Arthur Michael Wirtz was an American entrepreneur.
13 Facts About Arthur Wirtz
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Arthur Wirtz was the founder of Wirtz Corporation, a holding company that owned Chicago Stadium, the Bismarck Hotel in Chicago, the Chicago Black Hawks, and the Chicago Bulls.
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Arthur Wirtz was the father of the late Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz, as well as the grandfather of the late Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz, who died on July 25,2023.
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In 1929, he partnered with grain trader and real estate investor, James E Norris, who was impressed with how Wirtz handled one of his real estate transactions.
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Arthur Wirtz was able to fill his stadiums after securing and booking the Hollywood Ice Revue produced by and starring Olympic ice skating champion Sonja Henie.
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Arthur Wirtz used the proceeds to pay off the mortgage on the Chicago Stadium and purchase Madison Square Garden in New York City and the St Louis Arena.
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In summer of 1951, Arthur Wirtz left Detroit to join the board of directors.
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Arthur Wirtz was an important showbiz figure with his presentation of the Sonja Henie Ice Show, which toured arenas for many years.
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Arthur Wirtz was involved with the Henie-produced ice shows which played the Center Theatre at Rockefeller Center in New York for several seasons.
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Arthur Wirtz took over the ownership of Ice Follies and Holiday on Ice, which he later sold to Irvin and Kenneth Feld.
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Arthur Wirtz succeeded Bill Tobin as President of the Chicago Black Hawks in 1954 and quickly turned the franchise around, winning the Stanley Cup in 1961.
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Arthur Wirtz was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971.
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Arthur Wirtz died of cancer on July 21,1983, at age 82 in his Chicago home.