Jerrold Wexler

Jerrold Wexler (June 27, 1924 – November 10, 1992) was a noted American businessman and film producer. He was the brother of cinematographer Haskell Wexler and the stepfather of actress Daryl Hannah.[1]

Jerrold Wexler
Born(1924-06-27)June 27, 1924
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedNovember 10, 1992(1992-11-10) (aged 68)
Palo Alto, California, U.S.
EducationNorthwestern University (BA)
OccupationBusinessman
Spouse(s)
Lolly Lurie
​
(
m. 1946; div. 1968)

Susan Jeanne Metzger
​
(
m. 1969)
Children5, including Tanya Wexler
RelativesHaskell Wexler (brother)

Early life and education

Wexler was born to a Jewish family[2] in Chicago, the son of Lottie and Simon Wexler, and attended Northwestern University.[3] His father founded the Columbia Radio Corporation in 1921[4] and the Allied Radio Corporation in 1928. Allied Radio was an American radio manufacturer and retailer, which sold radio sets, tubes, capacitors, amateur radio equipment, citizen's band (CB) radios, and consumer audio systems through retail stores and beginning in 1962, also via mail-order.[5] In 1970, Allied Radio was purchased by the Tandy Corporation, the parent company of Radio Shack.[5] His brother was cinematographer, film producer, and director Haskell Wexler.

Business ventures

By his early 30s, he was building a reputation for financing monumental skyscrapers, including 400 East Randolph a luxury apartment building in Chicago's Loop. With his father's help, he brokered the construction of the Executive Plaza Hotel on Wacker Drive[6] (now known as Hotel 71).[7]

In 1979 he, along with his business partner Edward W. Ross, purchased the Drake Hotel.[8] The Drake was successfully nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. In 1983, Wexler's Jupiter Industries, which had interests in the Playboy Building, Lake Point Tower, Michigan Avenue real estate, dozens of Chicago hotels, and property holdings in both New York City and Los Angeles, saved Goldblatt's from bankruptcy.[9] Jupiter also developed the Vista International Hotel at the World Trade Center, later known as the Marriott World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.[3] He was known for pioneering new development areas; the Executive Plaza was the first hotel in Chicago in decades, and the Vista was the first hotel in downtown Manhattan for decades. He also built the Outer Drive East development in Chicago, which expanded the downtown into an industrial and shipping area in decline.[3]

When Bertram Lee failed to come up with his ten percent share to purchase the National Basketball Association Denver Nuggets in 1989, Peter Bynoe recruited Jerrold Wexler and Jay Pritzker to keep the deal alive. The group held an interest in the team until 1992 when COMSAT bought out Drexel Burnham Lambert, Bynoe and his partners.[10] In addition to his business interests, he was a very active political contributor.[11] In addition, he served on the board of trustees of the John Austin Cheley Foundation.[12]

Personal life

In 1946, Wexler married Lolly Lurie; they had four children: Susan Wexler Piser; Jane Wexler Feil; Diane Wexler Grant; and Judith Wexler Gigliotti.[13] They divorced in 1968. In 1969, he married Susan Jeanne Metzger, with whom he had one child: film director Tanya Wexler.[13][14] He has three stepchildren from his marriage to Metzger: actress Daryl Hannah, Donald Hannah, and actress Page Hannah Adler.[13][15]

Death and legacy

In November 1992, Wexler died of lymphoma at the Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California.[16] In 1993, he was inducted posthumously into the Chicago Association of REALTORS Hall of Fame.[17]

His estate continued to sell off his business interests for several years after his death.[18][19]

In 2003, the United States National Film Preservation Board added the 1969 film Medium Cool, co-produced by Jerrold and Haskell Wexler, to the National Film Registry.[20]

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References
  1. "Daryl Hannah: Jerrold Wexler". Lycos Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on July 7, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  2. Cutler, Irving The Jews of Chicago: From Shtetl to Suburb p. 177
  3. Bruce Lambert (November 12, 1992). "Jerrold Wexler, 68; Chicago Developer Who Built Empire". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
  4. Radio Museum: "History of the radio manufacturer: Allied Radio Corp. (Knight, Roamer, Wextark); Chicago (IL)" retrieved April 25, 2015
  5. Vintage Amplifiers Collectors Magazine: "Knight | Allied Radio Corporation | Chicago Illinois" Archived September 29, 2015, at the Wayback Machine retrieved April 25, 2015
  6. "Business and Technology section". Time Magazine. Time Inc. February 11, 1957. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  7. "Hotel 71, Chicago". Emporis. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
  8. "Press Kit 2007" (PDF). thedrakehotel.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  9. "JG Industries, Inc". fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  10. "Denver Nuggets". fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  11. "CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION SEARCH (individual donations of $200 or more since 1978): JERROLD WEXLER » IL » 60611". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  12. "Organization". John Austin Cheley Foundation. October 1, 2007. Archived from the original on June 7, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
  13. Crain's Chicago Business: "HEIR-SPLITTING" By Betsy Wangensteen March 24, 1997
  14. Chicago Tribune: "Filmmaker and Lincoln Park native Tanya Wexler on her romantic comedy 'Hysteria'" by Nina Metz May 24, 2012
  15. Chicago Tribune: "Jerrold Wexler Partner Sues In Wake Of Ouster - Jupiter Coup Spawns A Bitter Asset Battle" By J. Linn Allen March 29, 1996
  16. Lambert, Bruce (November 12, 1992). "Jerrold Wexler, 68; Chicago Developer Who Built Empire". New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  17. "Hall of Fame Chicago Association of REALTORS". Chicago Association of REALTORS. Archived from the original on August 20, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
  18. "Capri Capital Buys Washington Capital". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 16, 1999. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
  19. Lloyd, Fonda Marie (February 1995). "Active transport: king of the road, deal makes AT the largest black-owned vehicle transport company - Active Transportation Inc. acquires Jupiter Transportations Systems Inc". Black Enterprise. FindArticles. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
  20. "National Film Registry 2003". Library of Congress. December 16, 2003. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
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