA served to reduce costs and overhead the company continued to lose value and in 1986 was purchased by Ted Turner Productions for a reported 1 25 billion 9 He then formed Northstar Entertainment Corporation with a partnership at Producers Sales Organization 10 In 1986 he set up a two year seven picture agreement with low budget studio Empire International to produce feature films 11 In 1987 director Arthur Seidelman partnered with Yablans to produce feature films 12 In 2000 Yablans and partners Cindy Bond Charlie Stuart Gay and Ron Booth founded Promenade Pictures a production and marketing company committed to family friendly entertainment Its most ambitious project was the Epic Stories of the Bible series of CGI animated features starting with The Ten Commandments 2007 and Noah s Ark The New Beginning 2012 Death EditYablans died on Thanksgiving November 27 2014 from natural causes at the age of 79 13 14 He had three children Robert Yablans deceased Sharon Abrams and Edward Yablans 14 References Edit Show Business The Promoter Frank Yablans Time 18 March 1974 Archived from the original on December 22 2008 Retrieved 3 May 2012 Arnold Gary March 19 1978 Frank Yablans Someone Has To Play the Heavy The Washington Post Erens Patricia August 22 1988 The Jew in American Cinema Indiana University Press p 392 ISBN 9780253204936 Cones John April 2015 Motion Picture Biographies The Hollywood Spin on Historical Figures Algora Publishing p 108 ISBN 9781628941166 Biskind Peter April 4 1999 Easy Riders Raging Bulls How the Sex Drugs And Rock N Roll Generation Saved Hollywood Simon amp Schuster p 145 ISBN 9780684857084 a b c d e Murphy A D November 13 1974 Frank Yablans Resigns Par Presidency Variety p 3 Cieply Michael 28 November 2014 Frank Yablans Paramount Executive in Fertile 70s Dies at 79 The New York Times Lehmann Haupt Christopher 20 June 1990 Books of The Times What Went Wrong at M G M by a Participant New York Times The New York Times Retrieved 3 May 2012 Friendly David T 13 November 1986 LEO ROARS HIS LAST AT THE OLD MGM STAND Culver City Sound Stages Lose Some Old Trademarks and Take On a New Identity With New Owners Los Angeles Times Frank Yablans Unveil Prod Plans In PSO Coventure Variety 1985 05 15 p 5 Klein Richard 1986 10 22 Empire Has 40 To Lure Buyers Variety pp 13 312 Silverman Marie Saxon 1987 01 28 Vet Director Arthur Seidelman Teams Up With Frank Yablans Variety p 14 Barnes Mike Former Paramount President Frank Yablans Dies at 79 The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved 27 November 2014 a b Saperstein Pat 27 November 2014 Frank Yablans Former Paramount President Dies at 79 Variety Retrieved 28 November 2014 External links EditFrank Yablans at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Yablans amp oldid 1164475901, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
