Harry Warner
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Harold ("Harry") Morris Warner (born Hirsch Warner), December 12, 1881 Krasnosielc, Poland – 25 July 1958 was one of the founders of Warner Bros. and a major contributor to the development of the film industry.
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[edit] Life
After the opening of movie theatres in Pennsylvania and Ohio in 1903, Harry Warner and his three brothers moved to California in 1918 to create a wider distribution studio. They were convinced that they would have to make movies themselves if they were to ever have success at showing them and generating a profit. Though the brothers struggled initially, they were eventually able to secure financing from the east coast that allowed them to take a gamble on the new idea of "talking movies.". Harry had initial reservations about the idea, in which he is memorably quoted as saying "Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?" when his Brother, CEO Sam Warner proposed the idea to him. Under Harry's and his brothers leadership, the company came to own and operate some 250 theatres in which to screen its films, and, more importantly, was a successful pioneer of the sound film industry and the company still thrives today.
Harry Warner also occupied a formidable central place in the Hollywood-Washington wartime propaganda effort during the Second World War. He was a close friend of FDR and a key proponent of intervention in Europe.
[edit] Death
Harry Warner died on 25 July, 1958. For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Harry Warner has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6441 Hollywood Blvd. In 2004 the Slippery Rock university in Pennsylvania dedicated a film institute to him. They also host an annual Harry Warner film festival. He is interred in the Home of Peace Cemetery in East Los Angeles, California.
[edit] Brothers
Harry Warner was the oldest of the Warner Brothers. The other Warner brothers were Albert Warner (Treasurer) (1883–1967), Sam Warner (Company CEO) (1887–1927), and Jack L. Warner (Executive in charge of Production)(1892-1978)
[edit] External links
- Article on Harry Warner and his wartime propaganda role by scholar Nancy Snow for the Lear Centre, USC
- Warner Brothers Comapny History
- Harry Warner Film Institute, Pennsylvania
[edit] References
- "Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story" by Cass Warner Spelling, Cork Milner and jack Warner Jnr, University Press of Kentucky.
- "The Warner Brothers" by Micheal Freedland, St Martins Press.
- "Warner Brothers" by Charles Higham, Scribner.
