Lorimar Television

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for clobbered parameters|check|nested=1|template=Infobox company|cat=Template:Main other|name; company_name|logo; company_logo|logo_alt; alt|trade_name; trading_name|former_names; former_name|type; company_type|predecessors; predecessor|successors; successor|foundation; founded|founders; founder|defunct; dissolved|hq_location; location|hq_location_city; location_city|hq_location_country; location_country|num_locations; locations|areas_served; area_served|net_income; profit|net_income_year; profit_year|owners; owner |homepage; website }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox company with unknown parameter "_VALUE_" | ignoreblank=y | alt | area_served | areas_served | assets | assets_year | aum | brands | company_logo | company_name | company_type | defunct | dissolved | divisions | embed | equity | equity_year | fate | footnotes | former_name | former_names | foundation | founded | founder | founders | genre | homepage | hq_location | hq_location_city | hq_location_country | incorporated | image | image_alt | image_caption | image_size | image_upright | income_year | industry | ISIN | key_people | location | location_city | location_country | locations | logo | logo_alt | logo_caption | logo_class | logo_size | logo_upright | members | members_year | module | name | native_name | native_name_lang | net_income | net_income_year | num_employees | num_employees_year | num_locations | num_locations_year | operating_income | owner | owners | parent | predecessor | predecessors | production | production_year | products | profit | profit_year | rating | ratio | revenue | revenue_year | romanized_name | services | subsid | successor | successors | traded_as | trade_name | trading_name | type | website| qid | fetchwikidata | suppressfields | noicon | nocat | demo | categories }}

Lorimar Television, formerly Lorimar Productions, Inc. and Lorimar Distribution, was an American production company that was later a subsidiary of Warner Bros., active from 1969<ref name="Lee">Lee Rich Interview: Archive of American Television. Retrieved on November 24, 2010.</ref><ref name="Merv">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> until 1993, when it was consolidated into Warner Bros. Television (now Warner Bros. Television Studios). It was founded by Irwin Molasky, Merv Adelson, and Lee Rich. The company's name was a portmanteau of the name of Adelson's then wife, Lori, and Palomar Airport.<ref name="Lee" />

History

File:Lorimar - 1978.svg

Lorimar’s second logo, used from 1978 to 1986

Early years and merger with Telepictures (1969–1986)

In the late 1960s, Lorimar Productions was founded with the aid of a bank loan of $185,000 from Adelson. Prior to Lorimar, Rich had an established reputation first as an advertising executive at Benton & Bowles, then as a television producer, co-producing (with Walter Mirisch) successful series such as The Rat Patrol.

Lorimar initially produced made-for-television movies for the ABC Movie of the Week.<ref name="Lee" /> Rich bought the script to an adaptation of Earl Hamner Jr.'s novel The Homecoming and subsequently sold the rights to CBS. The Homecoming: A Christmas Story, airing during the 1971 holiday season, was a ratings success, and served as the pilot for Lorimar's first major hit, The Waltons, which premiered in 1972.<ref name="Lee" /> Throughout the 1970s, Lorimar produced a number of hit shows, including Eight Is Enough; of these, the most popular by far was Dallas.<ref name=LorimarAlliedArti.NYT81>Template:Cite news</ref>

Lorimar's operations gradually expanded, first with a syndication unit.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In late 1978, Lorimar Productions and United Artists (UA) entered into a partnership; UA distributed Lorimar-produced films, while Lorimar sought to adapt UA properties into television series. However, nothing would come of the latter, and UA's distribution deal with Lorimar ended in 1980.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1980, Lorimar purchased the Allied Artists Pictures Corporation library.<ref name="LorimarAlliedArti.NYT81" />

In the 1984–85 season, three of the top 10 shows in the United States were produced by Lorimar; Dallas, Knots Landing, and Falcon Crest. In the mid-1980s, Lorimar's output swung toward family-friendly sitcoms; among these were The Hogan Family (initially titled Valerie), Perfect Strangers, and Full House, which were produced by Miller-Boyett Productions. 1985 saw a concerted effort to expand into the lucrative field of first-run syndication with the acquisition of Syndivision, whose rights include syndication of The Greatest American Hero and It's a Living, with ultimately-aborted plans to tape new episodes of the CBS game show Press Your Luck.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In October 1985, Lorimar, as part of their first-run syndication expansion,<ref name="Lee" /> announced it would merge with television syndication firm Telepictures, becoming Lorimar-Telepictures.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That same year Lorimar announced their intention to buy a 15% share in the then-financially troubled Warner Communications. On February 19, 1986, the Lorimar-Telepictures merger was completed and the company started trading on the New York Stock Exchange as "LT".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1986 they purchased the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studio lot in Culver City, as well as the Metrocolor laboratory from Ted Turner. L-T turned around and sold off the Metrocolor facility to Technicolor for $60 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Around that same year, Rich left the company and moved to MGM.<ref name="Lee"/>

