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{{short description|American movie studio and motion picture distributor}}
{{coi}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{notability}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}
{{redirect|Allied Artists|other uses}}
{{Infobox company |

{{redirect|Allied Artists|other uses}}
| name = Allied Artists International, Inc.
| image = Allied Artists Int'l Headquarters - Glendale, California.jpg
{{Infobox Company |
| image_caption = AAI's headquarters in [[Glendale,_California|Glendale]], California
| company_name = Allied Artists International, Inc. |
| company_logo = [[Image:alliedartists5-22-09.jpg|250px]]|
| logo = Alliedlogo.jpg
| logo_size = 250
| company_type = [[Corporation]] |
| foundation = Southern California (1979), successor-in-interest to [[Allied Artists Pictures Corporation]] (1946) |
| type = [[Corporation]]
| foundation = Southern California (1979), successor-in-interest to Allied Artists Pictures Corporation (1946)
| founders = Robert Abernathy<br>Richard Smith<br>
| founders = [[Robert Abernathy]]<br>Richard B. Smith
| location_city = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] &<br />[[New York City, New York]]|
| location_city = Los Angeles &<br />New York City
| location =
| location =
| key_people = Kim Richards, Chairman and CEO, Robert Fitzpatrick, President<br /> |
| key_people = Kim Richards, CEO & Co-Chairman<br>Mark Beychok, Co-Chairman
num_employees = |
| num_employees =
| industry = [[List of entertainment industry topics|Entertainment]] |
| industry = [[List of entertainment industry topics|Entertainment]]
| products = [[Film|Motion Picture]]s, [[Television program|Television Production]], [[Music]], [[Music Publishing]], [[Entertainment]], [[Broadcast syndication|Television Syndication]], [[Online games]], [[Mobile Entertainment]], [[Video on demand]], [[Digital distribution]] |
| products = [[Film|Motion picture]]s, [[Television program|Television production]], [[Music]], [[Music publisher (popular music)|Music publishing]], [[Entertainment]], [[Broadcast syndication|Television syndication]], [[Online games]], [[Mobile entertainment]], [[Video on demand]], [[Digital distribution]]
| divisions = {{ubl|[[Allied Artists Music Group]]|[[Allied Artists Film Group]]|Allied Artists Films & [[Allied Artists International#Monogram Pictures|Monogram Pictures]]|Allied Artists Broadcasting & [[Allied Artists Music & Video Distribution]]}}<ref name="alliedartistsinternational">{{cite web |title=Allied Artists {{!}} About {{!}} History {{!}} Objectives {{!}} Management |url=https://www.alliedartists.com/about/ |website=Allied Artists |language=en |quote=ALLIED ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL, INC. consists of four divisions: ALLIED ARTISTS MUSIC GROUP (records, publishing, soundtracks, distribution, etc.); ALLIED ARTISTS FILM GROUP, consisting of ALLIED ARTISTS PICTURES; ALLIED ARTISTS FILMS & MONOGRAM PICTURES; ALLIED ARTISTS BROADCASTING (television production) and ALLIED ARTISTS MUSIC & VIDEO DISTRIBUTION.}}</ref>
| subsid = [[Allied Artists Pictures]], Allied Artists Music Group, Allied Artists Television, Allied Artists Home Video |
| subsid = [[Allied Artists Pictures]]<ref name="alliedartistsinternational"/>
| homepage = [http://www.alliedartists.com/ alliedartists.com]
| homepage = {{URL|alliedartists.com}}
}}
}}
'''Allied Artists International, Inc.''' is the successor-in-interest to [[Allied Artists Pictures Corporation]], and the sole holder of the Allied Artists trademarks.<ref name=patent>{{Cite patent|US|2522770}}</ref>


