"The City of Indianapolis today lost a true partner and friend with the death of Mel Simon. Mel and the entire Simon family have done great work in strengthening our local economy and improving our downtown district. Mel will be truly missed and forever remembered for his many contributions to this city and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time."
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Mel Simon Dead At 82
Indianapolis mall developer and Indiana Pacers co-owner Mel Simon is dead at the age of 82 according to the Star. There had been recent reports of his ailing health but no official word from the family to confirm it. The IBJ's Cory Schouten has more on Simon's life here. Mayor Greg Ballard's office released the following statement on his death:
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That news throws a monkey wrench into the old CIB-Pacers negotiations. Maybe the Pacers will be looking for a buyer soon enough, and in another market?
Bye bye Pacers!
Funny, they are reporting (via AP) that Mel was the producer of Porky's (the movie).
I checked IMDB.COM and it seems clear from that that there is another Melvin Simon who works(ed) in Hollywood for many years, including as an exec with Columbia Pictures.
So I think not.
No, Downtown Indy, it is the same Mel Simon. He made a lot of money off of the Porky's films.
From ESPN:
Simon's time as a Hollywood movie producer was marred when his daughter, Deborah, was kidnapped in 1981 from outside her parents' Beverly Hills mansion. The 25-year-old escaped unharmed the next day and police arrested the gunman who apparently picked her at random and then demanded a $500,000 ransom.
He also was executive producer of "My Bodyguard," "When A Stranger Calls," and "The Stunt Man," as well as "Porky's" and its two sequels, "Porky's II: The Next Day" and "Porky's Revenge."
Simon said he was "absolutely flabbergasted" when "Porky's" -- with its scenes of teenage boys spying on girls in a locker room shower and visiting a brothel named Porky's -- became a big hit in 1982.
Melvin Simon Productions more frequently had flops, including "Zorro, The Gay Blade" with George Hamilton and Carol Burnett's "Chu Chu and The Philly Flash."
"I did about 25 movies and I got out of it, thank God -- it didn't cost me any money ultimately," Simon told The Indianapolis Star in 2002. "It was a good lesson, and I wouldn't do it again."
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