General Amusement Corporation

General Amusement Corporation, commonly abbreviated as GAC, was an American talent-booking agency whose business connected performers, musical acts, entertainers, and other creative professionals with commercial opportunities. The organization originated in the early 1930s as the Rockwell-O'Keefe Theatrical Agency, a partnership established by Thomas G. Rockwell and Francis "Cork" O'Keefe. Its early client roster included Bing Crosby and the newly formed Dorsey Brothers band, placing the agency within the expanding American entertainment-booking business of the period. In 1939, O'Keefe retired. Rockwell subsequently reorganized the partnership and adopted the General Amusement Corporation name. During the 1940s, the company changed its operating name to General Artists Corporation because of confusion with a registered coin-machine company. The agency was then one of the major booking firms in the United States; the reference material identifies Music Corporation of America as the only larger booking firm at that time. GAC represented a broad range of entertainment figures over the course of its existence. Its associated clients included popular singers, bands, television and radio personalities, actors, and other performers. The documented client list includes Gordon Anderson, Glenn Miller, the Clingers, Bobby Darin, Jackie Gleason, Arthur Godfrey, Buddy Holly, Patricia Huston, Waylon Jennings, Will Osborne, and Ann Williams. This range reflects the agency's role as an intermediary across popular music and general entertainment rather than as a consumer-facing product brand. The company also developed a notable network of agents and executives. Julius Rosenthal Wolf worked at GAC from 1962 to 1968, holding several positions and eventually serving as vice president. He was recognized during his agency career as an early advocate for African American talent in film and theater. Other people associated with the agency included Martin Baum, Sid Bernstein, Stephen Blauner, Sam Cohn, David De Silva, Sandy Gallin, and Mike Medavoy. Thomas G. Rockwell died in 1958. A decade later, in 1968, GAC was merged into Creative Management Associates, with the parent structure identified as GAC, Inc. The agency's corporate lineage continued through another major consolidation in 1975, when Creative Management Associates merged with International Famous Agency to create International Creative Management. Accordingly, General Amusement Corporation is best understood as a predecessor organization in the development of a major modern talent-agency network. It no longer operates as an independent agency, and no current website, ownership structure, public listing, or standalone product portfolio is documented in the supplied references.

General Amusement Corporation developed from the Rockwell-O'Keefe Theatrical Agency, founded in the early 1930s by Thomas G. Rockwell and Francis "Cork" O'Keefe. The agency operated in the American entertainment-booking field and represented clients including Bing Crosby and the Dorsey Brothers band. O'Keefe retired in 1939, after which Rockwell reorganized the business under the General Amusement Corporation name. In the 1940s, the agency became known as General Artists Corporation to distinguish it from a registered coin-machine company with a similar name. By that period, it had become one of the leading booking agencies in the United States, ranking behind Music Corporation of America in the supplied historical account. The firm's work covered a wide range of entertainment talent. Documented clients included Glenn Miller, Bobby Darin, Jackie Gleason, Arthur Godfrey, Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, the Clingers, Gordon Anderson, Patricia Huston, Will Osborne, and Ann Williams. The agency's personnel also included figures who later became influential in talent representation and entertainment production, among them Martin Baum, Sid Bernstein, Stephen Blauner, Sam Cohn, David De Silva, Sandy Gallin, and Mike Medavoy. Julius Rosenthal Wolf worked for the agency between 1962 and 1968, eventually becoming vice president. He was noted as an early supporter of African American talent in film and theater. Rockwell died in 1958, and the organization's independent identity later ended through corporate consolidation. In 1968, GAC merged into Creative Management Associates under a structure identified as GAC, Inc. In 1975, Creative Management Associates combined with International Famous Agency to form International Creative Management. General Amusement Corporation is therefore a predecessor in the corporate history of that later talent-agency organization rather than an active contemporary brand.

• 1975

  Formation of International Creative Management

  [1]General Amusement Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Creative Management Associates merged with International Famous Agency to form International Creative Management.

• 1968

  Merger into Creative Management Associates

  [1]General Amusement Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  General Amusement Corporation merged into Creative Management Associates in a transaction associated with the GAC, Inc. parent structure.

• 1958

  Death of co-founder Thomas G. Rockwell

  [1]General Amusement Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Thomas G. Rockwell, the agency's co-founder and principal, died.

• 1939

  Reorganization under the General Amusement Corporation name

  [1]General Amusement Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  After O'Keefe retired, Rockwell reorganized the business and renamed it General Amusement Corporation.

• Rockwell-O'Keefe Theatrical Agency founded

  [1]General Amusement Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Thomas G. Rockwell and Francis "Cork" O'Keefe established the predecessor agency in the early 1930s.

• General Artists Corporation name adopted

  [1]General Amusement Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The agency used General Artists Corporation during the 1940s to avoid confusion with a registered coin-machine company.

A major American entertainment booking agency that represented performers and helped arrange professional engagements across music, radio, television, film, theater, and popular entertainment.

• Professional services

  Talent booking and representation

  The agency's core business was representing entertainment clients and arranging professional engagements. Its documented roster included recording artists, bands, radio and television personalities, and other performers, making booking and career representation the central service associated with the organization.

• Professional services

  Theatrical agency services

  Under its predecessor and successor names, the organization operated as a theatrical and general entertainment agency. The available historical material places it across several entertainment fields, including music, film, theater, radio, and television, rather than identifying a separate branded product line.

• 1968

  Merger with Creative Management AssociatesM&A

  Background

  After decades in entertainment booking, GAC entered a corporate consolidation involving Creative Management Associates.

  Action taken

  General Amusement Corporation merged into Creative Management Associates, with the parent structure identified as GAC, Inc.

  Aftermath

  The company ceased to operate as an independent organization and became part of the lineage that led to International Creative Management.

  Source

• 1939

  Reorganization and renaming after O'Keefe's retirementStrategy

  Background

  Francis O'Keefe retired from the partnership that operated the Rockwell-O'Keefe Theatrical Agency.

  Action taken

  Thomas G. Rockwell reorganized the firm and changed its name to General Amusement Corporation.

  Aftermath

  The reorganization established the GAC identity that later developed into General Artists Corporation and ultimately entered the Creative Management Associates succession.

  Source

• Adoption of the General Artists Corporation nameStrategy

  Background

  The General Amusement Corporation name created confusion with a registered coin-machine company.

  Action taken

  The agency changed its name during the 1940s to General Artists Corporation.

  Aftermath

  The renamed agency continued operating as one of the larger American entertainment booking firms.

  Source

1. 1General Amusement Corporationen.wikipedia.org