History Creator / Lorimar

Lorimar was a TV production house, founded in 1969 by producer Lee Rich, real estate developer Irwin Molasky, and Vegas entrepreneur (and [[http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/03/tv-producer-merv-adelson-las-vegas-mob Mafia front man]]) Merv Adelson (the name comes from a combination of Adelson's ex-wife Lori and Palomar Airport). Its first big hit was ''Series/TheWaltons'' in 1972, but it is probably better remembered now for producing ''Series/{{Dallas}}'' and its spin-off ''Series/KnotsLanding''. Lorimar also produced the occasional MadeForTVMovie, owned a record label, published magazines, and after buying Creator/AlliedArtists in 1980 they also dabbled in theatrical releases. These films were released through Creator/{{Paramount}} and Creator/{{Universal}} in theatres, while on home video their releases (as well as Allied Artists' backlog material) were released through multiple UsefulNotes/HomeVideoDistributors (primarily CBS/Fox Video and its sublabels). In 1984, the company acquired Karl Home Video, a small independent video company which had seen huge success with workout tapes featuring Creator/JaneFonda. The company was renamed Karl-Lorimar Home Video in 1986, though by that point the relationship between Stuart Karl and Lorimar had become sour, leading to his departure in 1987 and the company being renamed to simply Lorimar Home Video.[[note]](though CBS/Fox continued to release pre-1984 Lorimar titles until 1989)[[/note]]

* ''Series/FunHouse'' (1988-91; later passed on to Telepictures solo after WB buyout)

Lorimar merged with television syndicator Telepictures Corporation in 1986 (and along with it, Creator/RankinBass, albeit without most of its' famous specials, which have bounced around[[note]]General Electric retained the pre-1975 Tomorrow Entertainment and R/B libraries after spinning both companies off; they finally sold them off to Broadway Video in 1988, who then sold them onto Golden Books in TheNineties. Golden Books went bankrupt and was eventually acquired by Classic Media and Random House, with Classic Media controlling the rights to the characters.[[/note]] and currently rest with Creator/DreamworksAnimation). By then, the studio was looking forward to competing with the majors. The combined Lorimar-Telepictures then acquired from UsefulNotes/TedTurner the Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer lot, in which many of its shows were shot. After making a deal with sitcom producers Miller/Boyett, Lorimar ventured into that genre after the merger, with shows like ''Series/FullHouse'' becoming the bulk of their output. They also pushed hard into feature films, which unlike TV, was not their forte (aside from hits such as ''Film/{{Being There}}'', ''Film/{{SOB}}'' and ''Film/AnOfficerAndAGentleman''); this led to a falling out between Adelson and Rich, with the latter leaving Lorimar in 1986 to become chairman/CEO of MGM. Lorimar ended up bleeding money, not helped by a disastrous move into self-distribution of their movies. Finally, in January 1989[[note]]the merger had been discussed for nearly a year, and Lorimar had already given control of their home video division to WB by then, which also ended the CBS/Fox distribution deal[[/note]], Creator/WarnerBros bought L-T; this gave Lorimar the funding to keep its (more important) network and syndication divisions alive, while giving Warners a route into the lucrative first-run syndication market, something they had ignored until then. WB essentially renamed Lorimar Syndication (previously just Telepictures) "Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution" (merging the old WBTV distribution firm into that), and its first new release under that banner was a little something they had been working on with Creator/StevenSpielberg--''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures''. (It was a big enough deal to get a two-page spread in the trades, even though the show's premiere was a year and a half away.)

* ''[[Literature/{{It}} Stephen King's It]]''

* ''Tank'' (1984) (Co-production with Universal.)

* ''Film/TheLastStarfighter'' (1984) (Co-production with Creator/{{Universal}})) Warner Bros. owns the television rights.

