"Man of velvet and steel" was a scion of Wall Street.
10/7/2002
"Otto Kahn, a banker, was the most influential patron of the arts ever known in America," and so Theresa Collins opens her fascinating portrait of one of the leading figures in twentieth century America. Kahn was a partner of Kuhn, Loeb & Co., one of the great international banking houses of Wall Street. A leading economic statesman, he played a pivotal role in supporting the Allied effort during World War I. However, it was as a supporter of the arts that Kahn had his most profound impact. He helped finance the Metropolitan Opera, brought Vaslav Nijinsky and the Ballet Russes to America, and provided much of the early support for Hollywood's developing film industry. Collins adeptly moves from the boardroom to the stage as she examines the legacy of this remarkable man.