Joseph H. Hazen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph H. Hazen | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 23, 1898 Kingston, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 13, 1994 (aged 96) Boca Raton, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, film producer, art collector and philanthropist |
| Years active | 1923-1970 |
Joseph H. Hazen (May 23, 1898 – November 13, 1994) was an American film producer and philanthropist.[1]
Hazen was born in 1898 in Kingston, New York, the son of a shoe store owner in Kingston and the grandson of an immigrant who had opened a dry goods store in Kingston. Hazen enlisted the navy in 1917 and after the end of the war he was based in Washington D.C., he attended George Washington University and studied law.[1]
Career
Hazen first contact with the legal world took place in 1923, with the legal firm, Thomas and Friedman, through which he made his first contact with the film industry. In 1924, he joined Warner Brothers and he became personal assistant of Harry Warner. One of his accomplishments in film production is the negotiation for the use of sound technology in film, which lead to the first musical score in film, Don Juan and the first movie with sound, The Jazz Singer. In 1944, Hazen and producer Hal Wallis left Warner Brothers and created their independent production company. During the next years, Hazen and Wallis continued working together, signing talents like Elvis Presley, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Hazen retired from the company in 1969, though Wallis and him worked together for their last film in 1970. Hazen was also an art collector and philanthropist, activities which he began in 1957 with the creation of the Joseph H. Hazen Foundation.[1]
Personal life
Hazen married Lita Annenberg in 1936, with whom, he had two daughters.
