Co-Founder of Telepictures Resigns Posts

Michael N. Garin, 42, a co-founder of Telepictures who has been in top management at Lorimar Telepictures since a merger two years ago, has resigned as a member of the troubled film company’s office of the president and as a director.

In a joint announcement with Merv Adelson, chairman and chief executive, Garin said a major factor in his decision was the increased concentration of the company’s operations in Los Angeles since it began restructuring. Garin said he and his family “prefer to remain in New York.” Adelson praised Garin’s contributions and said he would be missed.

Garin, a former Time Inc. executive, joined with Michael Jay Solomon, a former MCA executive, in starting Telepictures in 1978. Solomon was chief executive and Garin chief operating officer. When it merged with Lorimar in February, 1986, Telepictures was a producer of first-run programs for independent television stations. Lorimar’s primary business was production and syndication of network television programs, such as “Dallas,” “Knott’s Landing” and “Falcon Crest.”

Lorimar Telepictures’ ambitious acquisition program fell on hard times last year. As the firm encountered problems, especially in theatrical movie production, reports of strains between Adelson and the Telepictures faction were heard more frequently in the industry. Recently, Warner Communications considered acquiring Lorimar Telepictures, but the firms aborted their talks in mid-April.

Garin served in the office of the president with Solomon and two other former Telepictures executives, Richard T. Robertson and David E. Salzman.