Former tire dealer who started in the motion picture business in 1948 as a distributor of films for television, co-founding Associated Artists Productions and assuming sole ownership of the company two years later. In 1953 he acquired the entire library of pre-1949 Warner Brothers films (750 in all), plus some 377 cartoons, for TV syndication. Eventually sold AAP to United Artists. Became president of United Artists Associated, acquiring screen rights to several major theatrical properties, including The World of Susie Wong (1960) and Two for the Seesaw (1962). In 1960 he formed Seven Arts Associated Corporation as an international distribution agency of feature films for television, and as a production company for both screen and stage. Appointed chairman of Warner Brothers-Seven Arts.