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| company_logo = [[Image:Alliedlogo.jpg|250px]]
| company_logo = [[Image:Alliedlogo.jpg|250px]]
| company_type = [[Corporation]]
| company_type = [[Corporation]]
| foundation = Southern California (1979), successor-in-interest to Allied Artists Pictures Corporation (1946)
| foundation =
| founders = | location_city = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] &<br />[[New York City, New York]]
| founders = [[Robert Abernathy]]<br>[[Richard Smith]]
| location_city = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] &<br />[[New York City, New York]]
| location =
| location =
| key_people = Kimball Dean Richards, Chairman and CEO,
| key_people = Kim Richards, Chairman and CEO, [[Robert Fitzpatrick]], President
| num_employees =
| num_employees =
| industry = [[List of entertainment industry topics|Entertainment]]
| industry = [[List of entertainment industry topics|Entertainment]]
| products = [[Film|Motion picture]]s, [[Television program|Television production]], [[Music]], [[Music publishing]], [[Entertainment]], [[Broadcast syndication|Television syndication]], [[Online games]], [[Mobile entertainment]], [[Video on demand]], [[Digital distribution]]
| products = [[Film|Motion picture]]s, [[Television program|Television production]], [[Music]], [[Music publishing]], [[Entertainment]], [[Broadcast syndication|Television syndication]], [[Online games]], [[Mobile entertainment]], [[Video on demand]], [[Digital distribution]]
| subsid = [[Allied Artists Pictures]], [[Allied Artists Music Group]], [[Allied Artists Television]], [[Allied Artists Home Video]], [[Monogram Pictures]]
| subsid =
| homepage = [http://www.alliedartists.com/ alliedartists.com]
| homepage = [http://www.alliedartists.com/ alliedartists.com]
}}
}}
{{construction}}


