Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Cohen, Joel C. June 12, 1862 - 
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J. Orr jessicanorr@gmail.com February 23, 2011, 7:50 pm

Source: The Story of Hawaii and Its Builders, published by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin Ltd., Territory of Hawaii, 1925
Author: Edited by George F. Nellist

JOEL C. COHEN, Theatrical Magnate. Across the darkening snow fields where the 
shadows of great Wisconsin pines lengthened as daylight waned, a youth urged 
his team to greater speed. A pack of wolves followed his fur-laden sleigh.
  Since those days, in the early 80’s when he braved the winter perils of the 
Northwest, Joel C. Cohen, president and manager of the Consolidated Amusement 
Co., Ltd., has eluded other wolves which have beset him in the form of 
financial failure, and, with three fortunes lost in past business struggles, 
he now ranks among the successful men of Hawaii.
  Born in Buffalo, N.Y., June 12, 1862, Mr. Cohen is the son of Charles and 
Clementine (von Lichtenstein) Cohen. He spent his early years traveling in 
Europe with his grandparents, his maternal grandfather being a Prussian noble 
and cavalry officer under William I of Prussia. Mr. Cohen studied in Italy and 
France. Upon returning to the United States, he joined his parents, who had 
removed to Wisconsin, then considered as part of the “far west.” His trip was 
marked by a dramatic incident. Reaching Chicago the travelers were stopped by 
the great conflagration of 1871, when trains were halted for days in their 
westward journey.
  Mr. Cohen’s early youth was spent doing odd jobs for his father, a dry goods 
merchant and extensive land holder in the Middle West, and making expeditions 
into the northern wilds for furs. At the age of 16 he went to Chicago, 
entering a commission house and later went to Sterling, Ill. At the age of 21, 
he took charge of a large creamery and in 1884 became owner and manager of the 
establishment which then ranked as one of the largest makers of butter in the 
country. It was in this venture that Mr. Cohen lost his first fortune through 
the collapse of the New York butter market.
  While in Sterling Mr. Cohen first turned his attention to politics, and 
became prominent in the Republican party, organizing the Young Men’s Blaine 
Republican Club, supporting James G. Blaine for the presidency. He went to 
Ashland, Wis., in 1885. There another business opportunity presented itself in 
iron mining and he became one of the outstanding figures in the iron boom 
which made and unmade fortunes in Wisconsin during the latter part of the 
80’s. He organized more than eighty stock companies interested in iron mines, 
amassing another fortune, but with the Cleveland administration came passage 
of the Mills Bill, permitting foreign iron ore to enter the United States duty 
free, and once more Mr. Cohen’s fortune was shattered.
  Profiting by his political affiliations, he became sheriff of Ashland in 
1889, serving two years, and then became a traveling agent for Easter 
manufacturers. It was during this period that he was led into the theatrical 
business. Traveling in northern Michigan in the early 90’s, he “adopted” a 
stranded theatrical troupe, and through his efforts the company appeared 
before packed houses in the Northwest.
  In 1893 Mr. Cohen went to Salt Lake, spending one year there as a 
manufacturers’ representative. While there he was present at the opening of 
the great Mormon Temple. From there he went to San Francisco, where he 
alternated his residence between that city and Los Angeles until 1898.
  Hearing of opportunities offered in Hawaii, he became agent here for various 
American firms, arriving in the islands in August, 1898. He soon undertook the 
management of the old Orpheum Theater in Honolulu, organizing the Orpheum Co., 
Ltd., in 1899. In 1906, he took the Royal Hawaiian Band on a tour of the 
United States, a venture which was marred by unforeseen financial disaster, 
the result being that an indebtedness amounting to thousands of dollars was 
met by Mr. Cohen upon his return to Hawaii.
  In 1911 he was instrumental in the organization of the Honolulu Amusement 
Co., Ltd., in which were consolidated a number of moving picture houses. He 
became president and manager of the Consolidated Amusement Co., Ltd., in 1913, 
which later sponsored the construction of the Hawaii Theater, one of the 
finest theater buildings in the United States, and which, as organized and 
developed under Mr. Cohen’s direction, operates a number of motion picture 
houses in Honolulu and a motion picture exchange which supplies all the 
theaters of the Territory with films.
  Always active in politics, Mr. Cohen was a member of the legislature in 1909 
and was candidate for nomination to the senate in 1911. He was chairman of the 
Republican Central Committee during the county campaign in 1923 and was twice 
a candidate for mayor of Honolulu.
  Mr. Cohen married Genevieve Cathan, in 1883. They had three children, Harry 
Blaine Cohen (deceased), Abram Earl and Edward Scott Cohen. Mr. Cohen and 
Ethel Mable Ruth were married in California, April 23, 1895. Mr. Cohen is an 
Elk and a member of the Order of Phoenix, Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Coast 
Exhibitors’ Association, Ad and Commercial Clubs of Honolulu.


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