Robert J. Lenihan - 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award Journal

Robert J. Lenihan

PRESIDENT, U.S. PROGRAMMING

AMC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Robert J. “Bob” Lenihan was appointed president of
programming for AMC Entertainment Inc. (AMC) in
2009. As AMC’s president of U.S. programming, Bob has
overseen AMC’s film buying efforts, with particular focus
on managing IMAX and PLF strategies as well as the
company’s Century City office in Los Angeles, California.
Lenihan has 43 years of experience in the industry
beginning as a film booker for United Artists Theatres in
San Francisco. Prior to joining AMC, he served as senior
vice president of film at Village Roadshow Gold Class
Cinemas. Previous roles have included senior vice president
and head film buyer positions at Mann Theatres, Act III
Theatres, Century Theatres and Sundance Cinemas.

He also served as executive vice president at Loews
Cineplex from 1998 to 2002, supervising film, marketing
and real estate. Robert J. Lenihan is a graduate of Rowan
University in Glassboro, New Jersey.

2019 Lifetime Achievement Award

Variety – the Children’s Charity of Southern California

proudly honors

Robert J. Lenihan

for forty-three distinguished years in entertainment
and for his outstanding service to

Variety – the Children’s Charity. We celebrate his
immeasurable contributions to our industry and

his exceptional devotion to changing the
lives of children around the world.

Michael A. Alvarez Jr. John C. Hall
Chairman President

Elizabeth O’Neil
Executive Director

ADVISORY COUNCIL Bob,
Rory Bruer
Richard W. Cook Congratulations on being named the recipient of the 2019 Lifetime
Bruce C. Corwin Achievement Award from Variety – the Children’s Charity of Southern
Dan Fellman California.
Sonny Gourley
Charles C. Koones When your love of movies inspired you to leave the East Coast (and your
Nikki Rocco beloved Yankees) and head to Hollywood, the film community became
Bruce Snyder a better place. This award is in recognition of your many professional
James C. Tharp accomplishments during your distinguished career. But this distinction
Chuck Viane is also about your humanity and your philanthropic efforts, as well as the
friendships you have made over the past four decades. Turn the pages of
PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL this journal and you’ll see the names of countless friends and colleagues
Christopher W. Aronson who have reached out to congratulate you on this much deserved
Alan Davy honor. This enormous outpouring of support is a true testament of your
William D. Esensten character and demonstrates your desire to make a positive impact on the
Jeffrey B. Goldstein lives of others.
Michael D. McCartney
Clark Woods Bob, thank you for your dedication to serving others and for being a
bright star in our industry.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President of the Board There is no individual better deserving of this honor than Robert J.
John C. Hall Lenihan.
Chairman of the Board
Michael A. Alvarez Jr. All the best,
Executive Vice President
Mike Polydoros Michael A. Alvarez Jr. John C. Hall Mike Polydoros
Vice President Chairman of the Board President Executive Vice President
Michelle Maddalena

Adam Becker
Steve Bunnell
Dale Davison
Barbara Dretzke
Brett Fellman
Scott Forman
Allison Fullmer
Mary Beth Garber
Patricia Gonzalez
Ricky Jefferson
Spencer Klein
Larry Krutchik
Ben Levine
Robert Macias
Shane Mang
Cami Martinez
Branden d. Miller
Laura Miller
Janelle Mitchell
Rick Olson
Craig Szabo
Eric Tabak
Greg Washer

Executive Director
Elizabeth A. O'Neil

Manager of Fundraising
Britni Smith

Young Variety
President
Jordan Gregory

Variety — the Children’s Charity of Southern California
4601 Wilshire Blvd. Ste 260
Los Angeles, CA 90010
tel 323-655-1547 fax 323-658-8789
www.varietysocal.org

My story is a love story.

It's a story about a love affair which began when I was
about 4 years old watching a 20-year-old movie with my
mother on a black and white TV back in Bethlehem, PA.
The film was "A Tale of Two Cities" and I remember
at the end of the movie, when the hero did that "far, far
better thing" of giving his life up for his friend... that a
strange thing happened to me: I got a lump in my throat. And
I remember being amazed that watching a movie even on
TV could make me so sad I actually physically ached. And
that is when I fell in love with movies. -Robert J. Lenihan



Benefactors

Brenden Mann Foundation
Paramount Pictures
Past Honorees
Regal
Syufy Enterprises

Universal Pictures & Focus Features

















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Robert J. Lenihan

2019 Lifetime Achievement
Award Honoree

Bob – your friends at Universal Pictures
and Focus Features proudly congratulate
you! A deep-felt thanks for your dedication,
service, and bringing the magic of film to
millions of movie lovers.

