Peter Rodgers Organization

Last updated
Peter Rodgers Organization
Company typeFilm distribution company
Founded1976;48 years ago (1976)
FounderPeter S. Rodgers
Headquarters,
Website www.profilms.com

The Peter Rodgers Organization (PRO) is a television syndication company based in Hollywood, California. It distributes more than 2,000 films, and dozens of documentaries and off-network television series to global markets.

History

The company was founded in 1976 by Peter S. Rodgers, a Viennese escapee of Nazi persecution, who arrived in the United States in 1938. Following a distinguished tour of service in the United States Army as a military intelligence officer during World War II, Rodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1954 to work for National Telefilm Associates (NTA), where he would serve as Vice President of Domestic Distribution and Sales, reporting to President and Chairman of the Board Ely Landau.

In 1976, he left NTA to form the Peter Rodgers Organization. Over the last four decades, the company has represented and managed the rights to classic television shows.

Peter Rodgers died on February 21, 1988, at age 68. He was succeeded by his son, Stephen Rodgers.

Rodgers' death left family members arguing, with some of them wanting to liquidate the prestigious and prosperous entertainment company he had formed. After resulting legal clashes, Rodgers’ son Stephen surrendered all inheritance left to him by his father, and purchased the agency from the estate in 1988. He has served as its CEO since that time. At the time, Stephen Rodgers was believed to be the youngest CEO of any active business in this field, having succeeded his father at age 25. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John W. Snow</span> 73rd United States Secretary of the Treasury

John William Snow is an American economist, attorney, and businessman who is the former CEO of CSX Corporation and served as the 73rd United States secretary of the treasury under U.S. President George W. Bush. He replaced Secretary Paul H. O'Neill on February 3, 2003 and was succeeded by Henry Paulson on July 3, 2006. Snow submitted a letter of resignation on May 30, 2006, effective "after an orderly transition period for my successor." Snow announced on June 29, 2006 that he had completed his last day on the job; Robert M. Kimmitt served as acting secretary until Paulson was sworn in. Snow has since worked as chairman of Cerberus Capital Management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Ueberroth</span> American sports executive (born 1937)

Peter Victor Ueberroth is an American sports and business executive known for his involvement in the Olympics and in Major League Baseball. A Los Angeles–based businessman, he was the chairman of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee which brought the games to Los Angeles in 1984. Ueberroth was named 1984's Time Man of the Year for his success in organizing the Olympic games.

A chief operating officer (COO) is an executive in charge of the daily operations of an organization. COOs are usually second-in-command immediately after the CEO, and report directly to them, acting on their behalf in their absence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Grandy</span> American actor and politician

Fredrick Lawrence Grandy is an American actor who played "Gopher" on the TV series The Love Boat and who later became a member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Iowa. Grandy was most recently the host of The Grandy Group, a morning drive time radio talk show on 630 WMAL in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bud Brown (politician)</span> American publisher and politician (1927–2022)

Clarence John "Bud" Brown Jr. was an American politician and publisher who served as a Republican United States Representative from the 7th District of Ohio, from 1965 to 1983. He also served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Acting Secretary of Commerce in the Reagan administration from 1983 to 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas J. Watson Jr.</span> American businessman and diplomat (1914–1993)

Thomas John Watson Jr. was an American businessman, diplomat, Army Air Forces pilot, and philanthropist. The son of IBM Corporation founder Thomas J. Watson, he was the second IBM president (1952–71), the 11th national president of the Boy Scouts of America (1964–68), and the 16th United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1979–81). He received many honors during his lifetime, including being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Fortune called him "the greatest capitalist in history" and Time listed him as one of "100 most influential people of the 20th century".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James McLamore</span> Creator and first CEO of Burger King (1926–1996)

James Whitman McLamore was an American entrepreneur, the founder and first CEO of the Burger King fast food franchise, along with David Edgerton. He also created the Whopper sandwich. After selling Burger King to the Pillsbury Company in 1967, he remained CEO for five years. After retiring, he was on the board of several large corporations, was chairman of the University of Miami, chaired the United Way and was a member and chairman of the Orange Bowl Committee. He invested in the Miami Dolphins for several years and reinvested in the educational institutions that impacted him at Northfield Mount Hermon and Cornell University. He was also a gardener, and chairman at Fairchild Tropical Gardens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter G. Peterson</span> American investment banker (1926–2018)