'''Allied Artists International, Inc.''' ('''AAI''') is an American [[multinational corporation|multinational]] mass media and [[show business|entertainment]] corporation headquartered in [[Glendale,_California|Glendale]], [[California]], [[United States]], producing and distributing motion pictures, recorded music, broadcast television, online streaming, video games, and other media products.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alliedartists.com |title=Allied Artists Website |access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/company/co0023951/ |title=IMDb Listing for Allied Artists Pictures |website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=8 September 2010}}</ref> The company is the successor to [[Monogram Pictures|Allied Artists Pictures Corporation]] (formerly known as Monogram Pictures Corporation).<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-and-film-executive-robert-32820 Music and Film Executive Robert Fitzpatrick Dies|The Hollywood Reporter]</ref><ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/peter-liapis-william-summers-lead-33928 Peter Liapis, William Summers to Lead Allied Artists' Film Division|The Hollywood Reporter]</ref> In the year 2000, AAI divided its media products into three distinct wholly owned divisions, [[Allied Artists Film Group]] (AAFG), [[Allied Artists Music Group]] (AAMG) and [[Allied Artists Music & Video Distribution]] (AAMVD).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehollywooddigest.com/whats-old-may-be-new-again-allied-artists-music-group-is-rebuilding-an-old-and-familiar-brand-in-a-digital-age/ |title=What's Old May Be New Again - Allied Artists Music Group is Rebuilding an Old and Familiar Brand in a Digital Age |date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://losangeles.splashmags.com/index.php/2020/12/09/interview-kim-richards-allied-artists-music-group/#gsc.tab=0 |title=Interview: Kim Richards – Allied Artists Music Group |access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref> Then, around 2020, AAI reorganized itself into four divisions: [[Allied Artists Music Group]], [[Allied Artists Film Group]], Allied Artists Films & [[Allied Artists International#Monogram Pictures|Monogram Pictures]], & Allied Artists Broadcasting & [[Allied Artists Music & Video Distribution]].<ref name="alliedartistsinternational">{{cite web |title=Allied Artists {{!}} About {{!}} History {{!}} Objectives {{!}} Management |url=https://www.alliedartists.com/about/ |website=Allied Artists |language=en |quote=ALLIED ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL, INC. consists of four divisions: ALLIED ARTISTS MUSIC GROUP (records, publishing, soundtracks, distribution, etc.); ALLIED ARTISTS FILM GROUP, consisting of ALLIED ARTISTS PICTURES; ALLIED ARTISTS FILMS & MONOGRAM PICTURES; ALLIED ARTISTS BROADCASTING (television production) and ALLIED ARTISTS MUSIC & VIDEO DISTRIBUTION.}}</ref> Allied Artists Pictures (the flagship AAFG studio) is known for having produced and released such historic motion pictures as ''[[Cabaret_(1972_film)|Cabaret]]'', starring [[Joel Grey]] and [[Liza Minnelli]]; ''[[Papillon_(1973_film)|Papillon]]'', starring [[Dustin Hoffman]] and [[Steve McQueen]]; and ''[[The Betsy]]'', starring [[Laurence Olivier]], [[Tommy Lee Jones]], [[Robert Duvall]], and [[Katharine Ross]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/theatrical-distributors/allied-artists |title=The Numbers |access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref>
==Allied Artists Records==