Purchase by Warner Communications and consolidation with Warner Bros. Television (1987–1993)

In 1987, Lorimar-Telepictures's production arm became Lorimar Television and the L-T distribution business was rebranded as Lorimar Syndication.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This was part of a strategy where the Lorimar name would be used as an operating name for all of L-T's business units.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Plans were announced for a television series based on TV Guide magazine, but these plans did not come to fruition (TV Guide would come to television in 1999, when the Prevue Channel was rebranded as the TV Guide Channel).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In June 1988, Lorimar was purchased by Warner Communications,<ref name="Merv" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which in 1990 merged with Time Inc. to form Time Warner. Lorimar's distribution business was folded into Warner Bros. Television Distribution and became Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution; since then, the Telepictures name has been resurrected as both a production company (circa 1990), and once again as a syndication company (1995).

The former MGM studio lot was sold to Sony to house Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, and Sony's other operations towards the end of 1989 with the facilities renamed as Columbia Studios (now Sony Pictures Studios) at the beginning of 1990. In 1990, David Salzman left Lorimar to start Millennium Productions, an independent production company allied with Warner Bros.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1991, after Orion Pictures shut down its television unit, Gary Nardino moved to Lorimar, taking some Orion-produced shows and talent deals (Thomas Carter, Robert Townsend, Paul Stojanovich, Clifton Campbell and Deborah Joy LeVine) with them.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1992, Barbara Corday, former CBS executive, struck a deal with the studio.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Lorimar continued as a production company until September 1993, when it was eventually consolidated into Warner Bros. Television, primarily for economic reasons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The last series to premiere under the Lorimar name was Time Trax, as part of the Prime Time Entertainment Network programming block. Several shows slated to be Lorimar productions, such as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Living Single, It Had to Be You, Café Americain, The Trouble with Larry, Against the Grain<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Family Album ended up being produced by Warner Bros.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Les Moonves, who would later become the chairman and CEO of CBS Corporation, was the president and CEO of Lorimar Television from 1990 to 1993. Moonves then became the chairman of Warner Bros. Television after the merger with Lorimar.

Additionally, Lorimar owned key components of the film library of the defunct Allied Artists film studio (originally Monogram Pictures), which includes Cabaret and Papillon; these, too, are now owned by Warner. After the merger with Telepictures, they also took possession of the Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment animation house, along with the post-1973 library of that company, including its entry into the 1980s animation market, ThunderCats, which ran until 1989; a Warner Bros. Animation-produced revival show aired on Cartoon Network for one season in 2011.

Other ventures

Theatrical films

Lorimar was not restricted to producing television programs. They also sporadically produced theatrical motion pictures, most of which were originally distributed by other studios; these were produced under the banner of Lorimar Motion Pictures (or sometimes Lorimar Pictures). Lorimar's entrance into feature films was predominantly sanctioned by Adelson; Rich was vehemently against it. This asset was among the many factors that led to Rich's exit from the studio in 1986.<ref name="Lee" />

