Paul Block (newspaper publisher)
| Paul Block | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 2, 1877 East Prussia |
| Died | June 23, 1941 (aged 63) |
| Nationality | United States |
| Ethnicity | Jewish |
| Known for | Newspaper publisher |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Spouse(s) | Dina Wallach |
| Children |
William Block Paul Block, Jr. |
Paul Block (November 2, 1877 - June 23, 1941) was president of Paul Block and Associates (later Block Communications) and publisher of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Toledo Blade, and The Toledo Times.[1]
Biography
Block was born to a poor Lithuanian Jewish family in East Prussia.[1][2] In 1885, his parents immigrated to Elmira, New York where his father worked as a ragpicker.[2] Block attended Elmira public schools[1] and at the age of 10, he worked as a part-time newsboy and office messenger with Harry Brooks, the founder of the Elmira Telegram, where he learned all aspects of the newspaper business.[2] In 1900, he left the Elmira Telegram and formed his own advertising rep firm which sold national advertising for client newspapers, Block Communications,[3] and is credited with pioneering the concept of national news advertising. He developed a close friendship and business relationship with William Randolph Hearst frequently serving as a frontman for Hearst's newspaper acquisitions[2] (Block's mistress Marion Davies would become Hearst's mistress and Block would later serve as Hearst's executor)[2] as well as purchasing several papers outright beginning with the Newark Star-Eagle and the Detroit Journal.[2] In 1926, he acquired the Toledo Blade and in 1927, he created the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.[4] He went on to own 14 papers.[2]
Block was a close friend of New York City mayor Jimmy Walker (often letting Walker use his apartment for liaisons with his mistress Ziegfeld Follies dancer Betty Compton) and president Calvin Coolidge.[2] Block also played a key role in advancing the career of the Franklin D. Roosevelt by supporting his 1928 campaign for governor.[2]
Philanthropy
Block was active in Jewish philanthropy and headed the 1931 campaign of the New York Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies.[1]
Personal life
He was married to Dina Wallach;[5][6] they had two sons:[1] William Block and Paul Block, Jr. Block died of cancer in 1941;[2] funeral services were held at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jewish Journal: "Services Held for Paul Block, Famous Publisher" June 24, 1941
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Toledo Blade: "Paul Block: Story of success" BY JACK LESSENBERRY January 9, 2013
- ↑ Block Communications Website retrieved December 1, 2014
- ↑ American Journalism Review: "Blocked Out - The Block family shutters its newspapers’ Washington bureau" by Jodi Enda April / May 2006
- ↑ Pittsburgh Post Gazette: "Obituary: William Block / Longtime publisher of Post-Gazette dies - Unassuming leader of 60 years with wide interests in arts, community" by Michael McGough and James O'Toole June 21, 2005
- ↑ New York Times: "Dina Wallach Block, 98; Co-Owner of Newspaper" June 14, 1981