Warner Bros.-Seven Arts

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox company Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, Inc. was an American entertainment company active from 1967 until 1969.

History

Seven Arts Productions acquired Jack L. Warner's controlling interest in Warner Bros. Pictures for $32 million in November 1966.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The merger between the two companies was completed by July 15, 1967, and the combined company was named Warner Bros.-Seven Arts. Eliot Hyman, founder of Seven Arts, was named chairman. Warner Bros. Pictures president Benjamin Kalmenson served as president of the combined company.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Warner remained on the board as vice chairman.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alan Hirschfield was named financial vice president in October.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The head of production was Hyman's son, Kenneth Hyman. During his tenure, Hyman oversaw the production of hits like Bullitt, Girl On A Motorcycle, Rachel, Rachel and The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, and The Wild Bunch, as well as George Lucas' first film THX 1138.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 1968, the company sold its 25% stake in Associated British Pictures Corporation to Electric & Musical Industries.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The acquisition included Warner Bros. Records (which was renamed Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Records), and Reprise Records.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that same year, Warner Bros.-Seven Arts also purchased Atlantic Records.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Acquisition by Kinney

Within a year of the acquisition, Warner Bros.-Seven Arts was fielding merger offers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By 1969, it had become a takeover target for multiple companies, including Commonwealth United Corporation, National General Corporation, and Kinney National Service.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, concern over antitrust laws ultimately ruled out National General and Commonwealth, leaving Kinney as the preferred suitor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kinney sold its Ashley Famous talent agency in order to avoid any conflict of interest in the deal.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>

Warner Bros.-Seven Arts was officially acquired by Kinney National Company in July 1969. The Hymans resigned from the company and Ted Ashley was named chairman of the film studio in August.<ref name=":0" /> On December 16, 1969, Warner Bros.-Seven Arts was rebranded as Warner Bros. Inc.

The final film to be released under the Warner Bros.-Seven Arts name was Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, which was released in February 1970. The studio's next film, Woodstock, which was released in March, was credited as a Warner Bros. production, and this credit would be applied to all other productions from the studio afterward with Warner Bros. reestablished as a major film studio.

In September 1971, Kinney National spun off its non-entertainment assets as National Kinney Corporation, and changed its name to Warner Communications Inc.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> on February 10, 1972.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

• The Shuttered Room (1967)
• Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
• Camelot (1967)
• Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)
• Wait Until Dark (1967)
• Cool Hand Luke (1967)
• The Cats (1968)
• Firecreek (1968)
• Countdown (1968)
• Norman Normal (1968); produced by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Animation
• Bye Bye Braverman (1968)
• Kona Coast (1968)
• Chubasco (1968)
• Petulia (1968)
• The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
• The Green Berets (1968)
• Assignment to Kill (1968)
• I Love You, Alice B. Toklas (1968)
• Rachel, Rachel (1968)
• Finian's Rainbow (1968)
• Bullitt (1968)
• Sweet November (1968)
• The Sea Gull (1968)
• The Sergeant (1968)
• Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968); with Hammer Films
• The Picasso Summer (1969)
• The Big Bounce (1969)
• 2000 Years Later (1969)
• The Wild Bunch (1969)
• The Learning Tree (1969)
• The Rain People (1969)
• The Valley of Gwangi (1969); with Hammer Films
• The Great Bank Robbery (1969)
• Moon Zero Two (1969); with Hammer Films
• Once You Kiss a Stranger (1969)
• The Sweet Body of Deborah (1969)
• The Arrangement (1969)
• Jeff (1969); with Alain Delon's Adel Productions
• Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts (1967–69); produced by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Animation
• The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970); with David Paradine Productions and London Weekend Television
• Crescendo (1970)
• Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970)
• Start the Revolution Without Me (1970)
• Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1970); with Hammer Films

See also

• List of record labels