Word: warners
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...Died. Warner Baxter, 58, veteran cinemactor; after long illness; in Beverly Hills, Calif. Starting out in the movies in 1916, he led a quiet private life, over the years made a smooth transition from romantic roles (To Mary-With Love) to character parts (Kidnapped), won Hollywood's second actor's "Oscar" (1929) as the original "Cisco Kid" in the first outdoor all-talking western, In Old Arizona...
...Great Train Robbery. This simple arrangement spells an end to a brother act that began in 1903, when 16-year-old Sam Warner paid $150 for a movie projector and a print of The Great Train Robbery. The brothers made so much money exhibiting the film that in two years they were able to buy a vacant store in New Castle, Pa., to use as a nickelodeon. Brother Jack sang songs while Sam ran the projection machine; Al drummed up publicity; Harry was the booking agent...
...Talkies. With Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer, the brothers introduced feature-length sound movies with talking in 1927, and revolutionized the industry. The revolution was profitable: in 1929, they earned $14.5 million after taxes. By that time Sam Warner had died, and President Harry ploughed the profits back into a string of theaters. The Warners owned 500 theaters, had assets of $230 million when the Depression hit, plunged them into a debt of $113 million. They ruthlessly sliced salaries in half, cut all other expenses just as deeply. Said Harry: "A picture is just an expensive dream...
...find another production boss. A likely successor is Lurie's friend Louis B. Mayer, whose feud with Dore Schary at M-G-M may make him glad to leave when his contract runs out on Sept. 1. Hollywooders think that if Mayer goes in, he may eventually buy Warner's production lot. Lurie hasn't made a deal with Mayer yet, but significantly asks: "Who wouldn't want Louis Mayer around...
...Millions. Smooth, fast-talking Lobbyist Bill Treadwell, who works for Britain's Tea Bureau, claims he has boosted U.S. tea consumption 17 million lbs. a year, largely by getting tea scenes into 83 movies in two years. His greatest coup: persuading Warner to change the name of its musical, No! No! Nanette! to Tea for Two. (In return, Treadwell used some of the Tea Bureau's $2,000,000-a-year promotion fund to squire a couple of starlets on a 14-city tour as "Miss Iced Tea for Two" and "Miss...