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Mitchell H. Mark Obituary
The article below is reprinted from The Buffalo Evening Times, Thursday, March 21, 1918. See also a pdf version of this article.

Buffalo Movie King is Called by Death
MITCHELL H. MARK

Pioneer in the moving picture industry in Buffalo and one of the leading figures in the industry in the country, who died last night at his home, No. 527 Richmond Avenue. He was interested in four theaters in this city and in more than 30 in the United States and Canada. He was one of the first to insist on moving pictures of a high moral standard and the widespread use of movies for educational purposes today was in no small measure due to his efforts.


M. H. MARK'S SUDDEN DEATH SHOCKS CITY
Buffalo Moving Picture King Dies at Home After Illness of Only a Few Days


WAS A SELF-MADE MAN


Progressive Spirit Put Film Industry on High Plain and Gave City Beautiful Playhouses


Mitchell H. Mark Buffalo's greatest moving picture magnate, esteemed citizen and self-made man, died lat night at the family home at No. 527 Richmond Avenue at the age of 50 years. Death came as a great surprise to his friends and business acquaintances, as few knew of his illness. He died after an illness of only two days. A finger infected from a cut is thought to have caused a blood clot to form on his brain, which produced paralysis.

Born in Richmond, Va., 50 years ago, Mr. Mark early in life went to new York and became interested in the wholesale hat trade. He afterwards kept a retail hat store in this city at No. 77 Seneca Street. When the motion picture industry began to expand he gave up the hat business and went into the picture industry. He made an extensive study of the film drama and went to Europe to study the latest developments. While there he formed connections with Pathé Freres and brought the first Pathé features to America. At the time he owned a circuit of penny arcades and was the first to bring them to America. At a later date he became associated with the General Film Company.

Becomes an Exhibitor

Mr. Mark then gave up the producing end of the industry and became an exhibitor, and he made a big success. He formed a company which built the Strand Theater in New York, and was the first man to name a theater "Strand," the name he brought from London. Recently he won a Supreme Court decision to keep other exhibitors from using the name of "Strand." He was president of the company and held that position at the time of his death.

In Buffalo he was connected with the Strand, Regent and Academy, and was sole owner of the Victoria Theater, which he built at a cost of $250,000. He also built and for a time owned the Palace Theater on Main Street.

He was one of the first to raise the moral standards of photoplays and worked with several boards of censors. He did much to popularize the use of movies in schools and colleges for educational purposes.

He also had other enterprises, being president of the Mitchell H. Mark Realty Company of New York, and a member of some manufacturing concerns, notably those turning out wire motor car wheels.

Though he spent much of his time in New York, Mr. Mark was prominent in Jewish charitable and religious circles in this city. He was a member of Temple Beth Zion and was much interested in the Jewish fresh air camps. He gave largely to charity and was a man of high moral character

Mr. Mark is survived by his wife, Estelle B. Mark, and two daughters, Mrs. Max Spiegel of New York and Winifred of this city. His brother, Moe Mark, lives in Lynn, Mass. A sister, Mrs. William A. Rosentahl, lives in Buffalo.

The funeral will be held tomorrw afternoon from the home. Rabbi Louis J. Kopald officiating, and burial will be at Forest Lawn.


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