Warner, Jack
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{{Infobox Person | {{Infobox Person | ||
| name = Jack Warner | | name = Jack Warner | ||
| birth_name = | | birth_name = | ||
| − | | birth_date = | + | | birth_date = August 2, 1892 |
| birth_place = [[London, Ontario]] | | birth_place = [[London, Ontario]] | ||
| − | | death_date = | + | | death_date = September 9, 1978 |
| death_place = [[Hollywood, California|Hollywood, Los Angeles, California]] | | death_place = [[Hollywood, California|Hollywood, Los Angeles, California]] | ||
| death_cause = | | death_cause = | ||
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}} | }} | ||
| − | '''Jack "J.L." Warner''' ( | + | '''Jack "J.L." Warner''' (August 2, 1892 – September 9, 1978), born '''John Leonard Warner''' in [[London, Ontario]], [[Canada]] of a [[Poles|Polish]]-[[Jewish]] family, was the president and driving force behind the highly successful development of [[Warner Bros.|Warner Brothers Studios]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]], [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]]. |
== Formative years == | == Formative years == | ||
| − | The other Warner brothers were [[Harry Warner]] ( | + | The other Warner brothers were [[Harry Warner]] (1881–1958), [[Albert Warner]] (1883–1967), and [[Sam Warner]] (1887–1927), members of a [[Yiddish]]-speaking Jewish family from [[Krasnosielc]], [[Poland]]. A [[cobbler]] named Benjamin Warner (probably Varna), had married Pearl Leah Eichelbaum in 1876. The couple had three children, one of whom died at age four. Desiring a better future for his family and himself, in 1883 Benjamin made his way to [[Hamburg, Germany]], and then took a ship to America.<ref name="Warner18"> |
{{cite book | {{cite book | ||
| last = Warner | | last = Warner | ||
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| location = New York | | location = New York | ||
| id = | | id = | ||
| − | | pages = p. 18}}</ref> The two surviving children, Hirsch (later Harry) and Anna, and wife Pearl joined him in [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]] less than a year later. The rest of the Warner brothers (and two sisters) were born in the [[United States]], except for Jacob (later Jack), who was born in [[London, Ontario]], [[Canada]], in | + | | pages = p. 18}}</ref> The two surviving children, Hirsch (later Harry) and Anna, and wife Pearl joined him in [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]] less than a year later. The rest of the Warner brothers (and two sisters) were born in the [[United States]], except for Jacob (later Jack), who was born in [[London, Ontario]], [[Canada]], in 1892. |
| − | After two arduous years in Canada, Benjamin Warner and his family made the long trek back to Baltimore.<ref name="Warner23-24">Idib at p. 23-24.</ref> In | + | After two arduous years in Canada, Benjamin Warner and his family made the long trek back to Baltimore.<ref name="Warner23-24">Idib at p. 23-24.</ref> In 1896, the family relocated to [[Youngstown, Ohio]], following the lead of Harry Warner, who established a shoe repair shop in the heart of the emerging industrial town.<ref name="Warner25-26">Ibid at p. 24-25.</ref> Jack Warner, who spent much of his youth in Youngstown, indicated in his [[autobiography]] that his experiences there shaped his early sensibilities. Warner wrote: "[[J. Edgar Hoover]] told me that Youngstown in those days was one of the toughest cities in America, and a gathering place for [[Sicily|Sicilian]] [[thugs]] active in the [[Mafia]]. There was a [[murder]] or two almost every Saturday night in our neighborhood, and [[knives]] and [[brass knuckles]] were standard equipment for the young hotheads on the prowl".<ref name="Warner29">Ibid at p. 29.</ref> |
== Early film career == | == Early film career == | ||
| − | In Youngstown, the Warner brothers made their momentous leap into the movie business, albeit in a limited manner. In the early | + | In Youngstown, the Warner brothers made their momentous leap into the movie business, albeit in a limited manner. In the early 1900s, Sam Warner took a job as a [[projectionist]] at [[Idora Park, Youngstown|Idora Park]], a local amusement park.<ref name="Warner49">Ibid at p. 49.</ref> He quickly persuaded the family of the new medium's possibilities and arranged the purchase of a Model B [[Kinetoscope]] from a projectionist who was "down on his luck".<ref name="Warner50">Ibid at p. 50.</ref> The enterprising brothers screened a well-used copy of ''[[The Great Train Robbery (1903 film)|The Great Train Robbery]]'' throughout [[Ohio]] and [[Pennsylvania]] before seizing the chance to purchase a small theater in 1906.<ref name="Warner54-55">Ibid at p. 54-55.</ref> That year, the brothers purchased the Cascade movie palace in [[New Castle, Pennsylvania]], a business they maintained until moving into film distribution in 1907.<ref name="Warner55-57">Ibid at p. 55-57.</ref> The Warner brothers established the [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]]-based Duquesne Amusement Company, which proved lucrative until the advent of the Motion Pictures Patent Company, which charged distributors exorbitant fees.<ref name="Warner65-66">Ibid at p. 65-66.</ref> |
