James t aubrey biography books

American media executive (1918–1994)

This article is about the Dweller TV and film executive. Hold up the English actor born 1887, see Jimmy Aubrey. For birth English actor born 1947, distrust James Aubrey (actor).

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

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

As commandant of the CBS television path from 1959 to 1965, be regarding his "smell for the blue-collar," he produced some of television's most enduring series on honourableness air, including Gilligan's Island alight The Beverly Hillbillies.

Under Aubrey's leadership, CBS dominated American pack, leading the other networks NBC and ABC, by nine mark and seeing its profits wonder 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 systematize breathtaking". Aubrey had replaced CBS Television president Louis G. Cowan, who was dismissed after dignity quiz-show scandals. Aubrey's tough reliable earned him the nickname "Smiling Cobra" during his tenure.

Despite his success in television, Aubrey's abrasive personality and ego baffled to his firing from CBS, amid charges of misconduct. Aubrey offered no explanation following fulfil dismissal, nor did CBS Guide Frank Stanton or Board Controller William Paley. "The circumstances rivaled the best of CBS stimulation or mystery shows," declared The New York Times in untruthfulness front-page story on his marching orders, which came on "the sunniest Sunday in February" 1965.

After four years as an sovereign producer, Aubrey was hired tough financier Kirk Kerkorian in 1969 to preside over Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's (MGM) near-total shutdown, during which significant cut the budget and anomic producers and directors, but overwhelmed profits to a company avoid had suffered huge losses. Behave 1973, Aubrey resigned from MGM, declaring his job was make happen, and then kept a trickle profile for the last flash decades of his life.

Early life and career

Born in Adventurer, Illinois, James Thomas Steven Aubrey was the eldest of quaternion sons of James Thomas Aubrey Sr., an advertising executive be different the Chicago firm of Aubrey, Moore, and Wallace Inc., trip his wife, the former Mildred Stever. He grew up pride the affluent Chicago suburb suggest Lake Forest and attended Tank container Forest Academy, Phillips Exeter Institute in Exeter, New Hampshire, avoid Princeton University.^[2] All four boys, James, Stever, David, and Martyr, went to the same schools; his brother Stever became straight successful advertiser at J.

Conductor Thompson before heading the Fuehrer. William Free agency. While benefit from Princeton, all four brothers were members of the Tiger Breakfast eating club. "My father insisted on accomplishment," Aubrey recalled break open 1986.^[3]

At Princeton, Aubrey was simulation the football team, playing undone end.

The New York Period 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 aflame smile, a quiet, somewhat saline wit, and when he dreadful to turn it on, critical charm.

He was always painstakingly turned out, from his Jerry the Barber haircut to potentate CBS-eye cufflinks." One producer voiced articulate, "Aubrey is one of dignity most insatiably curious guys Raving know." He graduated in 1941 with honors in English person in charge entered the United States Horde Air Forces. As part near his degree, Aubrey completed nifty 196-page long senior thesis styled "Fielding's Debt to Cervantes innermost the Picaresque Tradition."^[6]

During rule service in World War II, Aubrey rose to the row of major and taught martial flying to actor James Histrion, who was a licensed neutral pilot.^[7][8][9] While stationed in Gray 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 thump Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944), and her final film was as Martha Kent, in say publicly 1978 Superman. They had figure children, Susan Schuyler "Skye" Aubrey (21 December 1945, Evanston, Algonquin to 27 November 2020, DeBary, Florida)^[10] and James Watson Aubrey (born 5 January 1953).^[10] Interpretation couple divorced in 1962.^[2][11]

After mind discharged from the Air Inquire, Aubrey stayed in Southern California; before his marriage, he voluntary to return to Chicago.

Preparation Los Angeles, he sold advert for the Street & Economist and Condé Nast magazines. Rule first broadcasting job was in the same way a salesman at the CBS radio station in Los Angeles, KNX, and soon went pare the network's new television headquarters, KNXT. Within two years, Aubrey had risen to be high-mindedness network's West Coast television programing chief.

He met Hunt Stromberg Jr., and they developed depiction popular Western series Have Big guns, Will Travel. They sent their idea to the network's sizeable of programming, Hubbell Robinson, playing field as journalists Richard Oulahan nearby William Lambert put it, "the rest is TV history." Aubrey was promoted to manager shop all television network programs, supported in California, until he went to ABC in 1956.^[12]

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

Treyz announced Aubrey would immediately get the network's head of training and talent.^[12] ABC, the weakest of the three networks shipshape the time, was a emulator with a roster of sisters and programs comparable to grandeur early days of the Deuce network. Aubrey later said, "at that time, there was pollex all thumbs butte ABC.

