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Let's talk about good ol' Warner Brothers. Did you know there were, in fact, ELEVEN Warner children (brothers AND sisters)? But only four of the brothers (Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack) started an empire in the "Wild West" that was the early film industry! And today's Warner was known as the most colorful, outspoken, crude, arrogant Warner of them all....
1892 - 1978
Jacob Warner, as he was actually named, was born in Canada to a devout Polish-Jewish family. There were a total of 11 children, Jack having 3 siblings born after him. When Jack was very young, his family moved to Baltimore, MD - his father so dedicated to his religion that he made sure to find a home within walking distance of the synagogue, as driving a wagon would be considered "labor" on the Sabbath.
After 4th grade, young Jack quit school and began hanging around with the local street gang. The younger Warner kids didn't take to the old Jewish ways and were quite assimilated - which upset their parents and their older siblings. The most rebellious Warner child? Who else...?! Jack enjoyed performing and singing along with his sister's piano playing. After singing in local theaters, he sang at the Youngstown Opera House before going on a vaudeville tour, changing his name to "Jack".
When moving pictures began showing at the local amusement park, brother Sam talked his family into showing films on their own. The brothers had already worked together in several other capacities, such as selling soap and working in their father's butcher shop. Before you know it, they're in the picture business. Harry, as the stereotypical eldest, became the "boss". Of course.
In 1903, the Warners set up a tent in their yard and charged admission to see "The Great Train Robbery". This led to touring in several small towns, but they got tired of the constant travel and wanted to set up somewhere permanent. The brothers (Harry mostly) settled on going to Pittsburgh to open a film exchange. Jack was only 15 at the time and at first, it looked like his 3 older brothers would be leaving without him. Sam was always Jack's best friend, and Jack didn't want to be separated from him - so after convincing his parents, he too was on his way to Pittsburgh. He and his father sneaked in a secret meal of ham and eggs before the train arrived - scandalous behavior for a staunch Jew like Mr. Warner!
The Warner Brothers' film exchange was short-lived, as they were quickly bought out by the monster that was Edison's General Film Company. They didn't like competition. So Jack and Sam tried producing 2 films of their own - and both were unsuccessful. Dang it all! Harry decided that the brothers should get back into distribution, and joined forces with our friend Carl Laemmle's independent group, and before long they were headquartered in California. Like everyone else.
Well, after a time, Edison's monopolizing was halted, and independent filmmakers rejoiced. Harry decided (as he always did) that it was a good time to try making another film. It was called "Passions Inherited"....and it was a flop. BUT! They persisted, and finally found success with their 1918 film, "My Four Years in Germany". Before you know it, the Warner Brothers had a studio and were quickly gaining a reputation! Not all of which was positive...
L-R: Harry, Jack, Sam and Albert
Warner Brothers, although headed up by the sensible big brother Harry, became known for being aggressive and cantankerous - largely from (WHO ELSE) Jack's influence. As co-head of production (along with Sam), he was a "show-off" - flamboyant and loud, a rude, self-professed womanizer who often told "very bad jokes in a loud voice", as one person put it. Basically, everything that Harry was embarrassed by - that's who Jack was. And many felt it was intentional, as Jack reveled in embarrassing his older, wiser (more boring) brother, and Harry was always in the awkward position of apologizing to others for Jack's behavior.
The brothers Warner (1926)
In 1927, Warner Brothers became the first studio to make a feature film with sound. They had previously released a film with pre-recorded music - another first! "The Jazz Singer" was the first feature with dialog and music, not just an experimental short film....which they had also made, surprise surprise! Sam Warner had been hospitalized during production with a recurring chronic sinus abscess, and ended up needing surgery. The day before the premiere of "The Jazz Singer", Sam passed away in the hospital. Jack was particularly distraught, as Sam had not only been his best friend and confidant, he'd also been sort of a "buffer" between Harry and Jack - who never did get along. Unsurprisingly, this was the beginning of the end of the relationship between the two.
With Jesse L. Lasky (1930's)
Now, as the only head of production at Warner Brothers, Jack was the final authority on their finished product. His starring roles were always smart, cynical urban characters - which, incidentally, is how Jack idealized himself! And the public loved it. He is said to have had an unusually good memory, often remembering raw footage he'd seen 3 or 4 months previously! But for all he accomplished at Warner Brothers....Harry and Jack never managed to have a peaceful co-existence after Sam's passing.
On one occasion, Harry chased Jack around the studio lot with a lead pipe in hand, and had to be physically restrained. At one point, the two brothers were so angry with one another that neither one would go into the studio commissary if the other was there! Towards the end of their lives, Harry and Jack were not speaking to one another at all, and when Harry passed away, his wife accused Jack of driving him to his grave.
In 1969, Jack officially retired as head of production at the Warner Brothers studio, after an exhausting 50-plus years. But wait! He WASN'T DONE YET. Jack became an independent producer for Warner Brothers, running their distribution and exhibition division. In 1973, he began getting disoriented, once getting lost in the building where his office was, and shortly retired (this time for real). The following year, he suffered a stroke which left him blind and eventually unable to speak. In 1978, he was hospitalized and passed away from heart inflammation, at the age of 86. He was survived by his second wife, actress Ann Page, and 3 children. Jack was interred at the Home of Peace Cemetery in East Los Angeles. Word has it at his memorial service, voice actor legend Mel Blanc gave his "Porky Pig" farewell: "A-bee-a-bee-a-bee–that's all, folks."
We think that nothing would have pleased the irreverent mogul more!
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