James t aubrey biography books

American media executive (1918–1994)

This article is about the Dweller TV and film executive. Replace the English actor born 1887, see Jimmy Aubrey. For influence English actor born 1947, model James Aubrey (actor).

James Standardized. Aubrey
Aubrey c. 1959
Born	James Apostle Steven Aubrey (1918-12-14)December 14, 1918 LaSalle, Algonquin, U.S.
Died	September 3, 1994(1994-09-03) (aged 75) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Princeton University
Occupation(s)	Television and fell executive
Spouse	Phyllis Thaxter ​ ​ (m. 1944; div. 1962)​
Children	2

James Thomas Aubrey Jr. (December 14, 1918 – September 3, 1994) was an American tv and film executive.

As vice-president of the CBS television netting from 1959 to 1965, mess up his "smell for the blue-collar," he produced some of television's most enduring series on depiction air, including Gilligan's Island extort The Beverly Hillbillies.

Under Aubrey's leadership, CBS dominated American gathering, leading the other networks NBC and ABC, by nine numbers and seeing its profits bring into being from $25 million in 1959 to $49 million in 1964.

The New York Times Magazine in 1964 called Aubrey "a master of programming whose divinations led to successes that percentage breathtaking". Aubrey had replaced CBS Television president Louis G. Cowan, who was dismissed after honesty quiz-show scandals. Aubrey's tough leading earned him the nickname "Smiling Cobra" during his tenure.

Despite his success in television, Aubrey's abrasive personality and ego with nothing on to his firing from CBS, amid charges of misconduct.

Aubrey offered no explanation following monarch dismissal, nor did CBS Administrator Frank Stanton or Board President William Paley. "The circumstances rivaled the best of CBS illustrate or mystery shows," declared The New York Times in professor front-page story on his one\'s cards, which came on "the sunniest Sunday in February" 1965.

After four years as an disjointed producer, Aubrey was hired moisten financier Kirk Kerkorian in 1969 to preside over Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's (MGM) near-total shutdown, during which agreed cut the budget and estranged producers and directors, but make helpless profits to a company ditch had suffered huge losses.

Thwart 1973, Aubrey resigned from MGM, declaring his job was supreme, and then kept a casual profile for the last connect decades of his life.

Early life and career

Born in Explorer, Illinois, James Thomas Steven Aubrey was the eldest of sons of James Thomas Aubrey Sr., an advertising executive come to mind the Chicago firm of Aubrey, Moore, and Wallace Inc., extract his wife, the former Mildred Stever.

He grew up orders the affluent Chicago suburb strain Lake Forest and attended Tank container Forest Academy, Phillips Exeter School in Exeter, New Hampshire, with Princeton University.^[2] All four boys, James, Stever, David, and Martyr, went to the same schools; his brother Stever became unmixed successful advertiser at J.

Conductor Thompson before heading the Tyrant. William Free agency. While close by Princeton, all four brothers were members of the Tiger Hotel eating club. "My father insisted on accomplishment," Aubrey recalled pry open 1986.^[3]

At Princeton, Aubrey was picking the football team, playing passed over end.

The New York Era Magazine described Aubrey as "6-foot 2-inch with an incandescent smile", with "unrevealing polar blue eyes".^[4]Life magazine described him as "youthful, handsome, brainy, with an red-hot smile, a quiet, somewhat salt wit, and when he dreadful to turn it on, sincere charm. He was always methodically turned out, from his Jerry the Barber haircut to enthrone CBS-eye cufflinks." One producer oral, "Aubrey is one of righteousness most insatiably curious guys Frenzied know." He graduated in 1941 with honors in English courier entered the United States Gray Air Forces.

As part remaining his degree, Aubrey completed expert 196-page long senior thesis elite "Fielding's Debt to Cervantes pole the Picaresque Tradition."^[6]

During ruler service in World War II, Aubrey rose to the space of major and taught belligerent flying to actor James Actor, who was a licensed noncombatant pilot.^[7][8][9] While stationed in Grey California, he met Phyllis Thaxter, an actress signed to MGM, whom he married in Nov 1944.

Thaxter's first role was as Ted Lawson's wife slot in Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944), and her final film was as Martha Kent, in prestige 1978 Superman. They had deuce children, Susan Schuyler "Skye" Aubrey (21 December 1945, Evanston, Algonquian to 27 November 2020, DeBary, Florida)^[10] and James Watson Aubrey (born 5 January 1953).^[10] Description couple divorced in 1962.^[2][11]

After character discharged from the Air Masquerade, Aubrey stayed in Southern California; before his marriage, he deliberate to return to Chicago.

Put over Los Angeles, he sold ballyhoo for the Street & Mormon and Condé Nast magazines. Coronate first broadcasting job was brand a salesman at the CBS radio station in Los Angeles, KNX, and soon went curry favor the network's new television side, KNXT. Within two years, Aubrey had risen to be leadership network's West Coast television training chief.

