warner bros. celebrates 80 years in burbank!

BURBANK COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
WARNER BROS. STUDIOS
Warner Bros. Studios
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522
TM
Warner Bros. Celebrates 80 Years in Burbank!
A NOTE FROM...
and construction. Flush with the profits from the recent success of “The
Jazz Singer,” Warner Bros. purchased First National and its new studio
facility and moved into the “big time” in Burbank in October 1928!
The studio’s original design has changed very little since the 1920s,
but many improvements have been made. More soundstages have been
built, and our backlot sets have been modified to adapt to changing
production trends. The Mill, built in 1936, still houses all of our craft
departments under one roof. Today we operate 34 soundstages on our
110-acre main lot and the 32-acre Ranch facility on Hollywood Way.
We also have plans to build another soundstage on our main lot.
GARY CREDLE
This year marks the 85th anniversary of
Warner Bros. Studios and our 80th year in Burbank.
From their cramped studio space on Sunset Boulevard
in Hollywood, Warner brothers Albert, Sam, Harry and Jack
incorporated their fledgling movie company into Warner Bros., Inc.
on April 4, 1923. In the early years, the company made small, littlenoticed movies — until “Where the North Begins” (1923) made a
dog named Rin Tin Tin an international movie star. Then, in 1927,
with the release of the first synchronized-sound feature film, “The Jazz
Singer,” Warner Bros. jumped up a notch and became a new force in
the industry. The brothers soon set their sights on having a full-sized
studio of their own.
Warner Bros. Studios Burbank Community Newsletter
VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 4
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Warner B ros . C e l ebrates 8 0 Years in Burban k !
©2007 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper using soy-based inks. Please recycle.
In 1926, First National Pictures, a major silent-film production
and distribution company, purchased a 75-acre Burbank alfalfa
field. First National began construction of a studio, which included
four enormous stages and much-needed support structures — film
editing rooms, dressing rooms and buildings for property, wardrobe
We are pleased and proud to call Burbank our home, and we look
forward to many more years here!
Gary Credle
Executive Vice President,
Administration and Studio Operations,
Warner Bros. Entertainment
A Brief Journey through warner bros. History
1923
Warner Bros., Inc. is founded by brothers Albert, Sam, 1971
Harry and Jack
Columbia Pictures moves to Warner Bros. Studios for a
joint venture — The Burbank Studios is formed
1927
“The Jazz Singer,” the first “talking picture,” opens and 1976
changes the history of movies forever
“All the President’s Men” wins four Academy Awards
1928
Warner Bros. purchases First National Studios in Burbank
1988
and moves in
1935
Porky Pig debuts in the Merrie Melodies cartoon “Honeymoon Hotel”
1937
Warner Bros. wins its first Best Picture Oscar for “The Life of Emile Zola”
1943
“Casablanca” wins Academy Award for Best Picture
1947
Warner Bros. wins first animation Oscar for “Tweetie Pie,” 1995
which is the first pairing of Tweety and Sylvester
1953
Vincent Price’s “House of Wax” premieres as the first feature
produced by a major studio in 3-D
1955
Warner Bros. makes its entry into
television
1964
“My Fair Lady” takes home the Best
Picture Oscar
1985
Bugs Bunny gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
WBTV’s “Murphy Brown” premieres as TV’s highest-rated
new program
1990
The Burbank Studios is disbanded, and Warner Bros.
Studios is rededicated
1995
The WB Television Network makes its debut
Warner Bros. patents the first DVD
2001
The immensely popular “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s
Stone” premieres
2004
WBTV’s “Friends” signs off after a hugely successful 10-year run
2006
The WB Network signs off, and Warner Bros. and CBS
launch new joint venture The CW Network
2008
Warner Bros. Studios celebrates 85 years in business and
80 years in Burbank
Warner Bros. Studios Burbank Community Newsletter
Warner Bros. Studios Burbank Community Newsletter
VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 4
Warner Bros.’ Seventh Annual Tree Planting:
employee profile
One Family Digs In!
Julie Heath
Warner Bros. Studios’ seventh annual tree-planting
event was a family affair for Studio employee and lifelong
Burbank resident Marti Anderson.
When you see a clip from a Warner
Bros. film or television show, or a photograph
from the Studio’s library of properties, it can
often be attributed to the work of Burbank
resident Julie (Martyn) Heath.
Anderson (pictured at right with her two grandsons) was
just one of over 60 volunteers from the Studio who joined local
students for the tree planting in October. More than 600 students in
first through fifth grades at Burbank’s Thomas Jefferson Elementary
School had the opportunity to “adopt” and plant their own trees,
including Anderson’s two grandsons — first-grader Trent and fifthgrader Dylan.
“It was great to see how enthusiastic the children were
about planting and naming their trees,” said Anderson, who dug
during the hot, summer months and allow sunlight in during the
alongside Trent and his first-grade classmates.
cool, winter months. In addition to these benefits, the trees will
In addition to providing her with an opportunity to spend the also absorb and filter storm water, provide oxygen, break down
day with her grandsons, the event held another special meaning pollutants and create new habitats for wildlife.
for Anderson, who grew up in Burbank and attended Burbank
“By planting trees with the Burbank school children, we hope
schools herself.
to teach them that, when it comes to the environment, their everyday
“My son and daughter-in-law both went to Thomas Jefferson actions have a long-term impact,” said Shelley Billik, Vice President,
Elementary, and now their children attend there, so it was especially Environmental Initiatives, Warner Bros. Entertainment. “The plastic
gratifying to be able to give something back to that school,” she bags they use to carry their lunches could be around for 100 years,
said. “This is a wonderful program that Warner Bros. has for the but these trees they plant will be around for 100 years as well. It’s
city of Burbank, and I was delighted to be able to participate.”
about empowering them, as individuals, to make choices and take
In all, students and volunteers planted 27 positive steps that will ultimately affect the greater community and
trees at the event — a record number for the world around them.”
program.