== Formation of Warner Bros. == | == Formation of Warner Bros. == | ||
| − | In | + | In 1910, the Warner brothers pooled their resources and moved into film production.<ref name="Warner73">Ibid at p. 73.</ref> When Warner Bros. was formed in 1918, Jack became co-head of production along with elder brother Sam.<ref name="Warner100-101">Ibid at p. 100-101.</ref> Sam died in 1927 (just before the premiere of the first "talking" picture, ''[[The Jazz Singer (1927 film)|The Jazz Singer]]''), and Jack became sole head of production.<ref name="Warner180-181">Ibid at p. 180-181.</ref> He ran Warners' [[Burbank, California|Burbank]] studio with an iron hand. |
| − | In | + | In 1956, Jack, Harry and Al announced they were putting Warner Bros. on the market. Jack secretly put together a [[syndicate]] that bought control of the company. By the time Harry and Al learned of their brother's dealings, it was too late. The three brothers had gotten into numerous arguments over the past decades, but this subterfuge was too much even for Harry and Al; they never spoke to Jack again. |
Comedian [[Jack Benny]], who once worked at Warner Brothers, quipped, "Jack Warner would rather tell a bad joke than make a good movie."<ref>''Here's Looking at You, Warner Brothers'' documentary, Turner Classic Movies.</ref> | Comedian [[Jack Benny]], who once worked at Warner Brothers, quipped, "Jack Warner would rather tell a bad joke than make a good movie."<ref>''Here's Looking at You, Warner Brothers'' documentary, Turner Classic Movies.</ref> | ||
== Later years == | == Later years == | ||
| − | Jack was the second chief to also serve as company president, after [[Columbia Pictures]]' [[Harry Cohn]], but could not keep up with changes in the industry. He sold the studio to [[Seven Arts Productions]] in | + | Jack was the second chief to also serve as company president, after [[Columbia Pictures]]' [[Harry Cohn]], but could not keep up with changes in the industry. He sold the studio to [[Seven Arts Productions]] in 1967, after producing the film adaptation of [[Lerner & Loewe]]'s ''[[Camelot]]'', but remained active as an independent producer until the early 1970s. Among his last productions was another film adaptation of a Broadway musical, ''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]''. |
For his contribution to the [[motion picture]] industry, Jack Warner has a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] at 6541 Hollywood Blvd. He also has a star on [[Canada's Walk of Fame]] in [[Toronto]], which honors outstanding Canadians from all fields. | For his contribution to the [[motion picture]] industry, Jack Warner has a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] at 6541 Hollywood Blvd. He also has a star on [[Canada's Walk of Fame]] in [[Toronto]], which honors outstanding Canadians from all fields. | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
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[[Category:History and biography]] | [[Category:History and biography]] | ||
Revision as of 22:19, 16 September 2007
| Jack Warner | |
| Born | August 2, 1892 London, Ontario |
|---|---|
| Died | September 9, 1978 Hollywood, Los Angeles, California |
| Known for | Warner Brothers Studios |
Jack "J.L." Warner (August 2, 1892 – September 9, 1978), born John Leonard Warner in London, Ontario, Canada of a Polish-Jewish family, was the president and driving force behind the highly successful development of Warner Brothers Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
Formative years
The other Warner brothers were Harry Warner (1881–1958), Albert Warner (1883–1967), and Sam Warner (1887–1927), members of a Yiddish-speaking Jewish family from Krasnosielc, Poland. A cobbler named Benjamin Warner (probably Varna), had married Pearl Leah Eichelbaum in 1876. The couple had three children, one of whom died at age four. Desiring a better future for his family and himself, in 1883 Benjamin made his way to Hamburg, Germany, and then took a ship to America.[1] The two surviving children, Hirsch (later Harry) and Anna, and wife Pearl joined him in Baltimore less than a year later. The rest of the Warner brothers (and two sisters) were born in the United States, except for Jacob (later Jack), who was born in London, Ontario, Canada, in 1892.