==History==

===Monogram Pictures===
{{main|Monogram Pictures}}
Producer [[Walter Mirisch]] began at [[Monogram Pictures]] after World War II as assistant to studio head Samuel "Steve" Broidy. He convinced Broidy that the days of low-budget films were ending, and in 1946, Monogram created a new unit, Allied Artists Productions, to make costlier films.<ref>p. 164 Balio, Tino ''United Artists, Volume 2, 1951–1978: The Company That Changed the Film Industry'' Univ of Wisconsin Press, 8 Apr. 2009</ref> At a time when the average Hollywood picture cost about $800,000 (and the average Monogram picture cost about $90,000), Allied Artists' first release, ''[[It Happened on Fifth Avenue]]'' (1947), cost more than $1,200,000.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Out Hollywood Way|work=New York Times|date=September 8, 1946|page=X1}}</ref> Subsequent Allied Artists releases were more economical but did have enhanced production value, with many being filmed in color. In July 1948 Monogram reported a loss of $978,000. The following year the loss was $850,000, although Broidy thought the company would go into profit the following year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Monogram pictures will show profit in fiscal year 1950, official says. |date=Jul 12, 1949|work=Wall Street Journal|id={{ProQuest|131783153}}}}</ref> The studio's new policy permitted what Mirisch called "B-plus" pictures, which were released along with Monogram's established line of B fare. In September 1952, Monogram announced that henceforth it would only produce films bearing the Allied Artists name. The studio ceased making movies under the Monogram brand name in 1953 (although it was reactivated by AAI by the millennium).<ref>{{Cite news|title=Inquisitr News |url=https://www.inquisitr.com/2392709/river-raft-nightmare-lifetime-movie-true-story-happened-before-ivan-sergei-leah-bateman-fred-olan-ray/ |website=inquisitr.com |access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref> The parent company became Allied Artists, with Monogram Pictures becoming an operating division.<ref>{{cite web|title=Duke Filmography |url=http://www.dukefilmography.com/monogram_pictures_library.html |access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref>


===Allied Artists Pictures===
Allied Artists Records, which was a separate entity at the time of the Allied Artists Pictures Corporation bankruptcy, was left standing with the only remaining rights to the "Allied Artists" name, although those rights had up to that point been limited to motion picture soundtracks, records and music publishing.<ref>[http://alliedartists.com/aboutus.htm The Rebirth of Allied Artists]</ref>
[[File:Friendly Persuasion-65%.jpg|thumb|200px|left|1956 ''[[Friendly Persuasion (1956 film)|Friendly Persuasion]]'' poster]]
[[File:Cabaret 25%.jpg|thumb|200px|right|1972 ''[[Cabaret (1972 film)|Cabaret]]'' poster]]


Allied Artists did retain a few vestiges of its Monogram identity, continuing its popular [[Stanley Clements]] action series (through 1953), its B-Westerns (through 1954), its [[Bomba, the Jungle Boy]] adventures (through 1955), and especially its breadwinning comedy series with [[The Bowery Boys]] (through 1957 with Clements replacing [[Leo Gorcey]]). For the most part, however, Allied Artists was heading in new, ambitious directions under Mirisch.<ref name= OAC>{{cite web|title=OAC Online Archive of California, collection No. 1146 |url=https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/ft7r29p02n/ |website=oac.cdlib.org|access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref> Between 1951 and 1952, Broidy announced [[Walter Mirisch]] would be head of productions and would make 45 films.<ref>{{Cite news|title=MONOGRAM LISTS 45 FEATURE FILMS|author=THOMAS M PRYOR|date=Sep 7, 1951|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|111967481}}}}</ref> For a time in the mid-1950s the Mirisch family had great influence at Allied Artists, with Walter as executive producer, his brother Marvin as head of sales, and brother Harold as corporate treasurer. They pushed the studio into big-budget filmmaking, signing contracts with [[William Wyler]], [[John Huston]], [[Billy Wilder]] and [[Gary Cooper]].<ref>{{Cite news|author=N., R. |date=Mar 24, 1955|title=Plans at allied artists|work=The Christian Science Monitor|id={{ProQuest|509235493}}}}</ref>
==Expansion of trademark rights==
But when their first big-name productions, Wyler's ''[[Friendly Persuasion (1956 film)|Friendly Persuasion]]'' and Wilder's ''[[Love in the Afternoon (1957 film)|Love in the Afternoon]]'' were box-office flops in 1956–57, studio-head Broidy retreated into the kind of pictures Monogram had always favored: low-budget action and thrillers. Mirisch Productions then had success releasing their films through [[United Artists]].<ref name= OAC /> In March 1965 Allied reported a loss of $1,512,000. The previous year they recorded a loss of $161,000. A shareholder revolt saw Broidy replaced as chairman by Claude Giroux in February 1965. Broidy resigned from the company in August of 1965 to become a producer.<ref>{{cite news|date=Aug 18, 1965|title=Allied artists' chairman, steve broidy, resigns to become film maker|work=Wall Street Journal|id={{ProQuest|133004322}}}}</ref> Allied Artists paused productions in 1966 and became a distributor of foreign films, but restarted productions with the 1972 release of ''[[Cabaret (1972 film)|Cabaret]]'' and followed it the next year with ''[[Papillon (1973 film)|Papillon]]''. Both were critical and commercial successes, but high production and financing costs meant they were not big money makers for Allied. In 1975 Allied distributed the French import film version of ''[[Story of O]]'' but spent much of its earnings defending itself from obscenity charges.<ref>{{cite book|publisher=Simon & Schuster|title=Lost illusions: American cinema in the shadow of Watergate and ..., Volume 9|author=David A. Cook|page=325}}</ref> [[French New Wave]] pioneer [[Jean-Luc Godard]] dedicated his 1960 film ''[[Breathless (1960 film)|Breathless]]'' to Monogram, citing the studio's films as a major influence.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Powers|first1=John|title=Breathless|url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/875-breathless|website=The Criterion Collection|access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref>


