Alan E. Freedman

Alan Eliot Freedman (October 12, 1889 – April 29, 1980) was a pioneer and long-time executive in the motion picture film processing industry.

Shortly after his birth his parents brought him and several cousins to the United States, settling in New York's upper east side.

Freedman led the lab through the trials and shortages of World War I, overcoming a catastrophic explosion and fire and finding ways to pioneer improvements in film processing such as the addition of sound.

One major accomplishment was to arrange financing for Robert Benjamin and Arthur Krim to buy United Artists in the early 1950s.

This action had a side benefit for DeLuxe in that UA contracted to buy film processing services from the lab.

Alan Freedman's three sons – Harold, Irwin (Buck), and Myron (Mickey) – all began their careers with DeLuxe.

He was instrumental in the development and implementation of numerous innovations in sound technology including the conversion from optical to magnetic processes.

He left DeLuxe shortly after the Zanuck takeover of Fox, and was motion picture film national sales manager for Agfa-Gevaert until his retirement.

He patented and implemented new techniques which improved both quality and profitability, and he served as general manager of Hollywood Film Corp. Media related to Alan E. Freedman at Wikimedia Commons