'''Allied Artists International, Inc.''' is an entertainment company which works on movies, television, music, games, and other media products. The company is the successor to [[Monogram Pictures|Allied Artists Pictures Corporation]] (formerly known as Monogram Pictures Corporation). <ref>http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-and-film-executive-robert-32820 | The Hollywood Reporter</ref><ref>http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/peter-liapis-william-summers-lead-33928 | The Hollywood Reporter</ref> In 1971, Allied Artists Pictures Corporation formed subsidiary Allied Artists Records.<ref>Billboard Magazine, July 31, 1971 [http://books.google.com/books?id=uggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3&lpg=PA3&dq=Allied+Artists+Records&source=bl&ots=m61RkhsoLZ&sig=cGObu1XmJrJBEXH_kgS5GaerGEs&hl=en&ei=FbCeTYz7Gc6Pcer0-OoB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFIQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=Allied%20Artists%20Records&f=false]</ref> Embroiled in a contentious bankruptcy, Allied Artists Pictures Corporation transferred its interest in the Allied Artists trademarks to Allied Artists Records on June 17, 1983<ref>{{cite web |url=http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&asned=ALLIED%20ARTISTS%20RECORDS%20AND%20STUDIOS |title=Trademark Assignment Assignee Details |author= |date= |work= |publisher=[[United States Patent and Trademark Office]]|accessdate=8 September 2010}}</ref> to enable production and distribution to continue. <ref>Billboard Magazine, September 6, 1980 [http://books.google.com/books?id=NyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT55&lpg=PT55&dq=Allied+Artists+Pictures+bankruptcy&source=bl&ots=oSGATEVNst&sig=vSjpQFyFrDJxzzFjXlBc9Jcl1Tk&hl=en&ei=jbKeTamxKpGavgOL0e3zBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CF8Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Allied%20Artists%20Pictures%20bankruptcy&f=false]</ref>{{or|date=April 2011}} On October 6, 2000, Allied Artists Records filed for a newly designed mark, which became registered on December 25, 2001.<ref>Markify, trademark record for AAI [http://www.markify.com/trademarks/uspto/allied+artists/78029541]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=78029541 |title=United States Patent and Trademark Registration No. 2522770 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=United States Trademark and Patent Office |accessdate=8 September 2010}}</ref>{{or|date=April 2011}} On April 1, 2001, Allied Artists Records changed its name to Allied Artists International, Inc. and assigned its trademarks to reflect the corporate name change.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&reel=4085&frame=0378 |title=Trademark Assignment Details |author=|date= |work= |publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office |accessdate=8 September 2010}}</ref>{{or|date=April 2011}} After the assignment of intellectual property between the original Allied Artists Pictures Corporation and Allied Artists International, 445 titles were released under the Allied Artists brand through the year 2009, with additional titles in production and scheduled for release in years to come.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/company/co0023951/ |title=IMDb Listing for Allied Artists Pictures |author= |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=8 September 2010}}</ref>
'''Allied Artists International, Inc.''' is the new name for Allied Artists Records, notable for its use in the 1980's activities of its owner, Kimball Dean Richardson, currently president and CEO.<ref name=TRCECBF>Two Record Firm Executives Charged With Bank Fraud, WILLIAM K. KNOEDELSEDER Jr., Los Angeles Times, 5-15-1987[http://articles.latimes.com/1987-05-15/business/fi-5144_1_bank-fraud]</ref><ref name= REFOIF>"RECORDING EXECUTIVE, FIVE OTHERS INDICTED FOR FRAUD, Daily News of Los Angeles, May 12, 1988, Page: N10, KAREN E. KLEIN Daily News Staff Writer, [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF518DB8A13CE2E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM]</ref><ref name=RPG15Y>Rock Promoter Gets 15 Years in Audio Gear Leasing Scam", JUBE SHIVER Jr., Los Angeles Times, 5-1-1990[http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/kimball-d-richards]</ref><ref name=PBSCFYASM>Phone ‘Buggings’ Suspect Charged four years ago for Soliciting Murder Contract, Mohave Miner, 7-13-1984, [http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z61PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=d1MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4598,1097763&dq=phone+bugging+suspect+murder+richards&hl=en]</ref> On April 1, 2001, Allied Artists Records changed its name to Allied Artists International, Inc. and assigned its trademarks to reflect the corporate name change.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&reel=4085&frame=0378 |title=Trademark Assignment Details |author=|date= |work= |publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office |accessdate=8 September 2010}}</ref>{{or|date=April 2011}}


==History==
==History==
===Allied Artists Records===
===Monogram Pictures===
{{main|Monogram Pictures}}
Producer [[Walter Mirisch]] began at [[Monogram Pictures]] after World War II as assistant to studio head Samuel "Steve" Broidy. He convinced Broidy that the days of low-budget films were ending, and in 1946, Monogram created a new unit, Allied Artists Productions, to make costlier films.


At a time when the average Hollywood picture cost about $800,000 (and the average Monogram picture cost about $90,000), Allied Artists' first release, ''[[It Happened on Fifth Avenue]]'' (1947), cost more than $1,200,000.<ref>"Out Hollywood Way", ''New York Times'', September 8, 1946, p. X1.</ref> Subsequent Allied Artists releases were more economical but did have enhanced production values; many of them were filmed in color.
In 1988, Allied Artists Records claimed recording artists such as [[Lionel Richie]], [[Lawrence Welk]], [[Bob Seger]], and [[Ted Nugent]].<ref name= REFOIF/> In 2000, it was announced that Allied Artists Records would issue a Spanish Language recording by actor [[David Hasselhoff]].<ref name=LATMR>"Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff will release his first Spanish- language album later this year on Allied Artists Records”, MORNING REPORT; ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION'S PRESS; TELEVISION, Los Angeles Times, Aug 26, 2000, [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58806731.html?dids=58806731:58806731&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+26%2C+2000&author=DIANE+HAITHMAN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=MORNING+REPORT%3B+ARTS+AND+ENTERTAINMENT+REPORTS+FROM+THE+TIMES%2C+NEWS+SERVICES+AND+THE+NATION'S+PRESS%3B+TELEVISION&pqatl=google]</ref>