Allied Artists Pictures became insolvent in 1979 as a result of runaway inflation and high production costs, forcing it to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NyQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Allied+Artists+Pictures+bankruptcy&pg=PT55 Billboard Magazine, September 6, 1980]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehollywooddigest.com/whats-old-may-be-new-again-allied-artists-music-group-is-rebuilding-an-old-and-familiar-brand-in-a-digital-age/|title=Hollywood Digest Magazine |author=Don Peterson |date=11 January 2021 |publisher=Hollywood Digest |accessdate=12 January 2021}}</ref> Allied Artists Records, which was an unaffected wholly owned subsidiary of Allied Artists Pictures, acquired many of the bankrupt entity's trademark related intellectual property assets and sought to expand its trademark and service mark rights to include all forms of entertainment, including those properties previously held by Allied Artists Pictures. A select grouping of the post August 17, 1946 Monogram/Allied Artists library was bought by television producer [[Lorimar Productions]]. Today, a majority of the Lorimar library, including those acquired from Allied Artists Pictures, belongs to [[Warner Bros. Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web|title=In Re Allied Artists Pictures Corp., 71 B.R. 445 (S.D.N.Y. 1987)|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/BR/71/445/1928607/ |website=Justia |access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=10 May 1988|title=Warner Agrees to Buy Lorimar for $700 Million|work=Newspaper Article|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-10-mn-2585-story.html |access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref>
Following the 1980 bankruptcy and dissolution of Allied Artists Pictures Corporation, Allied Artists Records sought to expand its trademark and service mark rights to include all forms of entertainment, including those previously held by Allied Artists Pictures Corporation.


===Allied Artists Records===
Allied Artists Records ultimately filed for and received federal trademark protection for "Production and distribution of entertainment services, namely, phonograph records, motion picture films, video tapes, DVDs, and radio and television programs" in International Class 041.
{{main|Allied Artists Music Group}}


