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In 1950, Frank X. McNamara, Ralph Schneider, [[Alfred S. Bloomingdale]], and Simmons formed Diner's Club, the first independent [[payment card]] company in the world, successfully establishing the [[financial service]] of issuing travel and entertainment (T&E) credit cards as a viable business.<ref>{{cite web |title=Diners Club Review |url=http://casinosbanking.com/diners-club-overview.htm |access-date=2011-05-26 |website=CasinosBanking |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Simmons, Matty|title=The Credit Card Catastrophe: The 20th Century Phenomenon that Changed the World|publisher=Barricade Books|year=1995|pages=26, 29, 106}}</ref>
In 1950, Frank X. McNamara, Ralph Schneider, [[Alfred S. Bloomingdale]], and Simmons formed Diner's Club, the first independent [[payment card]] company in the world, successfully establishing the [[financial service]] of issuing travel and entertainment (T&E) credit cards as a viable business.<ref>{{cite web |title=Diners Club Review |url=http://casinosbanking.com/diners-club-overview.htm |access-date=2011-05-26 |website=CasinosBanking |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Simmons, Matty|title=The Credit Card Catastrophe: The 20th Century Phenomenon that Changed the World|publisher=Barricade Books|year=1995|pages=26, 29, 106}}</ref>


In 1967, Simmons and fellow Diner's Club "refugee" Leonard Mogel formed '''Twenty First Century Communications, Inc.''' originally to publish a "[[Counterculture of the 1960s|counterculture]]" magazine called ''[[Cheetah (magazine)|Cheetah]]''. While ''Cheetah'' failed, the partners had more success in the 1970s with ''[[Weight Watchers (magazine)|Weight Watchers]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Calta|first= Louis|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/01/18/archives/new-magazine-aims-to-help-the-overweight-weight-watchers-a-journal.html |title=New Magazine Aims to Help the Overweight; Weight Watchers, a Journal for Obese, on Newstands|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 18, 1968}}</ref> and ''[[National Lampoon (magazine)|National Lampoon]]'' magazines. In the mid-1970s, National Lampoon expanded into radio, theater, records, and film.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-cards/matty-simmons-interview/ |title=The Man Who Sold the World on Credit Cards |first1=Claire |last1= Tsosie |date=2017-02-13 |work=NerdWallet |access-date=2018-07-19 |language=en-US}}</ref> By 1972, Simmons' company had added a revived ''[[Liberty (general interest magazine)|Liberty]]'' magazine to its slate of publications.<ref>{{cite news|title= 7 Dynamite Sticks Bring Bomb Squad To Magazine Office|first=Frank J. |last=Prial|date=April 7, 1972 |work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/07/archives/7-dynamite-sticks-bring-bomb-squad-to-magazine-office.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Y00.lH11.xVEOC-HIsMq7&smid=url-share}}</ref> In 1975, the publication of ''Weight Watchers'' magazine was taken over by Family Media (the publishers of ''[[Family Health (magazine)|Family Health]]'' magazine).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heavymetalmagazinefanpage.com/history.html|title=History (up to 2023)|website=Heavy Metal Magazine Fan Page|access-date=Feb 28, 2024|first=Dave "Lostboy" |last=Cail}}</ref>
In 1967, Simmons and fellow Diner's Club "refugee" Leonard Mogel formed '''Twenty First Century Communications, Inc.''' originally to publish a "[[Counterculture of the 1960s|counterculture]]" magazine called ''[[Cheetah (magazine)|Cheetah]]''. While ''Cheetah'' failed, the partners had more success in the 1970s with ''[[Weight Watchers (magazine)|Weight Watchers]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Calta|first= Louis|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/01/18/archives/new-magazine-aims-to-help-the-overweight-weight-watchers-a-journal.html |title=New Magazine Aims to Help the Overweight; Weight Watchers, a Journal for Obese, on Newstands|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 18, 1968}}</ref> and ''[[National Lampoon (magazine)|National Lampoon]]'' magazines. In the mid-1970s, National Lampoon expanded into radio, theater, records, and film.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-cards/matty-simmons-interview/ |title=The Man Who Sold the World on Credit Cards |first1=Claire |last1= Tsosie |date=2017-02-13 |work=NerdWallet |access-date=2018-07-19 |language=en-US}}</ref> By 1972, Simmons' company had added a revived ''[[Liberty (general interest magazine)|Liberty]]'' magazine to its slate of publications.<ref>{{cite news|title= 7 Dynamite Sticks Bring Bomb Squad To Magazine Office|first=Frank J. |last=Prial|date=April 7, 1972 |work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/07/archives/7-dynamite-sticks-bring-bomb-squad-to-magazine-office.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Y00.lH11.xVEOC-HIsMq7&smid=url-share}}</ref> (In 1975, the publication of ''Weight Watchers'' magazine was taken over by Family Media, the publishers of ''[[Family Health (magazine)|Family Health]]'' magazine;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heavymetalmagazinefanpage.com/history.html|title=History (up to 2023)|website=Heavy Metal Magazine Fan Page|access-date=Feb 28, 2024|first=Dave "Lostboy" |last=Cail}}</ref> ''Liberty'' folded in 1976.)


