Gulf & Western Inc. said Arthur Barron...

Gulf & Western Inc. said Arthur Barron will step down as president of its entertainment unit, which includes Hollywood’s most successful film studio, on Feb. 1.

Barron will concentrate his activities on special projects until his planned retirement at age 55 in July, 1989, the company said.

His day-to-day duties in film, television and theaters will be assumed by Frank Mancuso, chairman and chief executive of Paramount, which has led Hollywood in box-office sales for the past two years.

Barron joined Gulf & Western in New York in 1967 after the company acquired Desilu Productions, with which he was associated.

He became president of Gulf & Western’s entertainment group, which also includes Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks basketball team, in 1984.