Michael Redstone

Michael "Mickey" Redstone (born Max Rothstein; April 11, 1902 – April 4, 1987) was an American entrepreneur and founder of the Northeast Theater Corporation, later National Amusements, Inc. which became Paramount Skydance.

Biography Redstone was born on April 11, 1902, in Boston, Massachusetts. Born Max Rothstein, at his son Sumner's behest, he later changed the family name to "Redstone" to avoid association with Jewish gambling boss Arnold Rothstein.

Redstone dropped out of high school to pursue his first business venture, buying a truck and securing a trucking contract with the City of Boston. During this period, he became close with local gambling boss Harry "Doc" Sagansky. The pair also started a Massachusetts loan company, and opened an additional night club, the Latin Quarter, in 1943. His first in Massachusetts, the Dedham Drive-In, opened on August 11, 1948, though others in the state quickly followed.

By 1954, when his son Sumner left his job to work for the company, Redstone owned three drive-in theaters and had hired his son Edward to help with the business.

His son, Sumner Redstone, grew National Amusements into one of the largest media conglomerates in the United States, owning one of the three broadcast networks in CBS, the cable television and content provider Viacom (which includes MTV Networks and BET), and the movie studio Paramount Pictures. CBS and Viacom were equal partners in MovieTickets.com.