Albert Warner

Infobox actor
name = Albert Warner


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birthdate = Birth date|1884|07|23
birthplace = Baltimore, Maryland USA
deathdate = Death date and age|1967|11|26|1884|07|23
deathplace =
othername =
occupation = Film executive
yearsactive =
spouse =
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Albert Warner (nicknamed "Abe")Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 22.] (July 23, 1884Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), Warner Family Tree.] – November 26, 1967), was one of the founders of Warner Bros. Studios. He established the production studio with his brothers Harry, Sam, and Jack Warner. He served as the studio's treasurer, until he sold his stock in 1956. [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,844282-2,00.html "Obituary."] "Time Magazine". 8 December 1967.]

Early Years

Albert was born Abraham Warner in Baltimore, Maryland,Thomas (1990), p. 10-11.] into a Yiddish-speaking family of Jewish immigrants from Poland.Thomas (1990), p. 9.] Albert was the second surviving son of Benjamin Warner (whose original last name was obscured but may have been Wonskolaser), [ [www.adherents.com/people/pw/Jack_Warner.html "The Religious Affiliation of Movie Producer Jack Warner."] adherents.com.] a cobbler from Krasnosielc, Poland, and his wife, the former Pearl Leah Eichelbaum. Following their marriage in 1876, the couple had three children in Poland, one of whom died at a young age.Thomas (1990), p. 10.] In search of a better future for his family and himself, in 1883, Benjamin made his way to Hamburg, Germany, and then took a ship to America.Warner and Jennings (1964), p. 18.] Upon arriving in America, Benjamin introduced himself as "Benjamin Warner," and the last name Warner remained with the family for the rest of their lives.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 20.] Pearl Warner and the couple's two surviving children, including Hirsch (later Harry), joined him in Baltimore, Maryland, less than a year later.Warner and Jennings (1964), p. 20.] In Baltimore, the couple had five more children, including Albert and Sam Warner. Unfortunately, the money Benjamin Warner shoe repair business in Baltimore was not enough to provide for his growing household.Thomas (1990), p. 11.] In Canada, two more children were born, one of whom was Jack.Thomas (1990), p. 11.]

Benjamin Warner's decision to move to Canada was inspired by a friend's advice that he could make an excellent living bartering tin wares with trappers in exchange for furs. In Canada, two more children were born, one of whom was Jack. After two arduous years in Canada, Benjamin and Pearl Warner returned to Baltimore, bringing along their growing family.Warner and Jennings (1964), pp. 23–24.] In 1896, the Warners relocated to Youngstown, Ohio, following the lead of Harry Warner, who established a shoe repair shop in the heart of the emerging industrial town.Warner and Jennings (1964), pp. 24–25.] Benjamin Warner worked with his son, Harry, in the shoe repair shop, until he secured a loan to open a meat counter and grocery store in the city's downtown area.Thomas (1990), pp. 12–13.] During this period, "two more children were added to the cramped quarters" of the Warner household.Thomas (1990), p. 12.]

In the late 1890s, Albert became fascinated by the bicycle craze that sweep through the USA.Thomas (1990), p. 15.] and his older brother Harry opened a bicycle shop in Youngstown together as well.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 26.] The two also tried to open a bowling alley together, but were unsuccessful.

Albert Warner stayed in school longer than any his three brothers.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 10.] In 1900, Warner entered Youngstown's Rayen High School, where he served as quarterback for the school's football team. Warner eventually dropped out, and eventually got a job in Chicago as a salesman for the soap company Swift and Company.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 11.] Warner's life would soon pursue a new direction after brother Sam was able to purchase Kinetoscope in 1903.Warner and Jennings (1964), p. 50.]

Film career

As a young man, along with his brother Sam, Albert Warner entered the nickelodeon business, and started displaying copies of The Great Train Robbery from a Kinetoscope at carvinals in Ohio and Pennsylvania in 1903; Sam ran the projector and Albert sold tickets.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 32-34.] In 1905, Harry agreed to join his two brothers' business and sold his Youngstown bicycle shop. During this time, the three brothers purchased a building in New Castle, Pennsylvania; with their new building, the brothers established their first theater, The Cascade Movie Palace. [Warner and Jennings (1964), pp. 54–55.] The theater was so successful that the brothers were able to purchase a second theater in New Castle as well.Thomas (1990), p. 22.] This makeshift theatre, called the Bijou, was furnished with chairs borrowed from a local undertaker.cite news
title = Jack L. Warner's Death Closes Out Pioneer Clan of 'Talkies'
work = Variety
date = September 13, 1978
page = 2] In 1907, the three brothers acquired fifteen addiional theaters in the state of Pennsylvania, and named their new business The Dusquesne Amusement Supply Company.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 40-42.] The three brothers then rented an office in the Bakewell building in downtown Pittburgh. Harry then sent Sam to New York to purchase, and ship, films for their Pittsburgh exchange company, while he and Albert remained in Pittsburgh to run the business.