The studio's new policy permitted what Mirisch called "B-plus" pictures, which were released along with Monogram's established line of B fare. Mirisch's prediction about the end of the low-budget film had come true thanks to television, and in September 1952, Monogram announced that henceforth it would only produce films bearing the Allied Artists name. The studio ceased making movies under the Monogram brand name in 1953 (but was later reactivated by Allied Artists International). The parent company became Allied Artists, with Monogram Pictures becoming an operating division.
==Allied Artists Inernal Police Department probe==
The 1987 badges of Allied Artists Internal Police Department look just like those of the Los Angeles Police Department.<ref name =SAPPSFC/> The Allied Artists Internal Police Department ID cards in 1987 looked just like those of LAPD were signed by Jerry S. Miller, its Chief of Police, who helped with Richard’s surveillance 1984 business.<ref name =SAPPSFC>State Asked to Probe Private Security Firm : Commission Says Badges and ID Cards Closely Resemble LAPD's, WILLIAM K. KNOEDELSEDER Jr., Los Angeles Times, Feb 5, 1987, [http://articles.latimes.com/1987-02-05/business/fi-988_1_police-commission]</ref>


===Allied Artists Pictures===
⚫
== Executives ==
Allied Artists did retain a few vestiges of its Monogram identity, continuing its popular [[Stanley Clements]] action series (through 1953), its B-Westerns (through 1954), its [[Bomba, the Jungle Boy]] adventures (through 1955), and especially its breadwinning comedy series with [[The Bowery Boys]] (through 1957 with Clements replacing Leo Gorcey). For the most part, however, Allied Artists was heading in new, ambitious directions under Mirisch.


For a time in the mid-1950s the Mirisch family had great influence at Allied Artists, with Walter as executive producer, his brother Marvin as head of sales, and brother Harold as corporate treasurer. They pushed the studio into big-budget filmmaking, signing contracts with [[William Wyler]], [[John Huston]], [[Billy Wilder]] and [[Gary Cooper]]. But when their first big-name productions, Wyler's ''[[Friendly Persuasion (film)|Friendly Persuasion]]'' and Wilder's ''[[Love in the Afternoon (1957 film)|Love in the Afternoon]]'' were box-office flops in 1956–57, studio-head Broidy retreated into the kind of pictures Monogram had always favored: low-budget action and thrillers. Mirisch Productions then had success releasing their films through [[United Artists]].
Kimball Dean Richards is the president and CEO of Allied Artists International. Kimball Dean Richards owned a security guard business in Los Angeles in the late 1970's, and made the news for his methods of resolving employee problems.<ref name=PBSCFYASM/> In 1984


Allied Artists ceased production in 1966 and became a distributor of foreign films, but restarted production with the 1972 release of ''[[Cabaret (film)|Cabaret]]'' and followed it the next year with ''[[Papillon (film)|Papillon]]''. Both were critical and commercial successes, but high production and financing costs meant they were not big money makers for Allied. In 1975 Allied distributed the French import film version of ''[[Story of O]]'' but spent much of its earnings defending itself from obscenity charges.<ref>{{cite book|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|title=Lost illusions: American cinema in the shadow of Watergate and ..., Volume 9|author=David A. Cook|page=325}}</ref>


Monogram/Allied Artists survived by finding a niche and serving it well. Probably the best-known tribute paid to Monogram came from [[French New Wave]] pioneer [[Jean-Luc Godard]], who dedicated his 1960 film ''[[Breathless (1960 film)|Breathless]]'' to Monogram, citing the studio's films as a major influence.


The company lasted until 1979, when runaway inflation and high production costs pushed it into bankruptcy. The post-1936 Monogram/Allied Artists library was bought by television producer [[Lorimar]]; today a majority of this library belongs to [[Warner Bros.]] Entertainment. The pre-1936 Monogram library became incorporated into that of Republic, today a part of [[Viacom]]-owned [[Paramount Pictures]].


