| Commonwealth United Entertainment | |
| Industry: | Filmed entertainment |
| Fate: | Broken up and sold |
| Successor: | Library: Paramount Pictures |
| Key People: | Milton T. Raynor |
| Owner: | Milton T. Raynor (-1967) |
| Parent: | Commonwealth United Corporation (1967-1971) |
Commonwealth United Entertainment (generally referred to as Commonwealth United; abbreviated as CUE), formerly known as Television Enterprises Corporation (abbreviated as TEC), was an American film & TV production and distribution company active to 1971. It was headed by Milton T. Raynor.[1]
The company was sometimes considered one of the "instant majors" of the late 1960s. Its parent company briefly operated a record label, Commonwealth United Records (abbreviated as CUR),[2] as well as a TV production & distribution company, Commonwealth United Television (abbreviated as CUT).[3] It produced films through its in-house film studio, Commonwealth United Productions (abbreviated as CUP),[4] which would eventually become Commonwealth United Pictures (abbreviated as CUP).[5]
| Commonwealth United Corporation | |
| Industry: | Entertainment |
| Fate: | Dissolved |
| Predecessor: | Real Properties Corporation |
| Divisions: | Commonwealth United Entertainment Commonwealth United Television Commonwealth United Records Commonwealth United Pictures |
Commonwealth United Corporation (abbreviated as CUC) was originally a real estate holding company formed in 1961 as the Real Properties Corporation. It changed its name to CUC in 1965.[6] In 1967, CUC acquired TEC. Milton T. Raynor moved to California and became vice-president at TEC. Later, Raynor took over ownership.[1]
In 1967, CUC acquired The Landau-Unger Company, with Ely Landau becoming president and CEO and Oliver A. Unger as executive vice-president.[7] It also acquired TEC[8] and was renamed Commonwealth United.[1] In 1967, Commonwealth United produced 17 theatrical films and purchased publishing and recording interests.[8] The Max Factor family financed That Cold Day in the Park, a movie directed by Robert Altman that Commonwealth United released in 1969.[9] By 1971, Commonwealth United was $80 million in debt. The company's film rights, foreign and domestic, were acquired by National Telefilm Associates and American International Pictures respectively.[8]