In 1909, the brothers sold the Cascade Theater to open a second film exchange company in Norfolk, Virginia; through this second film exchange, younger brother Jack joined his three brothers' business. Afterwards, Sam and Jack went to Norfolk, while Harry and Albert stayed in Pittsburgh. However, one serious threat to the Warners film company was the advent of Thomas Edison's Motion Picture Patents Company (also known as the Edison Trust), which charged distributors exorbitant fees.Warner and Jennings (1964), pp. 65-66.] In 1910, the Warners sold the family business to the General Film Company, for "$10,000 in cash, $12,000 in preferred stock, and payments over a four-year period for a total of $52,000".Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 45-46.] After selling their business, the brothers found work distributing films for Carl Laemmle's Independent Motion Picture Company in Pittsburgh. In 1912, Sam Warner would help the brothers earn a $1,500 profit with his film "Dante's Interno".Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 47-48.] In the wake of the success "Dante's Interno" gave the brothers, Harry Warner, seeing Edison's monopoly threat growing, decided to leave Laemmle and establsh an independent film production company for himself and his three brothers, Warner Features; Albert and Harry opened an office in New York, while Sam was sent to operate the company's new Los Angeles film exchange division, and Jack was sent to run the company's new San Francisco film exchange division.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 51-54] In 1918, thanks in part to a loan from Ambassador James W. Gerald, [Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 62.] the brothers expanded operations and established a studio near Hollywood, California [Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 66-67.] Sam and Jack moved to the West Coast to produce films while Albert and Harry remained on the East Coast to handle distribution.

Between the years 1919 and 1920, unfortunately, the studio was not able to garnish any profits.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 71-77] During this time, banker Motley Flint helped the Warners pay off their debts. Shortly afterwards, the four brothers then decided to relocate their studio from Culver City to Sunset Boulevard.Thomas (1990), pp. 38.] The studio rebounded in 1921, after the success of the studio's film "Why Girls Leave Home". As a result of the financial success of the film, its director, Harry Rapf, was appointed the studio's new head producer.Thomas (1990), p. 38.] On April 4, 1923, following the studio's successful film "The Gold Diggers", Warner Brothers, Inc. was officially established. Albert remained in New York, where he ran the company's distribution and finances.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 173-174]

Warner Bros. Inc

Warner Bros. Inc.'s first film, Where the North Begins, drew success for the brothers not seen since My First Four In Germany.Thomas (1990), p. 75.] The film also made the dog Rin Tin Tin the studio's first star.newcomer director Darryl Zanuck's career was also greatly boosted because of his productions of Rin Tin Tin as well.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 82.] Zanuck would eventually become a top producer for the studio as wellSperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 101.] , and between 1928 and 1933, served as Jack Warner's right-hand man and executive producer, a position whose responsibilities included the day-to-day production of films.Behlmer (1985), p. xii.]

After establishing Warner Bros. Inc., the studio had, unfortunately overdrawn $1,000,000.00 (the amount which Warner had loaned from Flint).cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=40|isbn=0-070-64259-1] At this, Albert convinced Harry not to purchase the screenrights to the hit play "Rain" Harry then decided to help ease the company's financial status by acquiring forty theaters in the state of Pennsylvania

More success would also come for the studio after the brothers hired German director Ernst Lubitsch as the head director for the studio as well; Rapf had departed the studio and accepted an offer to work at MGM.cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=46, 47|isbn=0-070-64259-1] Lubitsch's first film at the studio, The Marriage Circle, became the studio's most successful film of 1924, and was also on the New York Times Best list for the year as well. The studio's 1924 film Beau Brummel also made John Barrymore a top star at the studio as well.cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=49, 50|isbn=0-070-64259-1] Despite the success the brothers now had, they still could not compete with the Big Three studios (First National, Paramount, and MGM)cite newspaper|title="Theatre Owners Open War on Hays"|publisher=New York Times|pages=14|date=May 12, 1925]

In 1925, Albert's older brother Harry and a large group of independent film-makers assembled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to challenge the monopoly the Big Three had over the film industry). Harry and the other independent film-makers at the Milwauke convention agreed to spend $500,000.00 in newspaper advertisements;cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=84,85,86|isbn=0-813-10958-2] this action would help benefit Warner Bros. profits. With help from a loan supplied by Golddman, Sachs head banker Waddill Catchings, Warner would find a way to successfully respond to the growing concern the Big Three Studios further induced to Warner Bros., and expanded the company's operations further buy purchasing the Brooklyn theater company Vitagraph. through this purchase, the Warners now had theaters in the New York area.