This year also marks 15 years of environmental stewardship
for Warner Bros. Studios. In addition to its tree-planting tradition,
the Studio has led the entertainment industry in its environmental
initiatives. Recent projects include the construction of the
entertainment industry’s first “green” building and the installation
of the industry’s first studio-based solar power system.
The Warner Bros. Environmental Initiatives
team worked closely with Jefferson faculty
members to maximize the environmental benefits
of the tree planting. The team selected planting
sites to shade air conditioning equipment for
energy efficiency. They also utilized several For more information on the Studio’s environmental initiatives,
deciduous trees that will shade classrooms visit wbenvironmental.com.
Thanks for Visiting WBCommunityConnection.com!
YOUR THOUGHTS
WE’D LIKE TO THANK YOU for visiting WBCommunityConnection.com, which was created just for you —
our Burbank neighbors! We always enjoy hearing your feedback and answering your questions. Please keep the e-mails coming!
For up-to-date information on all of our Burbank-based programs, keep checking WBCommunityConnection.com.
“Although we live ‘on the hill,’ we are always interested in
the efforts of our neighbors. Sometimes ‘hearing the other
side’ is crucial in determining how to support or vote on
local matters.”
“Hooray for the Burbank Community Newsletter!
Much appreciated.”
“For 65 years I have been a neighbor of your company… I
wish to congratulate you on your ‘environmentally friendly’
activities, especially the solar power system on your Mill
Bldg.… Thank you for letting us know what you are doing.
I’m sure all your neighbors are interested.”
Did you know that Warner Bros. Studios recently
launched an internal Burbank community webpage for
its employees? The site contains lots of great information
about Burbank history, restaurants, city government,
events, volunteer opportunities and more. Now, each and
every Studio employee can explore the city Warner Bros.
has called home for 80 years!
Clips from films and television series, as well as animation, must
be licensed by the Studio each time a person, production company
or another third-party entity wishes to use them. Likewise, when
a photograph is used in a book, magazine or as background set
dressing in a film or television series, each use must be licensed.
That’s where Heath, a 13-year Warner Bros. veteran, comes
into the picture. Heath is Executive Director of the Clip & Still
Licensing department at Warner Bros. Entertainment, where she
reviews each request, determines which can be processed and
prepares licensing agreements.
Clips are most frequently requested for documentary films and
awards shows, but Heath also receives inquiries from talk shows, book
authors and biographers. She estimates receiving 80 submissions per
week, with each requesting from one to upward of 50 separate clips
or photographs.
“I love what I do, and every day brings a new challenge,” says
Heath. “The most exciting aspect of my job comes after I’ve left the
office. I can go home and watch something on television or go to a
movie and see a clip I’ve licensed. It’s gratifying to see the result of our
[department’s] hard work and know that it makes an impact.”
Heath was raised in Burbank, as were her parents. She attended
Thomas Jefferson Elementary, John Muir Middle School and Burbank
High. Her husband, Bill, also went to school in the city. Though she lived
in Santa Monica for a brief time, the close-knit community atmosphere
and connection to her family is what lured her back.
“I wanted to raise my kids near my family; we live nine blocks from
my parents,” says Heath. “I also love that I see people I know everywhere
in Burbank and that we look out for each other’s children.”
Working in the same community in which she lives also has its
advantages. Her daughters, Madison (fifth grade) and Hailey (third
grade), attend Emerson Elementary School in Burbank, and Heath is
able to maintain close involvement in their activities. In addition to
serving as supporter, cheerleader and, often times, as team manager
for her daughters’ soccer, volleyball, softball and basketball teams, she
volunteers at the school.
“Once a week, during my lunch hour, I help out at the [Emerson]
school library,” says Heath. “I enjoy it because I get to know the kids
in the girls’ classes and see what [types of books] they’re reading.”
Heath is also actively involved with the PTA, having worked on
its monthly newsletter for two years and having oversight of this year’s
yearbook.
For Heath, whether it is involvement with the school or her day
job, it all comes down to one thing — community.
“Warner Bros., like Burbank, is one big family,” she says.
VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 4
Warner Bros. Studios
Supports
the
Burbank Arts
Education Foundation
and Downtown Burbank
ARTS Festival
Last November, the Burbank Arts Education
Foundation partnered with the Downtown Burbank
Partnership to bring the community the Downtown Burbank
ARTS Festival, which, for the first time, featured two full days
of student performances, artwork and creative activities.
The event was a success, raising funds for the Foundation
and showcasing the student talent in Burbank for thousands
of residents.
The Burbank Arts Education Foundation is the only
organization dedicated to ensuring permanent and equal
access to a quality arts education for Burbank’s 15,000
students, and Warner Bros. is thrilled to have been a part
of the foundation from the start. The foundation’s goal is
to create a $10 million permanent endowment fund which
will support arts education in the Burbank Unified School
District in the areas of music, visual arts, dance and drama.
To kick things off, Warner Bros. pledged a leadership gift
of $300,000; since then, the foundation has received
contributions from The Walt Disney Company, Cartoon
Network Studios, Make-Up Designory, Craig Murray
Productions and many parents and residents who believe
in the value of creativity and artistic expression for our
children.
You can make a difference too — learn more online at
BurbankArtsEd.org.
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