Harold Matzner, the philanthropist, businessman and cultural architect known as “Mr. Palm Springs” who transformed the Southern California desert city and revived and led its film festival, died Thursday in Palm Springs after a brief illness. He was 88.
Born on July 4, 1937, in Newark, NJ, Matzner worked as a sportswriter before turning his attention to marketing. He founded the direct-mail advertising film CBA Industries and remained its CEO into his 80s.
He found Palm Springs in the 1985 and soon made the city about 110 miles east of Los Angeles his focus. During the next four decades, he donated more than $85 million to local nonprofits, championed the arts and helped revive the city’s lagging film festival. He also was Chairman of the Palm Springs International Film Society.
In 1999, he stepped in to rescue the Palm Springs International Film Festival from near collapse. As its chairman for more than two decades, he donated more than $12 million of his own funds to help build the Palm Springs International Film Awards into a Hollywood launchpad, generating billions of media impressions worldwide each year. He also cemented the festival’s reputation as an important showcase for cinema.
Under his leadership, the Film Awards stage welcomed an extraordinary roster of stars from Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett and Denzel Washington to Steven Spielberg, George Clooney and Timothée Chalamet. Matzner had been its chairman emeritus until his death.
“It is a difficult day for the city of Palm Springs and for all of us at the Palm Springs International Film Festival,” Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi on behalf of the Palm Springs International Film Society. “From its inception, Harold gave so much of himself — day and night — to ensure this festival not only survived but flourished. Having led the festival since 2000, Harold’s vision transformed it into a world-class event and a key stop during awards season. Even after stepping down, he remained deeply involved, guiding and inspiring all of us who followed in his footsteps. … It was his generosity which elevated Palm Springs onto the international stage, while his tireless philanthropy strengthened every corner of our community — raising funds, creating jobs and improving the wellbeing of countless lives across the Coachella Valley. Harold will always stand as a pillar of this city.”
He also served the Chairman of the Board of the McCallum Theatre, was the longtime Executive Vice Chairman of the Palm Springs Art Museum and ran the popular Spencer’s restaurant. Matzner’s philanthropy extended to his tireless service on nonprofit boards, his insistence on accountability and his gift for rallying others to join him in giving.
He is credited with the key leadership role in creating Palm Springs’ Measure J, a 1% sales tax increase that helped to fund a $200 million downtown revitalization program and providing a surplus of $12 million per year to rebuild the city’s infrastructure.
Matzner received a slew of honors during his lifetime. In 2017, he was one of 11 people selected by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. He also has star on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars, situated at the base of the Sonny Bono statue that honors his close friend and the film festival’s founder.
Matzner often said his joy came from “making magic for the people I love,” and his mantra was simple: “Never give up. Always push forward.”
He is survived by his partner for life, Shellie Reade; his son, Devin; his daughter, Laura; and grandchildren Elizabeth and Emily. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
The post Harold Matzner Dies: “Mr. Palm Springs,” Who Revived And Led The City’s Film Festival & Championed Its Arts, Was 88 appeared first on Deadline.