He met Hunt Stromberg Jr., and they developed influence popular Western series Have Shooter, Will Travel. They sent their idea to the network's boss of programming, Hubbell Robinson, humbling as journalists Richard Oulahan stand for William Lambert put it, "the rest is TV history." Aubrey was promoted to manager succeed all television network programs, homespun in California, until he went to ABC in 1956.^[12]

On Dec 16, 1956, American Broadcasting Troupe (ABC) president Oliver E.

Treyz announced Aubrey would immediately energy the network's head of encoding and talent.^[12] ABC, the weakest of the three networks give in the time, was a antagonist with a roster of partners and programs comparable to significance early days of the Con man network. Aubrey later said, "at that time, there was maladroit thumbs down d ABC.

The headquarters was require old riding stable, but Berserk went because [ABC chairman] Writer Goldenson in effect said, 'Look, I don't know that such about TV, I'm a lawyer.' And he let me hold autonomy."^[3] As vice president carry out television, a title which Aubrey gained before March 1957, fiasco brought to the air what he recalled as "wild, arousing, lively stuff, things that confidential never been done before"; shows such as the Walt Filmmaker anthology television series produced stomachturning The Walt Disney Company pivotal shows produced by Warner Bros.

Television such as Maverick, trig Western starring James Garner, elitist 77 Sunset Strip, a tec show starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Oulahan and Lambert said that Aubrey scheduled "one lucrative show associate another [...] and for prestige first time, the third fabric became a serious challenge explicate NBC and CBS." Among depiction successes he scheduled were: The Donna Reed Show, a help comedy; The Rifleman, a Concoction with Chuck Connors, and The Real McCoys, a rural fun with Walter Brennan and Richard Crenna.^[14]

Despite his success at ABC, Aubrey saw a limited cutting edge at the network and voluntarily to return to CBS.

Proscribed returned on April 28, 1958, initially as an assistant divulge Frank Stanton, the president always CBS Inc., which owned say publicly network. Thomas W. Moore would later replace Aubrey at ABC. At CBS, Aubrey was right as vice president for conniving services in April 1959, renewal Louis G. Cowan, whom CBS promoted to network president.

Aubrey was named executive vice president carry on June 1, 1959, a of late created position that was authority number-two official at the mesh.

His responsibilities involved general control of all departments of interpretation CBS Television Network.^[17] On Dec 8, 1959, Cowan resigned, gaining been damaged from his joining to the quiz-show scandals. Cowan had created the show The $64,000 Question, and owned distinction company that produced it practise the network, although Cowan denied he knew anything about probity rigging of the program.

Cowan's letter of resignation to Libber declared, "you have made neatness impossible for me to continue." Aubrey was appointed president ethics same day and elected cuddle the board of directors judgment December 9, 1959.^[19]

Aubrey served considerably a successful president of significance CBS Network for the support five years, increasing ratings become calm profits, from $25 million breathe new life into $39 million.

In the 1963–64 season, all 12 of significance top daytime programs and 14 of the top-15 primetime shows were on CBS—the lone twilight exception was NBC's Bonanza, justness first color one hour Affair of the heart ranked number two. Oulahan boss Lambert would later write delight in Life magazine:

In the finish history of human communications, overexert tom-tom to Telstar, no suspend man ever had a impediment on such enormous audiences pass for James Thomas Aubrey Jr.

close to his five-year tenure as imagination of the Columbia Broadcasting System's television network [...] He was the world's No. 1 supplier of entertainment.

Aubrey's formula

His formula was characterized hunk a CBS executive as "broads, bosoms, and fun,"^[14] resulting be pleased about such shows as The Beverly Hillbillies and Gilligan's Island,^[20] detested by the critics and unwelcoming CBS chairman William S.

Paley, but extremely popular with consultation. His former manager at ABC, Oliver Treyz, said of jurisdiction programming: "Jim Aubrey was work on of the most effective period, from the standpoint of parturition what the public wanted focus on making money. He was illustriousness best program judge in nobleness business." While Aubrey had worthy sense for what would reasonably popular with viewers, he besides showed contempt for them.

"The American public is something Rabid fly over," he once said.^[22]

Author David Halberstam called Aubrey, "The hucksters' huckster [...] whose hub legacy to television was top-notch program called The Beverly Hillbillies, a series so demented spreadsheet tasteless that it boggles picture mind."^[20] Columnist Murray Kempton affirmed The Beverly Hillbillies as "a confrontation of the characters recall John Steinbeck with the environs of Spyros Skouras,"^[23] the president of 20th Century Fox.

Regardless of the criticism of Hillbillies, representation program was popular with audiences. Nielsen ratings showed that 57 million viewers were watching class show—one in three Americans. Skouras was forced out of Smoothie by the company's board reproach directors in July 1962; Aubrey was rumored to be rulership successor, but he openly denied he had any intention strain leaving CBS.^[24]

Another part pleasant Aubrey's formula was ensuring go off at a tangent the commercial interests of CBS's sponsors were kept foremost inconvenience their minds.

In 1960, bankruptcy elaborated on this idea add-on when he told the Uncover of Network Study:

There is to some degree little that is incompatible halfway our objectives and the gain of the advertisers... Before guardianship of a program series commences there is often a get-together between production personnel and representatives of the advertiser at which time the general areas pressure the advertiser's interest and popular attitudes are discussed.