©2019 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS





“If you want to give me a present, give me
a good life. That’s something I can value.”
-East of Eden (1955)

Healthcare

Variety’s Health Care Program supports
organizations that provide safety, help and hope
to children who are victims of abuse, neglect
and homelessness. Variety sends kids who are
battling life-threatening illnesses to summer camp
and provides medical care, therapy, and early
intervention programs for kids with disabilities

Whether small or big, health care grants help ensure
that children facing emotional, physical or economic
challenges can have the same opportunities as their
peers. Whether it’s hearing aids for a little boy failing
in school because he cannot hear the teacher and
hearing aids are not covered by insurance, or a much
larger grant to fund early intervention for children
with learning disabilities, Variety steps in where
insurance and other funding step out.

Thanks to our supporters, health care
grants bring help and hope to thousands
of children and teens every year.

Board of Directors

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Rory Bruer Sonny Gourley James C. Tharp
Richard W. Cook Charles C. Koones Chuck Viane
Bruce C. Corwin Nikki Rocco
Dan Fellman Bruce Snyder

PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL

Christopher W. Aronson William D. Esensten Michael D. McCartney
Alan Davy Jeffrey B. Goldstein Clark Woods

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairman President Executive Vice President Vice President
Michael A. Alvarez Jr. John C. Hall
Mike Polydoros Michelle Maddalena

Adam Becker Ricky Jefferson Janelle Mitchell
Steve Bunnell Spencer Klein Rick Olson
Dale Davison Larry Krutchik Craig Szabo
Barbara Dretzke Ben Levine Eric Tabak
Brett Fellman Robert Macias Greg Washer
Scott Forman Shane Mang
Allison Fullmer Cami Martinez
Mary Beth Garber Branden d. Miller
Patricia Gonzalez Laura Miller

PAST PRESIDENTS

Michael A. Alvarez Jr. Mike Doban Branden d. Miller
Christopher Aronson Scott Forman Milton Moritz
Maureen Arthur-Ruben Monty Hall* Mary Nakagawa
Howard M. Bernstein Harry R. Horowitz Joseph Sinay*
Bruce C. Corwin Nancy L. Klueter Clark Woods
Alan Davy Michael D. McCartney

ADMINISTRATION

Executive Director Manager of Fundraising
Elizabeth A. O’Neil Britni Smith

YOUNG VARIETY Kenny Korba Allie Piccolo
Carl Laguerre Anne Sampson
David Cowden Michael MacPhee Zack Silver
Amy Crismer Cassi Weis McDaniel Ania Wojcieszynska
Deborah Dodge Daniel Pastewka
Jordan Gregory *Deceased
Thomas Jung

MISSION STATEMENT

For over 78 years, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Southern California
has been dedicated to inspiring hope, enriching lives, and building
a better future for children with special needs in Southern California.
For more information, please visit www.VarietySoCal.org.

The proceeds from this tribute journal will specifically support
children in the areas of Education, HealthCare, and Mobility.

Variety of Southern California awards over three quarters of a million
dollars in grants annually for specially-designed adaptive bikes and
other therapeutic mobility equipment, college scholarships, camp
experiences designed specifically for children with life-threatening
illnesses and other health challenges, and a wide variety of programs
and services to help children overcome adversity.

Past Honorees

Clark Woods Travis Reid Richie Fay Amy Miles
2018 2017 2016 2015

Tim Warner Jim Tharp Chuck Viane Bruce Snyder
2013 2012 2011 2010

Rory Bruer Tom Sherak Dick Cook Wayne Lewellen
2008 2007 2006 2005

Dan Fellman Nikki Rocco Phil Barlow D. Barry Reardon
2003 2002 2000 1999

Journal Committee

Lisa Bunnell John Greiner
Steve Bunnell Spencer Klein

Alan Davy Erik Lomis
Scott Forman Travis Reid
Jeff Goldstein

Variety Staff

Elizabeth O’Neil, Executive Director
Britni Smith, Manager of Fundraising & Special Programs



