Al Landolph
My first introduction to CBS was as a page on the Jackie Gleason show in Miami. My sister was working as a June Taylor dancer in the show and that was helpful in getting a job. A year later back in NY, I had someone's CBS business card who helped set up an interview with Personnel. I wanted to be a salesman but that was a closed option. However, Operations and Engineering was hiring aggressively, as CBS was converting to color. I joined the Purchasing group and a year later a NY National Guard unit. Soon after I received a CBS military leave and was sent to Ft. Ord, California for training. I eventually managed a weekend pass, rented a car and drove to Los Angeles to see what all the excitement was about. Visited Television City & KNXT for the first time and was particularly impressed with the weather and subway void. Met a few people like Leo Gregory, Jim Hesen & Vic Larkin, who would later become very important in my life. After completing six months of active duty, I returned to CBS-NY. It took only three months and a snowstorm to confirm that I really wanted to return to Los Angeles. Coincidentally, and without my knowledge, on the day I resigned from CBS-NY, a fellow by the name of Russ Raymond, Purchasing Director at TV City, announced his retirement. I was offered the position and within two weeks returned to Los Angeles with a job. Several years later, I became Facilities Director and part of the Operations team responsible for some of the most exciting and creative programs in Television City's history. It was a special time for our business and the memories of those shows and creative people, both inside and outside of CBS, are with me forever.
I spent the majority of time during my last six years with the Company as a CBS liaison with the AF Gilmore/CBS Real Estate venture for development of the Farmer’s Market and Television City's underutilized property (55 acres). We spent hundreds of meeting hours trying to meld the personalities and objectives of CBS with the privately held Gilmore Company (from whom CBS originally purchased the Television City property). After many years and several failed attempts, we finally reached an agreement with a major developer to move forward. Unfortunately, during that very time, Larry Tisch arrived on the scene and took control of CBS. When the go-ahead commitment, which had previously been approved by Bill Paley, was presented to Larry Tisch, he terminated CBS involvement in the project, noting it was not in the best interest for the Company's future. Years later the retail and market version of that project was completed between the AF Gilmore company and Caruso Affiliated companies. Today we know and love it as "The Grove", one of the highest grossing and most successful retail projects in the Country. Not necessarily a visionary call on Mr. Tisch's part.
I left CBS 25 years to the day, in May 1991.
In June 1982, along with five friends, I started National Bank of California. Headquarters is located on Fairfax Ave, across the street from the Grove. It is a public company with five Regional offices. I continue to serve on the Board of Directors.
After CBS, I reactivated my Securities Broker license, obtained my Insurance license and associated with Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company and several other major Financial Service providers. My business includes the areas of
Personal Estate Planning, Insurance, Investments and Benefits & Retirement Planning for Business Entities.
We maintain offices and staff in Los Angeles and Orange County. A discounted group program for Long Term Care has been set up for "FROGS" which is more comprehensive and better priced then the plan offered to staff CBS Employees.
Visit my website
My wife Pam, a Family Law Attorney, and I reside in Los Angeles and Newport Beach.