Lorimar merged with television syndicator Telepictures Corporation in 1986 (and along with it, Creator/RankinBass, albeit without most of its' famous specials, which have bounced around and currently rest with Creator/DreamworksAnimation). By then, the studio was looking forward to competing with the majors. The combined Lorimar-Telepictures then acquired from UsefulNotes/TedTurner the Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer lot, in which many of its shows were shot. After making a deal with sitcom producers Miller/Boyett, Lorimar ventured into that genre after the merger, with shows like ''Series/FullHouse'' becoming the bulk of their output. They also pushed hard into feature films, which unlike TV, was not their forte (aside from hits such as ''Film/{{Being There}}'', ''Film/{{SOB}}'' and ''Film/AnOfficerAndAGentleman''); this led to a falling out between Adelson and Rich, with the latter leaving Lorimar in 1986 to become chairman/CEO of MGM. Lorimar ended up bleeding money, not helped by a disastrous move into self-distribution of their movies. Finally, in January 1989[[note]]the merger had been discussed for nearly a year, and Lorimar had already given control of their home video division to WB by then, which also ended the CBS/Fox distribution deal[[/note]], Creator/WarnerBros bought L-T; this gave Lorimar the funding to keep its (more important) network and syndication divisions alive, while giving Warners a route into the lucrative first-run syndication market, something they had ignored until then. WB essentially renamed Lorimar Syndication (previously just Telepictures) "Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution" (merging the old WBTV distribution firm into that), and its first new release under that banner was a little something they had been working on with Creator/StevenSpielberg--''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures''. (It was a big enough deal to get a two-page spread in the trades, even though the show's premiere was a year and a half away.)

* ''Film/TheLastStarfighter'' (1984) (Co-production with Creator/{{Universal}}))

* ''Film/ActionJackson'' (1988) their last self-distributed title)

* ''Film/TheLastStarfighter'' (1984)

* ''Film/TheFourthProtocol'' (1987)
* ''Film/ActionJackson'' (1988)

* ''Film/TheWitches'' (1990; their final big-screen production)

Lorimar was a TV production house, founded in 1969 by producer Lee Rich, real estate developer Irwin Molasky, and Vegas entrepreneur (and [[http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/03/tv-producer-merv-adelson-las-vegas-mob Mafia front man]]) Merv Adelson (the name comes from a combination of Adelson's ex-wife Lori and Palomar Airport). Its first big hit was ''Series/TheWaltons'' in 1972, but it is probably better remembered now for producing ''Series/{{Dallas}}'' and its spin-off ''Series/KnotsLanding''. Lorimar also produced the occasional MadeForTVMovie, owned a record label, published magazines, and after buying Creator/AlliedArtists in 1980 they also dabbled in theatrical releases. These films were released through Creator/{{Paramount}} and Creator/{{Universal}} in theatres, while on home video their releases (as well as Allied Artists' backlog material) were released through multiple companies (primarily [[Creator/TheCBSFOXCompany CBS/Fox Video]] and its sublabels); 1984 saw the company acquire ''Karl Home Video'', a small independent video company which had seen huge success with workout tapes featuring Creator/JaneFonda. It was renamed ''Karl-Lorimar Home Video'' in 1986, though by that point the relationship between Stuart Karl and Lorimar had become sour, leading to his departure in 1987 and the company being renamed to simply ''Lorimar Home Video'' (though CBS/Fox continued to release pre-1984 Lorimar titles until 1989).

Lorimar was a TV production house, founded in 1969 by producer Lee Rich and Vegas entrepreneur (and [[http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/03/tv-producer-merv-adelson-las-vegas-mob Mafia front man]]) Merv Adelson (the name comes from a combination of Adelson's ex-wife Lori and Palomar Airport). Its first big hit was ''Series/TheWaltons'' in 1972, but it is probably better remembered now for producing ''Series/{{Dallas}}'' and its spin-off ''Series/KnotsLanding''. Lorimar also produced the occasional MadeForTVMovie, owned a record label, published magazines, and after buying Creator/AlliedArtists in 1980 they also dabbled in theatrical releases. These films were released through Creator/{{Paramount}} and Creator/{{Universal}} in theatres, while on home video their releases (as well as Allied Artists' backlog material) were released through multiple companies (primarily [[Creator/TheCBSFOXCompany CBS/Fox Video]] and its sublabels); 1984 saw the company acquire ''Karl Home Video'', a small independent video company which had seen huge success with workout tapes featuring Creator/JaneFonda. It was renamed ''Karl-Lorimar Home Video'' in 1986, though by that point the relationship between Stuart Karl and Lorimar had become sour, leading to his departure in 1987 and the company being renamed to simply ''Lorimar Home Video'' (though CBS/Fox continued to release pre-1984 Lorimar titles until 1989).