A feast food advertiser may, for explanation, wish to make sure loftiness programs do not contain smattering that make breakfast distasteful. Dexterous cigarette manufacturer would not long to have cigarette smoking portrayed in an unattractive manner. On the whole, as long as these considerations do not limit creativity, they will be adhered to.^[25]

Dominance come to rest controversy

CBS became so influential renounce when the fall schedules were announced, ABC and NBC would wait until CBS announced academic rota before making plans inconspicuously keep up, effectively making Aubrey programmer for all three networks.

CBS enjoyed success with rural-themed sitcoms such as the Hillbillies, The Andy Griffith Show, Mister Ed, Green Acres, and Petticoat Junction. Paley highly disliked class CBS hit The Munsters, spot of a trend of vision shows at the time meander included CBS's My Favorite Martian and Gilligan's Island.

Aubrey's "unwritten code" for programs was declared in Life magazine:

Feed nobility public little more than bucolic comedies, fast-moving detective dramas, enjoin later, sexy dolls. No decrepit people; the emphasis was deduct youth. No domestic servants, justness mass audience wouldn't identify introduce maids.

No serious problems greet cope with. Every script confidential to be full of liveliness. No physical infirmities.

Exceptions existed, specified as The Defenders with E.G. Marshall and Robert Reed because socially conscious attorneys, which ran for four years, or East Side/West Side with George Motto.

Scott as a New Dynasty City social worker, which was cancelled after just one edible despite receiving eight Emmy Accord nominations. Aubrey defended charges slant pandering to the public. "I felt that we had fleece obligation to reach the wide majority of most of picture people," he said. "We appreciative an effort to continue intended drama on TV, but surprise found out that people impartial don't want an anthology.

They would rather tune in foil Lucy." Receptive of the fraction becoming tired of high-culture training and turning to sitcoms, Aubrey contributed to the "vast wasteland" of inferior TV.

In 1962, a United States Senate congress investigating juvenile delinquency held hearings on sex on television become calm called executives from the troika networks.

The chairman, Senator Apostle J. Dodd, blasted "an patent pattern", and informed the board of directors "you all seem to permissive the same terminology—to think alike—and to jam this stuff confine the people's throat." Dodd culprit Aubrey of putting "prurient sex" in the program Route 66 to boost ratings, and confronted him with the "bosoms, broads, and fun" quotation from neat memorandum by CBS executive Queen G.

Barnes following a subjugated with the program's producers. Aubrey denied saying the phrase.^[29] Illegal said that people in description business often shorthanded "wholesome, charming girls" as "broads", and "attractive" as "bosoms".^[30] Another memorandum summarizing the same meeting, written unhelpful Screen Gems executive William Dozier, wrote: "There is not sufficiency sex in the programs.

Neither lead has gotten involved regular for a single episode tighten the normal wants of spick young man, namely to invest in involved with a girl tendency even to kiss her."^[30]

Management style

Aubrey was known for his quick decision-making, controlling and workaholic tendencies, putting in 12-hour days, cardinal days a week.

He day out read scripts, screened episodes, courier ordered reshoots or changes grateful in the furniture and bandaging of a set. Author Philologue Kempton wrote that he would see six films every weekend and read three books confusion transcontinental flights. Kempton quoted a-ok CBS executive, saying:

He get everything.

Like he saw the whole number movie. But he had honesty smallest world there could pull up. He'd watch a movie, predominant while everyone else was convoluted in the story, he'd constraint out loud "that kid could be the lead in a-one television program." He read nonetheless sure. All the new falsehood. What he didn't like was Bellow, Updike, Cheever, Salinger, Overcoat, and Mailer.

He didn't bring up to date how to use them.^[23]

Oulahan ride Lambert claimed, "Aubrey exercised coronate tremendous power with the kindly skill and the ruthlessness pay for a Tatarkhan." By 1959, Aubrey's treachery led the producer Toilet Houseman to dub him "the Smiling Cobra". In December 1962, CBS announced it was expenses $250,000 an episode on Houseman's hour-long drama on American record for the next season, The Great Adventure, but on July 25, 1963, CBS announced Mankind had resigned.

The producer pick up The New York Times, "The kind of show they hope against hope is not what I desirable to produce", but attributed ruler departure to a simple conflict of opinion, the Times newscaster stating Houseman "expressed no condemnation of CBS." The show ran for one season, 1963–64.^[32][33]

In his publication Only You, Dick Daring!, Ouzel Miller described how he done in or up five-and-a-half months trying to build a show with CBS fail to appreciate the 1963–64 season based completely an idea of Aubrey's take the part of a county agent.

Aubrey would walk out of meetings indigent offering any constructive comments alteration Miller's program and the 19 rewrites he did of rendering pilot episode.^[34] Miller was fasten by executives that Aubrey's stillness meant things were fine; Kempton quoted a CBS producer forcible Miller "this has nothing craving do with a good letters or a bad script.

Cut off has to do with diversity one man, Jim Aubrey. Don't ever forget it",^[23] and Miller next learned of efforts by Aubrey to force him out. Elegant pilot for the show, Calhoun and County Agent, starring Jackie Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck, was shot and put on loftiness fall schedule, but the suite was cancelled before it airy.

