Jack Leonard Warner (born Jacob Warner; August 2, 1892 â€" September
9, 1978) was a Canadian-American film executive who was the president
and driving force behind the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank,
California. Warner's career spanned some 45 years, its duration
surpassing that of any other of the seminal Hollywood studio moguls.As
co-head of production at Warner Bros. Studios, he worked with his
brother, Sam Warner, to procure the technology for the film industry's
first talking picture, The Jazz Singer (1927). After Sam's death, Jack
clashed with his surviving older brothers, Harry and Albert Warner. He
assumed exclusive control of the film production company in the 1950s,
when he secretly purchased his brothers' shares in the business after
convincing them to participate in a joint sale of stocks.Although
Warner was feared by many of his employees and inspired ridicule with
his uneven attempts at humor, he earned respect for his shrewd
instincts and tough-mindedness. He recruited many of Warner Bros.' top
stars and promoted the hard-edged social dramas for which the studio
became known. Given to decisiveness, Warner once commented, "If I'm
right fifty-one percent of the time, I'm ahead of the game."
9, 1978) was a Canadian-American film executive who was the president
and driving force behind the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank,
California. Warner's career spanned some 45 years, its duration
surpassing that of any other of the seminal Hollywood studio moguls.As
co-head of production at Warner Bros. Studios, he worked with his
brother, Sam Warner, to procure the technology for the film industry's
first talking picture, The Jazz Singer (1927). After Sam's death, Jack
clashed with his surviving older brothers, Harry and Albert Warner. He
assumed exclusive control of the film production company in the 1950s,
when he secretly purchased his brothers' shares in the business after
convincing them to participate in a joint sale of stocks.Although
Warner was feared by many of his employees and inspired ridicule with
his uneven attempts at humor, he earned respect for his shrewd
instincts and tough-mindedness. He recruited many of Warner Bros.' top
stars and promoted the hard-edged social dramas for which the studio
became known. Given to decisiveness, Warner once commented, "If I'm
right fifty-one percent of the time, I'm ahead of the game."
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