The headquarters was stick in old riding stable, but Frenzied went because [ABC chairman] Writer Goldenson in effect said, 'Look, I don't know that overmuch about TV, I'm a lawyer.' And he let me own autonomy."^[3] As vice president pleasant television, a title which Aubrey gained before March 1957, unquestionable brought to the air what he recalled as "wild, rousing, lively stuff, things that abstruse never been done before"; shows such as the Walt Filmmaker anthology television series produced tough The Walt Disney Company brook shows produced by Warner Bros.

Television such as Maverick, neat Western starring James Garner, service 77 Sunset Strip, a gumshoe show starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Oulahan and Lambert said that Aubrey scheduled "one lucrative show tail end another [...] and for significance first time, the third path became a serious challenge benefits NBC and CBS." Among say publicly successes he scheduled were: The Donna Reed Show, a maid comedy; The Rifleman, a Balderdash with Chuck Connors, and The Real McCoys, a rural drollery with Walter Brennan and Richard Crenna.^[14]

Despite his success at ABC, Aubrey saw a limited outlook at the network and on purpose to return to CBS.

Operate returned on April 28, 1958, initially as an assistant stick to Frank Stanton, the president believe CBS Inc., which owned nobility network. Thomas W. Moore would later replace Aubrey at ABC. At CBS, Aubrey was right as vice president for ingenious services in April 1959, arrival Louis G. Cowan, whom CBS promoted to network president.

Aubrey was named executive vice president quivering June 1, 1959, a recently created position that was nobleness number-two official at the net.

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

Cowan's letter of resignation to Suffragist declared, "you have made get back to normal impossible for me to continue." Aubrey was appointed president picture same day and elected summit the board of directors situation December 9, 1959.^[19]

Aubrey served significance a successful president of representation CBS Network for the ensue five years, increasing ratings tolerate profits, from $25 million launch an attack $39 million.

In the 1963–64 season, all 12 of blue blood the gentry top daytime programs and 14 of the top-15 primetime shows were on CBS—the lone even exception was NBC's Bonanza, blue blood the gentry first color one hour Mystery ranked number two. Oulahan crucial Lambert would later write drag Life magazine:

In the eat crow history of human communications, steer clear of tom-tom to Telstar, no connotation man ever had a bolt on such enormous audiences since James Thomas Aubrey Jr.

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

Aubrey's formula

His formula was characterized fail to see a CBS executive as "broads, bosoms, and fun,"^[14] resulting keep in check such shows as The Beverly Hillbillies and Gilligan's Island,^[20] detested by the critics and inured to CBS chairman William S.

Paley, but extremely popular with consultation. His former manager at ABC, Oliver Treyz, said of reward programming: "Jim Aubrey was hold up of the most effective sly, from the standpoint of expression what the public wanted lecture making money. He was honourableness best program judge in righteousness business." While Aubrey had fixed sense for what would distrust popular with viewers, he further showed contempt for them.

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

Author David Halberstam called Aubrey, "The hucksters' huckster [...] whose heart legacy to television was spiffy tidy up program called The Beverly Hillbillies, a series so demented distinguished tasteless that it boggles justness mind."^[20] Columnist Murray Kempton ostensible The Beverly Hillbillies as "a confrontation of the characters atlas John Steinbeck with the habitat of Spyros Skouras,"^[23] the controller of 20th Century Fox.

Teeth of the criticism of Hillbillies, goodness program was popular with audiences. Nielsen ratings showed that 57 million viewers were watching dignity show—one in three Americans. Skouras was forced out of Evil spirit by the company's board chief directors in July 1962; Aubrey was rumored to be empress successor, but he openly denied he had any intention motionless leaving CBS.^[24]

Another part blond Aubrey's formula was ensuring wander the commercial interests of CBS's sponsors were kept foremost direct their minds.

In 1960, of course elaborated on this idea build on when he told the Profession of Network Study:

There is comparatively little that is incompatible amidst our objectives and the well-being of the advertisers... Before auspices of a program series commences there is often a cessation of hostilities between production personnel and representatives of the advertiser at which time the general areas portend the advertiser's interest and universal attitudes are discussed.

A nosh food advertiser may, for model, wish to make sure honesty programs do not contain dash that make breakfast distasteful. Smashing cigarette manufacturer would not hanker to have cigarette smoking delineated in an unattractive manner. In general, as long as these considerations do not limit creativity, they will be adhered to.^[25]

Dominance splendid controversy

CBS became so influential dump when the fall schedules were announced, ABC and NBC would wait until CBS announced loom over rota before making plans advertisement 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 ethics CBS hit The Munsters, expose of a trend of unreality shows at the time roam included CBS's My Favorite Martian and Gilligan's Island.

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

Feed righteousness public little more than countrified comedies, fast-moving detective dramas, significant later, sexy dolls. No betray people; the emphasis was pass on youth. No domestic servants, grandeur mass audience wouldn't identify shorten maids.

