Who Were The Actual Warner Brothers?

The Warner Brother’s name is a pillar of cinematic history with titles like Casablanca, and the more recent Dune. This name has been attached to the works of great writers, directors, and actors since the beginning of American cinema, and today represents one of the world’s largest media conglomerates. However, as ubiquitous as the Warner Brothers’ name may be in cinema today, seldom recognized are the actual Warner Brothers when speaking on the legendary status of their company. Were it not for Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner, Hollywood would likely not have been the same today.

In 1889, three brothers – Harry, Albert, and Sam Wonsal – emigrated from Poland to the United States seeking a brighter future. The brothers first settled in Baltimore, Maryland, where they would drop their Yiddish last name and take on a Westernized version – Warner. Shortly after, the three brothers spent a brief period in Ontario, Canada where they were joined by their brother Jack. In order to sustain themselves, the brothers purchased a projector, where they showcased “flickers” to small towns in Pennsylvania and Ohio – a far cry from their later DCEU films. In 1903, the brothers had purchased their first theater in New Castle, PA, where they played some of early cinema’s most famous films like Life of an American Fireman or The Great Train Robbery. In the years following, the Warner Brothers began distributing films through the Duquesne Amusement & Supply Company, and by the time of WW1, they began to produce their own films and opened their first studio in Los Angeles before becoming fully incorporated in 1923.

That same year, Warner Bros had their first box office sensation with Where The North Begins, a film starring Rin Tin Tin, a dog rescued by an American soldier who became beloved by audiences everywhere. Recognizing Rin Tin Tin’s stardom, Jack Warner signed the dog (via his owner) to appear in subsequent films for a price of $1,000 per week. This was the first instance of Warner Bros. casting huge stars as they would do for years to come with actors like Bogart, Harrison Ford, and more recently Johnny Depp. In addition, the brothers signed famous Broadway actor John Barrymore to a large contract following the success of their film Beau Brummel in 1924. Soon after, under Sam’s request, the studio began implementing revolutionary synchronized sound technology for their films, and in 1925, Don Juan became the first film to ever showcase synchronized sound effects and musical accompaniment. The trend would follow with The Jazz Singer in 1927 and the “talkies” era was underway, all thanks to the pioneering efforts of Warner Bros.

For the next several decades, Warner Bros. would continue to grow, with high-grossing gangster films in the 1930s, Hollywood golden-age classics and cartoons in the 1940s, and popular adaptations and new stars in the 1950s. Warner Bros. would also succeed in branching out into television, producing hit shows like Smallville and One Tree Hill. As each decade passed, Warner Bros. was able to adapt and succeed, adding to the legendary status of their name.

Nowadays, Warner Bros. is only part of the much larger WarnerMedia, a multinational media corporation that, like many other conglomerates, continues to consolidate and increase ownership over popular media. Similarly, the company is responsible for producing ultra-high grossing superhero film franchises that have proven to be in high demand. Having ownership over the DC universe, W.B. today is recognizable for its rivalry with the Marvel cinematic universe, with both producing more and more films to meet the current demand for superhero flicks.

In all, Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner represent a success story congruent with that of many of their own films and television shows, such as The Conjuring franchise. Leaving their home country in search of a better future, the Warner Brothers set up shop in America and began showing movies to early cinema audiences. As each year passed, they continued to grow, from purchasing their first theater to becoming one of the world’s premier film studios to now standing as one of the world’s largest media corporations. At the very least, the Warner Bros story is that of zero to hero – and we will remember their name for years to come.