Erwin H. Ezzes '34

For his work in motion picture distribution, the 2004 Alumnus of Distinction award was presented to Mr. Erwin H. Ezzes, NYMA, class of 1934.

Born in New York City in 1916, he entered NYMA in 1932 where he played in the band and orchestra. Throughout his years at the academy, Cadet Ezzes was on the honor roll. He qualified as expert rifleman, participated in intramural sports and was a member of the Alpha Chi Sigma (AXE) fraternity.

Upon graduation, he attended the College of the City of New York. In 1938, he entered the armed forces and was assigned to the United States Army's First Division and later to the 113th Infantry Regiment of the 44th Division. He also served as Assistant Secretary of the General Staff at the headquarters of the European Theatre of Operations. Mr. Ezzes received numerous American and foreign military awards including the Legion of Merit and the Legion of Honor.

Shortly after leaving the seervice, Mr. Ezzes joined Universal Pictures. Subsequently, he became vice president and director of its subsidiary, United World Films. In conjunction with the British company, J. Arthur Rank, he began distributing motion pictures printed on 16mm film stock. This process, which Mr. Ezzes pioneered, was cheaper to produce and easier to distribute than the standard 35mm format then in use.

Mr. Ezzes recognized early on that televsion's growing need for programming had created a new demand for motion pictures. Consequently, he helped form a new company, Motion Pictures for Television, Inc.

In 1959, he joined United Artists Television as executive vice-president  and later became chairman and chief executive officer. United Artists Television was a wholly owned subsidiary of United Artists Corporation, a company started by Charlie Chaplin, Mark Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. He later served for three years with 20th Century Fox.

Mr. Ezzes passed away in 2007. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, and two sons, Steven, NYMA, class of 1964, and Jim.