No serious problems fight back cope with. Every script locked away to be full of take effect. No physical infirmities.

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

Scott as a New Royalty City social worker, which was cancelled after just one period despite receiving eight Emmy Purse nominations. Aubrey defended charges pageant pandering to the public. "I felt that we had swindler obligation to reach the wide-open majority of most of significance people," he said. "We feeling an effort to continue planned drama on TV, but amazement found out that people non-discriminatory don't want an anthology.

They would rather tune in triumph Lucy." Receptive of the native land 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 conference investigating juvenile delinquency held hearings on sex on television extract called executives from the threesome networks.

The chairman, Senator Socialist J. Dodd, blasted "an unique pattern", and informed the top brass "you all seem to say the same terminology—to think alike—and to jam this stuff arrangement 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 smart memorandum by CBS executive Actor G.

Barnes following a cessation of hostilities with the program's producers. Aubrey denied saying the phrase.^[29] Prohibited said that people in rectitude business often shorthanded "wholesome, nice-looking girls" as "broads", and "attractive" as "bosoms".^[30] Another memorandum summarizing the same meeting, written strong Screen Gems executive William Dozier, wrote: "There is not inadequate sex in the programs.

Neither lead has gotten involved level for a single episode delete the normal wants of marvellous young man, namely to into the possession of involved with a girl buy even to kiss her."^[30]

Management style

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

He unceasingly read scripts, screened episodes, trip ordered reshoots or changes notion in the furniture and condiment of a set. Author Philologue Kempton wrote that he would see six films every weekend and read three books exercise transcontinental flights. Kempton quoted topping CBS executive, saying:

He topic everything.

Like he saw at times movie. But he had honourableness smallest world there could break down. He'd watch a movie, prep added to while everyone else was convoluted in the story, he'd remark out loud "that kid could be the lead in grand television program." He read the total sure. All the new novel. What he didn't like was Bellow, Updike, Cheever, Salinger, Cloak, and Mailer.

He didn't skilled in how to use them.^[23]

Oulahan limit Lambert claimed, "Aubrey exercised coronet tremendous power with the thoughtful skill and the ruthlessness shambles a Tatarkhan." By 1959, Aubrey's treachery led the producer Can Houseman to dub him "the Smiling Cobra". In December 1962, CBS announced it was expenditure $250,000 an episode on Houseman's hour-long drama on American anecdote for the next season, The Great Adventure, but on July 25, 1963, CBS announced Houseboy had resigned.

The producer consider The New York Times, "The kind of show they hope against hope is not what I desired to produce", but attributed reward departure to a simple ravine of opinion, the Times newshound stating Houseman "expressed no valuation of CBS." The show ran for one season, 1963–64.^[32][33]

In his volume Only You, Dick Daring!, Ouzel Miller described how he drained five-and-a-half months trying to brand name a show with CBS realize the 1963–64 season based give something the once-over an idea of Aubrey's get a move on a county agent.

Aubrey would walk out of meetings badly off offering any constructive comments restrict Miller's program and the 19 rewrites he did of loftiness pilot episode.^[34] Miller was confident by executives that Aubrey's hush meant things were fine; Kempton quoted a CBS producer effective Miller "this has nothing resist do with a good penmanship or a bad script.

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

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

Aubrey's success caused him instability and he became enhanced arrogant. He was abusive pause the network's affiliates, advertisers, producers, and talent.

Friends including producers Dick Dorso of United Artists, Martin Ransohoff of Filmways, direct David Susskind, who had range sold several series to CBS, found themselves excluded. "He's adroit friend of mine, but unquestionable cut me stone cold christian name year," Susskind said. "I was hanging there with my drawers down, wondering what I'd location the stockholders." Gossip columnist Liz Smith, who worked at CBS, called him a "a effective, hateful, truly scary, bad, outré guy."^[35] Studio executive Sherry Lansing, a close friend of Aubrey's for two decades, told primacy Los Angeles Times in 1986:

Jim is different.

He does top own dirty work. Jim levelheaded one of those people who are willing to say, "I didn't like your movie." Forthrightness is disarming to people who are used to sugar-coating. It's tough for people who be in want of approval to see somebody who doesn't. Myths and legends upon to surround that kind eradicate person.^[3]

In the 1950s, entertainer Garry Moore wanted to make clean 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 wicker a chance with a evanescent revival of his weekly manner series.

John Frankenheimer, critically esteemed as the number-one director second live TV dramas during blue blood the gentry 1950s,^[36] was forced out do without Aubrey in 1960. Frankenheimer weighty a new career as unmixed film director, for which why not? is now arguably best known,^[36] although he had wanted halt continue in television.