Prior to 1971, soundtracks were informally released under the "Allied Artists Records" or "Allied Artists Music" names. Allied Artists Records was officially formed by Allied Artists Pictures in 1971 to become the motion picture soundtrack releasing vehicle for its distributed motion pictures.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=uggEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Allied+Artists+Records&pg=PA3 Billboard Magazine, July 31, 1971]</ref> By 1988, Allied Artists Records laid historical claim to recording artists such as [[Elvis Presley]], [[Lionel Richie]], [[Lawrence Welk]], [[Bob Seger]], and [[Ted Nugent]]. Allied Artists Records' historical roster and catalog includes [[Exodus_(American_band)|Exodus]], [[Coolio]], [[Luis Cardenas]], [[David Hasselhoff]] and [[Renegade (band)|Renegade]].<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/search/?Nty=1&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntk=Keyword&Ns=FULL_DATE|1&Ne=125&N=126&Ntt=Kenny%20Rogers#/news/coolio-inks-with-allied-artists-label-875224.story Billboard.com, retrieved March 8, 2011]</ref><ref name= HD1>{{cite web |url=http://thehollywooddigest.com/whats-old-may-be-new-again-allied-artists-music-group-is-rebuilding-an-old-and-familiar-brand-in-a-digital-age/|title=Hollywood Digest Magazine |author=Don Peterson |date=11 January 2021 |publisher=Hollywood Digest |accessdate=12 January 2021}}</ref> In 2000, it was announced that Allied Artists Records would issue a Spanish-language recording by David Hasselhoff.<ref name=LATMR>{{Cite news|title="Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff will release his first Spanish- language album later this year on Allied Artists Records", MORNING REPORT |work=Los Angeles Times|date=Aug 26, 2000|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58806731.html?dids=58806731:58806731&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+26%2C+2000&author=DIANE+HAITHMAN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=MORNING+REPORT%3B+ARTS+AND+ENTERTAINMENT+REPORTS+FROM+THE+TIMES%2C+NEWS+SERVICES+AND+THE+NATION%27S+PRESS%3B+TELEVISION&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201030210/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58806731.html?dids=58806731:58806731&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+26,+2000&author=DIANE+HAITHMAN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=MORNING+REPORT;+ARTS+AND+ENTERTAINMENT+REPORTS+FROM+THE+TIMES,+NEWS+SERVICES+AND+THE+NATION'S+PRESS;+TELEVISION&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref> As the anchor AAMG label, Allied Artists Records, takes its name and history from the original motion picture soundtrack label by the same name, established by Allied Artists Pictures in 1971. Today, Allied Artists Records remains as a mainstream anchor imprint, together with its wholly autonomous target market imprints, Allied Artists Music Co., Monogram Records, Brimstone Records and Vista Records. Shortly thereafter, Allied Artists Records formally consolidated each of its imprint labels into "Allied Artists Music Group" in a cost-cutting measure designed to maximize distribution strength.<ref name= HD1 /> All music and home video offerings are distributed by way of the AAMVD global distribution network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alliedartists.com/interactive-map/ |title=AAMVD Interactive Global Distribution Map |date=June 15, 2020 |access-date=November 27, 2020}}</ref><ref name= HD1 />
In 2007, given the length of time Allied Artists International, Inc. had exercised control over the name, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued Allied Artists International, Inc. (Allied Artists Records' successor) a Notice of Acceptance under Section 8 of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1058(a)(1) and Section 15 of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1065, which deems Allied Artists International, Inc's right to the federal trademarks for "Allied Artists" incontestable.<ref name=patent/>


==Allied Artists today==
===Allied Artists Music & Video Distribution===


Allied Artists Pictures was among the first motion picture studios to self-distribute films for both itself and small independent film makers. In 1971, with the formation of Allied Artists Records, the company utilized [[Warner Bros. Records]] for domestic distribution of motion picture soundtracks. By the millennium, Allied Artists Records had developed its own robust global distribution network. As the distribution of motion pictures through major studios became cost prohibitive, Allied Artists Pictures began rediscovering its independent distribution roots. Simultaneous to restructuring the company's music holdings under Allied Artists Music Group, the motion picture holdings were restructured under Allied Artists Film Group. Both the music and film groups had their own forms of distribution, much of which overlapped. AAI, parent to both the film and music groups elected to merge both distribution arms into "Allied Artists Music & Video Distribution" (AAMVD).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alliedartists.com/distribution/ |title=AAMVD |date=June 15, 2020 |access-date=November 27, 2020}}</ref> Today, all music and home video offerings are distributed by way of the AAMVD global distribution network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alliedartists.com/interactive-map/ |title=AAMVD Interactive Global Distribution Map |date=June 15, 2020 |access-date=November 27, 2020}}</ref><ref name= HD1 />
Allied Artists International, Inc. is presently producing and distributing entertainment products that include motion pictures, television productions, DVDs, music CD's, entertainment software, music publishing and a myriad of other entertainment related activities.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit-->


