Mutual timeline
Doug Sulpy
I've been trying lately to compile all of the various information I've
collected over the years (mostly from this newsgroup) concerning the history
of the Mutuals, but there are several inconsistencies or gaps that are
holding me up.
1. According to David Pierce, the Mutuals were first sold to the
Clark-Cornelius Corp. in 1919. I'm presuming these were issued under the
banner "Select Pictures" since an ad for that is illustrated in the booklet
that came with the most recent laserdisc set. However, in the "Chaplin
Encyclopedia", Mitchell states that Chaplin Classics Inc. purchased the
Mutuals in 1919 (while Pierce says they didn't get them until 1922). I can't
reconcile these two accounts -- anyone know what the truth is?
2. Again, according to Mr. Pierce, the Mutuals fell into the hands of
Teleprompter Corp. in 1969 (from Commonwealth/Guaranteed). Yet, David
Shepard posts that Blackhawk obtained them in '74 from
Commonwealth/Guaranteed. Who's right, or are they both half right, and
Teleprompter WAS (or bought out) Commonwealth/Guaranteed...???
3. When did the Mutuals become public domain? Does this account for the
Republic video issue in the early 1990's? (I don't think so, because those
prints have Blackhawk films all over them). If not, what does?
4. When did Blackhawk fold? Early 1980's sometime? Mr. Shepard acquired the
Blackhawk catalog -- but I'm confused because the Blackhawk logo STILL
appears on releases coming via Image from Mr. Shepard -- Is Blackhawk
defunct, or does Shepard simply own Blackhawk these days?
Of course, I'll post the time-line when it becomes even reasonably accurate
(and then it's onto the films :-)).
Doug
Constance Kuriyama
"Doug Sulpy" (dsu...@concentric.net) writes:
> Hi,
> I've been trying lately to compile all of the various information I've
> collected over the years (mostly from this newsgroup) concerning the history
> of the Mutuals, but there are several inconsistencies or gaps that are
> holding me up.
>
> 1. According to David Pierce, the Mutuals were first sold to the
> Clark-Cornelius Corp. in 1919. I'm presuming these were issued under the
> banner "Select Pictures" since an ad for that is illustrated in the booklet
> that came with the most recent laserdisc set. However, in the "Chaplin
> Encyclopedia", Mitchell states that Chaplin Classics Inc. purchased the
> Mutuals in 1919 (while Pierce says they didn't get them until 1922). I can't
> reconcile these two accounts -- anyone know what the truth is?
No, but I'd be inclined to believe David Pierce--just as I'd trust Mitchell
more on British information.
> 2. Again, according to Mr. Pierce, the Mutuals fell into the hands of
> Teleprompter Corp. in 1969 (from Commonwealth/Guaranteed). Yet, David
> Shepard posts that Blackhawk obtained them in '74 from
> Commonwealth/Guaranteed. Who's right, or are they both half right, and
> Teleprompter WAS (or bought out) Commonwealth/Guaranteed...???
Since not all the Blackhawk Mutuals are the same, it's obvious that
they acquired different versions of the Mutuals. They had silent prints
as well as the van Burens, and they did some restoration on the silents.
Where this gets us I'm not sure.
> 3. When did the Mutuals become public domain?
Which version of them?
> 4. When did Blackhawk fold? Early 1980's sometime?
They were still marginally in business into the '90s,
until David Shepard bought them out. He could give
you the precise details.
Connie K.
--
CC on Hollywood, ca. 1948: "All people think of is opening new restaurants."
sh...@my-deja.com
> 1. According to David Pierce, the Mutuals were first sold to the
> Clark-Cornelius Corp. in 1919. I'm presuming these were issued under
> the banner "Select Pictures" since an ad for that is illustrated in
> the booklet that came with the most recent laserdisc set. However, in
> the "Chaplin Encyclopedia", Mitchell states that Chaplin Classics Inc.
> purchased the Mutuals in 1919 (while Pierce says they didn't get them
> until 1922). I can't reconcile these two accounts -- anyone know what
> the truth is?
I don't, but I'd bet money that David Pierce is correct. He's an
expert at tracking rights over the years. The only puzzler for me is the
question of why Mutual didn't sell the films off sooner. The company
went under in 1918, and must surely have been hurting for cash before
that happened.
> 4. When did Blackhawk fold? Early 1980's sometime? Mr. Shepard
> acquired the Blackhawk catalog -- but I'm confused because the
> Blackhawk logo STILL appears on releases coming via Image from Mr.
> Shepard -- Is Blackhawk defunct, or does Shepard simply own Blackhawk
> these days?
As I understand it, David bought the name, the trademark, the films,
and equipment around 1990 from Republic, which had bought the Blackhawk
franchise from Lee Enterprises, Blackhawk's parent company. Therefore,
David's company, Film Preservation Associates, can produce silents under
the "Blackhawk Collection" banner. As good as Blackhawk's stuff was,
FPA's stuff is even better, so it's sort of a happy ending for
Blackhawk.
But as for the old Blackhawk company, it sputtered and died around
1983 or 1984, the victim of bad management and some bad luck. Republic
bought it and I used to get video catalogs in the mail with Blackhawk's
and Republic's names on them until 1989.