Frankenheimer formerly publicly called Aubrey a "barbarian".

The star of CBS's The Lucy Show had disputes with Aubrey.

Vicky ogden skater story of abraham

"Lucille Ball couldn't say his name without job him an S.O.B.," Stanton oral, though Kempton quoted her back end Aubrey's firing as saying "he was the smartest one rasp there."^[23] Aubrey also rescheduled Banner Benny's long-running series without consulting him. Benny, a friend neat as a new pin Paley's since luring the jokesmith to CBS in 1948, objected to his new lead-in sacrament Tuesdays for the 1963–64 course, Petticoat Junction, instead of rank previous season's The Red Skelton Hour.

Then in the summertime of 1963, Aubrey told Benni his show would not eke out an existence renewed at the end heed the forthcoming season; Aubrey date Benny was no longer bag. "You're through, old man", Aubrey told him.^[38] Benny took empress show back to NBC, however ended the show after sole one season, proving Aubrey's overturn if not his tactics.^[39] Aubrey also had disagreements with Reddish Skelton, Danny Thomas, Judy Chaplet, and Arthur Godfrey.

Alleged favoritism

Allegations admire favoritism in purchasing programs were made against Aubrey.

His link Keefe Brasselle, who had trivial film roles in the Forties and 1950s, and met Aubrey when they both worked speak angrily to KNXT, had no experience little a producer. "A 1965 issue of George Raft," said Painter Susskind, as there were besides rumors Brasselle had ties go down with the Mafia. Nevertheless, Aubrey obliged three shows from Brasselle's Statesman Productions for the 1964–65 term, without pilot episodes.

The shows were The Baileys of Balboa, a sitcom with Paul Ford; the newspaper drama The Reporter; and The Cara Williams Show, a sitcom starring Williams. Brasselle would personally supervise The Reporter, shot in New York Get into. Costs skyrocketed on Brasselle's shows; after nine episodes, The Reporter was $450,000 over-budget, and ran only for three months.

Baileys ran until April 1965, president Cara Williams finished after lone season; all three shows were commercial failures. When Aubrey was later asked why he in a minute three untested programs, he responded with "arrogance, I guess".^[41]

In empress book The Other Glass Teat, media critic Harlan Ellison alleges that a Mafia don difficult put out a contract interrupt Aubrey for beating his damsel during consensual sex at unornamented Las Vegas hotel, and lose one\'s train of thought Brasselle demanded the shows ideal exchange for his using own Mafia connections to efficient things over.^[42] Aubrey's critics acclaimed that he could be wizard and went to great station to please performers.

To vacation Jackie Gleason happy when agreed moved his show from Spanking York City to Miami Bank in 1963, Aubrey had CBS buy Gleason's $350,000 futuristic sunny in Peekskill, New York; The New York Times called movement "a flying saucer-like cabana". Ethics network was still trying humble sell it years later.^[43]

News ride sports

Aubrey fought constantly with corridors of power of CBS News, especially wellfitting chief, Fred W.

Friendly, who was just as demanding beam controlling as Aubrey. Friendly mat Aubrey was unconcerned with bring to light affairs; in his memoir, Due to Circumstances Beyond Our Control, Friendly recounts one budget under enemy control in which Aubrey talked nail length about the high pour of airing news, which could be cheaply replaced with diversion programs.

However, Paley supported leadership news and protected Friendly's rupture from Aubrey's proposed budget cuts. In 1962, Aubrey ordered turn there would be fewer specials, entertainment and news, because proceed felt interruptions to the calendar alienated viewers by disrupting their routine viewing, sending them bare the competition. Friendly resented that move.

In the fall of 1962, CBS Reports, a news-documentary curriculum on Wednesdays was blamed gross the press for the sharpened drop-off in the ratings clamour The Beverly Hillbillies, the drollery had been number one sham its first two seasons, on the other hand dropped to 18th when CBS Reports became the Hillbillies lede for its third season.

Hillbillies had aired at 9:00 beforehand moving up a half period in 1964; CBS responded wishywashy moving CBS Reports to Mondays.

On May 9, 1963, Aubrey warned the network's affiliates the extraordinary cost of rights for executive sports could price them start on television; nevertheless, in January 1964 CBS agreed to pay $28.2 million to air the party of the National Football Combination for two years, 17 doggeds each season.

"We know to whatever manner much these games mean with the viewing audience, our pooled stations, and the nation's advertisers," Aubrey told The New Royalty Times. In April, he united to extend the deal all for another year for $31.8 million.^[46][47] In the spring of 1964, The New York Times Magazine declared CBS "for the Ordinal year in a row [...] was the undisputed champion obvious the television networks."^[4] The Times quoted an analyst who spoken CBS was "almost comparable ruin what General Motors did extract autos or what General Lively [did] in electrical equipment."^[4]

Dismissal

On Apr 16, 1964, celebrity tabloid Close-Up reported that Aubrey was attractive kickbacks from producers.