Peter George Peterson was an American investment banker who served as United States Secretary of Commerce from February 29, 1972, to February 1, 1973, under the Richard Nixon administration. Peterson was also chairman and CEO of Bell & Howell from 1963 to 1971. From 1973 to 1984 he was chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers. In 1985, he co-founded the private equity firm The Blackstone Group, and served as chairman. In the same year, Peterson became chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations, a position he held until his retirement in 2007, after which he was named chairman emeritus. In 2008, Peterson was ranked 149th on the "Forbes 400 Richest Americans" with a net worth of $2.8 billion. He was also known as founder and principal funder of The Peter G. Peterson Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting fiscal austerity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Gutierrez</span> American politician (born 1953)

Carlos Miguel Gutierrez is an American former CEO and former United States Secretary of Commerce. He is currently a Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of EmPath. Gutierrez is a former Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Kellogg Company. He served as the 35th U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 2005 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Stringer</span> Welsh businessman (born 1942)

Sir Howard Stringer is a Welsh-American businessman. He had a 30-year career at CBS, culminating in him serving as the president of CBS News from 1986 to 1988, then president of CBS from 1988 to 1995. He served as chairman of the board, chairman, president and CEO of Sony Corporation from 2005 to 2012. He is also the head of the board of trustees of the American Film Institute and now serves as a non-executive director of the BBC. He was knighted in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert S. Ingersoll</span> American diplomat (1914–2010)

Robert Stephen Ingersoll was an American businessman and former diplomat. Ingersoll was Chief executive officer and chairman of the Board of BorgWarner and his international business experience was an important factor in his selection as United States Ambassador to Japan from 1972 to 1973, and assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 1973 to 1974, both during President Richard Nixon's term in office. He served as United States Deputy Secretary of State from 1974 to 1976 under both Presidents Nixon and Gerald Ford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Holt</span> American businessman and recipient of the Purple Heart medal

Peter M. Holt is an American businessman. He is the former CEO of HoltCat, the largest Caterpillar dealership in the United States and former chairman, CEO, and owner of Spurs Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, the USL's San Antonio FC, the AHL's San Antonio Rampage, and the NBA G League's Austin Spurs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Lewis</span> American businessman and politician (1931–2016)

Andrew Lindsay Lewis Jr., generally known as Drew Lewis, was an American businessman and politician from the state of Pennsylvania. He was United States Secretary of Transportation in the first portion of the administration of U.S. President Ronald W. Reagan, and is best known for presiding over the firing of the striking U.S. air traffic controllers in 1981.

<i>South Bend Tribune</i> Daily newspaper and news website based in South Bend, Indiana

The South Bend Tribune is a daily newspaper and news website which is based in South Bend, Indiana. It is distributed in South Bend, Mishawaka, north central Indiana, and southwestern Michigan. It has been named as a "Blue Ribbon Newspaper" by the Hoosier State Press Association. It is the third largest daily broadsheet newspaper in the state of Indiana by circulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Sherman Gifford</span> American businessman

Walter Sherman Gifford was an American businessman best known as the president of the AT&T Corporation from 1925 to 1948. He later served as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1950 to 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rand Araskog</span> American businessman (1931–2021)

Rand Vincent Araskog was an American manufacturing executive, investor, and writer who served as the CEO of ITT Corporation. During his time as the CEO between 1979 and 1998 he was known for divesting the conglomerate of multiple businesses including hotels, rental cars, and insurance to retain its focus on its core telecom businesses.

Colin Goetze Campbell was an American who served as the thirteenth president of Wesleyan University and the President of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ely Landau</span> American film producer (1920–1993)

Ely Abraham Landau was an American film producer and production executive best remembered for films of plays in the American Film Theatre series.

Joe M. Rodgers was an American construction company executive and political operative who served as the United States Ambassador to France.

Joseph Peter Grace Sr. was an American businessman, polo player, and owner of Thoroughbred horses in the sport of steeplechase racing. He was the president of W.R. Grace and Company from 1907-1946.

References

  1. Article by Cathy Baron, titled "The Next Generation," Television/Radio Age Magazine, page 20, 1/23/1989.