Milton Rackmil

Milton R. Rackmil (February 12, 1906 – April 2, 1992) was the co-founder of Decca Records and head of Universal Pictures and Vice-Chairman of MCA Inc.

Early life and education Rackmil was born to a Jewish family on the Lower East Side of New York City and grew up in Brooklyn. He graduated from New York University with a degree in accounting.

Career After school in the 1920s, he worked for the Brunswick Radio Corporation in Manhattan and later moved to its plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he served as general manager and controller. In 1932, he helped to start the Brunswick Radio Corporation. In 1934, he left Brunswick with two co-workers

Personal life Rackmil was married four times: In 1928, he married Marie Stevelman. They had one daughter, Marlene Rackmil Salkin (married to Decca executive Martin P. Salkin). They divorced shortly after Marlene's eighteenth birthday. In 1959, he married American actress and singer Vivian Blaine; they divorced in 1961. In 1963, he married Gladys Lenore Blum, the ex-wife of songwriter Fred Stryker; they divorced in 1973 (Gladys would later marry theater owner and producer Robert Nederlander). In 1975, he married Joan Crane. He has a stepson, David Crane from Joan's first marriage to Philadelphia news anchor Gene Crane.

Rackmil was active in the Friars Club and served as president of the Record Industry Association.