James M. Nederlander is chairman of the Nederlander Organization, one of the largest live theater owners and producers in the United States.
Background
Nederlander was born to a Jewish family in Detroit, Michigan, one of six children born to Sarah (née Applebaum) and David T. "D.T." Nederlander. His father bought his first live theater in 1905, the Fisher Theater in Detroit (which is still owned by the family) and founded the family company, the Nederlander Organization.
Education
Student, Detroit Institute of Technology.
Career
Jimmy was the first of the brothers to go into the family business. He dropped out of the pre-law program at the Detroit Institute of Technology, took a job in the box office of the Lafayette Theater, and then worked as the treasurer in the traveling Air Force production of Moss Hart"s Winged Victory which played on Broadway where he made valuable connections. After his father"s death in the 1960s, the brothers continued to purchase theaters expanding nationally with Jimmy moving to New York City, Harry to San Francisco, and Joey remaining in Detroit.
Their largest rivals were the Shubert family, the founders of Broadway theatre district in New York City.
From 1965 to 1985, Jimmy purchased ten theaters in New York City and produced hundreds of plays forming close relationships with producers David Merrick, Alexander H. Cohen, and Emanuel Azenberg. The Organization controls nine Broadway theaters and is the second-largest of the three companies that dominate Broadway after the Shubert Organization (which owns sixteen theaters) and ahead of Jujamcyn (which owns five).
On a global scale, The Organization is larger with an additional fifteen theaters nationwide. They are the only one of the three that is still run by its owners.
Achievements
Connections
Married Charlene Saunders, February 12, 1969. Children: James Laurence, Sharon, Kristina.