In 1925, Sam Warner had also acquired a radio station, KWBC,Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 89.] After acquiring this radio station, Sam decided to make an attempt to use synchronized sound in future Warner Bros. Pictures.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 90.] Harry Warner, however 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 Warner and his brothers leadership, the company came to own and operate some 250 theaters in which to screen its films, and, more importantly, was a successful pioneer of the sound film industry and the company still thrives today. By the February of 1926, however, the brothers' radio business had failed, and the studio was suffered a net loss of $333,413.00.cite book|last=Freedland|first=Michael|title=The Warner Brothers|publisher=St. Martin's Press|pages=119|isbn=0-312-85620-2] After a period of refusing to accept the usage of sound in the company's films, Harry Warner now agreed to use synchronized sound in Warner Bros. shorts, as long as it just for usage of background music, [cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=94|isbn=0-813-10958-2] Harry then made a visit to Western Electric's Bell Laboratories in New York,cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=54|isbn=0-070-64259-1] (which younger brother Sam had earlier visited) and was impressed.cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=54|isbn=0-070-64259-1] on problem that occurred for the Warners though was the fact that the high-ups at Western Electric were anti-Semitic. Sam, though, was able to convince the high-ups to sign with the studio after his wife Lina wore a gold cross at a dinner he attended with the Western Electric. After which, Harry signed a partnership agreement with Western Electric to use Bell Laboratories to test the sound-on-film process. [cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=94-95|isbn=0-813-10958-2] After the agreement was signed, Vitaphone was established.cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,731079,00.html|title=Milestones|date=1927-10-17|publisher="Time"|pages=2] and Sam and Jack decided to take a big step forward make Don Juan. [cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=102|isbn=0-813-10958-2] The film began with eight Vitaphone features filmed in sound. [cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=105|isbn=0-813-10958-2] Despite the success it had at the box office, [cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=110-112|isbn=0-813-10958-2] the film was not able to match it's expensive budget. [cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=113|isbn=0-813-10958-2] Harry was now further convinced not to use any more sound in Warner Bros. pictures. With Harry now refusing to allow further Vitaphone productions, Paramount head Adolph Zukor took advantage of the situation and tried to offer Sam a deal as an executive producer for his studio if he brought Vitaphone with him.cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=114|isbn=0-813-10958-2] Sam easily accepted Zukor's offer, but the offer died after Paramount lost money in the wake of Rudolph Valentino's death in late 1926.By April of 1927, the Big Five studios (First National, Paramount, MGM, Universal, and Producers Distributing) had put the Warners in financial ruin,cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=59|isbn=0-070-64259-1] and Western Electric renewed the Warner's Vitaphone contract with terms that it was no longer exclusive and that other film company's could test sound with Western Electric as well; the Warners were even forced to sell some of their stock to Harry Cohn, the head of the independent film company Columbia Pictures.cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=160|isbn=0-070-64259-1] Eventually, Harry agreed to accept Sam's demands to continue with Vitaphone productions,cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=115, 116|isbn=0-813-10958-2] and the studio soon began production of the first talkie, "The Jazz Singer"; soon after it's release, "The Jazz Singer" would indeed help establish the Warners as the arguably the three most importa figures in the film industry.cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=62|isbn=0-070-64259-1] On October 5, 1927, Sam would die and younger brother Jack was granted with the power to head all of the studio's production,cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=63|isbn=0-070-64259-1] despite the fact that Jack still did not have as much power over the studio as Harry did, as he was only the studio's Vice President.cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,739489,00.html|title=Warner Week|date=1930-06-09|publisher="Time"|pages=1]

Kings of the talking Screen

With the success of the Jazz Singers, more talkies followed.Thomas (1990), p. 63.] With the large sums of money the Warners now had on-hand, Harry was able to expand business operations further. Harry Warner was able to acquire the Stanley Corporation for the studio,cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=146|isbn=0-813-10958-2] This purchase gave them a share in rival First National Pictures, of which Stanley owned one-third.cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|date=1990|pages=65|isbn=0-070-64259-1] After this purchase, Warner was soon able to acquire William Fox's one third remaining share in First National and was now officially the majority stockholder of the company. Harry, after purchasing a string of music publishers,cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|date=1990|pages=66|isbn=0-070-64259-1] was even able to establish a music subsidiary-Warner Bros. Music- and buy out additional radio companies, foreign sound patents, and a lithograph company as well;cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=147|isbn=0-813-10958-2] In 1929, with the large amount of money he now had made off of the studio's valuable subsidiaries, Albert acquired a large home in Rye, Westchester County, New York, which he dubbed "Caradel Hall."Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 154]

