Philip Martin(1916-1974)
- Editor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Phil Martin was born on June 9, 1916 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His
father, Phil, Sr., owned the first "nickelodeon" in Pittsburgh in the
early 1900's and later became Supervising Engineer and Inspector of the
U.S. Soldiers' Home in Washington, D.C. where Phil, Jr. spent his
boyhood days along with his sisters Lydia, Cecilia and Lillian. His
mother, Emma, was active in the Christian Science Church and the DAR.
Born with the love for motion pictures in his blood, Phil began his
film career at 9 years when he used to trade vegetables from the family
garden to the projectionists at the local Washington, D.C. movie
theatre's for bits and pieces of film. Soon thereafter he became a
rewind boy, in order to be closer to the movie business. Throughout his
school years he was involved in the film industry. While a student, he
designed, supplied and set up the first projection booth at McKinley
High School in Washington, D.C. He graduated from McKinley Tech in 1934
where he was President of the Student Government and the Honor Society.
He attended George Washington University. While attending college he
worked at the National Archives as an Information Specialist; at the
Marlboro Theatre he worked as a projectionist; and also owned a motion
picture supply company. In 1937 he married Bobbie Boyd, of Washington,
D.C., who graduated from McKinley High School. In 1938 Phil and Bobbie
movied to New York where Phil worked for the U.S. Film Service as a
Technical Director. He worked on such classic films there as: "Plow
That Broke the Plains," "The River," and "Fight for Life." Phil was
made Executive Producer of the Office of War Information (OWI) in New
York in 1939. He produced 40 Government defense films including the
Academy Award nominees: "Bomber," with Carl Sandburg and "Tanks," with
Orson Wells. Phil and his family moved to Hollywood in 1941 where he
became an Associate Producer, Assistant Director, Second Unit Director
and Superivsing Film Editor at Paramount, R.K.O., and Twentieth Century
Fox studios. During 1941 to 1951 in Hollywood he worked on many
features as well as shorts including: "Miracle of Morgan's Creek,"
"Iron Major," "Bombadier," "If You Knew Susie," "Fighting Man of the
Plains," and the Academy Award winning short, "The House I Live In,"
with Frank Sinatra. He also owned The Valley Cinema Service and The
Apple Box Theater and belonged to the Masonic Order in North Hollywood.
In 1952 Phil and his family moved back to the Washington, D.C. area
where Phil founded and was President and Executive Producer of the
International Motion Picture Consultants, which later became Norwood
Studios, Inc., the largest private motion picture production company
between New York and Miami. During 1952 to 1968, when he sold Norwood
Studios, he and his studio produced over 300 films. Many of these films
won national and international awards. In 1969 Phil formed the company
P.M. Productions. He continued to produce more award winning films
including two-time "Emmy" winner "Where To?" for the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. In addition to his production
company Phil found the time to establish a life-long dream, The
Nickelodeon, a museum and memorabilia store for students and lovers of
film, of which he was the most enthusiastic of all. He recreated a 1918
style projection booth in the front window, which included among other
items his father's tool chest. Inside he had 1000 original film
posters, dating back to the Tom Mix days and "the best collection of
antique projectors in the world." Phil was a member of The Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Washington Chapter's Board of
Governors of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; The Directors
Guild of America; the International Board of Directors of the
International Film TV and AV Producers Association, the Society of
Motion Picture Film Editors, Motion Picture Pioneers, the Washington
Film Council, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers,
the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Emloyees, Local #224,
the National Press Club, the American Association of Museums, the
American Film Institute (Charter Member); the Society for Cinephiles,
Ltd, and the Theatre Historical Society. Phil found time to speak to
school and college classes in the Washington, D.C. area about film. He
had a special desire to share with young people his enthusiasm and
knowledge of motion pictures. Phil received over 50 major motion
picture awards. However, the most rewarding achievement for him was
that the young people he taught carried with them a search for
excellence, a desire for creativity, and an impatience with mediocrity.
Many of these young people have made film making their life's work, and
this is what Phil Martin would consider his greatest legacy.