Alfred S. Hart (a.k.a. Al Hart or Alfred Harskovitz) (1904–1979) was a Hungarian-born American businessman and banker. He was a wholesaler of beer in Chicago during Prohibition and later a distributor of wine and spirits in Los Angeles, California. He served as a director of Columbia Pictures. In 1954, he founded City National Bank in Beverly Hills.

Early life

Alfred Harskovitz was born in a Jewish family in Hungary in 1904.Gus Russo, ''Supermob: How Sidney Korshak and His Criminal Associates Became America's Hidden Power Brokers'', Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2008, pp. 37-3

/ref> He immigrated to the United States, settling in Chicago.

Career

He started his career working for

Al Capone Alphonse Gabriel Capone (; January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), sometimes known by the nickname "Scarface", was an American gangster and businessman who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the ...

as a wholesaler of beer during Prohibition, when it was an illegal substance. He then worked for

Charles Gioe Charles Joye "Cherry Nose" Gioe (February 6, 1904 – August 18, 1954) was a lieutenant in the Chicago Outfit criminal organization and a partner in the Hollywood extortion scandals of the 1940s. Biography Charles Joey Gioe was born on Februar ...

and Joseph Fusco as the manager of Gold Seal Liquors. He moved to California in the 1920s and quickly established Glencoe Distilleries and the Pacific Brewing Company. A decade later, in the 1930s, he was the owner of Central Liquor Distributors, the San Angelo Wine and Spirit Corporation, and Alfred Hart Distilleries. He later became the majority owner of the Maier Brewing Company. He was the owner of the Del Mar racetrack in San Diego. In 1948, he invested US$75,000 in the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additionally, he was a real estate investor in San Bernardino. He served on the board of directors of Columbia Pictures.John M. Broder
Bram Goldsmith: Maverick Banker to Stars : City National Chief Is a Top Deal-Maker and Industry's Best Paid
''The Los Angeles Times'', July 21, 1985Kathryn Tully

'' The Financial Times'', August 4, 2006 In 1954, he founded City National Bank in Beverly Hills. He hired

Benjamin N. Maltz Benjamin N. Maltz (1901–1993) was an American banker and philanthropist. He was the first Chairman of the City National Bank (). Early life Benjamin N. Maltz was born in 1901 in Chicago, Illinois.John M. BroderBram Goldsmith: Maverick Banker to ...

as the first chairman of the board.

Death

Hart died in 1979.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hart, Alfred S. 1904 births 1979 deaths Hungarian emigrants to the United States Businesspeople from Chicago Businesspeople from Los Angeles Businesspeople from Beverly Hills, California American people of Hungarian-Jewish descent Al Capone associates Columbia Pictures people American corporate directors American bankers