23 Facts About Irving Briskin

Irving Briskin, was an American film producer of more than 200 films during the 1930s and 1940s.

Irving Briskin was the brother of Samuel J Briskin and Murray Briskin, both film producers.

In July 1927, when the studio got rid of their foreign broker system and implemented their own foreign sales, Irving Briskin was put in charge, becoming head of their foreign department.

The new company had been formed from the former Irving Briskin Distributing Company, which Irving Briskin began in the late 1920s.

Irving Briskin was put in charge of all films starring McCoy, and spearheaded the transition of McCoy from Westerns to other types of films.

In 1951, Irving Briskin re-signed a seven-year contract with Columbia, to continue on as vice-president of the studio.

In 1952, Irving Briskin announced that he had an inked a deal with Ford Motors for Columbia to produce 39 half-hour films to be shown on television.

In 1956, Irving Briskin began his own production company, Irving Briskin Productions, to release television material through Screen Gems, Columbia's television subsidiary.

In doing so, Irving Briskin resigned from his duties as the studio manager for Columbia's film division, to focus on television production.

Later in 1956, Irving Briskin negotiated with Sam Cohn for a $1 million budget for television production for Screen Gems.

Irving Briskin's production produced several series for Screen Gems for the 1957 season, including Casey Jones.

Also in 1956, Irving Briskin set up a $2.5 million fund to entice independent producers to create product to be distributed through Screen Gems.

One of the productions Irving Briskin was in charge of was Playhouse 90, which was broadcast on CBS-TV.

One of the projects which Irving Briskin created, but was never released was a television series based on The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, which he created a pilot for, but the three networks passed on due to it being "too adult for popular appeal".

In 1959 Irving Briskin was promoted at Columbia, and left the Screen Gems subsidiary, where he was replaced by William Dozier.

In October 1940, Irving Briskin purchased the Pepper Lane Farm, one of the oldest residences in southern California, dating from the 1850s.

Irving Briskin sold the estate for $65,000 in 1946 to a non-profit group, Field Photo Homes, Inc.

Irving Briskin's son, Frederick Briskin, was an assistant director at Columbia, and he had a daughter, Joyce.

Irving Briskin was elected the head of Temple Israel of Hollywood twice, in 1947 and 1950.

Irving Briskin was a pall-bearer for Harry Cohn in 1958.

Irving Briskin was one of the founding members of the Friar's Club of California.

In 1961, Irving Briskin purchased a 2.5 percent share of the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada for $62,500.

In December 1962, Irving Briskin sold his 2.5 percent interest back to hotel corporation, for exactly what he paid for it the year before.