Baum, Morton, 1905-1968

Morton Baum was born in Manhattan on December 28, 1905. He graduated from Columbia College in 1925 and from Harvard Law School in 1928. He practiced law in partnership with his brother Lester in Manhattan.

Baum's public service began early in his career and continued throughout his life. From 1930 to 1934, he served as Assistant U.S. Attorney. In 1934 he became a New York City councilman and a special tax counsel to Mayor Fiorella La Guardia. He was a consultant to Mayor Lindsay's Commission on City Finances. Baum devised and introduced the current New York City sales tax system. Baum served on the finance committee of the Metropolitan Opera Association. In 1943 the New York City Center was incorporated. The opening performance was held on December 11, 1943 (the Mayor's birthday), featuring the New York Philharmonic. Newbold Morris became the chairman of the City Center, with Morton Baum as a member of the executive committee as well as chairman of the finance committee. Before it became The New York City Center the building was named The Mecca Temple, built by the Shriner's in 1924. It was located on West 55th Street. The building was taken over by the City for non-payment of taxes. Mayor La Guardia and City Council President Newbold Morris decided that the City should utilize the building as a theater to provide "the best in entertainment at the lowest possible prices." In the early 1960s Morton Baum was instrumental in securing the City Center as constituent member of the newly-formed Lincoln Center. In 1966, after the death of Newbold Morris, Morton Baum became the new chairman of the City Center. With the assistance of Lincoln Center, NYCB and NYCO were organized into membership corporations with "City Center of Music and Drama" as the sole member. "CCMD" leased the New York State Theater from Lincoln Center, which leased it from the City of New York. Morton Baum died on February 7, 1968, at age 62 of a heart attack.

Morton Baum was born in Manhattan on December 28, 1905. He graduated from Columbia College in 1925 and from Harvard Law School in 1928. He practiced law in partnership with his brother Lester in Manhattan.

Baum’s public service began early in his career and continued throughout his life. From 1930 to 1934, he served as Assistant U.S. Attorney. In 1934 he became a New York City councilman and a special tax counsel to Mayor Fiorella La Guardia. He was a consultant to Mayor Lindsay’s Commission on City Finances. Baum devised and introduced the current New York City sales tax system. Baum served on the finance committee of the Metropolitan Opera Association. In 1943 the New York City Center was incorporated. The opening performance was held on December 11, 1943 (the Mayor’s birthday), featuring the New York Philharmonic. Newbold Morris became the chairman of the City Center, with Morton Baum as a member of the executive committee as well as chairman of the finance committee.

Before it became The New York City Center the building was name The Mecca Temple, built by the Shriner’s in 1924. It was located on West 55th Street. The building was taken over by the City for non-payment of taxes. Mayor La Guardia and City Council President Newbold Morris decided that the City should utilize the building as a theater to provide “the best in entertainment at the lowest possible prices.”

In the early 1960s Morton Baum was instrumental in securing the City Center as constituent member of the newly-formed Lincoln Center. City Center would control the New York State Theater into which the New York City Ballet moved in 1964. Baum was a member of the Lincoln Center board until his death.

In 1966, after the death of Newbold Morris, Morton Baum became the new chairman of the City Center. Morton Baum died on February 7, 1968, at age 62 of a heart attack .