The Great Depression

With the Wall Street Crash of 1929 officially marking the beginning of The Great Deprssion, Albert saw that the studio was in need of additional star power in order to survive.cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|date=1990|pages=75,76|isbn=0-070-64259-1] Following Albert's advice, Jack and Harry Warner acquired three Paramount stars (William Powell, Kay Francis, and Ruth Chatteron) for studio salaries doubled from their previous ones. This move proved to be a success, and stockholders maintained confident in the Warners. In late 1929, Jack Warner would hire sixty-one year old actor George Arliss to star in the studio's film "Disraeli".Thomas (1990), p. 77.] To everybody's surprise, the film "Disraeli" was a success, and Arliss would win an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in the film and star in nine more films with the studio as well.

With the collapse of the market for musicals, Warner Bros., under production head Darryl F. Zanuck, turned to more realistic and gritty storylines, 'torn from the headlines' pictures that some said glorified gangsters; Warner Bros. soon became known as "gangster studio. [cite web|url = http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/books/08/24/mob.movies/index.html |title = CNN.com - The mobster and the movies - Aug 24, 2004 |accessdate = 2008-07-09] The studio's first gangster film Little Caesar was a great success at the box office.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 184.] and Edward Robinson was casted a star in many of the wave of gangster films the studio produced after Little CaesarThomas (1990), pp. 77–79.] The studio's next gangster film, "The Public Enemy",Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 185] would also make James Cagney arguably the studio's new top star,Thomas (1990), pp. 81.] and the Warners were now further convinced to make more gangster films as well. Another gangster film the studio produced was the critically acclaimed "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang", starring Paul Muni.Thomas (1990), pp. 83.] In addition to Cagney and Robinson, Paul Muni was also given a big push as one the studio's top gangster stars after appearing in the successful film I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 186.] The film I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang got audiences in the United States to question the legal system in the United States. [cite web|url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,744829,00.html |title = Fugitive - TIME |accessdate = 2008-07-09 |date = December 26, 1932 |author = Monday |coauthors = Dec. 26, 1932] and by January of 1933, the film's protagonist Robert Elliot Burns-who was still imprisoned in New Jersey- and a number of different chain gang prisoners nationwide in the United States were able to appeal and were released. [cite web|url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,847110,00.html |title = Fugitive Free - TIME |accessdate = 2008-07-09 |date = January 2, 1933 |author = Monday |coauthors = Jan. 02, 1933] In January of 1933, Georgia chain gang warden J Harold Hardy-who was also made into a character in the film- sued the studio for displaying "vicious, brutual and false attacks" against him in the film. [cite web|url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,744920,00.html |title = TIME |accessdate = 2008-07-09 |date = January 16, 1933 |author = Monday |coauthors = Jan. 16, 1933] After appearing in the film "The Man Who Played God", Bette Davis would also become a top star for the studio as well.Thomas (1990), pp. 82–83.] In 1933, the studio's very successful film [42nd Street would revive the studio's musicalsSperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 194.] Most these new musicals featured Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell as the stars, and were mostly directed by Busby Berkeley.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 192.] By 1931, however, the studio would begin to feel the effects of the Depression as the general public became unable to afford the price for movie tickets.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 160.] In 1931, the studio would reportedly suffer a net loss of $8,000,000.00. The following year, the studio would suffer an additional $14,000,000.00 net loss as well. In 1933, relieve for the studio would come again after Franklin Roosevelt became US President in 1933 and was able to rebound the US Economy with the New Deal;Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 161.] because of this economic rebound, box office profits for Warner Bros. existed once again. This same year, however, a blow would also occur as the studio's longtime head producer Darryl F. Zanuck would quit, because: (1) Harry Warner's relationship with Zanuck became strained after Harry was strongly against allowing Zanuck film "Baby Face" to step outside the Hays Code boundaries; [cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,745754-2,00.html|title=Musicomedies of the Week|date=1933-07-03|publisher="Time"|pages=2] and 2) the studio reduced Zanuck's salary as a result of the financial woes the Great Depression gave the studio's net profits, [cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=182,183|isbn=0-813-10958-2] and Harry still refused to raise his salary in the wake of the New Deal's rebound.cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,847255,00.html|title=New Deal in Hollywood|date=1933-05-01|publisher="Time"|pages=2] Zanuck produced his letter of resignation to Jack Warner,Behlmer (1985), p. 12.] and went on to establish his own company In the wake of Zanuck's resignation, Harry Warner agreed to again raise the salary for the studio's employees.

