Sumner Redstone
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Biography
A former lawyer who was successfully involved with the Federal justice system, Redstone joined the entertainment industry when he moved into exhibition management in the mid-1950s. Working in the world of drive-in theaters during their heyday, his work became national in scope when he became president of the Theatre Owners of America and later the National Association of Theatre Owners. Redstone also built up his small cluster of theaters, eventually turning it into the prominent multiplex chain, Redstone Theaters.
Since the late 60s, Redstone has served as chairman of National Amusements Inc., the company which owns over 80% of Viacom Inc. He later became chairman of the board of that organization, and wielded considerable wealth and power through the company's successful post-theatrical and syndication activities. Viacom also came to occupy a major niche in pop culture for the young via its ownership of both the MTV and Nickelodeon networks. Viacom is also affiliated with the Showtime cable channel and has produced such TV series as "Matlock", "Frank's Place" and "Jake and the Fatman", the talk show "The Montel Williams Show", and a lengthy and popular series of "Perry Mason" TV-movies. A highly visible figure in the entertainment industry for his wide involvement in industry trade groups, Redstone narrowly survived a Boston hotel fire in 1979. He received his greatest media attention in 1993 for his struggle with Barry Diller over who was going to purchase Paramount Communications. Redstone eventually emerged the winner in the $10 billion merger in the summer of 1994. Later that year, he added to his holdings by acquiring Blockbuster Entertainment.
Filmography
Cast (Special)
Life Events
Family
Companions
