Tichi Wilkerson Kassel
Encyclopedia
Tichi Wilkerson Kassel was an American film personality and the publisher of The Hollywood Reporter
. She established the "Women in Film" organization, the Key Art and Marketing Concepts awards, and several scholarships for film students.
For her achievement in motion pictures, she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard.
and returned to Los Angeles as a teenager. Tichi's mother was a maid for William (Billy) Wilkerson
, founder, publisher and editor of The Hollywood Reporter
newspaper. Wilkerson courted Tichi and they were married on February 23, 1951 in Phoenix, AZ; he was in his 60s and she was 25. Soon after their marriage, she started to work at the trade paper. When Wilkerson died in 1962, she took over as the paper's second editor and publisher.
After Wilkerson's death, she married realtor William Miles. The couple divorced in 1982, and in 1983 she married Arthur Kassel.
In 1971, Wilkerson Kassel started the Key Art Awards, which annually honor outstanding achievement in motion picture and TV advertising and promotion; and the Marketing Concepts Awards, which offers recognition and cash rewards to motion picture exhibitors who develop and originate innovative and effective marketing campaigns.
In 1973, Tichi founded "Women in Film" (WIF) in Los Angeles after learning that only 2% of TV scripts were made by women. The non-profit foundation helps women in the film business by mentoring and opening up opportunities. Today there are more than 40 WIF chapters in 18 countries and the organization has 10,000 members. The organization has expanded to include television as well, for example The Central Florida Chapter of Women in Film and Television, established in 1989.
Wilkerson Kassel started the Wilkerson Foundation, which provides scholarships to film and journalism students at Southern California universities; it merged with the World Film Institute in 1995. She also created scholarships at the Hollywood Women's Press Club and the Los Angeles Police Department, and established a community center and educational program for Olvera Street
in Los Angeles.
In the 1980s, Wilkerson Kassel created the "Special Issue," an entire section of "The Hollywood Reporter" set aside to tribute an individual or entertainment industry phenomenon. Other publications followed her lead, and such issues today are common.
In the mid-1980s, she helped make Beverly Hills and Cannes
sister cities, recognizing their entertainment and commercial commonalties. For that accomplishment, she was feted at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival
.
In 1988, Tichi published her memoir "Hollywood Legends: The golden years of the Hollywood Reporter." That same year, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
and left her post as The Reporter's publisher. She sold the paper on April 11, 1988, to trade publishers BPI for $26.7 million.
In 2002, Tichi and her husband Arthur Kassel founded the Tichi Wilkerson Kassel Parkinson's Foundation to raise money for research.
in Los Angeles after complications from intestinal surgery. Her memorial service at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in West Los Angeles was attended by more than 500 people. According to her wishes, Wilkerson Kassel was cremated and her ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.
Six months after her death, her husband was presented the American Spirit Award for Tichi's contribution in assisting men and women pursue a career in the Arts, Music and Education.
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
. She established the "Women in Film" organization, the Key Art and Marketing Concepts awards, and several scholarships for film students.
For her achievement in motion pictures, she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard.
Biography
Tichi Wilkerson Kassel was born Beatrice Ruby Noble in Los Angeles on May 10, 1926. She was raised in Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and returned to Los Angeles as a teenager. Tichi's mother was a maid for William (Billy) Wilkerson
William Wilkerson
William Richard Wilkerson was the founder of the Hollywood Reporter, Flamingo Hotel and owner of such nightclubs as Ciro's. He was also responsible for discovering actress Lana Turner across the street from Hollywood High School.-Early life:Born in Nashville, Tennessee on September 29, 1890...
, founder, publisher and editor of The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
newspaper. Wilkerson courted Tichi and they were married on February 23, 1951 in Phoenix, AZ; he was in his 60s and she was 25. Soon after their marriage, she started to work at the trade paper. When Wilkerson died in 1962, she took over as the paper's second editor and publisher.
After Wilkerson's death, she married realtor William Miles. The couple divorced in 1982, and in 1983 she married Arthur Kassel.
In 1971, Wilkerson Kassel started the Key Art Awards, which annually honor outstanding achievement in motion picture and TV advertising and promotion; and the Marketing Concepts Awards, which offers recognition and cash rewards to motion picture exhibitors who develop and originate innovative and effective marketing campaigns.
In 1973, Tichi founded "Women in Film" (WIF) in Los Angeles after learning that only 2% of TV scripts were made by women. The non-profit foundation helps women in the film business by mentoring and opening up opportunities. Today there are more than 40 WIF chapters in 18 countries and the organization has 10,000 members. The organization has expanded to include television as well, for example The Central Florida Chapter of Women in Film and Television, established in 1989.
Wilkerson Kassel started the Wilkerson Foundation, which provides scholarships to film and journalism students at Southern California universities; it merged with the World Film Institute in 1995. She also created scholarships at the Hollywood Women's Press Club and the Los Angeles Police Department, and established a community center and educational program for Olvera Street
Olvera Street
Olvera Street is in the oldest part of Downtown Los Angeles, California, and is part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. Many Latinos refer to it as "La Placita Olvera." Circa 1911 it was described as Sonora Town....
in Los Angeles.
In the 1980s, Wilkerson Kassel created the "Special Issue," an entire section of "The Hollywood Reporter" set aside to tribute an individual or entertainment industry phenomenon. Other publications followed her lead, and such issues today are common.
In the mid-1980s, she helped make Beverly Hills and Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
sister cities, recognizing their entertainment and commercial commonalties. For that accomplishment, she was feted at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
In 1988, Tichi published her memoir "Hollywood Legends: The golden years of the Hollywood Reporter." That same year, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
and left her post as The Reporter's publisher. She sold the paper on April 11, 1988, to trade publishers BPI for $26.7 million.
In 2002, Tichi and her husband Arthur Kassel founded the Tichi Wilkerson Kassel Parkinson's Foundation to raise money for research.
Death
On March 8, 2004, at the age of 77, Tichi Wilkerson Kassel died at Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterCedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
in Los Angeles after complications from intestinal surgery. Her memorial service at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in West Los Angeles was attended by more than 500 people. According to her wishes, Wilkerson Kassel was cremated and her ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.
Six months after her death, her husband was presented the American Spirit Award for Tichi's contribution in assisting men and women pursue a career in the Arts, Music and Education.
Personal life
Following William Wilkerson's death, Beatrice Wilkerson married William Miles, a realtor. The couple divorced in the 1980s. She later married Arthur Kassel, a gun enthusiast and co-founder of the Beverly Hills Gun Club.See also
- The Hollywood ReporterThe Hollywood ReporterFormerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
- List of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- William WilkersonWilliam WilkersonWilliam Richard Wilkerson was the founder of the Hollywood Reporter, Flamingo Hotel and owner of such nightclubs as Ciro's. He was also responsible for discovering actress Lana Turner across the street from Hollywood High School.-Early life:Born in Nashville, Tennessee on September 29, 1890...
Further reading
- The Hollywood Reporter: The Golden Years by Tichi Wilkerson & Marcia Borie (New York, Coward-McCann, 1988)