Phillip Smith 1695-
Smith's family lived in Midland Road, where they were neighbours of serial killers Fred and Rosemary West, before moving to Hailes Road on the Coney Hill Estate in 1971. The family had a modest income, and their situation became worse when Smith's father was injured in a motoring accident. Smith attended Coney Hill Infants and Junior School and later went to a special school for children with learning difficulties. At a party one night in 1957, Mr. Smith met Irving Morrison, a Shubert executive, who hired him for the Imperial box office. After 17 years as executive vice president, Mr. Smith became Shubert’s president when Mr. Jacobs died in 1996 and its chairman when Mr. Schoenfeld died in 2008. He also became chairman of the Shubert Foundation, the largest private funder of nonprofit theater and dance companies in America. Philip J. Smith, chairman of the powerful Shubert Organization, whose empire of Broadway theaters and showcase productions made him one of New York’s mos...