His sister Ida married Sam Katz, the two in-laws made plans for a chain of cinemas in the Midwest, the Balaban and Katz Theatre Chain.
He found his first job at Balaban & Katz theater corporation, where he made posters.
Bob Balaban | Alex Katz | Andy Katz | Dave Katz | Phil Katz | Martin Katz | Katz v. United States | Bernard Katz | Balaban and Katz | Tamar Katz | Steven A. Katz | Sam Katz | Joseph Katz | Jeff Katz | Yitzhak Katz | Sol Katz | Jackson Katz | Erich Katz | David Bar Katz | Daryl Katz | Bob Katz | Barney Balaban | Alexandru Balaban | Shmuel Katz | Saul Katz | Rita Katz | Paul Katz | Mickey Katz | Matthew Katz | Martin Katz (American jewelry designer) |
Paramount president Adolph Zukor had acquired a controlling interest in the Chicago-based Balaban and Katz theater chain, and with it the services of Sam Katz, who became the head of Paramount's theater division.
At first his success seemed certain, but in 1921, the opening of Balaban and Katz’s Chicago Theatre signaled the beginning of the end for Vaudeville.