In 1912, he thought that a conglomerate of theatres throughout the nation could buy or produce and distribute its own films.
Williams formed First National Exhibitors' Circuit. The first film released through First National was the 1916 British film, The Mother of Dartmoor.
It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the country's largest theater chain.
films were thereafter branded First National Pictures until July 1936, when First National Pictures, Inc., was dissolved. == Early history == The First National Exhibitors' Circuit was founded in 1917 by the merger of 26 of the biggest first-run cinema chains in the United States.
In 1917 Tally and J.
Between 1917 and 1918, the company made contracts with Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin, the first million-dollar deals in the history of film.
Between 1917 and 1918, the company made contracts with Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin, the first million-dollar deals in the history of film.
Expanding from exhibiting movies to distributing them, the company reincorporated in 1919 as Associated First National Theatres, Inc., and Associated First National Pictures, Inc.
With a $10 million investment, Paramount built its own chain of first-run movie theatres after a secret plan to merge with First National failed. First National Exhibitors' Circuit was reincorporated in 1919 as Associated First National Pictures, Inc., and its subsidiary, Associated First National Theatres, Inc., with 5,000 independent theater owners as members.
In the early 1920s, Paramount attempted a hostile takeover, buying several of First National's member firms. Associated First National Pictures expanded from only distributing films to producing them in 1924 and changed its corporate name to First National Pictures, Inc.
In 1924 it expanded to become a motion picture production company as First National Pictures, Inc., and became an important studio in the film industry.
In the early 1920s, Paramount attempted a hostile takeover, buying several of First National's member firms. Associated First National Pictures expanded from only distributing films to producing them in 1924 and changed its corporate name to First National Pictures, Inc.
The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and the Independent Producers' Association declared war in 1925 on what they termed a common enemy—the "film trust" of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount, and First National, which they claimed dominated the industry not only by producing and distributing motion pictures but also by entering into exhibition as well. ==Acquisition by Warner Bros.== The financial success of The Jazz Singer and The Singing Fool enabled Warner Bros.
It built its studio lot in Burbank in 1926.
In September 1928, control of First National passed to Warner Bros., into which it was completely absorbed on November 4, 1929.
to purchase a majority interest in First National in September 1928.
In September 1928, control of First National passed to Warner Bros., into which it was completely absorbed on November 4, 1929.
and First National continued to operate as separate entities. On November 4, 1929, Fox sold its interest in First National to Warner Bros.
feature films released in 1929 were branded as First National Pictures.
(primarily Warner Bros.) voted to dissolve the corporation and distribute its assets among the stockholders in line with a new tax law which provided for tax-free consolidations between corporations. From 1929 to 1958, most Warner Bros.
announced for release in 1933–1934 were to be First National Pictures. Although both studios produced "A" and "B" budget pictures, generally the prestige productions, costume dramas, and musicals were made by Warner Bros., while First National specialized in modern comedies, dramas, and crime stories.
films were thereafter branded First National Pictures until July 1936, when First National Pictures, Inc., was dissolved. == Early history == The First National Exhibitors' Circuit was founded in 1917 by the merger of 26 of the biggest first-run cinema chains in the United States.
Short subjects were made by yet another affiliated company, The Vitaphone Corporation (which took its name from the sound process). In July 1936, stockholders of First National Pictures, Inc.
(primarily Warner Bros.) voted to dissolve the corporation and distribute its assets among the stockholders in line with a new tax law which provided for tax-free consolidations between corporations. From 1929 to 1958, most Warner Bros.
All text is taken from Wikipedia. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License .
Page generated on 2021-08-05