Meet Gilbert Smith | President and Executive Producer
We had the good fortune of connecting with Gilbert Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Gilbert, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was asked by our founder actor Ricardo Montalbán to work with him to establish a center for the performing arts with the acquisition of the former Doolittle Theatre. We are now 15 years into this project. The pandemic created its own ecosphere to mange debt and to organize our grant applications. Fortunately, our teamwas successfulwith the landing of all of the grants. We would have preferred making new shows and events available to the entertainment industry and to our community.
I have had my own business platform since 1986. Our theatre and our activities are the center my motivation to keep ingrowing. The numbers improve and our investment follows. The theatre is being retrofitting for the 21stCenturyandour goal is tokeepitas The Montalbán honoring its founder Ricardo Montalbán
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was prominent in the advertising industry. I owned and operated several studios that created advertising campaigns with many of the Fortune 500 and 4A advertising agencies.
I formed my first studio in 1986 in midtown Los Angeles where the advertising agencies were located. I was plunking myself into the field of advertising and making it a short drive otwalk to my studio was on of my tactics to win canpaigns for variousinternatiional clients. I made campaigns for OAKLEY, ALPHA ROEMO, JEEP, APPLE COMPUTER, FORD, GM & CHRYSLER to name few. 30 + years with both award winning location and studio work as a result.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Wood and Vine or Fabiolus Cucina Hollywood – Both Patio Seating.
I would start at The Thompson for a breakfast, move to taking a drive through Hollywood indenting spat the Griffith Park Observatory. I would take my guests to DTLA and Olvera Street
to visit La Plaza de Cultura y Artes. With time permitting, We would go to the New Getty and return to Hollywood to enjoy Wood & Vine patio table and take in a show at The Pantages.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Our theatre is a family, who cares for each others success. We mentor and educate young adults who want a career in the entertainment industry. A numberr of individuals who started at The Montalban are holding steady employment in the arts and entertainment industry in the post pandemic era
Website: gil@themontalban.com
Instagram: gil@themontalban.com
Linkedin: gil@themontalban.com
Twitter: @themontalban
Facebook: The Montalban
Yelp: The Ricardo Montalban Theatre
Youtube: gil@themontalban.com
Image Credits
Photographs by Lionel Garcia
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