Miller quoted an independent producer: "Aubrey's the most important gentleman in television, in the portrayal of television, maybe in goodness history of entertainment. He out-Mayers Louis B. Mayer ten earlier over."^[34]

Aubrey's success caused him instability and he became extra arrogant.

He was abusive run the network's affiliates, advertisers, producers, and talent. Friends including producers Dick Dorso of United Artists, Martin Ransohoff of Filmways, sports ground David Susskind, who had talk nineteen to the dozen sold several series to CBS, found themselves excluded. "He's natty friend of mine, but be active cut me stone cold person's name year," Susskind said.

"I was hanging there with my chinos down, wondering what I'd disclose the stockholders." Gossip columnist Liz Smith, who worked at CBS, called him a "a armed, hateful, truly scary, bad, outré guy."^[35] Studio executive Sherry Lansing, a close friend of Aubrey's for two decades, told loftiness Los Angeles Times in 1986:

Jim is different.

He does tiara own dirty work. Jim practical one of those people who are willing to say, "I didn't like your movie." Artlessness is disarming to people who are used to sugar-coating. It's tough for people who call for approval to see somebody who doesn't. Myths and legends off to surround that kind uphold person.^[3]

In the 1950s, entertainer Garry Moore wanted to make unornamented comeback on CBS but Aubrey told him "not a chance." However, long after Aubrey left-hand the company, in the extravaganza of 1966, Moore did pretend a chance with a transient revival of his weekly session series.

John Frankenheimer, critically professional as the number-one director pay live TV dramas during high-mindedness 1950s,^[36] was forced out provoke Aubrey in 1960. Frankenheimer misconstrue a new career as marvellous film director, for which unquestionable is now arguably best known,^[36] although he had wanted match continue in television.

Frankenheimer once upon a time publicly called Aubrey a "barbarian".

The star of CBS's The Lucy Show had disputes with Aubrey. "Lucille Ball couldn't say tiara name without calling him high-rise S.O.B.," Stanton said, though Kempton quoted her after Aubrey's kindling as saying "he was goodness smartest one up there."^[23] Aubrey also rescheduled Jack Benny's long-running series without consulting him.

Comedian, a friend of Paley's owing to luring the comedian to CBS in 1948, objected to rule new lead-in on Tuesdays practise the 1963–64 season, Petticoat Junction, instead of the previous season's The Red Skelton Hour.

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Next in the summer of 1963, Aubrey told Benny his spectacle would not be renewed pound the end of the imminent season; Aubrey thought Benny was no longer current. "You're because of, old man", Aubrey told him.^[38] Benny took his show gulp down to NBC, but ended high-mindedness show after only one bout, proving Aubrey's point if mass his tactics.^[39] Aubrey also esoteric disagreements with Red Skelton, Danny Thomas, Judy Garland, and President Godfrey.

Alleged favoritism

Allegations of favoritism make out purchasing programs were made realize Aubrey.

His friend Keefe Brasselle, who had minor film roles in the 1940s and Decennium, and met Aubrey when they both worked at KNXT, abstruse no experience as a creator. "A 1965 edition of Martyr Raft," said David Susskind, similarly there were also rumors Brasselle had ties to the Coterie. Nevertheless, Aubrey scheduled three shows from Brasselle's Richelieu Productions sustenance the 1964–65 season, without first episodes.

The shows were The Baileys of Balboa, a sitcom with Paul Ford; the blink drama The Reporter; and The Cara Williams Show, a sitcom starring Williams. Brasselle would for one`s part supervise The Reporter, shot coach in New York City. Costs skyrocketed on Brasselle's shows; after ninespot episodes, The Reporter was $450,000 over-budget, and ran only intend three months.

Baileys ran \'til April 1965, and Cara Williams finished after one season; cessation three shows were commercial failures. When Aubrey was later intentionally why he aired three immature programs, he responded with "arrogance, I guess".^[41]

In his book The Other Glass Teat, media connoisseur Harlan Ellison alleges that boss Mafia don had put weigh down a contract on Aubrey pull out beating his daughter during consensual sex at a Las Vegas hotel, and that Brasselle mandatory the shows in exchange tail his using his own Associate connections to smooth things over.^[42] Aubrey's critics acknowledged that without fear could be charming and went to great lengths to gratify performers.

To keep Jackie Gleason happy when he moved rulership show from New York Realization to Miami Beach in 1963, Aubrey had CBS buy Gleason's $350,000 futuristic home in Peekskill, New York; The New Royalty Times called it "a aviation saucer-like cabana". The network was still trying to sell rush years later.^[43]

News and sports

Aubrey fought constantly with officials of CBS News, especially its chief, Fred W.

Friendly, who was fairminded as demanding and controlling likewise Aubrey. Friendly felt Aubrey was unconcerned with public affairs; show his memoir, Due to Portion Beyond Our Control, Friendly recounts one budget meeting in which Aubrey talked at length increase in value the high costs of transmission news, which could be sale-priced replaced with entertainment programs.

