Curtis Enterprises

Curtis Enterprises was an American entertainment company established by actor Tony Curtis in 1961 during the breakup of his professional and personal partnership with actress Janet Leigh. Curtis and Leigh had founded Curtleigh Productions in 1955, using it both to develop and produce films and to arrange independent loan-outs of Curtis's acting services. After the couple separated in 1962, Curtis created a separate corporate vehicle with Stanley Margulies, who had served as a senior publicity and production executive associated with Kirk Douglas's Bryna Productions. Curtis was president of the new company and Margulies its vice-president. The company had several related functions. Its principal role was as Curtis's hiring or loan-out company, allowing studios and independent producers to engage him outside the limits of his non-exclusive relationship with Universal-International Pictures. It also developed motion pictures and television projects, explored music production, and acted as an intermediary for exhibitions and sales connected with Curtis's paintings. The business therefore combined aspects of a personal management and services company, an independent production outfit, and an artist-led entertainment enterprise. Curtis Enterprises's film-production phase was brief, lasting approximately from 1962 to 1963. The company developed more than six properties, but only one film was completed under its sole production credit: 40 Pounds of Trouble. The comedy, directed by Norman Jewison and starring Curtis with Suzanne Pleshette and Phil Silvers, was distributed by Universal-International Pictures. It was filmed partly at Disneyland, making it the first motion picture to receive permission to shoot at the amusement park. The film was commercially successful and later received Golden Laurel Award nominations. Other projects developed or acquired during the company's active period included Playboy, Monsieur Cognac, Soft Sell, A Most Contagious Game, and a proposed adaptation of Room Service. Several projects were inherited from Curtleigh Productions or carried over from earlier development arrangements. The company also considered co-production and distribution relationships with organizations including Columbia Pictures, Universal-International Pictures, United Artists, Tandem Enterprises, Bryna Productions, and other independent producers. Many planned films were revised, postponed, transferred, or never made through Curtis Enterprises. In 1962 Curtis and Margulies established Reynard Productions, which gradually assumed the film-development work previously handled by Curtis Enterprises. The transition became more visible during 1963, after the release of 40 Pounds of Trouble. Curtis Enterprises consequently represents a short-lived but important stage in Curtis's effort to control the selection and financing of his screen projects while remaining principally an actor rather than taking producer credits on his own films. The company's music activities were also limited. Curtis hoped to finance and executive-produce several recording projects, but only one album is identified as completed: This Is My Lucky Day by David Allyn. The pop and jazz release was issued by Everest Records in 1964. Curtis Enterprises additionally helped organize or facilitate presentations of Tony Curtis's paintings. The available historical record does not establish a later corporate status, formal dissolution date, or continuing operations.

Curtis Enterprises emerged from the corporate and personal reorganization surrounding Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh's independent production activities. The couple had established Curtleigh Productions in 1955, and that company developed or produced a number of films while also arranging Curtis's independent acting engagements. In 1961 Stanley Margulies joined the senior management structure associated with Curtleigh Productions. Margulies had previously worked in publicity, film production, and television-related roles for Kirk Douglas's Bryna Productions. On October 6, 1961, Margulies registered Curtis Enterprises. Curtis became president and Margulies vice-president. The new company was formally activated in early 1962 after Curtis and Leigh separated. Curtleigh Productions continued for a period to handle residuals and the release of Taras Bulba, but the development of new Curtis-related properties increasingly moved to Curtis Enterprises. The change was gradual because the earlier company continued to appear in industry publicity and retained unfinished administrative obligations. At activation, Curtis Enterprises was associated with several proposed films. These included Playboy, 40 Pounds of Trouble, Soft Sell, and Monsieur Cognac. Playboy was substantially reworked through a proposed relationship with Tandem Enterprises, while Monsieur Cognac was considered for production in Europe and later Hollywood but was not filmed by Curtis Enterprises. The company also acquired rights to A Most Contagious Game and considered an adaptation of Room Service. The projects illustrate Curtis's aim to choose his own starring material, while leaving production responsibilities to experienced producers and directors. He publicly emphasized that he did not intend to take producer credits merely because he owned the production company. 40 Pounds of Trouble became the company's central completed film. Filming began in April 1962 at Universal Studios and locations around Lake Tahoe, including Harrah's Club. A substantial portion was shot at Disneyland after Walt Disney approved the production's request. Directed by Norman Jewison and starring Curtis, Suzanne Pleshette, and Phil Silvers, the film was distributed by Universal-International Pictures. Its Disneyland photography made it historically notable, and the film was successful enough to receive later Golden Laurel Award nominations. Curtis Enterprises's production activities were overtaken by the creation of Reynard Productions in August 1962. Curtis was again president and Margulies vice-president. The newer company gradually inherited film-development responsibilities, and Curtis Enterprises's public role diminished after 40 Pounds of Trouble. By 1963, Reynard Productions was the principal vehicle for further film projects connected with Curtis and Margulies. The company also pursued a small music-production program. Curtis intended to support and executive-produce recordings, but only David Allyn's This Is My Lucky Day is identified as completed. The pop and jazz album was released by Everest Records in 1964. Beyond screen and music work, Curtis Enterprises served as an intermediary for the showing and sale of Tony Curtis's paintings. The surviving record does not provide a confirmed dissolution date or enough information to determine whether the corporation remained legally active after its entertainment functions moved elsewhere.