===Allied Artists Records===
, Richards had been installing surveillance devices in government offices, and owned Allied Artist Recording.<ref name=PBSCFYASM/> In 1984, Richards was in a rock group called the [[Renegades]].<ref>“Jerry S. Miller… and Kim D. Richards, also of Los Angeles... Richards’ whereabouts are unknown, Doherty said, adding he called Richards Monday and a secretary of Allied Artist Recording in Los Angeles said he was out of town performing with a rock group, the Renegades... three people, who work in the bugging field in California, also told him they were contacted by Miller and Richards in October and informed that if they wanted to make ‘some money they should come to Mohave County ...” 1 Of 2 'bugging' Suspects Expected To Turn Self In, Mohave Daily Miner - Jun 26, 1984, [http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JWxIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s1YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1789,476691&dq=and+a+secretary+of+allied+artist+recording+in+los+angeles+said+he+was+out+of+town+performing+with+a+rock+group&hl=en]</ref> Kimball Richards formed a partnership with [[Robert Bernfeld]] in 1985 called Allied Artists/Riviera Broadcast Leasing.<ref name=DRCBI>Defunct Record Company Besieged by Investigations, WILLIAM K. KNOEDELSEDER Jr., Los Angeles Times, 3-30-1987</ref> Kim Richards was a rock music promoter and began to receive widespread press coverage in 1987, for his work with Allied Artists Records from 1985 to 1987.<ref name=TRCECBF/><ref name=RPG15Y/> Federal officials called Richards' Allied Artists Records entertainment operations between 1985 and 1987 one of the largest of its kind ever in the nation.<ref name=REFOIF>RECORDING EXECUTIVE, FIVE OTHERS INDICTED for FRAUD, ''"A recording company executive and five other people were indicted Wednesday in a $23 million bank fraud that federal officials called one of the largest ever prosecuted nationwide. Kimball Dean Richards, 32, of Santa Fe Springs, and five others participated in a scam to sell leases on non-existent recording equipment to 15 banks and savings and loans between August 1985 and January 1987, according to the indictment. Richards, the son of former state Sen. Richard Richards...'', Daily News of Los Angeles, 5-12-1988</ref> A federal court judge commented on how outstanding Richards was in his own court.<ref name=RPG15Y/> But by 1987, Allied Artists Records was defunct, and Kim Richards had to take a leave of absence from Hollywood in 1989, set to be 15 year long.<ref name=DRCBI/><ref name=RPG15Y/> However, he returned to an Allied Artists early release, and began using the Allied name and conducting entertainment business in 2000, signing a contract for a share in Merit Diversified International, dba Mp3 Enrertainment.com, on 4-27-2000, Inc.<ref>Stock Purchase and Exchange Agreement, Supplement to SEC filing of Allied Entertainment Group</ref>{{or}} The federal government registered a new trademark for Allied Artists Records on Christmas Day, 2001.<ref>Allied Artists Records, Inc. a Nevada Corporation, 273 WEST ALLEN AVENUE, SAN DIMAS, CA 91773, United States Patent and Trademark Office Reg. No. 2,522,770, BRETT J. GOLDEN, EXAMINING ATTORNEY</ref>{{or}} Kimball Dean Richards is the son of former California Senator [[Richard Richards]].<ref name=PBSCFYASM/>


