Isidore Ostrer

Isidore Ostrer (1889–1975) was a banker, financier, poet, newspaper owner, and film studio owner in England. His father, Nathan Ostrer, was a jewellery salesman who emigrated from the Russian Empire. In addition to assembling a media empire he wrote poetry and authored an economics text.^[1]

Ostrer was born in London's East End.^[2] He began his career in the textile industry before establishing two banks with his brothers Mark and Maurice. They financed film industry businesses and Ostrer acquired control of Gaumont-British Film Company from its French parent Gaumont Film Company in 1922. He sold it to J. Arthur Rank in 1941. Ostrer also owned a newspaper (Sunday Referee) and textile business (Amalgamated Textiles).^[3]

He moved to the U.S. during World War II.^[4] His daughter became actress Pamela Mason.^[5] Morgan Mason is his grandson. His son was Vivian Kaye (Kiki)Osborne, ne Ostrer. He had two other daughters, Sheila Thompson and Diana Ostrer.

A painting of Isidore Ostrer by Howard Coster is in the National Portrait Gallery.^[6]

Nigel Ostrer wrote The Ostrers and Gaumont British, a book about the family and their involvement in the film studios.^[4]