Barney Balaban

Movie mogul, cinema pioneer in Chicago and owner of Judith R

Movie Moguls at the Whitehouse 1938

Left to Right: Barney Balaban (Paramount), George Schaefer (Paramount), Harry Cohn (Columbia), Sidney Kent (Twentieth Century-Fox), Nicholas Schenck (Loew's MGM), Nate Blumberg (Universal), Will Hays (president of the MPPDA), Albert Warner (Warner Bros), Leo Spitz (RKO)

They were meeting President Roosevelt (not in the picture).

Barney Balaban, President of Paramount Pictures (Centre), Kirk Douglas, movie actor (Right) and William Wyler, Director (Left)

Barney Balaban had Judith R built and owned from her launch in 1935 to his death in 1971

Screen grab of Judith R from Movie Sabrina 1954 1min 30

Judith R just off the estate to the left - unmistakable silhouette. Note, no masts which must have been added later. It could be that this movie was filmed at Barney Balaban's estate. Although we know she was in many movies, this is the only one to be found. Much of the old filestock was on celluloid and so has decayed and been lost

Judith R from Movie Sabrina 1954 1hr 11

Humphrey Bogart is in the forground, together with Audrey Hepburn. The third star who is not in shot was William Holden, Audrey Hepburn played the title role.

Barney Balaban & Audrey Hepburn

Presumably Audrey Hepburn was on the decks of Judith R at some point?

Judith Balaban & Tony Franciosa

Judith R was named after Barney Balaban's daughter Judith Rose Balaban. Her she is pictures with her second husband about to jet off somewhere.

Judith Balaban and Tony Franciosa publicity shot

Presumably around the time of their marriage. Tony Franciosa was a big star at the time and Judith was the daughter of a movie mogul.

Barney Balaban, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant

Barney Balaban, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant at a movie reception. More stars as potential guests onboard Judith R?

Grace Kelly & Bridesmaids

The official picture of Grace Kelly and her bridesmaids when she married Prince Ranier of Monaco. Judith R Balaban is second from the left in the back row. Grace Kelly was a very good friend of hers from the Paramount stable of stars. Judith wrote a book called The Bridesmaids which documented her experiences under the name Judith Balaban Quinn

Barney Balaban, Cecil B DeMille

Barney Balaban, Head of Paramount Pictures, with Cecil B DeMille of MGM (who is on the far left), Barney Balaban is second from the right and the actor between him and Cecil B DeMille is Tony Franciosa. The fourth person on the far right is unknown

The Chicago Movie Theatre in Chicago

Prior to its takeover by Paramount Pictures, Barney Balaban was president of the Balaban and Katz chain of movie theatres based out of Chicago. They were hugely successful because they installed the new air conditioning and people attended to get out of the heat