Following the 1980 bankruptcy and dissolution of Allied Artists Pictures Corporation, Allied Artists Records sought to expand its trademark and service mark rights to include all forms of entertainment, including those previously held by Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Allied Artists Records ultimately filed for and received federal trademark protection for "Production and distribution of entertainment services, namely, phonograph records, motion picture films, video tapes, DVDs, and radio and television programs" in International Class 041.<ref>Trademarkia, classes of trademarks owned by AAI [http://www.trademarkia.com/company-allied-artists-international-inc-51702-page-1-1]</ref> <ref>As well as "Promoting the services of entertainment professionals, namely, talent agency services" in International Class: 035, Trademarkia, classes of trademarks owned by AAI [http://www.trademarkia.com/company-allied-artists-international-inc-51702-page-1-1]</ref> {{cn|date=April 2011}} By 1988, Allied Artists Records claimed recording artists such as [[Lionel Richie]], [[Lawrence Welk]], [[Bob Seger]], and [[Ted Nugent]].<ref name= REFOIF>''"...firm, Consolidated Allied Companies, operated Allied Artists Records… in Studio City... company claimed... Lionel Richie, Lawrence Welk, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent...", Daily News of Los Angeles, May 12, 1988, Page: N10, KAREN E. KLEIN Daily News Staff Writer, [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF518DB8A13CE2E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM]</ref> Allied Artists Records (now Allied Artists Music Group)'s roster includes Coolio, David Hasselhoff and Renegade.<ref>Billboard.com, retrieved March 8, 2011 [http://www.billboard.com/search/?Nty=1&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntk=Keyword&Ns=FULL_DATE|1&Ne=125&N=126&Ntt=Kenny%20Rogers#/news/coolio-inks-with-allied-artists-label-875224.story]</ref> In 2000, it was announced that Allied Artists Records would issue a Spanish Language recording by actor [[David Hasselhoff]].<ref name=LATMR>"Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff will release his first Spanish- language album later this year on Allied Artists Records”, MORNING REPORT; ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION'S PRESS; TELEVISION, Los Angeles Times, Aug 26, 2000, [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58806731.html?dids=58806731:58806731&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+26%2C+2000&author=DIANE+HAITHMAN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=MORNING+REPORT%3B+ARTS+AND+ENTERTAINMENT+REPORTS+FROM+THE+TIMES%2C+NEWS+SERVICES+AND+THE+NATION'S+PRESS%3B+TELEVISION&pqatl=google]</ref> In 2007, given the length of time Allied Artists International, Inc. had exercised control over the name, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued Allied Artists International, Inc. (Allied Artists Records' successor) a Notice of Acceptance under Section 8 of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1058(a)(1) and Section 15 of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1065, which deems Allied Artists International, Inc's right to the federal trademarks for "Allied Artists" incontestable.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=78029541 |title=United States Patent & Trademark Office Registration No. 2522770 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office |accessdate=8 September 2010}}</ref>{{or|date=April 2011}}
⚫
Music and film executive Robert Fitzpatrick joined Allied Artists in 1999, and died in October 2010. Following Fitzpatrick’s death, Kim Richards took over as president and CEO. In an interview, Richards claimed to be a young television soundtrack engineer in the 1970’s, claimed that he earned a gold record, and claimed that Fitzpatrick helped him.<ref name=MFERFD>''“’I've known Robert since the late 1970s when he helped a young television soundtrack engineer earn his first gold record,’ said Kim Richards, Allied Artists International CEO & chairman. ‘The engineer was me, and I've had the distinct honor and privilege of walking in Robert's wake ever since. Regardless of the heights this company reaches in the future, they will never be the same without Robert Fitzpatrick by my side.’"'', Music and Film Executive Robert Fitzpatrick Dies, The Hollywood Reporter, 10/27/2010, [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-and-film-executive-robert-32820]</ref>

===Allied Artists International===
Allied Artists Records,<ref>Allied Artists Records changed its name to 'Allied Artists International, Inc.' on March 8, 2001.{{cite web |url=https://esos.state.nv.us/SOSServices/AnonymousAccess/CorpSearch/CorpSearch.aspx |title=Business Entity Search |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Nevada Secretary of State |accessdate=8 September 2010}}</ref>{{or|date=April 2011}} which was a separate entity at the time of the Allied Artists Pictures Corporation bankruptcy, was left standing{{dubious|date=April 2011}} with the only remaining rights to the "Allied Artists" name, although those rights had up to that point been limited to motion picture soundtracks, records and music publishing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://us.alliedartists.com/aboutus.htm |title=Allied Artists |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Allied Artists.com |accessdate=8 September 2010}}</ref>

==Allied Artists today==

Allied Artists International, Inc. produces and distributes entertainment products including motion pictures, television productions, DVDs, music CD's, entertainment software, music publishing and other entertainment-related media.