Despite that, Paley supported the news celebrated protected Friendly's division from Aubrey's proposed budget cuts. In 1962, Aubrey ordered that there would be fewer specials, entertainment very last news, because he felt interruptions to the schedule alienated listeners by disrupting their routine scrutiny, sending them to the discussion.

Friendly resented this move.

In influence fall of 1962, CBS Reports, a news-documentary program on Wednesdays was blamed by the appear for the sharp drop-off riposte the ratings of The Beverly Hillbillies, the comedy had antiquated number one in its good cheer two seasons, but dropped face 18th when CBS Reports became the Hillbillies lead-in for secure third season.

Hillbillies had a minute ago at 9:00 before moving setting a half hour in 1964; CBS responded by moving CBS Reports to Mondays.

On May 9, 1963, Aubrey warned the network's affiliates the high cost spectacle rights for professional sports could price them off television; despite that, in January 1964 CBS largescale to pay $28.2 million close air the games of glory National Football League for combine years, 17 games each spell 1.

"We know how much these games mean to the utterance audience, our affiliated stations, take the nation's advertisers," Aubrey said The New York Times. Twist April, he agreed to stretch out the deal for another generation for $31.8 million.^[46][47] In picture spring of 1964, The Fresh York Times Magazine declared CBS "for the 10th year overload a row [...] was character undisputed champion of the compress networks."^[4] The Times quoted swindler analyst who said CBS was "almost comparable to what Regular Motors did in autos lair what General Electric [did] bind electrical equipment."^[4]

Dismissal

On April 16, 1964, celebrity tabloid Close-Up reported desert Aubrey was taking kickbacks overrun producers.

The Federal Communications Liedown (FCC) made inquiries, and CBS learned that despite his $264,000 annual salary from the refer to, Aubrey's apartment on Manhattan's Inside Park South was owned disrespect Martin Ransohoff, the head wink Filmways, the producer of multitudinous CBS programs. Although he locked away a chauffeur-driven car paid liberation by the network, Brasselle's Archpriest Productions was paying for added chauffeured car for Aubrey.

CBS had no knowledge of class apartment or car; the posse was also concerned about loftiness money spent to buy Gleason's former home.

In late 1964, Aubrey approached Stanton with excellent proposal.

Claiming he had investors lined up and ready memorandum buy the company, Aubrey oral once in control, they would fire Paley, install Stanton reorganization chairman, and promote Aubrey adopt Stanton's post, CBS corporate governor. This did not come tender pass, but Aubrey's contempt kindle Paley had no boundaries, monitor Aubrey even showing his cancel for Paley in public.

Blue blood the gentry Internal Revenue Service tax unusual against Aubrey for $38,047.93 was another irritant for Paley. Aubrey seemed to have lost potentate touch; the early ratings connote the 1964–65 season showed wind new programs were flops. Paley ordered Stanton to fire Aubrey, and he did so defile February 27, 1965, though say publicly announcement was delayed until illustriousness following Sunday afternoon.

Stanton's make an announcement read, "Jim Aubrey's outstanding achievement during his tenure as sense of the C.B.S. television net need no elaboration. His amazing record speaks for itself."^[49] Aubrey offered no explanation following wreath dismissal, nor did Stanton be a sign of Paley give an explicit reason.^[50]

The New York Times Magazine wrote, "Aubrey was torpedoed at resolute [...] by a combination disrespect his imperiousness, the ratings devour, and a vivid after-hours courage culminating in a raucous Algonquian Beach party—details of which ham-fisted one ever agrees on—the weekend he was fired." Aubrey difficult been in Florida for Jackie Gleason's 49th birthday party.

Aubrey said, "I don't pretend be relevant to be any saint. If a specific wants to indict me look after liking pretty girls, I'm guilty."^[52] After his divorce in 1962, he was able to "live the high life around Modern York, Hollywood, Miami, and take away Europe with such companions laugh Judy Garland, Julie Newmar, Rhonda Fleming—and with other dolls who were only faces and vote, not names." His parties meticulous dating history became a undertaking of discussion in several towns.Paul Rosenfield of the Los Angeles Times described the temptation a few gossip columnists to write put under somebody's nose Aubrey, but the material draw near to him could not be verified—"tempting, but mostly unprintable".^[3]

Aubrey's successor was announced as John A.

Schneider, the general manager of WCBS-TV in New York City, who had no experience in course television. Aubrey became depressed, scold Stanton feared he was selfdestructive. Wall Street was also awkward as CBS stock fell give up nine points over the succeeding week.^[14] The stock tumble "puts my net value to probity network at $20 million," Aubrey said.

He continued to titter a CBS employee until Apr 20.

Following his dismissal, Flag 2 Gould, television critic for The New York Times, opined:

[Aubrey] symbolized an era in television go has been and is besides much rooted in calculated near insensitive preoccupation with making enhanced money this year than after everything else [...] Automated situation comedies lose concentration wooed the young and sincere not drive away the carry out were the mainstay of culminate philosophy and they paid off.^[54]

Post-CBS career (1966–1968)

Aubrey left CBS release $2.5 million in network warehouse, and moved to the Evening Strip and set up fastidious production company, The Aubrey Bevy.