In 1977, Simmons added the graphic fantasy magazine ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' to this roster, published under the subsidiary '''HM Communications, Inc.'''<ref>{{cite news|title=New Graphic Fantasy Magazine|page=1|work=Locus|volume=10|number= 2 (no. 199) |date=Feb 1977}}</ref> In 1979, Twenty First Century Communications, Inc. was renamed '''National Lampoon, Inc.'''<ref>{{cite news |last=Dougherty |first=Philip H. |author-link=Philip H. Dougherty |date=12 September 1979 |title=Advertising |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/12/archives/advertising-mccanns-head-lists-priorities-interpublic-completes.html |work=[[New York Times]] |at=sec. D, p.12}}</ref>
In 1977, Simmons added the graphic fantasy magazine ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' to this roster, published under the subsidiary '''HM Communications, Inc.'''<ref>{{cite news|title=New Graphic Fantasy Magazine|page=1|work=Locus|volume=10|number= 2 (no. 199) |date=Feb 1977}}</ref> In 1979, Twenty First Century Communications, Inc. was renamed '''National Lampoon, Inc.'''<ref>{{cite news |last=Dougherty |first=Philip H. |author-link=Philip H. Dougherty |date=12 September 1979 |title=Advertising |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/12/archives/advertising-mccanns-head-lists-priorities-interpublic-completes.html |work=[[New York Times]] |at=sec. D, p.12}}</ref> In 1981, Simmons installed his daughter, Julie Simmons-Lynch, as editor of ''Heavy Metal'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Clearing the Clouds Away|first=Robert|last=Greenberger|pages=46-49, 64 |publisher= [[Starlog Group]]|work=[[Comics Scene]]|number=1 |date=Jan 1982|quote=''Heavy Metal'' is on the upswing with both the movie's release and a refocused outlook — the magazine examined with editor Julie Simmons-Lynch.}}</ref> a position she held for more than eleven years. In 1985, under Simmons' direction, ''National Lampoon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s entire editorial staff was fired, with the top positions replaced by Simmons' sons Michael Simmons and Andy Simmons.<ref name=NYT2005>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/03/arts/03tapp.html|title=''National Lampoon'' Grows Up By Dumbing Down|author-link=Jake Tapper|first=Jake|last=Tapper|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 3, 2005}}</ref>

In 1985, under Simmons' direction, ''National Lampoon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s entire editorial staff was fired and replaced with Simmons' children (Michael Simmons and Andy Simmons),<ref name=NYT2005>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/03/arts/03tapp.html|title=''National Lampoon'' Grows Up By Dumbing Down|author-link=Jake Tapper|first=Jake|last=Tapper|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 3, 2005}}</ref> as well as Peter Kleinman and [[Larry Sloman]]. That same year, he installed his daughter, Julie Simmons-Lynch,<ref name=nyt /><ref name=SatEvePost /> as editor of ''Heavy Metal''.<ref>{{cite news|title=LEGAL NOTES; JOE FRANKLIN LOSES RULING IN LIBEL CASE|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=David|last=Margolick|date=Nov 3, 1985|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/03/nyregion/legal-notes-joe-franklin-loses-ruling-in-libel-case.html}}</ref>