Lorimar ended their original distribution pact with United Artists in 1980, soon after purchasing the Allied Artists library, due mainly to dissatisfaction with UA's scattershot marketing of Lorimar productions.<ref name="LorimarAlliedArti.NYT81" /> Subsequently, much of Lorimar's film output was distributed by either Universal or Paramount domestically. By late 1984, the entire unit began to ramp up operations, including a deal with Sidney Lumet to develop feature films.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1985, it entered into a partnership with Producers Sales Organization, handling worldwide sales, and 20th Century Fox, which took over North American distribution rights to many of its theatrical films.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By 1986, Lorimar Motion Pictures had signed international distribution agreements with a joint venture of TCF and The Walt Disney Company called U.K. Film Distributors in the United Kingdom, France's UGC and German's Neue Constantin Film, along with Toho-Towa in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In January 1987, the film unit was renamed Lorimar Film Entertainment to coincide with its newly formed in-house distribution unit; this superseded the previous deal with Fox.<ref>Associated Press. "Movie Deal." Merced Sun-Star (January 17, 1987)</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That year, New Century/Vista Film Co., a joint venture of The Vista Organization and New Century Entertainment, struck a deal with Lorimar for international distribution.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Several Vista productions were distributed by Lorimar, including Rented Lips, Pass the Ammo and Fright Night Part II.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Lorimar also acquired international theatrical and other ancillary rights to Return of the Living Dead Part II.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In May 1987, Craig Bamgaurten, who had been with Lorimar Motion Pictures since 1984, announced that he would resign his post as president in December, and Peter Chernin took over as president of Lorimar Film Entertainment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1988, following the announcement of L-T's merger with Warner Communications, Lorimar struck a new distribution deal with Warner Bros. This deal effectively ended Lorimar's in-house distribution wing.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The theatrical film library of Lorimar was subsequently folded into Warner Bros. Pictures.

Warner Bros. now owns most of Lorimar's catalogue, though a few films remained with their original distributors.

Home video

In 1984, Lorimar purchased Karl Video Corporation (KVC), the company behind the Jane Fonda's Workout exercise video series. Lorimar continued to license library product (primarily Allied Artists titles) to CBS/Fox Video (as well as sub-labels Key Video and Playhouse Video) for some time.

After the Lorimar buyout, Karl-Lorimar began to expand, first with a deal to distribute movies from Lorimar Motion Pictures.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Third-party distribution deals were struck with VCL Communications and De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, while laying groundwork for international expansion that saw Lorimar titles released in the UK through Guild Home Video and The Video Collection (the latter company handling children's titles, including titles from the Scholastic-Lorimar Home Video venture).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In late 1986, a new broadcast-style home video branding, "KLV-TV" (advertised as being "Your Personal Network") was introduced.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Other areas of growth included Karl-Lorimar's distribution of the Shades of Love direct-to-video romance series (in cooperation with Canada's Astral Film Enterprises)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Jazzvisions, featuring jazz concerts from Herbie Hancock, Antonio Carlos Jobim, John Scofield, George Duke, Tito Puente and Etta James, as well as a big-band jazz production of Porgy and Bess.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

By early 1987, while the company's expansion (including a deal with international film distributor Cinecom Entertainment Group)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> continued, the relationship between Lorimar and Karl had turned sour, primarily thanks to the division racking up financial losses from failed experiments; as a result, Karl resigned in March 1987 due to violating the company's ethical guidelines.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Karl-Lorimar continued to exist under the name Lorimar Home Video, with a new push intended for Lorimar theatrical releases; however, this wouldn't last long, as Lorimar Home Video closed in 1989 following the Warner merger, and was folded into Warner Home Video.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In Australia, Lorimar joined a venture with Village Roadshow to create Roadshow Lorimar Home Video, which distributed movie titles by Lorimar Motion Pictures in that country.

Television stations

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Record label

In 1979, Lorimar formed Lorimar Records, whose first release was the soundtrack to the film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. The label would have very few artists signed to it. It was mainly distributed by Columbia Records, but it was also distributed for one album from The Coyote Sisters by Motown via the Morocco subsidiary. Lorimar Records' final release was the soundtrack to Action Jackson (1988), which in that case was distributed by Atlantic Records.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sports broadcasting

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Advertising

Lorimar also expanded into advertising during the 1980s;<ref name="Lorimar.NYT1980s">Template:Cite news</ref> it first acquired Kenyon & Eckhardt, an advertising agency, in 1983.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It then acquired Bozell Jacobs in 1985, and merged it with Kenyon to form Bozell, Jacobs, Kenyon & Eckhardt.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The firm was renamed to Bozell Worldwide in 1992.<ref name="BozellWW.NYT92">Template:Cite news</ref>

Filmography

TV productions

Lorimar's TV productions included:<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Columns-list

Theatrical feature films

Most of Lorimar's film and television library,<ref name=LorimarLeeRich.obitNYT>Template:Cite news</ref> with several exceptions, is now owned by Warner Bros. Several of Lorimar's films are still owned by their original distributors or third parties, which are marked with an asterisk (*).