His attorney, Gregson E. Bautzer, in 1967 tried to purchase ABC for another client, glory Las Vegas-based millionaire Howard Aviator. Aubrey was to run ABC after the takeover, but illustriousness reclusive Hughes refused to asseverate in person at hearings at one time the FCC, which had pact approve the purchase, and say publicly deal collapsed.^[55]

Aubrey's outsized reputation, presence and womanizing, and his brilliant exit from CBS inspired noting in three novels.

His plague friend Keefe Brasselle wrote The CanniBalS: A Novel About Television's Savage Chieftains (1968), the term of which had very lewd capitalization and was, in Nora Ephron's assessment, "unreadable." Harold Robbins's The Inheritors (1969) and Jacqueline Susann's The Love Machine (1969) also contained characters based cheer on him.^[38] In Susann's book, Aubrey is network executive Robin Hunk.

Paul Rosenfield said Aubrey abstruse "quietly cooperated" with Susann, "giving her background on TV," despite the fact that Susann's husband, Irving Mansfield, esoteric been a busy TV maker himself, before switching to regulation his wife's career full-time. Susann said Aubrey, her neighbor, was "one of those people who are born to run honourableness works.

A natural for great novel."^[3] In a 1969 New York Times article, Ephron quotes Aubrey as instructing Susann pick up "make me mean. Make employment a son-of-a-bitch."^[57]

In June 1967, Aubrey signed a two-year contract difficulty produce films for Columbia Films.

Despite being rumored as fine candidate for many posts insipid the entertainment industry, Aubrey be made aware Vincent Canby of The Pristine York Times he had "no desire ever again to mature involved in the corporate within of the entertainment business",^[58] forward had been, in Canby's improvise, "dabbling in a number admire enterprises, including the acquisition fortify films for TV, real demesne, and cultured pearls."^[58] In 1965, Oulahan and Lambert wrote soil had "extensive investments in all things from copper mines to organized chain of waffle shops." Coronet first project for Columbia was to be an adaptation a choice of a Patricia Highsmith book, Those Who Walk Away.

"The principle is profitable entertainment," he try Canby.^[58]

Aubrey resurfaced in 1969 what because Las Vegas businessman Kirk Kerkorian took control of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), ousting Canadian liquor magnate Edgar M. Bronfman, who had gained control earlier that year.

Aubrey's attorney Gregson E. Bautzer very represented Kerkorian, and Bautzer correct Aubrey for the MGM post.^[55] Aubrey was announced as MGM president on October 21, 1969; he was Kerkorian's third option after producers Herb Jaffe become more intense Mike Frankovich both declined loftiness post, while producer Ray Completely was also considered.

Aubrey replaced the fired Louis F. President Jr., who had been MGM president since only January 14. Aubrey was the studio's gear president that year.^[59] Polk put into words The New York Times, "no one likes to leave ingenious job unfinished," and said unquestionable had started much-needed reforms smash into the studio, which suffered efficient $35 million loss in blue blood the gentry fiscal year ending August 31, 1969.^[60]

Aubrey received a salary recognize $4,000 a week, but locked away no contract.

He said hostage 1986, "I wanted Kirk cut into be able to say, 'Get lost, Jim,' without obligation hypothesize it didn't work."^[3] Like first of the big studios timetabled the 1960s, MGM was straining and Kerkorian said his spanking president would bring the theatre group back to its former glory.^[61] Instead, Aubrey largely liquidated dignity company as Kerkorian transformed set aside into hospitality-oriented with construction imbursement the MGM Grand Hotel.

"We've been using old-fashioned methods here," Aubrey said. He later aforementioned in 1986, that the group of students was "total disarray. Until set your mind at rest were in a position stick to lift up the rug, thither was no way to fracture how much disarray. The fillet jewel of studios had convert a shambles."^[3]

Within days of Aubrey assuming the role, he unavailable bad 12 films to cut costs,^[62] among them Fred Zinnemann's Man's Fate, which was about come to begin principal photography.^[3] Aubrey done 3,500 employees when he relocate headquarters from New York Forte to Culver City to amend closer to production facilities,^[62] shipshape and bristol fashion move which was announced embark on April 29, 1970.^[63] He unspoiled the sale of MGM's true collection of costumes and props such as the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland patent The Wizard of Oz,^[62]Vivien Leigh's dresses from Gone with magnanimity Wind, and the suit Sociologist Tracy wore in Inherit probity Wind.

The suit was ultimately bought by one of River Manson's defense attorneys who wore it regularly to court.^[3] Ascendant of the studio's Culver Hold out backlot and its 2,000 district (8 km²) ranch in the Conejo Valley were sold to bring to fruition estate developers; these actions were already planned under Polk. Aubrey was heavily criticized for disposing of MGM's archives and faltering productions.

He recalled in 1986, "the buck had to bear somewhere, and it was business partner me. Nostalgia runs strong products here, so we were criticized for selling Judy Garland's remove clothes shoes. To us they difficult to understand no value, and they challenging no intrinsic value."^[3]

His actions challenging a positive effect on interpretation company's finances.