==External links==
==External links==
* {{Official website|alliedartists.com}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/alliedartists Allied Artists YouTube Channel]


{{Film Studio}}
* [http://alliedartists.com Allied Artists International Website]
{{Music industry}}
* [http://www.imdb.com/company/co0023951/ Allied Artists Pictures Listing on IMDb]
{{Broadcasting}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Entertainment companies of the United States]]
[[Category:1979 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Cinema of Southern California]]
[[Category:Companies based in Burbank, California]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies based in California]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1979]]
[[Category:Film distributors of the United States]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1979]]
[[Category:Burbank, California]]
[[Category:Organizations awarded an Academy Honorary Award]]
[[Category:Academy Honorary Award recipients]]
[[Category:Television production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Entertainment Software Association]]
[[Category:Warner Bros.]]
[[Category:American record labels]]
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Latest revision as of 15:40, 28 July 2024

Allied Artists International, Inc.
Company typeCorporation
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedSouthern California (1979), successor-in-interest to Allied Artists Pictures Corporation (1946)
FoundersRobert Abernathy
Richard B. Smith
Headquarters
Los Angeles &
New York City
Key people
Kim Richards, CEO & Co-Chairman
Mark Beychok, Co-Chairman
ProductsMotion pictures, Television production, Music, Music publishing, Entertainment, Television syndication, Online games, Mobile entertainment, Video on demand, Digital distribution
Divisions
[1]
SubsidiariesAllied Artists Pictures[1]
Websitealliedartists.com

Allied Artists International, Inc. (AAI) is an American multinational mass media and entertainment corporation headquartered in Glendale, California, United States, producing and distributing motion pictures, recorded music, broadcast television, online streaming, video games, and other media products.[2][3] The company is the successor to Allied Artists Pictures Corporation (formerly known as Monogram Pictures Corporation).[4][5] In the year 2000, AAI divided its media products into three distinct wholly owned divisions, Allied Artists Film Group (AAFG), Allied Artists Music Group (AAMG) and Allied Artists Music & Video Distribution (AAMVD).[6][7] Then, around 2020, AAI reorganized itself into four divisions: Allied Artists Music Group, Allied Artists Film Group, Allied Artists Films & Monogram Pictures, & Allied Artists Broadcasting & Allied Artists Music & Video Distribution.[1] Allied Artists Pictures (the flagship AAFG studio) is known for having produced and released such historic motion pictures as Cabaret, starring Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli; Papillon, starring Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen; and The Betsy, starring Laurence Olivier, Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, and Katharine Ross.[8]

History

[edit]

Monogram Pictures

[edit]
Main article: Monogram Pictures

Producer Walter Mirisch began at Monogram Pictures after World War II as assistant to studio head Samuel "Steve" Broidy. He convinced Broidy that the days of low-budget films were ending, and in 1946, Monogram created a new unit, Allied Artists Productions, to make costlier films.[9] At a time when the average Hollywood picture cost about $800,000 (and the average Monogram picture cost about $90,000), Allied Artists' first release, It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947), cost more than $1,200,000.[10] Subsequent Allied Artists releases were more economical but did have enhanced production value, with many being filmed in color. In July 1948 Monogram reported a loss of $978,000. The following year the loss was $850,000, although Broidy thought the company would go into profit the following year.[11] The studio's new policy permitted what Mirisch called "B-plus" pictures, which were released along with Monogram's established line of B fare. In September 1952, Monogram announced that henceforth it would only produce films bearing the Allied Artists name. The studio ceased making movies under the Monogram brand name in 1953 (although it was reactivated by AAI by the millennium).[12] The parent company became Allied Artists, with Monogram Pictures becoming an operating division.[13]

