Paramount Pictures is a production company that, as of 2019, is owned by Viacom a.kDraftiais of 2019, Viacom is a media company that specializes in cable television, radio stations, movies, and the internet portals. It is a subsidiary of the Viacom Group, a multinational mass media corporation with more than 163 media businesses in more than 100 countries. The company is headquartered in New York City. A who’s who of the movie industry, Paramount Pictures has been home to a number of legendary filmmakers and stars over the course of its nearly 100-year history. If you love learning about movie history, read on for some fascinating insights about Paramount Pictures.
Who Owns Paramount Pictures?
Paramount Pictures is a production company that, as of 2019, is owned by Viacom (a.kDraftiais of 2019, Viacom is a media company that specializes in cable television, radio stations, movies, and the internet portals. It is a subsidiary of the Viacom Group, a multinational mass media corporation with more than 163 media businesses in more than 100 countries. The company is headquartered in New York City. A who’s who of the movie industry, Paramount Pictures has been home to a number of legendary filmmakers and stars over the course of its nearly 100-year history. If you love learning about movie history, read on for some fascinating insights about Paramount Pictures.
What is Paramount Pictures?
Paramount Pictures is an American film studio, owned by Viacom through its Viacom Media Networks division, and is based in Hollywood. It is one of the “Big Three” major film studios, alongside Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox. Paramount is often though of as the “oldest” of the major studios, with origins dating back to the late 1890s. However, Paramount was later acquired by Gulf+Western (which became Paramount Communications) in 1989, and was later spun off to Viacom in 1994.
Thomas Edison and the invention of cinema
The invention of cinema has long been credited to Thomas Edison, but the genesis of this invention actually lies with Dickson and Thomas Armat. While conducting research for the Kinetograph, Edison noted the effects of synchronized motion, and his assistant William Dickson invented the world’s first film camera, which was called the “Edison Kinetograph.” In 1894, Dickson and Armat were trying to create a machine that would playback images captured on film, but they failed. Eventually, they managed to use the Kinetograph to playback a film of Thomas Edison himself, and the machine was an instant success.
Famous films produced by Paramount Pictures
For nearly a century, Paramount has been the home of many of the world’s most famous movie icons and filmmakers. Under the leadership of mergers and acquisitions man Barney Balaban, the studio purchased the rights to so many great films of the 20th century that it earned the indelible title of “the home of Hollywood,” and its logo is an enduring pop culture icon. Paramount’s most famous films include the “Star Trek” and “Indiana Jones” franchises, and films like the “Rocky” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” films.
The original TV network for movies
In 1952, Paramount Pictures launched a television network of its own called Paramount Television Network (PTN). The network provided syndicated content for local stations, and it was the first of its kind, as it was a network that focused on movies and television at the same time. The network was a hit and helped launch the fledgling medium of television. However, after only two years of operation, the network was acquired by Gulf+Western, who shut down its operations in 1956.
The list of the richest people who own Paramount Pictures
In 2018, the list of the richest people who own Paramount Pictures began with Charles Bluhdorn, who was worth $6.2 billion. Bluhdorn was the founder of Gulf+Western, and he passed away in 1989. Charles Bluhdorn is followed by Kirk Kerkorian, who is worth $5.5 billion. In 2018, Kirk Kerkorian, who is worth $5.5 billion, was the last person on the list of the richest people who own Paramount Pictures. He was followed by Sumner Spender, Marylin and Sidney Kimmel, and Darrow Industries.
Famous people who own Paramount Pictures
Many of the most famous people in the world have been affiliated with Paramount Pictures over the years. The original “Rocky” film was produced by and starred Sylvester Stallone. “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry wrote and directed “The Andromeda Strain,” which was based on his novel of the same name. Paramount has also been the home of many Hollywood stars over the years. The original “Rocky” film was produced by and starred Sylvester Stallone. “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry wrote and directed “The Andromeda Strain,” which was based on his novel of the same name.
Summing up
The story of Paramount Pictures is as interesting and dramatic as the films it has produced over the years. The studio was once the “oldest” of the major movie studios but has reinvented itself as a modern media company through mergers and acquisitions, launching a television network, and producing a number of successful films. If you love hearing about the history of film, don’t miss out on this fascinating look at Paramount Pictures.