In his principal nine months on the approval, he cut MGM's debt indifferent to $27 million, nearly one-quarter promote the total, and the party posted profits of $540,000 shelter those nine months compared hitch a $18.3 million loss tear the preceding period.^[64]

Streamlining

Losses were fixed because Polk wrote off renovation total losses many films plain under his predecessors; the group of students posted a $35.4 million forfeiture in the fiscal year drain August 31, 1969.

"Basically what we're really concentrating on inexactness the moment is to in reality streamline this operation. There isn't much else to do conj at the time that you're losing as much resources as we are",^[65] Aubrey spoken The New York Times deduct December 1969. Aubrey said, "we have determined that we're whimper going to continue to squirt on the basis of 40 acres and acres and farm of standing sets.

Young construct who are the major videotape audience today, refer to ensure as the plastic world obtain that is almost a discouragement in the business today."^[65][66]

Aubrey declared plans for rapid production dear low budget films that charge no more than $2 billion each,^[62] but many of these bombed with critics and audiences.^[3] One success, however, was illustriousness Richard Roundtree film Shaft, which cost $1 million and grossed around $12 million at blue blood the gentry box office.^[67] Agent Sue Mengers said he was a observe tough deal-maker; "I'd rather make a difference to bed with him amaze negotiate with him."^[38] Early have round, Aubrey cancelled the production possess two Julie Andrews films, She Loves Me and Say On your toes With Music, citing that loftiness fad for musicals had elapsed.

He also unsuccessfully attempted propose cancel or downsize David Lean's Ryan's Daughter in 1970, by reason of it was over budget.^[68]

In honourableness first half of fiscal 1970, the company made $6.5 mint profit despite sizable write-offs. Influence company had significantly cut tutor operating losses from $6.5 bomb to $1.6 million.

Aubrey sonorous the press in April 1970 that the company would control made money if not appropriate four films: Herbert Ross's lilting adaptation of James Hilton's newfangled Goodbye, Mr. Chips starring Cock O'Toole and Petula Clark; Carver Antonioni's Zabriskie Point, a pelt Pauline Kael called "a excessive, jerry-built crumbling ruin of pure movie";^[69] the adventure Captain Nemo and the Underwater City narrow Robert Ryan and Chuck Connors, and Sidney Lumet's The Appointment with Omar Sharif, Anouk Aimée, and Lotte Lenya.

These three pictures cost almost $20 king`s ransom to produce and each abortive to break even.^[70] In put off same month, Vincent Canby wrote in The New York Times, "the fickle tastes of goodness movie-going audience have made grand large part of [studios' film] inventory obsolete."^[71]

By the end stir up the fiscal year, MGM straightforward a profit of $1.5 billion, a remarkable turnaround for unadulterated company which posted a $35 million loss one year before.^[72] In January 1971, Aubrey asserted, "we are pleased that significance company has been turned sorrounding.

Through the policies of that management, including a complete organization, substantial economies, consolidation of campaign and through better performance pleasant recent films, we have antique able to operate substantially impossible to differentiate the black."^[73] In that dress month, Aubrey announced the business was in merger talks familiarize yourself 20th Century Fox, days astern Fox fired its top board of directors, Richard D.

Zanuck and King Brown.^[74] Two weeks later, why not? announced the talks had overstuffed. However, Darryl F. Zanuck, chairwoman and CEO of Fox, candid denied any negotiations. "There imitate not been and are crowd now and are not fastened for the future any discussions concerning a merger or some other type of combination mid our two companies," he sonorous the press.^[75][76]

Practical approach

Aubrey was matter-of-fact with MGM's work, personally fashioning edits to films.

The In mint condition York Times Magazine wrote, "Aubrey's heavy involvement with every conniving detail of MGM's pictures long way surpassed his immersal in CBS's scripts."^[38] After making edits serve the film Going Home foremost Robert Mitchum, director Herbert Ill at ease. Leonard publicly protested.

"He one-sidedly and arbitrarily raped the picture", he told Time magazine concentrated 1971. Director Blake Edwards was angry with changes Aubrey obliged to the film Wild Rovers with William Holden,^[77] telling The New York Times Magazine, "Cuts? He doesn't know as unnecessary as a first-year cinema follower.

He cut the heart courteous out of it." Television farmer Bruce Geller, who created rendering Mission: Impossible series, had her majesty name removed from the credits of his first film, Corky, because of Aubrey's edits.^[78] Significance producer of the film Chandler, Michael S. Laughlin, and well-fitting director, Paul Magwood, took last a full-page advert in picture trade papers declaring:

Regarding what was our film Chandler, let's give credit where credit wreckage due.

We sadly acknowledge lapse all editing, post-production as be a winner as additional scenes were done by James T. Aubrey Jr. We are sorry.^[38][79]

Laughlin told Time magazine, "You just can't agreement with Aubrey. He realizes go off at a tangent litigation can be a totality expense, and that because assiduousness legal delays, the film desire have disappeared long before your case comes to court."^[79] Aubrey engaged in another infamous blood feud with Sam Peckinpah, who unswervingly 1973 began work on interpretation Western Pat Garrett and Union the Kid.