Today, Monogram Pictures is a division of Allied Artists International, somewhat ironic given the fact that Allied Artists originally sprang from Monogram Pictures. However, as Allied Artists emerged as the predominant brand, Monogram Pictures took a backseat and was dormant for many years. Allied Artists has recently renewed the Monogram Pictures trademarks and announced new productions under the Monogram banner.<ref>Trademarkia, record of AAI trademarks [http://www.trademarkia.com/company-allied-artists-international-inc-51702-page-1-1]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=77839826 |title=Trademark Assignment Assignee Details |author= |date= |work= |publisher=[[United States Patent and Trademark Office]]|accessdate=19 September 2010}} and {{cite web |url=http://pro.imdb.com/company/co0025996/ |title=IMDb Listing for Monogram Pictures |author= |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=19 September 2010}}</ref>{{or|date=April 2011}}

Allied Artists Pictures, the flagship film group division of Allied Artists International, Inc., is ranked within the top one thousand film production and distribution companies worldwide, out of more than two hundred and fifty thousand studios listed by the [[Internet Movie Database]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pro.imdb.com/company/co0023951/ |title=Stay on Top of the Film & TV Industry |author= |date= |work= |publisher=IMDbPro |accessdate=8 September 2010}}</ref>

⚫
== Executives ==
:''This section should be integrated into the narrative.''
⚫
Music and film executive Robert Fitzpatrick joined Allied Artists in 1999, and died in October 2010. Following Fitzpatrick’s death, Kim Richards took over as president and CEO. Richards was a young television soundtrack engineer in the 1970’s, and Fitzpatrick helped him earn his first gold record.<ref name=MFERFD>''“’I've known Robert since the late 1970s when he helped a young television soundtrack engineer earn his first gold record,’ said Kim Richards, Allied Artists International CEO & chairman. ‘The engineer was me, and I've had the distinct honor and privilege of walking in Robert's wake ever since. Regardless of the heights this company reaches in the future, they will never be the same without Robert Fitzpatrick by my side.’"'', Music and Film Executive Robert Fitzpatrick Dies, The Hollywood Reporter, 10/27/2010, [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-and-film-executive-robert-32820]</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 17:41, 5 April 2012

Allied Artists International, Inc.
Company typeCorporation
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedSouthern California (1979), successor-in-interest to Allied Artists Pictures Corporation (1946)
FoundersRobert Abernathy
Richard Smith
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California &
New York City, New York
Key people
Kim Richards, Chairman and CEO, Robert Fitzpatrick, President
ProductsMotion pictures, Television production, Music, Music publishing, Entertainment, Television syndication, Online games, Mobile entertainment, Video on demand, Digital distribution
SubsidiariesAllied Artists Pictures, Allied Artists Music Group, Allied Artists Television, Allied Artists Home Video, Monogram Pictures
Websitealliedartists.com

Allied Artists International, Inc. is an entertainment company which works on movies, television, music, games, and other media products. The company is the successor to Allied Artists Pictures Corporation (formerly known as Monogram Pictures Corporation). [1][2] In 1971, Allied Artists Pictures Corporation formed subsidiary Allied Artists Records.[3] Embroiled in a contentious bankruptcy, Allied Artists Pictures Corporation transferred its interest in the Allied Artists trademarks to Allied Artists Records on June 17, 1983[4] to enable production and distribution to continue. [5][original research?] On October 6, 2000, Allied Artists Records filed for a newly designed mark, which became registered on December 25, 2001.[6][7][original research?] On April 1, 2001, Allied Artists Records changed its name to Allied Artists International, Inc. and assigned its trademarks to reflect the corporate name change.[8][original research?] After the assignment of intellectual property between the original Allied Artists Pictures Corporation and Allied Artists International, 445 titles were released under the Allied Artists brand through the year 2009, with additional titles in production and scheduled for release in years to come.[9]

History

Monogram Pictures

Main article: Monogram Pictures

Producer Walter Mirisch began at Monogram Pictures after World War II as assistant to studio head Samuel "Steve" Broidy. He convinced Broidy that the days of low-budget films were ending, and in 1946, Monogram created a new unit, Allied Artists Productions, to make costlier films.

