Joe Brandt

Joe Brandt
Born
Joseph Bradenburg

(1882-07-20)July 20, 1882
Troy, New York, U.S.
Died(1939-02-22)February 22, 1939 (aged 56)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Film producer
  • publicist
  • screenwriter
  • editor
  • general manager
Years active1909–1936
Known forco-founder of Columbia Pictures

Joe Brandt (born Joseph Brandenburg, July 20, 1882 – February 22, 1939)[1] was an American publicist, screenwriter, editor, film producer, and general manager. He co-founded Columbia Pictures with Harry and Jack Cohn.

Biography

Brandt was born as Joseph Bradenburg in Troy, New York, USA to Jewish parents, Daniel and Rosa Brandenburg.

After obtaining a law degree from New York University and being admitted to the New York bar association in 1906,[2] Brandt spent seven years working for Hampton's Advertising Agency. He later worked at The Player as manager of the New York office of Billboard; and as the advertising manager of the Dramatic Mirror.[3][4]

In 1912, he was hired to be a member of Carl Laemmle's executive staff at Independent Moving Pictures, a few months before it merged to become Universal Film Manufacturing Company.[4] At IMP, he worked with Harry and Jack Cohn. Jack Cohn had also worked at Hampton's Advertising Agency.[5] Brandt was reported to have suggested renaming the National Board of Censorship to the National Board of Review,[6] and was one of the founding members of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers.[7] In 1919, he left Universal and joined the National Film Corporation,[8][2] then in 1920, he left National and became one of the founding members of CBC Film Sales with Harry and Jack Cohn,[9] which evolved into Columbia Pictures Corporation.

After leaving Columbia and selling his interest to Harry in 1932,[2] Brandt worked briefly for several different firms before retiring in 1935 due to Follicular lymphoma. Brandt died of lymphoma on February 22, 1939. Brandt's son and grandson also worked in the film industry. Jerrold T. Brandt was a film producer, most notable for the production of the Scattergood Baines film series in the early 1940s,[10][11] and Jerrold T. Brandt Jr., Joe Brandt's grandson, produced the 1979 film The Bell Jar.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Joe Brandt, Pioneer in Movie Industry: Former President of Columbia Pictures Dies on Coast". The New York Times. February 23, 1939.
  2. ^ a b c "Obituaries". Variety. March 1, 1959. p. 54. Retrieved January 11, 2021 – via Archive.org.
  3. ^ "Personal Notes". Motography. February 1, 1913. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  4. ^ a b "Joe Brandt Goes With Laemmle". Moving Picture World. April 6, 1912. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  5. ^ "Jack Cohn Dead; Film Pioneer, 67". The New York Times. December 10, 1956. p. 31. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  6. ^ "Joe Brandt Puts in Claim". Moving Picture World. April 22, 1916. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  7. ^ "Movie Ad Men in Association". The Fourth Estate. August 5, 1916. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  8. ^ "Editor's Note". The Editor. December 25, 1919. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  9. ^ "C. B. C. Film Sales: New Independent Organization Formed by Joe Brandt and Jack Cohn". Wid's Daily. August 11, 1920. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  10. ^ "Cinderella Swings It: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  11. ^ "Admits Tardy Alimony". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. April 30, 1952. p. 12. Retrieved August 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ^ "The Bell Jar". Santa Cruz Sentinel. March 30, 1979. p. 19. Retrieved August 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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