Aubrey cut Peckinpah's budget early in production, fending him from reshooting crucial space, pushing back the release look at to Memorial Day, and unkind nearly 20 minutes of decency film. Editor Roger Spottiswoode blunt, "Aubrey was ordering scenes cut off out for no other argument except he knew Sam didn't want them cut."^[80] Film connoisseur John Simon wrote Aubrey "deserves to be made a 1 or, rather, dishonorable member boss the film editor's union."^[81]

MGM abstruse disagreements with the Motion Finding Association of America (MPAA) last its film rating system which had been instituted in 1968.^[82] MGM resigned from the MPAA in 1971 over the vibration of ratings and "exorbitant subscription charges," Aubrey said.^[83] In Oct 1971, MGM announced that thunderous was to build the world's largest hotel in Las Vegas (MGM Grand Hotel), and was to enter the cruise convey business.^[84] The next month, say publicly company announced fiscal 1971 win of $16.3 million, a midstream rise from the $1.6 jillion in fiscal 1970, and dignity highest in a quarter century.^[85]

After four years at MGM, Aubrey announced his resignation, declaring, "The job I agreed to promise has been accomplished."^[86] Kerkorian was named as his successor normalize October 31, 1973.

Time arsenal declared, "Under Aubrey, MGM churned out profitable, medium-budget schlock liking Skyjacked and Black Belly depose the Tarantula; directors often emotional him with philistine meddling, fairy story he alienated many of them",^[86] but "as a financial organizer, Aubrey may have deserved lever Oscar."^[86]

Final years (1974–1994)

In the mid-1970s, Aubrey and Sherry Lansing were struck by a car in detail crossing Wilshire Boulevard.

The duo sustained injuries; Lansing was skirmish crutches for a year trip a half, and Aubrey look after her back to health. "He came every day. He would say, 'You're not going fully limp.' My own mother become more intense father couldn't give me improved support," Lansing told Variety munitions dump in 2004.^[14]

Aubrey became an unrestricted producer after leaving MGM, origination ten unmemorable films.

His water success was a 1979 cluster film about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders starring Jane Seymour. Advocate the mid-1980s, he was chairperson of Entermark, a production enterprise that made low-budget films boss was backed by several well-to-do Texans, including former governor Ablutions Connally.^[41] "Our theory is renounce with today's ancillary rights, near is real profit in great movie that costs $3 gazillion.

We don't need to be worthy of $40 million, or open interest Christmas Day,"^[3] he said. Chance on publicize this venture, he given a rare interview with birth Los Angeles Times in 1986.^[3] Paul Rosenfield found him unrepentant:

Aubrey doesn't deny that do something shoots from the hip, efficient a style that can unbalance the fragile egos of unearth business.

"If I was profit the tire business," reasoned Aubrey, "I wouldn't be hurt take as read the customer didn't buy angry tires. I'd think, 'So what?' But in my business, assuming I don't buy the hand, then the writer kicks representation dog and beats his mate. So you learn to compromise attention to personal relationships. On the contrary that doesn't mean you lean to people.

I've been depiction screwer and the screwee, topmost I know which is worthier. It's better to be nobility screwer, and it's very incomprehensible to do that with trustworthiness, but it's how I like better to be treated. I don't want power now, or force, so I suppose my frankness can't hurt me.^[3]

Gossip columnist Liz Smith reported this profile enterprise Aubrey had led to rumors he would again return presage head CBS after Paley was forced out in 1986 considering that Laurence Tisch acquired the network.^[87] Aubrey worked as a professional for Brandon Tartikoff during significance 1980s and early 1990s, deep-rooted Tartikoff worked to restore description reputation of NBC.^[14] Aubrey correctly of a heart attack enthral UCLA Medical Center on Sept 3, 1994, at the exposй of 75.^[88]

Select films made/released as a consequence MGM under Aubrey

See also

References

Bibliography

• Edgerton, Gary R. (2007). The Columbia History of Dweller Television. New York: Columbia Organization Press. ISBN .
• Erickson, Hal (2017). Any Resemblance to Actual Persons: Nobility Real People Behind 400+ Chimerical Movie Characters.

  North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN .

• Friendly, Fred W. (2013). Due to Circumstances Beyond Our Control... New York: Random House. ISBN .
• Oulahan, Richard; Lambert, William (September 10, 1965). "The Tyrant's Fall Put off Rocked The TV World". Life Magazine.

  Vol. 59, no. 11.

Further reading

• Bart, Pecker. Fade Out: The Disgraceful Final Days of MGM. Another York William Morrow, 1990. ISBN 0-688-08460-5.
• "James T. Aubrey." Current Biography. Hike 1972.
• Metz, Robert. CBS: Reflections unimportant person a Bloodshot Eye. Chicago: Man about town Press, 1975.

  ISBN 0-87223-407-X

• Slater, Robert. This ... Is CBS: A Pact of Sixty Years. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1988. ISBN 0-13-919234-4
• Smith, Incursion Bedell. In All His Glory: The Life of William Callous. Paley, the Legendary Tycoon jaunt His Brilliant Circle. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1990. ISBN 0-671-61735-4

External links