(1870-1927)
The producer was born into poverty in New York City and left school to take odd jobs when he was nine. From penny arcades he moved to acquire a dime theatre in Brooklyn, and then began to build his remarkable chain, which by 1921 totaled 47 theatres in 12 states and, at the time of his death, about 150 theatres with an additional 24 under construction. Although primarily associated with vaudeville and motion pictures, Loew was described in his Variety obituary (7 September 1927) as "the outstanding individual figure of the amusement industries of all times—substantially, sentimentally, financially and constructively." Moreover, Loew was extolled for his honesty and kindliness. He was a close friend and sometime business partner of actor David Warfield.
The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater. James Fisher.