At a time when the average Hollywood picture cost about $800,000 (and the average Monogram picture cost about $90,000), Allied Artists' first release, It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947), cost more than $1,200,000.[10] Subsequent Allied Artists releases were more economical but did have enhanced production values; many of them were filmed in color.

The studio's new policy permitted what Mirisch called "B-plus" pictures, which were released along with Monogram's established line of B fare. Mirisch's prediction about the end of the low-budget film had come true thanks to television, and in September 1952, Monogram announced that henceforth it would only produce films bearing the Allied Artists name. The studio ceased making movies under the Monogram brand name in 1953 (but was later reactivated by Allied Artists International). The parent company became Allied Artists, with Monogram Pictures becoming an operating division.

Allied Artists Pictures

Allied Artists did retain a few vestiges of its Monogram identity, continuing its popular Stanley Clements action series (through 1953), its B-Westerns (through 1954), its Bomba, the Jungle Boy adventures (through 1955), and especially its breadwinning comedy series with The Bowery Boys (through 1957 with Clements replacing Leo Gorcey). For the most part, however, Allied Artists was heading in new, ambitious directions under Mirisch.

For a time in the mid-1950s the Mirisch family had great influence at Allied Artists, with Walter as executive producer, his brother Marvin as head of sales, and brother Harold as corporate treasurer. They pushed the studio into big-budget filmmaking, signing contracts with William Wyler, John Huston, Billy Wilder and Gary Cooper. But when their first big-name productions, Wyler's Friendly Persuasion and Wilder's Love in the Afternoon were box-office flops in 1956–57, studio-head Broidy retreated into the kind of pictures Monogram had always favored: low-budget action and thrillers. Mirisch Productions then had success releasing their films through United Artists.

Allied Artists ceased production in 1966 and became a distributor of foreign films, but restarted production with the 1972 release of Cabaret and followed it the next year with Papillon. Both were critical and commercial successes, but high production and financing costs meant they were not big money makers for Allied. In 1975 Allied distributed the French import film version of Story of O but spent much of its earnings defending itself from obscenity charges.[11]

Monogram/Allied Artists survived by finding a niche and serving it well. Probably the best-known tribute paid to Monogram came from French New Wave pioneer Jean-Luc Godard, who dedicated his 1960 film Breathless to Monogram, citing the studio's films as a major influence.

The company lasted until 1979, when runaway inflation and high production costs pushed it into bankruptcy. The post-1936 Monogram/Allied Artists library was bought by television producer Lorimar; today a majority of this library belongs to Warner Bros. Entertainment. The pre-1936 Monogram library became incorporated into that of Republic, today a part of Viacom-owned Paramount Pictures.

Allied Artists Records

Following the 1980 bankruptcy and dissolution of Allied Artists Pictures Corporation, Allied Artists Records sought to expand its trademark and service mark rights to include all forms of entertainment, including those previously held by Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Allied Artists Records ultimately filed for and received federal trademark protection for "Production and distribution of entertainment services, namely, phonograph records, motion picture films, video tapes, DVDs, and radio and television programs" in International Class 041.[12] [13] [citation needed] By 1988, Allied Artists Records claimed recording artists such as Lionel Richie, Lawrence Welk, Bob Seger, and Ted Nugent.[14] Allied Artists Records (now Allied Artists Music Group)'s roster includes Coolio, David Hasselhoff and Renegade.[15] In 2000, it was announced that Allied Artists Records would issue a Spanish Language recording by actor David Hasselhoff.[16] In 2007, given the length of time Allied Artists International, Inc. had exercised control over the name, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued Allied Artists International, Inc. (Allied Artists Records' successor) a Notice of Acceptance under Section 8 of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1058(a)(1) and Section 15 of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1065, which deems Allied Artists International, Inc's right to the federal trademarks for "Allied Artists" incontestable.[17][original research?]

