Recognizing the potential, in 1909 the Schenck brothers purchased Palisades Amusement Park and afterward became participants in the fledgling motion picture industry in partnership with Marcus Loew, operating a chain of movie theaters.

In 1916, through his involvement in the film business, Joseph Schenck met and married Norma Talmadge, a top young star with Vitagraph Studios.

[4][5] After parting ways with his brother, Joseph Schenck moved to the West Coast where the future of the film industry seemed to lie.

Caught in a payoff scheme to buy peace with the militant unions, he was convicted of income tax evasion and spent time in prison.

[7] Following his release, he returned to 20th Century Fox where he became infatuated with the then unknown Marilyn Monroe, and played a key role in launching her career.