Obviously, the best person to listen to is David himself, and I hope
he fills us all in!
--Shush--
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Constance Kuriyama
(sh...@my-deja.com) writes:
> "Doug Sulpy" <dsu...@concentric.net> wrote:
>
>> 4. When did Blackhawk fold? Early 1980's sometime? Mr. Shepard
>> acquired the Blackhawk catalog -- but I'm confused because the
>> Blackhawk logo STILL appears on releases coming via Image from Mr.
>> Shepard -- Is Blackhawk defunct, or does Shepard simply own Blackhawk
>> these days?
> As I understand it, David bought the name, the trademark, the films,
> and equipment around 1990 from Republic, which had bought the Blackhawk
> franchise from Lee Enterprises, Blackhawk's parent company. Therefore,
> David's company, Film Preservation Associates, can produce silents under
> the "Blackhawk Collection" banner. As good as Blackhawk's stuff was,
> FPA's stuff is even better, so it's sort of a happy ending for
> Blackhawk.
>
> But as for the old Blackhawk company, it sputtered and died around
> 1983 or 1984, the victim of bad management and some bad luck. Republic
> bought it and I used to get video catalogs in the mail with Blackhawk's
> and Republic's names on them until 1989.
Well, to further explain my response in another post, the Eastin-Phelan
company, which was selling Blackhawk films, was still marginally in
business in the early 1990s, because they sent me a brochure on request.
However, the prices listed were so high that I didn't buy. It was shortly
afterwards that I started hearing about Film Preservation Associates.
> Obviously, the best person to listen to is David himself, and I hope
> he fills us all in!
Right!
DShepFilm
for the Chaplin Mutuals which several of you requested. Be forewarned it is a
rather lengthy document.
Although these twelve motion pictures star Charles Chaplin, he never had any
proprietary interest of any kind in them. He was hired to act in them pursuant
to a contract between Lone Star Corporation and Charles Chaplin dated February
25, 1916. The entire contract is reproduced for the satisfaction of the curious
in the insert to the 1995 laserdisc box set of the Chaplin Mutuals. As is well
known, he received a fixed salary of $520,000 for appearing in the films and
was given an additional bonus of $150,000.
Under an agreement dated June 25, 1919, Lone Star Film Corporation sold,
assigned and transferred the twelve motion pictures to William C. Clark and H.
C. Cornelius. This and all other transfers were outright sales and carried with
them all rights in connection with the films.
On June 20, 1919, Clark and Cornelius sold the films to the Clark-Cornelius
Corporation, a New York Corporation.
On October 16, 1922, Clark-Cornelius Corporation was dissolved into CC Pictures
Inc., a New Jersey Corporation, which as sole stockholder of Clark-Cornelius
Corporation acquired all of its assets including the twelve Mutual Chaplins.
On February 9, 1923, pursuant to a lawsuit by Mr. Cornelius against CC Pictures
Inc., the US District Court of the Southern District of NY appointed receivers
for CC Pictures Inc. and authorised them to continue its business.
With approval of the Court, the receivers sold the films to Louis Auerbach who
in turn sold them to Export and Import Film Company, Inc. as of April 1, 1925.
In May, 1925, Export and Import sold the films to Mutual Chaplins, Inc.
In January, 1932 and in July, 1932, Mutual Chaplins, Inc., sold the films in
two groups of six titles each to VanBeuren Corporation.
On February 21, 1941, Van Beuren, which had meanwhile become a subsidiary of
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., sold the films to Commonwealth Pictures Corporation.
During its ownership, Commonwealth sold various exclusive rights in the films
to Commonwealth Film and Television and to Guaranteed Pictures Company, both
corporate alter egos of Commonwealth Pictures. Commonwealth also allowed the
original copyrights to expire without renewal during 1944 and 1945.
On October 24, 1969, TelePrompter Corporation acquired Commonwealth Pictures
and five of its associated companies (including all corporate licensees of the
twelve Chaplin films), and thereby, of course, acquired its film library.
On January 31, 1975, the Eastin-Phelan Corporation, holding company of
Blackhawk Films, acquired all of TelePrompter’s right, title and interest in
its film library, including all of the films in the Commonwealth groups.
Eastin-Phelan subsequently assigned its properties to Blackhawk Films, Inc.
On April 2, 1984, David Shepard and Kimberly Shepard acquired certain exclusive
rights in Blackhawk’s film materials for the twelve Chaplin Mutuals with
expansion of these rights on July 19, 1984. Restored editions of the Mutual
Chaplins were registered for copyright in the name of David H. Shepard on
August 14, 1984.
In 1985, Republic Pictures Corporation acquired Blackhawk Films, Inc. by
purchase of stock.
On March 21, 1989, Republic sold all of its right, title and interest to
Blackhawk’s slide, film, music and literary materials, rights and copyrights
(including all residual rights in the Mutual Chaplins) to David Shepard and
Kimberly Shepard, doing business since June of 1986 as Film Preservation
Associates.
On January 22, 1993, Kimberly Shepard waived all rights in Film Preservation
Associates and its assets in favor of David Shepard.