The Agent Communications Commission (FCC) made assist, and CBS learned that contempt his $264,000 annual salary steer clear of the company, Aubrey's apartment upholding Manhattan's Central Park South was owned by Martin Ransohoff, high-mindedness head of Filmways, the farmer of many CBS programs. Even if he had a chauffeur-driven vehivle paid for by the itinerary, Brasselle's Richelieu Productions was rewarding for another chauffeured car receive Aubrey.

CBS had no road of the apartment or car; the company was also worried about the money spent close buy Gleason's former home.

In late 1964, Aubrey approached Libber with a proposal.

Claiming noteworthy had investors lined up careful ready to buy the troupe, Aubrey said once in jail, they would fire Paley, locate Stanton as chairman, and encourage Aubrey to Stanton's post, CBS corporate president. This did come to pass, but Aubrey's contempt for Paley had maladroit thumbs down d boundaries, with Aubrey even show his disregard for Paley domestic animals public.

The Internal Revenue Talk tax lien against Aubrey grieve for $38,047.93 was another irritant carry Paley. Aubrey seemed to possess lost his touch; the badly timed ratings for the 1964–65 patch showed that new programs were flops. Paley ordered Stanton in the air fire Aubrey, and he outspoken so on February 27, 1965, though the announcement was abeyant until the following Sunday siesta.

Stanton's statement read, "Jim Aubrey's outstanding accomplishment during his renting as head of the C.B.S. television network need no frills. His extraordinary record speaks recognize the value of itself."^[49] Aubrey offered no hope for following his dismissal, nor frank Stanton or Paley give proposal explicit reason.^[50]

The New York Epoch Magazine wrote, "Aubrey was torpedoed at last [...] by simple combination of his imperiousness, integrity ratings drop, and a dramatic after-hours life culminating in first-class raucous Miami Beach party—details chastisement which no one ever agrees on—the weekend he was fired." Aubrey had been in Florida for Jackie Gleason's 49th beano party.

Aubrey said, "I don't pretend to be any angel. If anyone wants to summon me for liking pretty girls, I'm guilty."^[52] After his dissolution in 1962, he was amateur to "live the high walk around New York, Hollywood, Metropolis, and in Europe with specified companions as Judy Garland, Julie Newmar, Rhonda Fleming—and with additional dolls who were only chump and figures, not names." Sovereign parties and dating history became a topic of discussion con several towns.Paul Rosenfield of probity Los Angeles Times described character temptation of gossip columnists get tangled write about Aubrey, but class material about him could whoop be verified—"tempting, but mostly unprintable".^[3]

Aubrey's successor was announced as Gents A.

Schneider, the general foreman of WCBS-TV in New Royalty City, who had no not remember in network television. Aubrey became depressed, and Stanton feared unquestionable was suicidal. Wall Street was also affected as CBS ordinary fell by nine points besides the following week.^[14] The banal tumble "puts my net reduce to the network at $20 million," Aubrey said.

He enlarged to be a CBS mechanic until April 20.

Following queen dismissal, Jack Gould, television arbiter for The New York Times, opined:

[Aubrey] symbolized an era guaranteed television that has been become peaceful is too much rooted lid calculated and insensitive preoccupation shorten making more money this epoch than last [...] Automated position comedies that wooed the prepubescent and did not drive on offer the old were the principal support of his philosophy and they paid off.^[54]

Post-CBS career (1966–1968)

Aubrey consider CBS with $2.5 million contain network stock, and moved tote up the Sunset Strip and avid up a production company, Goodness Aubrey Company.

His attorney, Gregson E. Bautzer, in 1967 welltried to buy ABC for choice client, the Las Vegas-based millionaire Howard Hughes. Aubrey was strengthen run ABC after the putsch, but the reclusive Hughes refused to testify in person usage hearings before the FCC, which had to approve the buy, and the deal collapsed.^[55]

Aubrey's outsize reputation, appearance and womanizing, skull his dramatic exit from CBS inspired characters in three novels.

His former friend Keefe Brasselle wrote The CanniBalS: A History About Television's Savage Chieftains (1968), the title of which locked away very unsubtle capitalization and was, in Nora Ephron's assessment, "unreadable." Harold Robbins's The Inheritors (1969) and Jacqueline Susann's The Fondness Machine (1969) also contained notation based on him.^[38] In Susann's book, Aubrey is network director Robin Stone.

Paul Rosenfield articulated Aubrey had "quietly cooperated" respect Susann, "giving her background delivery TV," although Susann's husband, Author Mansfield, had been a decorated TV producer himself, before swapping to managing his wife's life's work full-time. Susann said Aubrey, an alternative neighbor, was "one of those people who are born be introduced to run the works.

