The estate of John H. Mitchell’s late wife, Patricia, bolsters entertainment industry education through a new major gift
Decades after his passing, one of television’s legendary hitmakers—John H. Mitchell—continues his legacy at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Through the estate of his late wife, Patricia Mitchell, a new $5 million gift will enrich education. Funds from the former president of Columbia Pictures’ television division will support three existing courses and create a new one, establish an endowment fund, and launch a program for students to meet and network with entertainment professionals. The estate previously provided $20 million for business entertainment studies at the school.
John H. Mitchell, who died in 1988, championed the connection between business and ingenuity and stressed the importance of ethics. Philanthropy from his wife’s estate honors his legacy. During his leadership of Columbia Pictures, Mitchell oversaw the smash TV series “The Flintstones” and “Bewitched,” the Emmy-winning movie “Brian’s Song,” and more than 150 other shows.
USC alumnus Bill Allen, who became close friends of the Mitchells through his father, “The Tonight Show” founder Steve Allen, is the estate’s trustee.
The bulk of the gift—$4 million—will create the John H. Mitchell Program in Episodic Television and support existing courses in documentary series, single-camera television dramatic series, and advanced multi-camera television. Funds also will establish a new endowment fund for the episodic TV program.
The remaining $1 million will add at least one new course to the John H. Mitchell Business of Entertainment Program. This new offering will examine the influence of technological innovations— including artificial intelligence, virtual production, and visual effects—on television.
Finally, the gift will establish an annual Mitchell Scholars Summer Colloquium to help students make career connections with industry professionals and other students from programs funded by the Mitchell trusts at USC, UCLA, and Michigan.