Philanthropists

Cineplex Entertainment
Sony Pictures

Warner Bros. Entertainment











Warner Bros. Entertainment

warmly congratulates
our friend and colleague

Bob Lenihan

distinguished recipient of the

2019 Lifetime Achievement Award

and
proudly supports

Variety
The Children’s Charity of

Southern California

I first came to know Bob within the context of a shared
work environment and it is no surprise to me that he is
receiving this honor. I was temping at Century Theatres
for a woman on maternity leave, and on what was
to be my last day, one of Bob’s closest friends, Harry
Whitson, who I had never even met before, came
bounding down the hall to my desk and said, “You
should stay and work for my friend, Bob, who was just
hired. He’s a wonderful person. He’s very funny and
you’d be lucky to work with him.” I was expecting to
hear from Human Resources to schedule an interview,
but instead, that night Bob called me and said the
job was mine if, after talking with three of his former
assistants about what working with him is like, I still
want it. So basically I was interviewing him, checking
his references, for a job I was trying to get. That was
foreshadowing for a host of other refreshingly atypical
experiences related to Bob that began on our first day
at Century, April Fool’s Day, 2002.
As anyone who knows him can attest, it is nearly im-
possible to be bored in his presence. I can remember
looking forward to going to work because it was — he
was - entertaining and he made me laugh. For exam-
ple, I was perplexed at first when a distributor would
call and a screaming match would ensue, followed by
laughter and often a request to schedule lunch with
whoever he was just yelling at. From the sound of
things, I thought they’d never speak again, but one of
Bob’s greatest gifts is his ability to utilize humor, when
appropriate, to work through conflict. Usually though,
he was calm, levelheaded, patient, kind and fair, and as
I got to know him better, I realized it must be difficult
to balance his very competitive nature with his very
thoughtful nature where he loves to see everyone win.
I know this dichotomy is one of the reasons he is
receiving this award. He is ever focussed on working
to create an outcome where everyone succeeds. Most
successful people share qualities such as commitment,
strong work ethic, intelligence, discipline, all of which
are true of Bob, but not all successful people have
everyone’s best interest at heart. Bob always does
what’s integrous and honorable, in his professional
life and his personal life as well.

Steve Bunnell once credited Bob as being his “moral
compass” and I, too, have benefited from his positive
influence in this regard. Any time I have a dilemma
and need to make a choice, if one of the choices is of
questionable integrity, he will select whichever is the
more ethical, honest option. “Really Bob, so you don’t
think I should tell the ski school that Maeve is 4? She’s
almost 4.” The word Schadenfreude often comes up
in conversation with us because we both notice when it
seems someone is getting pleasure by another person’s
misfortune, which is surprisingly common. Whatever
the opposite of Schadenfreude is encapsulates Bob.
I am often moved by his response to bad news he
has received about a friend or colleague. All that he
has been through has given him access to a range
of emotions that make it possible for him to truly
empathize, and he is someone you can always feel safe
with in this regard. He is deeply sensitive, exceedingly
loyal, compassionate, and the best friend you can ever
hope to have.
To my best friend, thank you for all the beautiful
moments you have created in my life, especially
bringing our girls, Cezanne and Maeve, into the world.
Marrying you was the best decision I have ever made.
You have made all my dreams come true just by being
you. Congratulations on receiving this well-deserved
honor. You have my utmost admiration and respect.
I couldn’t be more proud of you and you still make
me laugh every day.
All of My Love,
Carrie

“The stuff that dreams
are made of.”
-The Maltese Falcon (1941)









Bobby,
Congratulations in receiving this most well
deserved award. I cannot tell you enough
how very proud I am of you! From the time
we were little kids and you were reading
Mop Top to me night after night without
ever complaining, I knew how lucky I was
to have you as my big brother. You have
always been there for me and Stephen,
never missing a special event, no matter
what you had to do to make it work to be
there. I am forever grateful for you and
all your love and support!
Congratulations!
I Love You,
Geed





Future Sponsors

Cinemark
Galaxy Theatres

Loews Alumni
Mann Alumni





ROBERT J. LENIHAN

2019 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

A GREAT PERSON
A GREAT EXHIBITOR
A GREAT EXECUTIVE
NEVER A DISAPPOINTED DUNSKY

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WELL DESERVED HONOR
-THE GALAXY THEATRES FAMILY