Samuel Roxy Rothafel

Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel (1882–1936) was a prominent American theatrical impresario and entrepreneur. Born in Bromberg, Germany (now Bydgoszcz, Poland), he immigrated to the United States with his family as a child and settled in Stillwater, Minnesota, before moving to New York City in 1895. After a difficult childhood and estrangement from his father, Rothafel pursued various jobs, including serving seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps during which he saw action in China's Boxer Rebellion.

Rothafel's career in show business began in Forest City, Pennsylvania, with the "Family Theater," a combination cinema and skating rink. By 1912, he had moved to New York City, where he managed and produced shows at prominent theaters like the Regent, Strand, Rialto, Rivoli, and Capitol. His most notable achievement was the Roxy Theatre in Times Square (opened 1927), which later became Radio City Music Hall and featured the precision dance troupe The Rockettes.

Rothafel innovated movie presentation by synchronizing orchestral music with silent films and using multiple projectors for seamless reel changes. He also faced anti-Semitism but influenced Jewish culture through his hiring of Hungarian Jewish violinist Eugene Ormandy. In radio, he hosted a popular weekly variety show, "Roxy and His Gang," reaching millions of listeners.

Rothafel died in 1936 at age 53 due to angina pectoris, leaving behind a legacy as a key figure in early entertainment industry innovation. His family included wife Rosa Freedman, son Arthur Rothafel, daughter Beta Rothafel-Levy, and granddaughter Penny Levy (great-grandmother of actress Amanda Peet).