Allied Artists Pictures

[edit]
1956 Friendly Persuasion poster
1972 Cabaret poster

Allied Artists did retain a few vestiges of its Monogram identity, continuing its popular Stanley Clements action series (through 1953), its B-Westerns (through 1954), its Bomba, the Jungle Boy adventures (through 1955), and especially its breadwinning comedy series with The Bowery Boys (through 1957 with Clements replacing Leo Gorcey). For the most part, however, Allied Artists was heading in new, ambitious directions under Mirisch.[14] Between 1951 and 1952, Broidy announced Walter Mirisch would be head of productions and would make 45 films.[15] For a time in the mid-1950s the Mirisch family had great influence at Allied Artists, with Walter as executive producer, his brother Marvin as head of sales, and brother Harold as corporate treasurer. They pushed the studio into big-budget filmmaking, signing contracts with William Wyler, John Huston, Billy Wilder and Gary Cooper.[16] But when their first big-name productions, Wyler's Friendly Persuasion and Wilder's Love in the Afternoon were box-office flops in 1956–57, studio-head Broidy retreated into the kind of pictures Monogram had always favored: low-budget action and thrillers. Mirisch Productions then had success releasing their films through United Artists.[14] In March 1965 Allied reported a loss of $1,512,000. The previous year they recorded a loss of $161,000. A shareholder revolt saw Broidy replaced as chairman by Claude Giroux in February 1965. Broidy resigned from the company in August of 1965 to become a producer.[17] Allied Artists paused productions in 1966 and became a distributor of foreign films, but restarted productions with the 1972 release of Cabaret and followed it the next year with Papillon. Both were critical and commercial successes, but high production and financing costs meant they were not big money makers for Allied. In 1975 Allied distributed the French import film version of Story of O but spent much of its earnings defending itself from obscenity charges.[18] French New Wave pioneer Jean-Luc Godard dedicated his 1960 film Breathless to Monogram, citing the studio's films as a major influence.[19]

Allied Artists Pictures became insolvent in 1979 as a result of runaway inflation and high production costs, forcing it to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.[20][21] Allied Artists Records, which was an unaffected wholly owned subsidiary of Allied Artists Pictures, acquired many of the bankrupt entity's trademark related intellectual property assets and sought to expand its trademark and service mark rights to include all forms of entertainment, including those properties previously held by Allied Artists Pictures. A select grouping of the post August 17, 1946 Monogram/Allied Artists library was bought by television producer Lorimar Productions. Today, a majority of the Lorimar library, including those acquired from Allied Artists Pictures, belongs to Warner Bros. Entertainment.[22][23]

Allied Artists Records

[edit]
Main article: Allied Artists Music Group

Prior to 1971, soundtracks were informally released under the "Allied Artists Records" or "Allied Artists Music" names. Allied Artists Records was officially formed by Allied Artists Pictures in 1971 to become the motion picture soundtrack releasing vehicle for its distributed motion pictures.[24] By 1988, Allied Artists Records laid historical claim to recording artists such as Elvis Presley, Lionel Richie, Lawrence Welk, Bob Seger, and Ted Nugent. Allied Artists Records' historical roster and catalog includes Exodus, Coolio, Luis Cardenas, David Hasselhoff and Renegade.[25][26] In 2000, it was announced that Allied Artists Records would issue a Spanish-language recording by David Hasselhoff.[27] As the anchor AAMG label, Allied Artists Records, takes its name and history from the original motion picture soundtrack label by the same name, established by Allied Artists Pictures in 1971. Today, Allied Artists Records remains as a mainstream anchor imprint, together with its wholly autonomous target market imprints, Allied Artists Music Co., Monogram Records, Brimstone Records and Vista Records. Shortly thereafter, Allied Artists Records formally consolidated each of its imprint labels into "Allied Artists Music Group" in a cost-cutting measure designed to maximize distribution strength.[26] All music and home video offerings are distributed by way of the AAMVD global distribution network.[28][26]

