Trivia

Uncle of Bob Balaban.

President of Paramount Pictures from 1936 to 1964.

Ex-father-in-law of Anthony Franciosa.

Grandfather of Nina Franciosa.

Father of Judy Balaban and Burt Balaban.

Great-grandfather of actress Sophie Balaban.

Pioneer of Air Conditioning: Before his studio days, he co-founded the massive Balaban & Katz theater chain in Chicago. Drawing on his early experience in the cold-storage industry, he installed mechanical refrigeration in his theaters in 1917, making them the first in the world to be air-conditioned.

Longest Paramount Presidency: His nearly three-decade run as President of Paramount Pictures remains the longest in the studio's history.

Nickelodeon Inspiration: He got his start in the film business in 1907 after visiting a nickelodeon with his mother. She was profoundly impressed by the business model—paying a nickel before getting to see the product—and convinced Barney to invest.

The Stork Club Connection: His daughter, Judy Balaban, lived a highly publicized Hollywood life. She was Grace Kelly's bridesmaid, engaged to Montgomery Clift, and hosted frequent "A-list" parties for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando.

Depicted on Screen: Balaban has been portrayed in multiple films and television shows. He was played by Richard Portnow in the 2012 film Hitchcock and by Josh Randall in the NBC series Timeless.