NEW YORK – On Tuesday, the life and legacy of Sumner Redstone, the former executive chairman of CBS, was honored with the renaming of West 44th Street and Seventh Avenue as Sumner Redstone Way.
The new sign in the shadow of the Paramount Global Headquarters commemorates the media giant’s contributions.
“My father was truly a legend. He dedicated his life to this company, he loved this city, and to see it all come together like this today is just incredible,” said Shari Redstone, Sumner’s daughter and current chairman of Paramount . Global, and president and CEO of the Redstone Family Foundation.
Sumner Redstone’s history in the entertainment industry
Redstone fell in love with the entertainment industry early on. In 2001, he appeared on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood and reminisced about working at his father’s movie theater, selling popcorn and soft drinks. It was one of the first drive-ins in the country.
Under Redstone, the company grew into a theater chain that became known as National Amusements and evolved into an empire of multiplex theaters. Redstone was driven by his belief in the power of content.
“You can have the best drive-in theater, but if you don’t have the best movie, you lose,” he said.
“He always made decisions because he believed it was the right thing to do, and he saw the future and integrated that into everything he did,” Shari Redstone said.
Sumner Redstone’s vision
His story is worthy of its own Hollywood blockbuster. Redstone literally cheated death in 1979 when he clung to a ledge during a deadly fire at Boston’s Copley Plaza Hotel. He was badly burned. In later years, that experience inspired Redstone’s philanthropic efforts to help treat other burn victims.
His vision remained unwavering. In 1987, he planted the seeds for what would become Viacom, adding cable networks such as MTV, Showtime, Nickelodeon, BET, Comedy Central and others. In 1999, Viacom acquired CBS. Today it is all recognized as Paramount Global.
“He always, always, always saw what the future would bring. He never lived in what was now or what was then. And I think that will be part of his greatest legacy,” Shari Redstone said.
Sumner Redstone Way is a fitting recognition of the incredible contributions to the industry that was his life’s passion.
“I think my dad would be very, very happy,” Shari Redstone said.
His legendary spirit and vision continue to inspire and energize the next generation.
Redstone died in 2020 at the age of 97. He was the former executive chairman of CBS, a division of Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS New York.
Maurice DuBois