In March 1989, Simmons sold his ten-percent share in National Lampoon, Inc. to film producers [[Daniel Grodnik]] and [[Tim Matheson]] for six dollars a share (more than $761,400), resigned as chairman of the board, and departed the company along with his son Michael Simmons.<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff writer |date=17 March 1989 |title=An Actor Acquires Control of National Lampoon Inc. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/17/business/the-media-business-an-actor-acquires-control-of-national-lampoon-inc.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |at=sec.D, p.5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Delugach |first=Al |date=17 March 1989 |title=Film Producers Matheson and Grodnik Buy Control of National Lampoon Inc. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-17-fi-1746-story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220201150154/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-17-fi-1746-story.html |archive-date=1 February 2022 |url-status=live |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
In March 1989, Simmons sold his ten-percent share in National Lampoon, Inc. to film producers [[Daniel Grodnik]] and [[Tim Matheson]] for six dollars a share (more than $761,400), resigned as chairman of the board, and departed the company along with his son Michael Simmons.<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff writer |date=17 March 1989 |title=An Actor Acquires Control of National Lampoon Inc. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/17/business/the-media-business-an-actor-acquires-control-of-national-lampoon-inc.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |at=sec.D, p.5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Delugach |first=Al |date=17 March 1989 |title=Film Producers Matheson and Grodnik Buy Control of National Lampoon Inc. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-17-fi-1746-story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220201150154/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-17-fi-1746-story.html |archive-date=1 February 2022 |url-status=live |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
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He wrote seven books, including ''[[If You Don't Buy This Book, We'll Kill This Dog!]]'', published in 1994. His last one, ''Fat, Drunk, and Stupid: The Making of Animal House'', was published by [[St. Martin's Press]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.popmatters.com/157950-fat-drunk-and-stupid-2495855965.html |title=Fat, Drunk, and Stupid: The Inside Story Behind the Making of Animal House |first1=Matty |last1=Simmons |date=2012-05-10 |work=PopMatters |access-date=2018-07-19 |language=en}}</ref>
He wrote seven books, including ''[[If You Don't Buy This Book, We'll Kill This Dog!]]'', published in 1994. His last one, ''Fat, Drunk, and Stupid: The Making of Animal House'', was published by [[St. Martin's Press]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.popmatters.com/157950-fat-drunk-and-stupid-2495855965.html |title=Fat, Drunk, and Stupid: The Inside Story Behind the Making of Animal House |first1=Matty |last1=Simmons |date=2012-05-10 |work=PopMatters |access-date=2018-07-19 |language=en}}</ref>

In the 2018 film, ''[[A Futile and Stupid Gesture (film)|A Futile and Stupid Gesture]]'', about the rise and fall of ''National Lampoon'', Simmons was played by comedian [[Matt Walsh (comedian)|Matt Walsh]].<ref>{{IMDb title|5566790|A Futile and Stupid Gesture}}</ref>


On April 29, 2020, Simmons died at the age of 93 in [[Los Angeles]] from a brief illness.<ref name="nyt" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thelaughbutton.com/matty-simmons-co-founder-of-the-national-lampoon-has-passed-away-at-93 |title=Matty Simmons, co-founder of "National Lampoon" has passed away at 93 |website=The Laugh Button |date=April 30, 2020 |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref>
On April 29, 2020, Simmons died at the age of 93 in [[Los Angeles]] from a brief illness.<ref name="nyt" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thelaughbutton.com/matty-simmons-co-founder-of-the-national-lampoon-has-passed-away-at-93 |title=Matty Simmons, co-founder of "National Lampoon" has passed away at 93 |website=The Laugh Button |date=April 30, 2020 |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:50, 1 March 2024

Matty Simmons
Born
Martin Gerald Simmons

(1926-10-03)October 3, 1926
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Died (aged 93)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Publisher, producer, writer
Employer(s)New York World-Telegram and Sun
Diners Club International
Organization(s)Twenty First Century Communications, Inc./National Lampoon, Inc.
Known forPublisher of National Lampoon
Spouse(s)
Korky Kelley
​
​
(m. 1945, divorced)​

Lee Easton
​
​
(m. 1952, divorced)​

Patti Browne
​
(died 2017)​
[1]
Children4 (Michael Simmons, Andrew Simmons, Julie Simmons-Lynch, Kate Simmons)[1]

Martin Gerald Simmons[1] (October 3, 1926 – April 29, 2020) was an American film and television producer, newspaper reporter for the New York World-Telegram and Sun, and Executive Vice President of Diners Club, the first credit card company.[2] Simmons gained his greatest fame while serving as the chief executive officer of Twenty First Century Communications (renamed National Lampoon Inc., after its best known product).

Life and career

Simmons was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1926, the son of Kate (Shapiro), a homemaker, and Irving Simmons, a sign painter.[1] He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.[3]

In 1950, Frank X. McNamara, Ralph Schneider, Alfred S. Bloomingdale, and Simmons formed Diner's Club, the first independent payment card company in the world, successfully establishing the financial service of issuing travel and entertainment (T&E) credit cards as a viable business.[4][5]

In 1967, Simmons and fellow Diner's Club "refugee" Leonard Mogel formed Twenty First Century Communications, Inc. originally to publish a "counterculture" magazine called Cheetah. While Cheetah failed, the partners had more success in the 1970s with Weight Watchers[6] and National Lampoon magazines. In the mid-1970s, National Lampoon expanded into radio, theater, records, and film.[7] By 1972, Simmons' company had added a revived Liberty magazine to its slate of publications.[8] (In 1975, the publication of Weight Watchers magazine was taken over by Family Media, the publishers of Family Health magazine;[9] Liberty folded in 1976.)

