Jack Morton Worldwide, as it is known today, was founded in 1939 and named after its founder, Irvin Leonidas "Jack" Morton. While attending George Washington, Morton joined a fraternity, became a member of the interfraternity council, and soon began booking bands for fraternity dances. The bands then asked Morton to represent them in other venues in Washington. Morton printed up business cards for Jack Morton Orchestras, using the fraternity house payphone and his Western Electric office for messages.
After a short stint as a refrigerator salesman, Morton started booking bands to fraternities and sororities in Washington under the name of Jack Morton Enterprises (later changed to Jack Morton Productions). He later began booking orchestras in hotels, resorts, and night clubs in the Washington area.
1940's
After World War II the business expanded beyond the Washington area with the opening of additional offices in New York and Chicago. American businesses would expand the scope and scale of the events they organized for their customers and employees with world class entertainment from radio and Hollywood. Jack Morton Productions produced events and trade shows for many corporations.
1950's
Starting in the 1950s, Jack Morton Productions expanded to produce entire conventions and promotional events in major cities around the United States.
1960's
In the early 1960s, the company expanded into the area of audio-visual productions and changed the name of the company to Jack Morton Productions (JMP). It was during this time when JMP became a full-service corporate communications agency, producing entertainment programs, training programs, audio-visuals, and video conferences for a variety of corporations and trade associations.
1970's
Offices opened in San Francisco (1972) and Atlanta (1976). During this time, the company grew to include capabilities including planning, exhibits and environments, themed attractions and multimedia.
1980's
Offices opened in Detroit (1987), Los Angeles (1987), Boston (1990) and Minneapolis(1990) and the company began to shift its focus from an entertainment production company to a full service creative agency.
1990's
In April 1998, the holding company, Interpublic Group, bought Jack Morton Company for a stock transaction that according to the Wall Street Journal was likely worth more than $50 million.
2000's
In 2000 Jack Morton acquired about 40 percent of rival Caribiner International, Inc. assets, paying $90 million for its events and communications division, which included the staging of sales meetings, events, and exhibits.
Later in 2000, Jack Morton Company renamed itself as Jack Morton Worldwide rather than take on the Caribiner name.
In recent years Jack Morton Worldwide has added capabilities in areas such as: print, television, digital, public events; exhibits; digital media; and content marketing; broadcast design.
