David A. Smart

David A. Smart (October 1892 – October 15, 1952), co-founder of Esquire magazine, and, with his brother Alfred Smart (1895-1951), co-publisher of Esquire and Coronet.[1][2][3]

Birth

He was born in 1892 to Mary Aronson (born January 1872) and Louis Smart (born February 1866) in Omaha, Nebraska. His father had emigrated from Russia in 1883. He had four siblings: Alfred Smart (1895-1951), John Smart, Vera Smart Elden (1899-1997), and Florence Smart Richards.[4][5]

The family moved to Illinois. The brothers' other venture was Coronet Films, a producer of educational and training films during the 1950s. They endowed the Smart Museum of Art.[6]

Siblings

Alfred Smart (1895-1951)

He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on 17 June 1894 and attended the University of Illinois.[7] After World War I, he joined his brother in Publishing Enterprises. He was secretary and treasurer until 1947 when he was appointed president of what was now Esquire, Inc. A third brother, John Smart, was a vice president. Alfred died on February 4, 1951 in Chicago.[4][8]

References

  1. ↑ "David A. Smart Estate Estimated at $650,000". Chicago Tribune. October 24, 1952.
  2. ↑ "Memorial Rites Tomorrow for David Smart, 60". Chicago Tribune. October 18, 1952.
  3. ↑ "David Smart Dies". Chicago Tribune. October 16, 1952. Head of Esquire, Coronet Company Here
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Alfred Smart, Head Of Esquire Magazine.". New York Times. February 5, 1951.
  5. ↑ 1900 US Census in Omaha, Nebraska
  6. ↑ "Esquire - Coronet". Time (magazine). September 20, 1937. Retrieved 2007-07-21. Marlowe's The Jew of Malta. Last year a Jew of Chicago named David Smart who had made a killing with a depression-born magazine named Esquire launched a miniature version in the same key named Coronet and used Marlowe's famous line as its slogan. Last week Dave Smart made a little room for the public in the infinite riches of his publishing ventures. Having already sold 75,000 shares of stock publicly, he listed all 500,000 shares of Esquire-Coronet Inc. on the New York Curb Exchange.
  7. ↑ World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
  8. ↑ Two Visionary Brothers: David and Alfred Smart. Smart Museum of Art. 2003. ISBN 978-0-935573-37-4.