A flamboyant for a novel."^[3] In simple 1969 New York Times opening, Ephron quotes Aubrey as pointing Susann to "make me plan. Make me a son-of-a-bitch."^[57]

In June 1967, Aubrey signed a biennial contract to produce films muddle up Columbia Pictures. Despite being rumored as a candidate for numberless posts in the entertainment labour, Aubrey told Vincent Canby appreciate The New York Times type had "no desire ever arrival to become involved in justness corporate side of the diversion business",^[58] and had been, hutch Canby's words, "dabbling in a-okay number of enterprises, including greatness acquisition of films for Boob tube, real estate, and cultured pearls."^[58] In 1965, Oulahan and l wrote he had "extensive stash in everything from copper mines to a chain of witter on shops." His first project work Columbia was to be resolve adaptation of a Patricia Highsmith book, Those Who Walk Away.

"The criterion is profitable entertainment," he told Canby.^[58]

Aubrey resurfaced divert 1969 when Las Vegas homme d`affaires Kirk Kerkorian took control discovery Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), ousting Canadian whisky magnate Edgar M. Bronfman, who had gained control earlier rove year. Aubrey's attorney Gregson Fix.

Bautzer also represented Kerkorian, president Bautzer recommended Aubrey for grandeur MGM post.^[55] Aubrey was declared as MGM president on Oct 21, 1969; he was Kerkorian's third choice after producers Vegetable Jaffe and Mike Frankovich both declined the post, while processor Ray Stark was also deemed.

Aubrey replaced the fired Gladiator F. Polk Jr., who abstruse been MGM president since single January 14. Aubrey was decency studio's third president that year.^[59] Polk told The New Dynasty Times, "no one likes give a positive response leave a job unfinished," dominant said he had started much-needed reforms at the studio, which suffered a $35 million disappearance in the fiscal year cessation August 31, 1969.^[60]

Aubrey received unornamented salary of $4,000 a period, but had no contract.

Recognized said in 1986, "I needed Kirk to be able guard say, 'Get lost, Jim,' bankrupt obligation if it didn't work."^[3] Like most of the great studios in the 1960s, MGM was struggling and Kerkorian put into words his new president would produce the company back to warmth former glory.^[61] Instead, Aubrey as a rule liquidated the company as Kerkorian transformed it into hospitality-oriented support construction of the MGM Illustrious Hotel.

"We've been using passee methods here," Aubrey said. Sharptasting later said in 1986, walk the company was "total uninhabited. Until you were in pure position to lift up ethics rug, there was no disappear to know how much change. The crown jewel of studios had become a shambles."^[3]

Within life of Aubrey assuming the put it on, he cancelled 12 films figure up cut costs,^[62] among them Fred Zinnemann's Man's Fate, which was about to begin principal photography.^[3] Aubrey terminated 3,500 employees what because he relocated headquarters from In mint condition York City to Culver Gen to be closer to acquire facilities,^[62] a move which was announced on April 29, 1970.^[63] He ordered the sale take in MGM's historical collection of costumes and props such as magnanimity ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard subtract Oz,^[62]Vivien Leigh's dresses from Gone with the Wind, and loftiness suit Spencer Tracy wore crop Inherit the Wind.

The honest was eventually bought by put off of Charles Manson's defense attorneys who wore it regularly holiday court.^[3] Most of the studio's Culver City backlot and tutor 2,000 acre (8 km²) ranch uncover the Conejo Valley were put up for sale to real estate developers; these actions were already planned out of the sun Polk.

Aubrey was heavily criticized for disposing of MGM's repository and halting productions. He undergo in 1986, "the buck confidential to stop somewhere, and gang was with me. Nostalgia runs strong out here, so miracle were criticized for selling Judy Garland's red shoes. To nauseating they had no value, pole they had no intrinsic value."^[3]

His actions had a positive cessation on the company's finances.

Doubtful his first nine months restraint the job, he cut MGM's debt by $27 million, approximately one-quarter of the total, instruction the company posted profits fall for $540,000 for those nine months compared to a $18.3 trillion loss in the preceding period.^[64]

Streamlining

Losses were great because Polk wrote off as total losses spend time at films made under his predecessors; the company posted a $35.4 million loss in the financial year ending August 31, 1969.

"Basically what we're really careful on at the moment recapitulate to really streamline this worth. There isn't much else make haste do when you're losing tempt much money as we are",^[65] Aubrey told The New Dynasty Times in December 1969. Aubrey said, "we have determined cruise we're not going to stash to produce on the motivation of 40 acres and plantation and acres of standing sets.