After two arduous years in Canada, Benjamin Warner and his family made the long trek back to Baltimore.[2] In 1896, the family relocated to Youngstown, Ohio, following the lead of Harry Warner, who established a shoe repair shop in the heart of the emerging industrial town.[3] Jack Warner, who spent much of his youth in Youngstown, indicated in his autobiography that his experiences there shaped his early sensibilities. Warner wrote: "J. Edgar Hoover told me that Youngstown in those days was one of the toughest cities in America, and a gathering place for Sicilian thugs active in the Mafia. There was a murder or two almost every Saturday night in our neighborhood, and knives and brass knuckles were standard equipment for the young hotheads on the prowl".[4]
Early film career
In Youngstown, the Warner brothers made their momentous leap into the movie business, albeit in a limited manner. In the early 1900s, Sam Warner took a job as a projectionist at Idora Park, a local amusement park.[5] He quickly persuaded the family of the new medium's possibilities and arranged the purchase of a Model B Kinetoscope from a projectionist who was "down on his luck".[6] The enterprising brothers screened a well-used copy of The Great Train Robbery throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania before seizing the chance to purchase a small theater in 1906.[7] That year, the brothers purchased the Cascade movie palace in New Castle, Pennsylvania, a business they maintained until moving into film distribution in 1907.[8] The Warner brothers established the Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Amusement Company, which proved lucrative until the advent of the Motion Pictures Patent Company, which charged distributors exorbitant fees.[9]
Formation of Warner Bros.
In 1910, the Warner brothers pooled their resources and moved into film production.[10] When Warner Bros. was formed in 1918, Jack became co-head of production along with elder brother Sam.[11] Sam died in 1927 (just before the premiere of the first "talking" picture, The Jazz Singer), and Jack became sole head of production.[12] He ran Warners' Burbank studio with an iron hand.
In 1956, Jack, Harry and Al announced they were putting Warner Bros. on the market. Jack secretly put together a syndicate that bought control of the company. By the time Harry and Al learned of their brother's dealings, it was too late. The three brothers had gotten into numerous arguments over the past decades, but this subterfuge was too much even for Harry and Al; they never spoke to Jack again.
Comedian Jack Benny, who once worked at Warner Brothers, quipped, "Jack Warner would rather tell a bad joke than make a good movie."[13]
Later years
Jack was the second chief to also serve as company president, after Columbia Pictures' Harry Cohn, but could not keep up with changes in the industry. He sold the studio to Seven Arts Productions in 1967, after producing the film adaptation of Lerner & Loewe's Camelot, but remained active as an independent producer until the early 1970s. Among his last productions was another film adaptation of a Broadway musical, 1776.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Jack Warner has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6541 Hollywood Blvd. He also has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto, which honors outstanding Canadians from all fields.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ Warner, Jack (1964). My First Hundred Years in Hollywood. New York: Random Books, p. 18.
- ↑ Idib at p. 23-24.
- ↑ Ibid at p. 24-25.
- ↑ Ibid at p. 29.
- ↑ Ibid at p. 49.
- ↑ Ibid at p. 50.
- ↑ Ibid at p. 54-55.
- ↑ Ibid at p. 55-57.
- ↑ Ibid at p. 65-66.
- ↑ Ibid at p. 73.
- ↑ Ibid at p. 100-101.
- ↑ Ibid at p. 180-181.
- ↑ Here's Looking at You, Warner Brothers documentary, Turner Classic Movies.
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