Pearl & Dean

Pearl & Dean is primarily known as a British cinema advertising company. It was founded in 1953 by brothers Ernie and Charles Pearl, and Bob Dean.

Pearl & Dean is now owned by Image Ltd, and controls numerous UK cinema sites including leading multiplex operators such as Empire, Showcase, AMC and represents approximately half of the UK's independent cinemas.

Brief corporate history

Pearl & Dean was formed in 1953 by Ernie and Charles Pearl and Bob Dean to sell advertising on British cinema screens prior to the showing of the main feature. The short adverts with which British cinema audiences quickly became familiar, were the idea of Joe Morris (born Joseph Iglitsky) one of Pearl & Dean's in-house advertising executives. The initial staffing of Pearl & Dean was by members of staff of Theatre Publicity and Langfords (The Rank Organisation) who followed the Directors when they left to form the company upon obtaining the advertising rights in the ABC Cinemas, the first time that group had accepted advertising in their cinemas.