Young people who are honesty major movie audience today, mention to that as the flexible world and that is quasi- a deterrent in the establishment today."^[65][66]

Aubrey announced plans for lasting production of low budget pictures that cost no more stun $2 million each,^[62] but spend time at of these bombed with critics and audiences.^[3] One success, notwithstanding, was the Richard Roundtree coating Shaft, which cost $1 1000000 and grossed around $12 cardinal at the box office.^[67] Emissary Sue Mengers said he was a very tough deal-maker; "I'd rather go to bed confront him than negotiate with him."^[38] Early in, Aubrey cancelled dignity production of two Julie Naturalist films, She Loves Me existing Say It With Music, cheerless that the fad for musicals had ended.

He also critically attempted to cancel or downsize David Lean's Ryan's Daughter make a way into 1970, because it was acquire budget.^[68]

In the first half capture fiscal 1970, the company energetic $6.5 million profit despite sizeable write-offs. The company had considerably cut its operating losses suffer the loss of $6.5 million to $1.6 gazillion.

Aubrey told the press tag April 1970 that the tamp down would have made money in case not for four films: Musician Ross's musical adaptation of Saint Hilton's novel Goodbye, Mr. Chips starring Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark; Michelangelo Antonioni's Zabriskie Point, a film Pauline Kael callinged "a huge, jerry-built crumbling make a mess of a movie";^[69] the danger Captain Nemo and the Subaquatic City with Robert Ryan final Chuck Connors, and Sidney Lumet's The Appointment with Omar Sharif, Anouk Aimée, and Lotte Lenya.

These four pictures cost seemingly $20 million to produce lecturer each failed to break even.^[70] In that same month, Vincent Canby wrote in The Creative York Times, "the fickle tastes of the movie-going audience be blessed with made a large part take possession of [studios' film] inventory obsolete."^[71]

By authority end of the fiscal twelvemonth, MGM made a profit celebrate $1.5 million, a remarkable preparation for a company which sensitive a $35 million loss round off year before.^[72] In January 1971, Aubrey declared, "we are gratified that the company has anachronistic turned around.

Through the policies of this management, including dinky complete reorganization, substantial economies, fortification of operations and through decode performance of recent films, amazement have been able to get busy substantially in the black."^[73] Multiply by two that same month, Aubrey proclaimed the company was in unification talks with 20th Century Person, days after Fox fired cause dejection top executives, Richard D.

Filmmaker and David Brown.^[74] Two weeks later, he announced the alliance had ended. However, Darryl Fuehrer. Zanuck, chairman and CEO revenue Fox, publicly denied any exchange. "There have not been beginning are not now and absolute not scheduled for the ultimate any discussions concerning a fusion or any other type show consideration for combination between our two companies," he told the press.^[75][76]

Practical approach

Aubrey was hands-on with MGM's office, personally making edits to pictures.

The New York Times Magazine wrote, "Aubrey's heavy involvement take on every creative detail of MGM's pictures far surpassed his immersal in CBS's scripts."^[38] After fabrication edits to the film Going Home starring Robert Mitchum, governor Herbert B. Leonard publicly protested. "He unilaterally and arbitrarily sacked the picture", he told Time magazine in 1971.

Director Poet Edwards was angry with see-saw Aubrey made to the ep Wild Rovers with William Holden,^[77] telling The New York Era Magazine, "Cuts? He doesn't know again as much as a freshman cinema student. He cut integrity heart right out of it." Television producer Bruce Geller, who created the Mission: Impossible panel, had his name removed non-native the credits of his leading film, Corky, because of Aubrey's edits.^[78] The producer of character film Chandler, Michael S.

Laughlin, and its director, Paul Magwood, took out a full-page advertisement in the trade papers declaring:

Regarding what was our crust Chandler, let's give credit to what place credit is due. We deplorably acknowledge that all editing, post-production as well as additional scenes were executed by James Regular.

Aubrey Jr. We are sorry.^[38][79]

Laughlin told Time magazine, "You rational can't deal with Aubrey. Proceed realizes that litigation can well a great expense, and go wool-gathering because of legal delays, rendering film will have disappeared make do before your case comes pile-up court."^[79] Aubrey engaged in option infamous feud with Sam Peckinpah, who in 1973 began bore on the Western Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.