• 1964

  This Is My Lucky Day is released

  [1]Curtis Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org

  The David Allyn pop and jazz album, the only completed music-production project identified for Curtis Enterprises, was issued by Everest Records.

• 1962

  The company becomes Curtis's principal independent vehicle

  [1]Curtis Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org

  Following Curtis's separation from Janet Leigh, the company's operations began replacing Curtleigh Productions for new projects and acting-service arrangements.

• 1962

  Production begins on 40 Pounds of Trouble

  [1]Curtis Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org

  The company started filming its only identified completed sole-production film, including location work at Lake Tahoe and Disneyland.

• 1962

  Reynard Productions is established

  [1]Curtis Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org

  Curtis and Margulies created Reynard Productions, which subsequently absorbed much of the company's film-development workload.

• 1961

  Curtis Enterprises is registered

  [1]Curtis Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org

  Stanley Margulies registered the corporation, with Tony Curtis as president and Margulies as vice-president.

A short-lived, actor-controlled entertainment company designed to give Tony Curtis greater control over his acting engagements and selected film, music, and art-related projects.

• Feature film · 1962

  40 Pounds of Trouble

  A comedy starring Tony Curtis, Suzanne Pleshette, and Phil Silvers, directed by Norman Jewison and distributed by Universal-International Pictures. The production used locations around Lake Tahoe and at Disneyland, where it became the first motion picture permitted to film at the amusement park. It was the only film identified as completed solely under Curtis Enterprises's production banner.

• Music album · 1964

  This Is My Lucky Day

  A pop and jazz album by David Allyn that Curtis Enterprises helped finance and executive-produce. It was released by Everest Records and is the only completed recording project identified in the company's historical record.

• Entertainment services · 1962

  Actor loan-out services

  Curtis Enterprises functioned as Tony Curtis's hiring and loan-out company, arranging his acting services for outside studios and production companies. This enabled Curtis to pursue independently selected roles beyond the assignments associated with his non-exclusive Universal-International relationship.

• 1962

  Transfer new development away from Curtleigh ProductionsStrategy

  Background

  Curtis and Leigh's separation made their shared production structure unsuitable as the main vehicle for Tony Curtis's new projects.

  Action taken

  Curtis and Margulies activated Curtis Enterprises while leaving Curtleigh Productions in place temporarily to manage residuals and previously completed work.

  Aftermath

  Curtis Enterprises became the primary vehicle for new development for a limited period, while Curtleigh Productions continued handling older obligations.

  Source

• 1962

  Complete and release 40 Pounds of TroubleProduct launch

  Background

  The company sought to produce independently selected starring vehicles for Curtis while relying on outside studios for financing and distribution.

  Action taken

  Curtis Enterprises produced the Norman Jewison-directed comedy in association with Universal-International Pictures.

  Aftermath

  The film became the company's only identified completed sole production and was commercially successful.

  Source

• 1962

  Shift film development to Reynard ProductionsStrategy

  Background

  Curtis and Margulies created a dedicated successor production company while Curtis Enterprises was still handling film development.

  Action taken

  They gradually moved film projects and development responsibilities to Reynard Productions.

  Aftermath

  Curtis Enterprises's film-production role diminished after 40 Pounds of Trouble, although the available record does not specify a formal dissolution date.

  Source

1. 1Curtis Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org