Ted Mann
Encyclopedia
Ted Mann was an American
businessman, involved in the film
industry, and head of Mann Theatres
. He famously changed the name of Grauman's Chinese Theater to Mann's Chinese Theater when he purchased the National General Theatre chain that owned it in 1973. Born in Wishek, North Dakota
, Mann started off in the movie business as an usher around the time he attended the University of Minnesota
in the 1930s. He rented the Selby Theatre in Saint Paul, Minnesota
for $100 a month and began to build his own company. He ran the theater almost completely by himself, expanding to 25 venues within a few years.
Mann sold the theaters to General Cinema Corporation
in 1970 and moved to California
. The first production to his credit was 1969's The Illustrated Man
, based on a Ray Bradbury
book
. He didn't stay out of the theater business for long, and purchased the troubled 276-screen National General Theatre chain in 1973. Mann soon expanded the chain to 360 screens, but again sold off his theaters in 1986, this time to Gulf+Western
, which later renamed itself to Paramount Communications (which itself became part of Viacom
). Grauman's Theater eventually regained its original name in late 2001.
Both the Orpheum and Pantages venues of today's Hennepin Theatre District in Minneapolis
were once owned by Mann. He eventually owned at least six theaters in the city's downtown
region. The Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis is named for him. He married
actress Rhonda Fleming
in 1977, and they remained together until Mann died at age 84 in Los Angeles
of complications from a stroke
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, involved in the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
industry, and head of Mann Theatres
Mann Theatres
Mann Theatres is a movie theatre chain that, as of November 17, 2011, operates in only one location with 8 screens in the city of Westlake. Its motto is "Where Hollywood goes to the movies"....
. He famously changed the name of Grauman's Chinese Theater to Mann's Chinese Theater when he purchased the National General Theatre chain that owned it in 1973. Born in Wishek, North Dakota
Wishek, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,122 people, 466 households, and 290 families residing in the city. The population density was 772.1 people per square mile . There were 532 housing units at an average density of 366.1 per square mile...
, Mann started off in the movie business as an usher around the time he attended the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in the 1930s. He rented the Selby Theatre in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
for $100 a month and began to build his own company. He ran the theater almost completely by himself, expanding to 25 venues within a few years.
Mann sold the theaters to General Cinema Corporation
General Cinema Corporation
General Cinema was a nationwide chain of movie theaters that operated from 1935 until 2002. The theater chain, in its prime, operated approximately 621 screens, some of which were the first cinemas certified by THX. Its mascot was Popcorn Bob and his Candy Band, which graced the company's policy...
in 1970 and moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The first production to his credit was 1969's The Illustrated Man
The Illustrated Man
The Illustrated Man is a 1951 book of eighteen science fiction short stories by Ray Bradbury that explores the nature of mankind. While none of the stories has a plot or character connection with the next, a recurring theme is the conflict of the cold mechanics of technology and the psychology of...
, based on a Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury is an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man , Bradbury is one of the most celebrated among 20th...
book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
. He didn't stay out of the theater business for long, and purchased the troubled 276-screen National General Theatre chain in 1973. Mann soon expanded the chain to 360 screens, but again sold off his theaters in 1986, this time to Gulf+Western
Gulf+Western
Gulf and Western Industries, Inc., for a number of years known as Gulf+Western, was an American conglomerate.- History :Gulf and Western's prosaic origins date to a manufacturer named Michigan Bumper Co. founded in 1934, though Charles Bluhdorn treated his 1958 takeover of what was then Michigan...
, which later renamed itself to Paramount Communications (which itself became part of Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
). Grauman's Theater eventually regained its original name in late 2001.
Both the Orpheum and Pantages venues of today's Hennepin Theatre District in Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
were once owned by Mann. He eventually owned at least six theaters in the city's downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
region. The Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis is named for him. He married
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
actress Rhonda Fleming
Rhonda Fleming
Rhonda Fleming , is an American film and television actress.She acted in more than 40 films, mostly in the 1940s and 1950s, and became renowned as one of the most beautiful and glamorous actresses of her day...
in 1977, and they remained together until Mann died at age 84 in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
of complications from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.