Warner Bros.-Seven Arts

Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, Inc.
Company typePublic
IndustryFilm
Television
Music
GenreEntertainment
PredecessorWarner Bros. Pictures, Inc. 1923–1967)
Seven Arts Productions (1957–1967)
FoundedJuly 15, 1967 (1967-07-15)[1]
DefunctDecember 16, 1969 (1969-12-16)[2]
FateAcquired by Kinney National Services Inc. and rebranded as Warner Bros. Inc.
SuccessorWarner Bros. Inc. (1969–present)
Headquarters
4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Benjamin Kalmenson (President)
Haskel Masters (Vice-President)
Jack L. Warner (Vice-Chairman of the board)
Eliot Hyman (Chairman of the board)
Parent Kinney National Services Inc. (July–December 1969)
SubsidiariesWarner Bros.-Seven Arts Television
Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Records
Atlantic Records
Seven Arts Productions
Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Animation

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.[3][4][5][6] 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.[7] Warner remained on the board as vice chairman.[8] Alan Hirschfield was named financial vice president in October.[9]

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.[10][11]

In February 1968, Warner Bros.-Seven Arts sold its 25% stake in Associated British Pictures Corporation to Electric & Musical Industries.[12]

The acquisition included Warner Bros. Records (which was renamed Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Records), and Reprise Records.[13] Later that same year, Warner Bros.-Seven Arts also purchased Atlantic Records.[14][15]

Acquisition by Kinney

Within a year of the acquisition, Warner Bros.-Seven Arts was fielding merger offers.[16] By 1969, it had become a takeover target for multiple companies, including Commonwealth United Corporation, National General Corporation, and Kinney National Service.[17] However, concern over antitrust laws ultimately ruled out National General and Commonwealth, leaving Kinney as the preferred suitor.[18] Kinney sold its Ashley Famous talent agency in order to avoid any conflict of interest in the deal.[19]

Warner Bros.-Seven Arts was officially acquired by Kinney National Company on July 4, 1969. The Hymans resigned from the company and Ted Ashley was named chairman of the film studio in August.[19] 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.[20][21][22] on February 10, 1972.[23]

Filmography

See also: List of Warner Bros. films (1960–1969)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Amended Proposed Decision" (PDF). www.justice.gov. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  2. ^ Newspaper.com (16 December 1969). "Warner Bros. Drops Name of Seven Arts". Valley Times. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Jack L. Warner, President, Agrees to Sell His Interest In a $32-Million Deal; 7 ARTS IS BUYING 33% OF WARNER". The New York Times. 15 November 1966. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  4. ^ Warner Sperling, Cass (Director) (2008). The Brothers Warner (DVD film documentary). Warner Sisters, Inc. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Company History". warnerbros.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Warner Brothers Records Story". bsnpubs.com. 23 April 2004. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, Ltd., Chooses Hyman as Chairman". The New York Times. 18 July 1967. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Warner to Produce On Broadway". The New York Times. 19 December 1968. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Warner Bros.-7 Arts Elects Vice President". The New York Times. 13 October 1967. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Kenneth Hyman: Legendary producer behind such gems as Bullitt, THX1138 and Girl On A Motorcycle". Bizarre Magazine. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  11. ^ Delugach, Al (2 July 1987). "Hyman to Head New Century's Overseas Unit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Warner-Seven Arts in Deal". The New York Times. 2 February 1968. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  13. ^ Knoedelseder, Jr., William K. (20 March 1989). "MUSIC TO WARNER'S EARS : Profit from Records Unit, the Industry Leader, Far Outstrips High-Profile Movie Division". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  14. ^ "Stay Tuned By Stan Cornyn: 7 Arts Buys Atlantic, Too". Rhino. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  15. ^ "Maitland to Head W7 Record-Music Wing". Billboard. 13 July 1968. p. 3. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Seeburg Is Seeking a Merger Or Other Tie to Warner Bros". The New York Times. 8 August 1968. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  17. ^ "KINNEY IS SEEKING WARNER CONTROL; It Offers Securities Said to Be Worth $400-Million Acquisitions and Combinations Are Planned by Corporations". The New York Times. 29 January 1969. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  18. ^ Cole, Robert J. (26 February 1969). "WARNER BACKING BID FROM KINNEY; Film Maker's Board Spurns Commonwealth's Offer COMPANIES TAKE MERGER ACTIONS". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Warner Bros. Picks New Chief Officer And Head of Board (Published 1969)". The New York Times. 5 August 1969. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  20. ^ Hammer, Alexander R. (2 March 1974). "FRENCH MAY BUY NATIONAL KINNEY". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  21. ^ Bender, Marylin (13 August 1972). "From Caskets to Cable". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  22. ^ Porter, Rick (9 June 2025). "It's Not You, It's WB: A Brief History of Warners' 21st Century Mergers and Breakups". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Kinney Changes Name". Des Moines Tribune. 11 February 1972. Retrieved 8 November 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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