Warner Bros.
History
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., colloquially known as Warner Bros., is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California. The company was established on April 4, 1923, by four brothers: Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner.
The early years of Warner Bros. were marked by the pioneering use of synchronized sound in the film industry, with the release of The Jazz Singer in 1927. This innovation revolutionized the medium, leading to the end of the silent film era and the rise of the "talkies".
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Warner Bros. became known for its gritty crime dramas, often starring Humphrey Bogart, and for its animated shorts, featuring characters such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series.
In the 1950s, as television began to emerge as a serious competitor to the film industry, Warner Bros. diversified its operations, venturing into television production with series like Cheyenne and Maverick.
The company continued to expand and diversify over the ensuing decades, acquiring other entertainment companies and assets, including the comic book publisher DC Comics in 1969, and launching the cable television network The WB in 1995.
Corporate Structure and Operations
Warner Bros. is a subsidiary of WarnerMedia, which in turn is owned by telecommunications giant AT&T. The company operates in several areas of the entertainment industry, including film production, television production, video games, and publishing.
The company's film division, Warner Bros. Pictures, is one of the "Big Five" major American film studios. It has produced and distributed many critically acclaimed and commercially successful films, including The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, and Wonder Woman.
Warner Bros. Television is one of the industry's leading producers of scripted primetime television programming, with shows such as Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and Game of Thrones under its belt.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, the company's video game division, is responsible for popular franchises like the Batman: Arkham series and the Mortal Kombat series.
Impact and Legacy
Warner Bros. has had a significant impact on the entertainment industry. Its early adoption of sound in film set the standard for the industry, and its animated shorts have been a cornerstone of American animation.
The company's films and television shows have received numerous awards and accolades, and many are considered classics. Warner Bros. has also been a pioneer in the use of new technologies and distribution methods, from sound and color in film to streaming video on the internet.