Commonwealth United Entertainment


Commonwealth United Entertainment, formerly known as Television Enterprises Corporation, was an American film & TV production and distribution company active to 1971. It was headed by Milton T. Raynor.
The company was sometimes considered one of the "instant majors" of the late 1960s. Its parent company briefly operated a record label, Commonwealth United Records, as well as a TV production & distribution company, Commonwealth United Television. It produced films through its in-house film studio, Commonwealth United Productions, which would eventually become Commonwealth United Pictures.

History

Commonwealth United Corporation was originally a real estate holding company formed in 1961 as the Real Properties Corporation. It changed its name to CUC in 1965. In 1967, CUC acquired TEC. Milton T. Raynor moved to California and became vice-president at TEC. Later, Raynor took over ownership.

Commonwealth United Entertainment

In 1967, CUC acquired The Landau-Unger Company, with Ely Landau becoming president and CEO and Oliver A. Unger as executive vice-president. It also acquired TEC and was renamed Commonwealth United. In 1967, Commonwealth United produced 17 theatrical films and purchased publishing and recording interests. The Max Factor family financed That Cold Day in the Park, a movie directed by Robert Altman that Commonwealth United released in 1969. By 1971, Commonwealth United was $80 million in debt. The company's film rights, foreign and domestic, were acquired by National Telefilm Associates and American International Pictures respectively.

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