Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures, established in 1918 as Cohn-Brandt-Cohn Film Sales, evolved into a significant Hollywood player. Initially a smaller studio, its fortunes grew with successful associations, particularly with director Frank Capra, and the rise of stars like Jean Arthur, Cary Grant, and Rita Hayworth. The studio was known for its contributions to screwball comedies and westerns, as well as producing popular short subjects, including those by The Three Stooges, and distributing early Disney cartoons.

Over the decades, Columbia underwent ownership changes, being acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in 1982 and subsequently by Sony Corporation of Japan in 1989. It became a flagship unit of Sony Pictures Entertainment. The studio's headquarters have been in Culver City, California, since 1990. Today, Columbia Pictures continues as a prominent live-action film label within Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, releasing films and distributing animated features.

The studio was founded on June 19, 1918, by brothers Jack and Harry Cohn along with their business partner Joe Brandt. Initially named Cohn-Brandt-Cohn (CBC) Film Sales Corporation, it released its first feature film in 1922. The early productions were often low-budget short films. Joe Brandt and Jack Cohn managed sales and distribution from New York, while Harry Cohn oversaw production in Hollywood. The company adopted the name Columbia Pictures Corporation on January 10, 1924. Harry Cohn eventually became president in 1932, consolidating significant power and leading the studio for 34 years. Brandt sold his stake to the Cohn brothers in 1932, with Harry taking over as president.

Columbia Pictures gradually moved from lower-budget productions to more significant films, becoming a major studio. Director Frank Capra played a crucial role in this ascent, with films like "It Happened One Night" (1934) and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939) solidifying the studio's reputation. Columbia became a notable home for screwball comedies. The studio relied on borrowing contract stars from other studios, but also developed its own talent. Actresses like Jean Arthur and Rita Hayworth became major stars, with Hayworth's success propelling the studio's fortunes through the late 1950s. Other notable stars included Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Glenn Ford, and William Holden.

Columbia was a significant producer of short subjects, including comedies, westerns, and cartoons. The studio signed The Three Stooges in 1934, producing nearly 190 slapstick shorts for them over two decades. They also employed other famous comedians in their short-subject department. Columbia entered animation in 1929, distributing Krazy Kat cartoons and later distributing Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony series from 1929 to 1932. The Screen Gems brand was established for cartoons. The studio was also a prolific producer of serials from 1937 to 1955, featuring popular characters like Superman, Batman, and The Shadow.

Columbia Pictures' journey involved several ownership changes. It was acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in 1982, and then by the Japanese conglomerate Sony Corporation in 1989. It now operates as the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Since 1990, the studio has been headquartered at the Irving Thalberg Building in Culver City, California. Columbia Pictures remains one of the major film studios globally and continues to be a key live-action label within Sony Pictures, also releasing films produced by Sony Pictures Animation.