In 1977, Simmons added the graphic fantasy magazine Heavy Metal to this roster, published under the subsidiary HM Communications, Inc.[10] In 1979, Twenty First Century Communications, Inc. was renamed National Lampoon, Inc.[11] In 1981, Simmons installed his daughter, Julie Simmons-Lynch, as editor of Heavy Metal,[12] a position she held for more than eleven years. In 1985, under Simmons' direction, National Lampoon's entire editorial staff was fired, with the top positions replaced by Simmons' sons Michael Simmons and Andy Simmons.[13]

In March 1989, Simmons sold his ten-percent share in National Lampoon, Inc. to film producers Daniel Grodnik and Tim Matheson for six dollars a share (more than $761,400), resigned as chairman of the board, and departed the company along with his son Michael Simmons.[14][15]

Simmons's film credits included being the producer of National Lampoon's Animal House and the National Lampoon's Vacation film series.[1]

He wrote seven books, including If You Don't Buy This Book, We'll Kill This Dog!, published in 1994. His last one, Fat, Drunk, and Stupid: The Making of Animal House, was published by St. Martin's Press in 2012.[16]

In the 2018 film, A Futile and Stupid Gesture, about the rise and fall of National Lampoon, Simmons was played by comedian Matt Walsh.[17]

On April 29, 2020, Simmons died at the age of 93 in Los Angeles from a brief illness.[1][18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Genzlinger, Neil (May 1, 2020). "Matty Simmons, a Force Behind 'Animal House,' Is Dead at 93". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "SKETCHES FROM THE NATIONAL LAMPOON World Premiere to Play Hayworth Theatre, 2/7-3/17". BroadwayWorld.com. January 17, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  3. ^ Durham, Tim (May 5, 2020). "Remembering Animal House Producer Matty Simmons: Saturday Evening Post writer Tim Durham remembers family friend Matty Simmons". PEOPLE. The Saturday Evening Post.
  4. ^ "Diners Club Review". CasinosBanking. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  5. ^ Simmons, Matty (1995). The Credit Card Catastrophe: The 20th Century Phenomenon that Changed the World. Barricade Books. pp. 26, 29, 106.
  6. ^ Calta, Louis (January 18, 1968). "New Magazine Aims to Help the Overweight; Weight Watchers, a Journal for Obese, on Newstands". The New York Times.
  7. ^ Tsosie, Claire (February 13, 2017). "The Man Who Sold the World on Credit Cards". NerdWallet. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  8. ^ Prial, Frank J. (April 7, 1972). "7 Dynamite Sticks Bring Bomb Squad To Magazine Office". The New York Times.
  9. ^ Cail, Dave "Lostboy". "History (up to 2023)". Heavy Metal Magazine Fan Page. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  10. ^ "New Graphic Fantasy Magazine". Locus. Vol. 10, no. 2 (no. 199). February 1977. p. 1.
  11. ^ Dougherty, Philip H. (September 12, 1979). "Advertising". New York Times. sec. D, p.12.
  12. ^ Greenberger, Robert (January 1982). "Clearing the Clouds Away". Comics Scene. No. 1. Starlog Group. pp. 46–49, 64. Heavy Metal is on the upswing with both the movie's release and a refocused outlook — the magazine examined with editor Julie Simmons-Lynch.
  13. ^ Tapper, Jake (July 3, 2005). "National Lampoon Grows Up By Dumbing Down". The New York Times.
  14. ^ Staff writer (March 17, 1989). "An Actor Acquires Control of National Lampoon Inc". The New York Times. sec.D, p.5.
  15. ^ Delugach, Al (March 17, 1989). "Film Producers Matheson and Grodnik Buy Control of National Lampoon Inc". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022.
  16. ^ Simmons, Matty (May 10, 2012). "Fat, Drunk, and Stupid: The Inside Story Behind the Making of Animal House". PopMatters. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  17. ^ A Futile and Stupid Gesture at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  18. ^ "Matty Simmons, co-founder of "National Lampoon" has passed away at 93". The Laugh Button. April 30, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matty_Simmons&oldid=1211247100"