Allied Artists Music & Video Distribution

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Allied Artists Pictures was among the first motion picture studios to self-distribute films for both itself and small independent film makers. In 1971, with the formation of Allied Artists Records, the company utilized Warner Bros. Records for domestic distribution of motion picture soundtracks. By the millennium, Allied Artists Records had developed its own robust global distribution network. As the distribution of motion pictures through major studios became cost prohibitive, Allied Artists Pictures began rediscovering its independent distribution roots. Simultaneous to restructuring the company's music holdings under Allied Artists Music Group, the motion picture holdings were restructured under Allied Artists Film Group. Both the music and film groups had their own forms of distribution, much of which overlapped. AAI, parent to both the film and music groups elected to merge both distribution arms into "Allied Artists Music & Video Distribution" (AAMVD).[29] Today, all music and home video offerings are distributed by way of the AAMVD global distribution network.[30][26]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Allied Artists | About | History | Objectives | Management". Allied Artists. ALLIED ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL, INC. consists of four divisions: ALLIED ARTISTS MUSIC GROUP (records, publishing, soundtracks, distribution, etc.); ALLIED ARTISTS FILM GROUP, consisting of ALLIED ARTISTS PICTURES; ALLIED ARTISTS FILMS & MONOGRAM PICTURES; ALLIED ARTISTS BROADCASTING (television production) and ALLIED ARTISTS MUSIC & VIDEO DISTRIBUTION.
  2. ^ "Allied Artists Website". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "IMDb Listing for Allied Artists Pictures". IMDb. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  4. ^ Music and Film Executive Robert Fitzpatrick Dies|The Hollywood Reporter
  5. ^ Peter Liapis, William Summers to Lead Allied Artists' Film Division|The Hollywood Reporter
  6. ^ "What's Old May Be New Again - Allied Artists Music Group is Rebuilding an Old and Familiar Brand in a Digital Age". January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "Interview: Kim Richards – Allied Artists Music Group". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "The Numbers". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  9. ^ p. 164 Balio, Tino United Artists, Volume 2, 1951–1978: The Company That Changed the Film Industry Univ of Wisconsin Press, 8 Apr. 2009
  10. ^ "Out Hollywood Way". New York Times. September 8, 1946. p. X1.
  11. ^ "Monogram pictures will show profit in fiscal year 1950, official says". Wall Street Journal. July 12, 1949. ProQuest 131783153.
  12. ^ "Inquisitr News". inquisitr.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  13. ^ "Duke Filmography". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "OAC Online Archive of California, collection No. 1146". oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  15. ^ THOMAS M PRYOR (September 7, 1951). "MONOGRAM LISTS 45 FEATURE FILMS". New York Times. ProQuest 111967481.
  16. ^ N., R. (March 24, 1955). "Plans at allied artists". The Christian Science Monitor. ProQuest 509235493.
  17. ^ "Allied artists' chairman, steve broidy, resigns to become film maker". Wall Street Journal. August 18, 1965. ProQuest 133004322.
  18. ^ David A. Cook. Lost illusions: American cinema in the shadow of Watergate and ..., Volume 9. Simon & Schuster. p. 325.
  19. ^ Powers, John. "Breathless". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  20. ^ Billboard Magazine, September 6, 1980
  21. ^ Don Peterson (January 11, 2021). "Hollywood Digest Magazine". Hollywood Digest. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  22. ^ "In Re Allied Artists Pictures Corp., 71 B.R. 445 (S.D.N.Y. 1987)". Justia. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  23. ^ "Warner Agrees to Buy Lorimar for $700 Million". Newspaper Article. May 10, 1988. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  24. ^ Billboard Magazine, July 31, 1971
  25. ^ Billboard.com, retrieved March 8, 2011
  26. ^ a b c d Don Peterson (January 11, 2021). "Hollywood Digest Magazine". Hollywood Digest. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  27. ^ ""Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff will release his first Spanish- language album later this year on Allied Artists Records", MORNING REPORT". Los Angeles Times. August 26, 2000. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013.
  28. ^ "AAMVD Interactive Global Distribution Map". June 15, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  29. ^ "AAMVD". June 15, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  30. ^ "AAMVD Interactive Global Distribution Map". June 15, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
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