Philip Martin

, owned the first "nickelodeon" in Pittsburgh in the early 1900's and later became Supervising Engineer and Inspector of the U. S. Soldiers' Home in Washington, D. C. where Phil, Jr. spent his boyhood days along with his sisters Lydia, Cecilia and Lillian. His mother, Emma, was active in the Christian Science Church and the DAR. Born with the love for motion pictures in his blood, Phil began his film career at 9 years when he used to trade vegetables from the family garden to the projectionists at the local Washington, D. C. movie theatre's for bits and pieces of film. Soon thereafter he became a rewind boy, in order to be closer to the movie business. Throughout his school years he was involved in the film industry. While a student, he designed, supplied and set up the first projection booth at McKinley High School in Washington, D. C.

Phil Martin was born on June 9, 1916 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father, Phil, Sr.

He graduated from McKinley Tech in 1934 where he was President of the Student Government and the Honor Society. He attended George Washington University. While attending college he worked at the National Archives as an Information Specialist; at the Marlboro Theatre he worked as a projectionist; and also owned a motion picture supply company.

In 1937 he married Bobbie Boyd, of Washington, D. C. , who graduated from McKinley High School.

In 1938 Phil and Bobbie movied to New York where Phil worked for the U. S. Film Service as a Technical Director. He worked on such classic films there as: "Plow That Broke the Plains," "The River," and "Fight for Life.

" Phil was made Executive Producer of the Office of War Information (OWI) in New York in 1939. He produced 40 Government defense films including the Academy Award nominees: "Bomber," with Carl Sandburg and "Tanks," with Orson Wells.

Phil and his family moved to Hollywood in 1941 where he became an Associate Producer, Assistant Director, Second Unit Director and Superivsing Film Editor at Paramount, R. K. O. , and Twentieth Century Fox studios.

During 1941 to 1951 in Hollywood he worked on many features as well as shorts including: "Miracle of Morgan's Creek," "Iron Major," "Bombadier," "If You Knew Susie," "Fighting Man of the Plains," and the Academy Award winning short, "The House I Live In," with Frank Sinatra. He also owned The Valley Cinema Service and The Apple Box Theater and belonged to the Masonic Order in North Hollywood.

In 1952 Phil and his family moved back to the Washington, D. C. area where Phil founded and was President and Executive Producer of the International Motion Picture Consultants, which later became Norwood Studios, Inc. , the largest private motion picture production company between New York and Miami.

During 1952 to 1968, when he sold Norwood Studios, he and his studio produced over 300 films. Many of these films won national and international awards.

In 1969 Phil formed the company P. M. Productions. He continued to produce more award winning films including two-time "Emmy" winner "Where To?" for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. In addition to his production company Phil found the time to establish a life-long dream, The Nickelodeon, a museum and memorabilia store for students and lovers of film, of which he was the most enthusiastic of all.