First National Pictures photographs, 1920-1931

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Summary

Title:
First National Pictures photographs
Dates:
1920-1931
Creators:
First National Pictures
Extent:
30 linear feet of photographs.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

First National Pictures photographs, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Background

Scope and content:

The First National Pictures photographs span the years 1920-1931 and encompass 30 linear feet. The collection consists of 18,370 photographic prints for 144 films. The majority of the material consists of scenes, but there are also many off-camera and publicity portrait photographs. Typical files average more than 100 photographs per title.

Biographical / historical:

First National Pictures was an American motion picture exhibitor and producer. The company, founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors Circuit, Inc., was formed by 27 independent motion picture exhibitors. In 1922 it opened a studio in Burbank, California, and began producing its own films. Between 1920 and 1925 the company was known as Associated First National Pictures. In 1928 Warner Bros. absorbed First National by acquiring the Stanley Company, First National's majority stockholder. Shortly thereafter, Warner Bros. moved its principal production facility to First National's Burbank lot. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, First National was still considered a separate production entity and remained so at least until the early 1930s. Even after that, primarily in the 1930s and 1940s, certain Warner Bros. films were designated as First National productions and releases. The First National banner occasionally appeared on some Warner Bros. films as late as 1956.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Sid and Diana Avery, 1989-1991, with additions from Kay E. Kuter and Jean Kuter Harvey, 1991
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series: 1. Motion picture production photographs

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Indexed terms

Names:
First National Pictures

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Special Collections
Date Prepared:
© 2013
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from Inmagic. Date of source: September 17, 2013

Access and use

Restrictions:

Available by appointment only.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies or individuals before quoting from or publishing materials obtained from the library.

Preferred citation:

First National Pictures photographs, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Location of this collection:
333 S. La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211, US
Contact:
(310) 247-3036 extension 2226
specialcollections@oscars.org
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