Allied Artists International

Allied Artists Records,[18][original research?] which was a separate entity at the time of the Allied Artists Pictures Corporation bankruptcy, was left standing[dubious – discuss] with the only remaining rights to the "Allied Artists" name, although those rights had up to that point been limited to motion picture soundtracks, records and music publishing.[19]

Allied Artists today

Allied Artists International, Inc. produces and distributes entertainment products including motion pictures, television productions, DVDs, music CD's, entertainment software, music publishing and other entertainment-related media.

Today, Monogram Pictures is a division of Allied Artists International, somewhat ironic given the fact that Allied Artists originally sprang from Monogram Pictures. However, as Allied Artists emerged as the predominant brand, Monogram Pictures took a backseat and was dormant for many years. Allied Artists has recently renewed the Monogram Pictures trademarks and announced new productions under the Monogram banner.[20][21][original research?]

Allied Artists Pictures, the flagship film group division of Allied Artists International, Inc., is ranked within the top one thousand film production and distribution companies worldwide, out of more than two hundred and fifty thousand studios listed by the Internet Movie Database.[22]

Executives

This section should be integrated into the narrative.

Music and film executive Robert Fitzpatrick joined Allied Artists in 1999, and died in October 2010. Following Fitzpatrick’s death, Kim Richards took over as president and CEO. Richards was a young television soundtrack engineer in the 1970’s, and Fitzpatrick helped him earn his first gold record.[23]

References

  1. ^ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-and-film-executive-robert-32820 | The Hollywood Reporter
  2. ^ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/peter-liapis-william-summers-lead-33928 | The Hollywood Reporter
  3. ^ Billboard Magazine, July 31, 1971 [1]
  4. ^ "Trademark Assignment Assignee Details". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  5. ^ Billboard Magazine, September 6, 1980 [2]
  6. ^ Markify, trademark record for AAI [3]
  7. ^ "United States Patent and Trademark Registration No. 2522770". United States Trademark and Patent Office. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  8. ^ "Trademark Assignment Details". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  9. ^ "IMDb Listing for Allied Artists Pictures". Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  10. ^ "Out Hollywood Way", New York Times, September 8, 1946, p. X1.
  11. ^ David A. Cook. Lost illusions: American cinema in the shadow of Watergate and ..., Volume 9. Simon & Schuster. p. 325.
  12. ^ Trademarkia, classes of trademarks owned by AAI [4]
  13. ^ As well as "Promoting the services of entertainment professionals, namely, talent agency services" in International Class: 035, Trademarkia, classes of trademarks owned by AAI [5]
  14. ^ "...firm, Consolidated Allied Companies, operated Allied Artists Records… in Studio City... company claimed... Lionel Richie, Lawrence Welk, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent...", Daily News of Los Angeles, May 12, 1988, Page: N10, KAREN E. KLEIN Daily News Staff Writer, [6]
  15. ^ Billboard.com, retrieved March 8, 2011 [7]
  16. ^ "Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff will release his first Spanish- language album later this year on Allied Artists Records”, MORNING REPORT; ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION'S PRESS; TELEVISION, Los Angeles Times, Aug 26, 2000, [8]
  17. ^ "United States Patent & Trademark Office Registration No. 2522770". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  18. ^ Allied Artists Records changed its name to 'Allied Artists International, Inc.' on March 8, 2001."Business Entity Search". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  19. ^ "Allied Artists". Allied Artists.com. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  20. ^ Trademarkia, record of AAI trademarks [9]
  21. ^ "Trademark Assignment Assignee Details". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 19 September 2010. and "IMDb Listing for Monogram Pictures". Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  22. ^ "Stay on Top of the Film & TV Industry". IMDbPro. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  23. ^ “’I've known Robert since the late 1970s when he helped a young television soundtrack engineer earn his first gold record,’ said Kim Richards, Allied Artists International CEO & chairman. ‘The engineer was me, and I've had the distinct honor and privilege of walking in Robert's wake ever since. Regardless of the heights this company reaches in the future, they will never be the same without Robert Fitzpatrick by my side.’", Music and Film Executive Robert Fitzpatrick Dies, The Hollywood Reporter, 10/27/2010, [10]
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