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Ted
Mann’s success story is the classic example of hard work, determination
and persistence. Born Theodore Mann in Wishek, North Dakota, on April
15, 1916, to homesteader immigrant parents, his family relocated to Minneapolis,
Minnesota where, as a teenager, he became enamored of the movies when
he spent summers working as a theater usher. Ted Mann attended the University
of Minnesota in the 1930’s. He initially entered the film exhibition
field as a young man in 1935 and later leased a troubled theater, the
Selby, in St. Paul, Minnesota for $100 a month where he acted as manager,
janitor, doorman, ad man, delivery man and film buyer. He eventually bought
the Selby and acquired 25 more theatres and drive-ins throughout Minnesota
by the age of 40, before selling the circuit to General Cinema Corporation
in 1970. In the late 60’s, Mann moved to California to try his
hand at moviemaking. He served as co-producer on such films as, Ray
Bradbury’s “The Illustrated Man” (1969); executive
producer on “Buster and Billie” with Jan-Michael Vincent
(1974), “Lifeguard” with Sam Elliot (1976); and executive
producer/producer on “Brubaker” starring Robert Redford
(1980). Later he helped produce the dungeons-and-dragons fantasy “Krull”
(1983). |
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1973, Mann returned to his roots by buying the troubled National General
Theatre Company from Gene Klein, owner of the San Diego Chargers football
team. Re-naming the chain Mann Theaters, Mann expanded from 276 screens
to 450 by 1988 throughout the country. The circuit included the famed
landmark Grauman’s Chinese Theater which under his leadership continued
to flourish and serve as an important symbol in Hollywood and the world
with its star-studded world premieres and cement handprint ceremonies.
Mann presided over such historic events as the handprint ceremony for
the original Star Wars film in 1977. During the 1970’s and 1980’s,
Mann built the Mann Theatres into the largest independent movie theatre
chain and third most profitable in the nation. In 1986, Mann sold the
circuit to Paramount Communication (later Gulf + Western) and remained
its chairman until 1991, when it boasted 510 screens.
Mann was married to the famed actress Rhonda Fleming who enjoyed a very successful career as an actress and appeared in over 40 motion pictures starting with a top featured role in the David O. Selznick’s “Spellbound” (1945), directed by Alfred Hitchcock. She appeared with Ronald Reagan in four films and had starring roles in classics such as “Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” (1949) opposite Bing Crosby, “Gunfight at the OK Corral” (1957), and “The Big Circus.” Her co-stars included such Hollywood royalty as Gregory Peck, Bob Hope, Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Burt Lancaster, Charlton Heston and Glenn Ford. In addition to his business ventures, Mann had a philanthropic spirit, creating the Ted Mann Foundation, which contributed to a variety of charities. Mann helped found the Boys Club of Minneapolis and the Landmark West School for youngsters with dyslexia. In 1993, he made substantial contributions to construct the Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota. Other contributions and organizations he supported included Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Minnesota for work with mentally challenged adults and youth, UCLA’s resource center for women with breast cancer, Pepperdine University, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Variety International and other educational organizations. Upon Mann’s passing in 2001, the Ted Mann Foundation was distributed among his two daughters and four grandchildren who continue the Mann family tradition of making a positive difference. The ongoing mission of the Ted and Dr. Roberta Mann Foundation is to keep alive the legacy established by Ted Mann. Run by Mann’s eldest daughter, Roberta and her two children, Johnny and Blythe Brenden, the Ted and Dr. Roberta Mann Foundation continues to make a difference by supporting numerous Arts, Education, Health, Social Service and Religious organizations worldwide with special emphasis in Minnesota and Southern Nevada and California. |
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