Lorimar merged with television syndicator Telepictures Corporation in 1986 (and along with it, Creator/RankinBass, albeit without most of its' famous specials, which have bounced around and currently rest with Creator/DreamworksAnimation). By then, the studio was looking forward to competing with the majors. The combined Lorimar-Telepictures then acquired from UsefulNotes/TedTurner the Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer lot, in which many of its shows were shot. After making a deal with sitcom producers Miller/Boyett, Lorimar ventured into that genre after the merger, with shows like ''Series/FullHouse'' becoming the bulk of their output. They also pushed hard into feature films, which unlike TV, was not their forte (aside from hits such as ''Film/{{Being There}}'', ''Film/{{SOB}}'' and ''Film/AnOfficerAndAGentleman''); this led to a falling out between Adelson and Rich, with the latter leaving Lorimar in 1986 to become chairman/CEO of MGM. Lorimar ended up bleeding money, not helped by a disastrous move into self-distribution of their movies. Finally, in January 1989[[note]]the merger had been discussed for nearly a year, and Lorimar had already given control of their home video division to WB by then, which also ended the CBS/Fox distribution deal[[/note]], Creator/WarnerBros bought L-T; this gave Lorimar the funding to keep its (more important) network and syndication divisions alive, while giving Warners a route into the lucrative first-run syndication market, something they'd ignored until then. WB essentially renamed Lorimar Syndication (previously just Telepictures) "Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution" (merging the old WBTV distribution firm into that), and its first new release under that banner was a little something they'd been working on with Steven Spielberg--''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures''. (It was a big enough deal to get a two-page spread in the trades, even though the show's premiere was a year and a half away.)

Lorimar merged with television syndicator Telepictures Corporation in 1986 (and along with it, Creator/RankinBass, albeit without most of its' famous specials, which have bounced around and currently rest with Creator/DreamworksAnimation). By then, the studio was looking forward to competing with the majors. The combined Lorimar-Telepictures then acquired from UsefulNotes/TedTurner the Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer lot, for which many of its shows were shot. After making a deal with sitcom producers Miller/Boyett, Lorimar ventured into that genre after the merger, with shows like ''Series/FullHouse'' becoming the bulk of their output. They also pushed hard into feature films, which unlike TV, was not their forte (aside from hits such as ''Film/{{Being There}}'', ''Film/{{SOB}}'' and ''Film/AnOfficerAndAGentleman''); this led to a falling out between Adelson and Rich, with the latter leaving Lorimar in 1986 to become chairman/CEO of MGM. Lorimar ended up bleeding money, not helped by a disastrous move into self-distribution of their movies. Finally, in January 1989[[note]]the merger had been discussed for nearly a year, and Lorimar had already given control of their home video division to WB by then, which also ended the CBS/Fox distribution deal[[/note]], Creator/WarnerBros bought L-T; this gave Lorimar the funding to keep its (more important) network and syndication divisions alive, while giving Warners a route into the lucrative first-run syndication market, something they'd ignored until then. WB essentially renamed Lorimar Syndication (previously just Telepictures) "Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution" (merging the old WBTV distribution firm into that), and its first new release under that banner was a little something they'd been working on with Steven Spielberg--''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures''. (It was a big enough deal to get a two-page spread in the trades, even though the show's premiere was a year and a half away.)

Lorimar was a TV production house, founded in 1969 by producer Lee Rich and Vegas entrepreneur (and [[http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/03/tv-producer-merv-adelson-las-vegas-mob Mafia front man]]) Merv Adelson (the name comes from a combination of Adelson's ex-wife Lori and Palomar Airport). Its first big hit was ''Series/TheWaltons'' in 1972, but it's probably better remembered now for producing ''Series/{{Dallas}}'' and its spin-off ''Series/KnotsLanding''. Lorimar also produced the occasional MadeForTVMovie, owned a record label, published magazines, and after buying Creator/AlliedArtists in 1980 they also dabbled in theatrical releases. These films were released through Creator/{{Paramount}} and Creator/{{Universal}} in theatres, while on home video their releases (as well as Allied Artists backlog material) were released through multiple companies (primarily [[Creator/TheCBSFOXCompany CBS/Fox Video]] and its' sublabels); 1984 saw the company acquire ''Karl Home Video'', a small independent video company which had seen huge success with workout tapes featuring Creator/JaneFonda. It was renamed ''Karl-Lorimar Home Video'' in 1986, though by that point the relationship between Stuart Karl and Lorimar had become sour, leading to his departure in 1987 and the company being renamed to simply ''Lorimar Home Video'' (though CBS/Fox continued to release pre-1984 Lorimar titles until 1989).

