Barry Mendelson (born February 5, 1943) is an American television producer and CEO of Mendelson Entertainment Group LLC.
Early life Mendelson was born in Rochester, New York to Arthur and Eva Mendelson. He graduated from Penfield High School, in Rochester, New York, in 1961. He graduated from Ithaca College in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. Mendelson went on to enter the United States Army in 1966, where he served as a Communications Specialist in the 3rd Armored Division, stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. He received an honorable discharge in 1968.
Career 1968–1969 Color commentator for New York Giants Radio Network"New York Jets ʻCo-Voiceʼ Is a Former Rochesterian Whoʼs Immersed in Radio." The Times-Union, 22 Aug. 1970, C:10. 1969–1970 Play-by-play radio announcer for New York Jets Radio Network Wrote the Pat Summerall Pro Football Radio Preview Show (1969–1970) Created and produced the Red Auerbach Radio Show (1969–1970) Created and produced the Whitey Ford Radio Show (1969–1970) 1969–1970 Play-by-play radio announcer for Army Football 1969–1970 Vice-President of the Boston Celtics Basketball Team (1969–1970)Beeney, Bill. "Ex-Brighton man making it in the pro sports world" 1971–1972 Director of Radio, Television and Advertising at Los Angeles Forum Arena 1972–1973 Sports Director at KFI Radio, Los Angeles"Mendelson Named" Nevada State Journal. 5 June 1971, p.14 Sports talk with Jerry Bishop 1972–1974 Personal Manager for Jerry West of the Los Angeles LakersPistol Pete: The Life of Pete Maravich, . 1974–1978 Vice-President of Business Operations (1974–1976) then General Manager (1976–1978) of the New Orleans Jazz Basketball Team"Birth of a Ball Club." [press release from Jazz]Jazz Promotes Mendelson." [press release from The New Orleans Jazz] 23 June 1976 1978–1979 Founder and President of Cincinnati Kids Major League Indoor Soccer Team 1980–1984 President of Ticketmaster Associates 1979–1987 President of Barry Mendelson Presents 1979–1998 General Partner of Saenger Performing Arts Center and Owner of the historic landmark Saenger Theater in New OrleansDodds, Richard. "Producer Discusses Plans for Saenger." Times-Picayune, New Orleans, 22 September 1979, 1:22 1988–1990 Executive Vice President of Madison Square Garden EnterprisesBourgoyne, J.E. [compiled] "Garden gets N.O. promoter." Times-Picayune [New Orleans] 12 July 1988, A:7. 1994–2000 President of On Ice, Inc. These ice shows were performed in all 50 states, China, Russia, England, Australia, and New ZealandDodds, Richard. "Theater at True Brew Coffeehouse in Transition", Times-Picayune, New Orleans, 26 Sept 1991. p.E9Romano, John. "The Road to Barcelona Goes Through Tampa", St. Petersburg Times, 5 July 1992. p.1CStowe, Dorothy. "Skaters are Magical in 'Nutcracker on Ice'", Deseret News Salt Lake City, 12 Dec 1994. P. C2Flocken, Corrinne, "Chillin to Tchaikovsky", LA Times, 27 Nov 1997Cling, Carol. "Shooting Stars", Las Vegas Review-Journal, 15 Nov 2004. p. 5E 2004–2006 President of TVSN Sports 2001 – current President of Mendelson Entertainment Group LLC The University of North Carolina vs The University of Texas basketball game at Cowboys Stadium (December 19, 2009; co-presenter with Dallas Cowboys; attendance 37,500)Jacobson, Gary. "Big Game, Big Crowd?", Dallas Morning News, 4 Aug 2009. p. 3C Star Wars in Concert at Cowboys Stadium (November 2009; co-presenter with the Dallas Cowboys; attendance 21,000)Tapping, Joy. "A Sci-Fi Musical Tour de Force", Dallas Morning News Children's Med Dallas, a 13-part series seen on WFAA, the ABC affiliate in Dallas/Fort Worth
Notable achievements As Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the New Orleans Jazz, was the first person in the NBA to sign a free agent, with compensation. (Gail Goodrich, 1975.)"Gail Goodrich Signs Pact With the Jazz" The Morning Herald-Evening Standard. Uniontown, Pa. 8 Aug 1976, p. 20 It is notable that this pick from the Jazz was used by the Lakers to sign Earvin Magic Johnson in 1979.
As Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the New Orleans Jazz, set the first attendance record of over 25,000 people to attend an NBA game. (November 5, 1975, 26,511 Jazz vs Lakers.)Lind, Angus. "Jazz-mania in the Superdome: ʻFannnnnnntastic!ʼ", The States-Item New Orleans, 6 Nov. 1975, 1+
Promoted largest indoor crowd worldwide to attend a concert. The Rolling Stones, December 3, 1981, Louisiana Superdome, 87,500 people.
As Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the New Orleans Jazz, hired the second African-American NBA Head Coach – Elgin Baylor.
He is member of the Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Fame
He established the Ann E. Mendelson and Barry Mendelson Endowed Scholarship at the Ithaca College School of Communications, and the Sandi and Barry Mendelson Sports Intern Scholarship at the Ithaca College School of Health Sciences and Human Performance
Member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation
References
External links Mendelson Entertainment Group