In 1933, the studio was also able to bring newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan films into the Warner Bros. fold.cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=96|isbn=0-070-64259-1] Hearst had previously been signed with MGM, [cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=95|isbn=0-070-64259-1] but he ended his ties with the company after a dispute with the company's head producer Irving Thalberg over the treatment of Marion Davies;cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=95, 96|isbn=0-070-64259-1] Davies was a longtime mistress of Hearst, and was now struggling to draw box office success. Through the studios partnership with Hearst, Harry's younger brother Jack was also able to sign Davies to a studio contract as well. Hearst's company and Davies' films, however, could not increase the studio's net profits. [cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=95|isbn=0-070-64259-1] In 1934, Warner officially purchased the Teddington Studio as well.cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=110|isbn=0-070-64259-1]

In 1934, the studio would suffer a net loss of over $2,500,000.00. $500,000 of this loss was also the result of physical damage to the Warner Bros. Burbank studio that occurred after a massive fire that broke out in the studio around the end of 1934, and destroyed twenty years worth of early Warner Bros. films.cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=209|isbn=0-813-10958-2] The following year, Hearst's film adaption of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" would fail at the box office and the studio net loss increased. [cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=99|isbn=0-070-64259-1] During the year 1935, the studio's revived musicals would also suffer a major blow after director Busby Berkeley was arrested after killing three people while driving drunk one night.cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=86|isbn=0-070-64259-1] By the end of the 1935, however, relief would come for the Warnres, as the studio would rebound with a year-end net profit of $674,158.00.cite book|last=Warner-Sperling|first=Cass |coauthors=Millner, Cork; Warner, Jack; Warner, Jack Jr.|title=Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=211|isbn=0-813-10958-2]

Post War Era

On November 25, 1947, Albert Warner and other executives in the motion picture industry issued the Waldorf Statement, first promulgating the Hollywood Blacklist. Around this time, Albert also bought a second mansion in Miami Beach, Florida, where he lived for most of the remaining years of his life.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 340.] By 1956, the studio was losing money and Albert wanted to retire and live full time in his Miami Beach house.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 295.]

In May 1956, the brothers announced they were putting Warner Bros. on the market.cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,808529,00.html|title=Boston to Hollywood|date=1956-05-21|publisher="Time"|pages=2] Jack, however, secretly organized a syndicate-headed by Boston banker Serge Semenenko that purchased 90% (800,000 shares) of the company's stock.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 303-309.] After the three brothers sold their stock, in an under-the-table deal with Sememenko, Jack joined Semenenko's syndicate and bought back all his stock, which consisted of 200,000 shares. The deal officially completed in July.cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Times of Jack L. Warner|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1990|pages=226|isbn=0-070-64259-1] Now the company's largest stockholder, Jack appointed himself as the new company president. By the time Harry and Albert learned of their brother's dealings, it was too late.Thomas (1990), p. 226.]

Albert read about Jack's dealings while spending time in New York City. He never spoke to Jack again, but he did later rejoin the company's board of directors to keep Jack "from stealing the stockholders blind."

Albert Warner died in 1967 in Miami Beach, Florida where he had been living in retirement. A funeral service was held in the Los Angeles.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 339.] Warner was then interred in Brooklyn, next to his first wife Bessie Krieger.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 340.] After Albert's second wife Bessie Warner died in 1970 she was interred with him as well in Brooklyn.

Personal life

In 1908, Warner married Bessie Krieger, in New Castle, Pennsylvania.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 38.] Krieger died in 1923 from influenza.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 78.] On April 23, 1925, Warner married Bessie Siegal, the widow of his friend,Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 88] Jonas Siegal.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 540.] The couple remained married until Warner's death in 1967. Through his marriage to Bessie Siegel, Warner had a stepson, Arthur Jack Steel, who married Ruth Mandel, and had sons John and Lewis Steel (named after Harry Warner's son Lewis Warner). Warner was noted to never adapt the upper class lifestyle, remaining unrefined throughout his life.Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 170-173.]

Notes

Bibliography

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See also

* Harry Warner (1881–1958)
* Sam Warner (1887–1927)
* Jack Warner (1892–1978)

Persondata
NAME= Warner, Albert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Film executive
DATE OF BIRTH= 1884-07-23
PLACE OF BIRTH= Baltimore, Maryland USA
DATE OF DEATH= 1967-11-26
PLACE OF DEATH=