Thursday, November 14, 2013

Paramount Pictures Ambassador A.C. Lyles lived a storied career

Aida Mayo, Mayo Communications, A.C. Lyles, Julian Myers and Geo. McQuade
When a Hollywood legend passes everyone stops what they're doing to see, who it was. I was lucky enough to meet A.C. Lyles, who volunteered to speak to Legendary Publicist and studio executive Julian Myers film publicity class.


Two Legends Julian Myers & A.C. Lyles
I spoke to students before Lyles did, but Myers asked me to stick around to hear his legendary friend talk about his career spanning more than seven decades. I was so impressed with A.C. Lyles I waited until after the evening PR class ( 11:00 p.m.) to interview him about his life story. He was amazing and said the movie, "Wings" inspired him at age 10.

"Mr Paramount" as he was referred to often had his own personal parking space and building named after him on the studio lot. Lyles, who started out in the mail room, just like his friend Julian Myers (Twentieth Century Fox) did, produced some 40 movies and became the studio president's right hand man.
 

A.C. Lyles in action inspiring film publicity students at Layola Marymount U.
Lyles was so amazing that he called his old friend Ronald Reaganand told him, "You should run for governor and later for president." Lyles predicted Reagan's victory long before the media did, too.
Julian Myers, A.C. Lyles and a film publicity student.
Ronald Reagan appointed Lyles to the President's Advisory Council on Private Sector Initiatives in 1983, and in January of 1986 he was sworn onto the board. He regularly attended White House meetings with Reagan and his staff and attended conferences overseas. During the Reagan and George Bush administrations he also functioned as Hollywood liaison, getting celebrities to entertain at the White House and other presidential functions.
A.C. Lyles talks to more students about film careers.


In 1984 Lyles received the George Washington Award of the Freedoms Foundation, presented to him in the Oval Office by President Ronald Reagan.
Employee of Paramount Pictures since 1928.

Former publicist, who became a producer of Paramount B-westerns starring veteran Hollywood actors. Lyles has left a big hole in Hollywood history and a huge vacancy at Paramount Studios. His memorial was appropriately on Veterans Day and he passed away in late September. His legacy lives on, R.I.P.

A.C. Lyles More at IMDbPro »

For the A.C. Lyles Photo album by
George McQuade III visit:Photos (more)

 

Date of Birth 17 May 1918, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Date of Death27 September 2013, Los Angeles, California, USA
Birth Name Andrew Craddock Lyles Jr.
Spouse
Martha Troetscher Schaefer(3 May 1955 - 27 September 2013) (his death)




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