!Productions from Lorimar and Lorimar-Telepictures include:

Lorimar was a TV production house, founded in 1969 by producer Lee Rich and Vegas entrepreneur (and [[http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/03/tv-producer-merv-adelson-las-vegas-mob Mafia front man]]) Merv Adelson (the name comes from a combination of Adelson's ex-wife Lori and Palomar Airport). Its first big hit was ''Series/TheWaltons'' in 1972, but it's probably better remembered now for producing ''Series/{{Dallas}}'' and its spin-off ''Series/KnotsLanding''. Lorimar also produced the occasional MadeForTVMovie, owned a record label, published magazines, and after buying Creator/AlliedArtists in 1980 they also dabbled in theatrical releases. These releases were released through Creator/{{Paramount}} and Creator/{{Universal}} in theatres, while on home video their releases (as well as Allied Artists backlog material) were released through multiple companies (primarily [[Creator/TheCBSFOXCompany CBS/Fox Video]] and its' sublabels); 1984 saw the company acquire ''Karl Home Video'', a small independent video company which had seen huge success with workout tapes featuring Creator/JaneFonda. It was renamed ''Karl-Lorimar Home Video'' in 1986, though by that point the relationship between Stuart Karl and Lorimar had become sour, leading to his departure in 1987 and the company being renamed to simply ''Lorimar Home Video'' (though CBS/Fox continued to release pre-1984 Lorimar titles until 1989).

Lorimar was a TV production house, founded in 1969 by producer Lee Rich and Vegas entrepreneur (and [[http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/03/tv-producer-merv-adelson-las-vegas-mob Mafia front man]]) Merv Adelson (the name comes from a combination of Adelson's ex-wife Lori and Palomar Airport). Its first big hit was ''Series/TheWaltons'' in 1972, but it's probably better remembered now for producing ''Series/{{Dallas}}'' and its spin-off ''Series/KnotsLanding''. Lorimar also produced the occasional MadeForTVMovie and owned a record label, and after buying Creator/AlliedArtists in 1980 they also dabbled in theatrical releases.

Lorimar merged with television syndicator Telepictures Corporation in 1986 (and along with it, Creator/RankinBass, albeit without most of its' famous specials, which have bounced around and currently rest with Creator/DreamworksAnimation). By then, the studio was looking forward to competing with the majors. The combined Lorimar-Telepictures then acquired from UsefulNotes/TedTurner the Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer lot, for which many of its shows were shot. After making a deal with sitcom producers Miller/Boyett, Lorimar ventured into that genre after the merger, with shows like ''Series/FullHouse'' becoming the bulk of their output. They also pushed hard into feature films, which unlike TV, was not their forte (aside from hits such as ''Film/{{Being There}}'', ''Film/{{SOB}}'' and ''Film/AnOfficerAndAGentleman''); this led to a falling out between Adelson and Rich, with the latter leaving Lorimar in 1986 to become chairman/CEO of MGM. Lorimar ended up bleeding money, not helped by a disastrous move into self-distribution (1987-88). Finally, in January 1989[[note]]the merger had been discussed for nearly a year, and Lorimar had already given control of their home video division to WB by then[[/note]], Creator/WarnerBros bought L-T; this gave Lorimar the funding to keep its (more important) network and syndication divisions alive, while giving Warners a route into the lucrative first-run syndication market, something they'd ignored until then. WB essentially renamed Lorimar Syndication (previously just Telepictures) "Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution" (merging the old WBTV distribution firm into that), and its first new release under that banner was a little something they'd been working on with Steven Spielberg--''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures''. (It was a big enough deal to get a two-page spread in the trades, even though the show's premiere was a year and a half away.)

* ''Series/TrumpCard'' (game show based out of what's now the Golden Nugget casino in Atlantic City; 1990-91, based off the UK game show ''Series/BobsFullHouse'')