Spyros Skouras
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2013) |
Spyros Skouras | |
---|---|
20th Century Fox | |
Spouse | Saroula Bruiglia (m.1920) |
Children | 5 |
Relatives | Charles and George (brothers) |
Spyros Panagiotis Skouras (
Skouras and two brothers came to the United States as immigrants in 1910; Spyros kept such a pronounced Greek accent in English that comedian
The early years
Spyros Panagiotis Skouras was born in 1893 in
Living frugally on wages as busboys and bartenders in downtown hotels, by 1914 the brothers had savings of $3,500. In partnership with two other Greeks, the Skourases constructed a modest
The brothers incorporated in 1924 with $400,000 capital stock. By then more than thirty local theaters belonged to the
From 1929 to 1931 during the Great Depression, Spyros Skouras worked as a general manager of the Warner Brothers Theater Circuit in the United States. During these hard years, he eliminated losses and eventually quadrupled the profits of the chain. Despite this success, his wish to be his own boss again made him voluntarily leave the company. After that, and for a short while, he worked as a manager for Paramount.
In 1932, the Skouras Brothers (Charles, Spyros and George) took over the management of the
Marriage and family
Skouras had several children with his wife, including sons Spyros S. Skouras, Plato A. Skouras. His daughter jumped from a building to her death. Athanasios Skouras, member of the Greek Resistant Organisation PEAN during the Axis Occupation of Greece in the Second World War, was a relative of his.[2]
Rise to influence
In May 1935 Spyros Skouras took the initiative for the merger of
In the 1950s he, together with his brothers, controlled 20th Century Fox, National Theaters, Fox West Coast Theaters,
Skouras oversaw the production of such classics as Don't Bother to Knock, The Seven Year Itch, The Hustler, The King and I, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and The Robe. He signed a young model named Norma Jean Baker to 20th Century Fox who, after changing her name to Marilyn Monroe, rose to fame as the most famous Hollywood sex symbol of the 20th century. Monroe, who never knew her father, developed a special relationship with Skouras, and sometimes called him "Papa Skouras".[3]
During Skouras' tenure, the longest in the company's history, he worked to rescue the faltering film industry from the lure of television. 20th Century Fox's advertising slogan, Movies are Better than Ever, gained credibility in 1953 when Spyros introduced CinemaScope in the studio's groundbreaking feature film The Robe. The wide screen CinemaScope increased the appeal of films, helping them maintain audiences against television.[4][5] This new technology soon became the standard of the whole industry.
Later years
Cost overruns on such films as Cleopatra (1963) resulted in a shareholder revolt demanding a change in management.[6] Darryl F. Zanuck was elected president of the company while Skouras was chairman of the company for several years.
In parallel with his work in the film industry, Skouras had invested in the shipping industry, where many Greek immigrants had interest. By the 1960s, his Prudential Lines owned seven ships, two tankers, and five cargo ships. In 1969, Prudential Lines bought out
His son Plato A. Skouras (1930–2004) produced five films, including Francis of Assisi (1961) and Sierra Baron (1958).
Skouras died from a heart attack at the age of 78.
Notes
- ^ Yannicos, Trina (5 August 2023). "The Skouras Brothers, the Greek Magnates of Hollywood". Greek Reporter. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "Η ανατίναξη των γραφείων της προδοτικής ΕΣΠΟ από την αντιστασιακή οργάνωση ΠΕΑΝ: 74 χρόνια μετά". HuffPost Greece. Sep 20, 2016. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
- ^ Curti, Carlo (1967). Skouras, King of Fox Studios. Los Angeles: Holloway House Publishing Company, p. 130, 149.
- ^ "Widescreen Museum - The CinemaScope Wing 5". www.widescreenmuseum.com. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
- ^ "The Importance of Panavision - The Beginning". Sep 9, 2005. Archived from the original on 2005-09-09. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
- ^ Gary Baum, "Why Century City Ranks Among the Worst Real Estate Deals in Hollywood History", The Hollywood Reporter, September 26, 2013
References
- Chrissochoidis, Ilias (ed.). Spyros P. Skouras, Memoirs (1893–1953). Stanford, 2013.
- Chrissochoidis, Ilias (ed.). CinemaScope: Selected Documents from the Spyros P. Skouras Archive. Stanford, 2013.
- Chrissochoidis, Ilias (ed.). The Cleopatra Files: Selected Documents from the Spyros P. Skouras Archive. Stanford, 2013.
- Curti, Carlo (1967). Skouras, King of Fox Studios. Los Angeles: Holloway House Publishing Company.
- Cinemascope Seen TV Aid; Skouras Predicts Fox Process Will Free Old Films for Video, The New York Times, April 14, 1953.
- Skouras is Victor in 20th-Fox Fight; Stockholders of Film Concern Support President by 4 to 1 Against Cumulative Voting, The New York Times, May 9, 1953.
- The Colossal Optimist; Spyros Panagiotis Skouras, The New York Times, June 28, 1962.
- Skouras Resigns as Fox President; Move Follows Long Dispute Over Film Studio's Losses, The New York Times, June 28, 1962.
- Zanuck Succeeds Skouras as President of Fox; Producer Named to 18-Month Term at Stormy Session, The New York Times, July 26, 1962.
- Shipping: Now, the Son of Spyros, Time Magazine, February 21, 1969.
- After 50 Years, Skouras Leaves Films, The New York Times, March 13, 1969.
- Kathy Tzilivakis, "Twentieth century motion picture mogul Spyros P. Skouras' early years revealed in newly-published memoir," The Pappas Post, March 22, 2013.
- Kelsey Geiser, "Stanford scholar sheds light on Greek immigrant's rags-to-riches story," Stanford Report, May 23, 2013.
- Alex Shashkevich, "Film pioneer’s archive at Stanford reveals Hollywood treasure trove," Stanford News Service, July 16, 2019.
- Ilias Karagiannis, "Biographer, Ilias Chrissochoidis, retells the story of Greek American film pioneer Spyros Skouras", The Greek Herald, November 5, 2021.
- Ilias Chrissochoidis, "A humanities treasure in the heart of Silicon Valley," Stanford Libraries Blog, December 14, 2021.
- Ilias Chrissochoidis, "The most influential Greek since Alexander the Great? A reappraisal of Spyros P. Skouras," NEO Magazine, 25 Δεκεμβρίου 2021.