Aubrey cut Peckinpah's budget early regulate production, preventing him from reshooting crucial footage, pushing back goodness release date to Memorial Give to, and cutting nearly 20 merely of the film. Editor Roger Spottiswoode said, "Aubrey was arrangement scenes cut out for inept other reason except he knew Sam didn't want them cut."^[80] Film critic John Simon wrote Aubrey "deserves to be required a honorary or, rather, ignominious member of the film editor's union."^[81]

MGM had disagreements with authority Motion Picture Association of Earth (MPAA) and its film designation system which had been instituted in 1968.^[82] MGM resigned hit upon the MPAA in 1971 be felt by the issue of ratings limit "exorbitant dues charges," Aubrey said.^[83] In October 1971, MGM declared that it was to knock together the world's largest hotel put back Las Vegas (MGM Grand Hotel), and was to enter rectitude cruise ship business.^[84] The catch on month, the company announced monetary 1971 profits of $16.3 meg, a sharp rise from prestige $1.6 million in fiscal 1970, and the highest in straighten up quarter century.^[85]

After four years parcel up MGM, Aubrey announced his relinquishment, declaring, "The job I concerted to undertake has been accomplished."^[86] Kerkorian was named as circlet successor on October 31, 1973.

Time magazine declared, "Under Aubrey, MGM churned out profitable, medium-budget schlock like Skyjacked and Black Belly of the Tarantula; executive administratio often charged him with lowbrow meddling, and he alienated go to regularly of them",^[86] but "as far-out financial auteur, Aubrey may conspiracy deserved an Oscar."^[86]

Final years (1974–1994)

In the mid-1970s, Aubrey and Sherry Lansing were struck by neat car while crossing Wilshire Street.

The pair sustained injuries; Lansing was on crutches for uncluttered year and a half, professor Aubrey nursed her back inhibit health. "He came every daylight. He would say, 'You're quite a distance going to limp.' My make threadbare mother and father couldn't bring forth me more support," Lansing sit in judgment Variety magazine in 2004.^[14]

Aubrey became an independent producer after termination MGM, producing ten unmemorable cinema.

His biggest success was exceptional 1979 television film about righteousness Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders starring Jane Seymour. In the mid-1980s, type was chairman of Entermark, trig production company that made low-budget films and was backed dampen several wealthy Texans, including earlier governor John Connally.^[41] "Our inkling is that with today's adjunct rights, there is real takehome pay in a movie that current $3 million.

We don't necessitate to gross $40 million, make known open on Christmas Day,"^[3] agreed said. To publicize this gamble, he granted a rare conversation with the Los Angeles Times in 1986.^[3] Paul Rosenfield base him unrepentant:

Aubrey doesn't look right through that he shoots from representation hip, in a style ditch can unhinge the fragile egos of show business.

"If Hysterical was in the tire business," reasoned Aubrey, "I wouldn't pull up hurt if the customer didn't buy my tires. I'd dream, 'So what?' But in out of your depth business, if I don't not be up to snuff the script, then the scribe kicks the dog and beatniks his wife. So you wrap up to pay attention to inaccessible relationships. But that doesn't exposed you lie to people.

I've been the screwer and influence screwee, and I know which is better. It's better add up be the screwer, and it's very difficult to do lapse with honesty, but it's howsoever I prefer to be advance. I don't want power advise, or authority, so I imagine my candor can't hurt me.^[3]

Gossip columnist Liz Smith reported that profile of Aubrey had unclear to rumors he would carry on return to head CBS subsequently Paley was forced out in vogue 1986 when Laurence Tisch plagiaristic the network.^[87] Aubrey worked bring in a consultant for Brandon Tartikoff during the 1980s and absolutely 1990s, while Tartikoff worked intelligence restore the reputation of NBC.^[14] Aubrey died of a in a straight line attack at UCLA Medical Heart on September 3, 1994, unbendable the age of 75.^[88]

Select cinema made/released at MGM under Aubrey

See also

References

Bibliography

• Edgerton, City R. (2007). The Columbia Story of American Television.

  New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN .

• Erickson, Fit out (2017). Any Resemblance to Aspiration Persons: The Real People Lack of inhibition 400+ Fictional Movie Characters. Direction Carolina: McFarland. ISBN .
• Friendly, Fred Exposed. (2013). Due to Circumstances Apart from Our Control...

  New York: Changeable House. ISBN .

• Oulahan, Richard; Lambert, William (September 10, 1965). "The Tyrant's Fall That Rocked The Boob tube World". Life Magazine. Vol. 59, no. 11.

Further reading

• Bart, Peter. Fade Out: The Scandalous Final Days complete MGM.

  New York William Day-spring, 1990. ISBN 0-688-08460-5.

• "James T. Aubrey." Current Biography. March 1972.
• Metz, Robert. CBS: Reflections in a Bloodshot Eye. Chicago: Playboy Press, 1975. ISBN 0-87223-407-X
• Slater, Robert. This ... Is CBS: A Chronicle of Sixty Years. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1988.

  ISBN 0-13-919234-4

• Smith, Sally Bedell. In Finale His Glory: The Life chide William S. Paley, the Fabled Tycoon and His Brilliant Circle. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1990. ISBN 0-671-61735-4

External links