Release Date	Title	Notes
February 28, 1971	The Sporting Club	distributed by Embassy Pictures*
July 19, 1972	The Man	in association with ABC Circle Films; distributed by Paramount Pictures*
November 7, 1974	The Tamarind Seed	in association with ITC Entertainment*; distributed by Avco Embassy Pictures
February 9, 1977	Twilight's Last Gleaming	distributed by Allied Artists; co-production with Bavaria Media GmbH*
December 23, 1977	The Choirboys	distributed by Universal Pictures*
June 29, 1978	Fedora	inherited from Allied Artists, distributed by United Artists; co-produced by Bavaria Media GmbH*
October 6, 1978	Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?	originally distributed by Warner Bros.; WB summarily relinquished the rights, but reclaimed them after the Lorimar/WB merger
August 10, 1979	Americathon	distributed by United Artists
October 16, 1979	Avalanche Express	distributed by 20th Century Fox
November 6, 1979	The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh	distributed by United Artists
December 19, 1979	Being There	distributed by United Artists Inducted into the National Film Registry in 2015
February 15, 1980	Cruising	distributed by United Artists
May 23, 1980	Carny	distributed by United Artists
July 18, 1980	The Big Red One	distributed by United Artists
March 20, 1981	The Postman Always Rings Twice	co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer;<ref>"The Postman always rings twice / an Andrew Braunsberg production; produced in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; produced by Charles Mulvehill and Bob Rafelson; directed by Bob Rafelson" (PA0000100011 / 1981-05-04). United States Copyright Office.</ref> distributed by Paramount Pictures
April 24, 1981	Night School	distributed by Paramount Pictures
May 5, 1981	Second-Hand Hearts	distributed by Paramount Pictures
June 5, 1981	The Sea Wolves	distributed by Paramount Pictures
July 1, 1981	S.O.B.	distributed by Paramount Pictures
July 30, 1981	Victory	distributed by Paramount Pictures
February 12, 1982	Love & Money	distributed by Paramount Pictures
August 13, 1982	An Officer and a Gentleman	co-production with Paramount Pictures*
October 8, 1982	Fast-Walking	distributed by the Pickman Film Corporation
October 8, 1982	Lookin' to Get Out	distributed by Paramount Pictures
October 21, 1983	The Dead Zone	in silent partnership with Dino De Laurentiis Corporation, distributed by Paramount Pictures, who still owns major rights today*
March 16, 1984	Tank	distributed by Universal Pictures*
July 1984	Scream for Help
July 13, 1984	The Last Starfighter	distributed by Universal Pictures*
January 31, 1986	Power	distributed by 20th Century Fox
June 27, 1986	American Anthem	distributed by Columbia Pictures
August 14, 1986	The Boy Who Could Fly	distributed by 20th Century Fox
December 25, 1986	The Morning After	distributed by 20th Century Fox
September 16, 1987	In the Mood	a co-production with Kings Road Entertainment
September 18, 1987	Orphans
October 2, 1987	Big Shots	distributed by 20th Century Fox
November 1987	Hearts of Fire
November 6, 1987	Made in Heaven
November 11, 1987	Siesta	U.S. distribution
January 15, 1988	Return of the Living Dead Part II
February 12, 1988	Action Jackson
April 15, 1988	Tokyo Pop	distributed by International SpectraFilm
April 22, 1988	World Gone Wild	pickup from Apollo Pictures for U.S. theatrical distribution
April 29, 1988	Two Moon Junction	pickup from DDM Film Corporation for U.S. theatrical distribution; produced with The Samuel Goldwyn Company*
September 9, 1988	Running on Empty	distributed by Warner Bros.*
December 21, 1988	Dangerous Liaisons	distributed by Warner Bros.*
October 29, 1988	Moonwalker	distributed internationally by Warner Bros.*
February 24, 1989	Bert Rigby, You're a Fool	distributed by Warner Bros.*
	The Toxic Avenger Part II	distributed and co-produced by Troma Entertainment*
March 24, 1989	Dead Bang	distributed by Warner Bros.*
April 14, 1989	See You in the Morning	distributed by Warner Bros.*
August 23, 1989	Cookie	distributed by Warner Bros.*
October 20, 1989	Next of Kin	distributed by Warner Bros.*
November 3, 1989	Second Sight	distributed by Warner Bros.*
August 24, 1990	The Witches	distributed by Warner Bros.*

External links

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