Rank Organisation

The Rank Organisation, a British company in the entertainment industry, which was founded in 1937 by industrialist and film producer Joseph Arthur Rank, as to combine its various companies under one umbrella organization. In the Filmvorspännen the so-called " Gongman ", announced that represented by Kenneth Richmond, of rank placed on the Movies.

Corporate Development

After its founding, the Rank Organisation was an important factor in the British film industry in the production, distribution and exhibition of films in the. In addition, the American films in the Universal Pictures UK have been placed on the rental by the company.

1939 Rank bought the Amalgamated Studios in Borehamwood. Two years later, Rank took over after the death of Oscar the German cinema of the Odeon chain, he also acquired the Gaumont - British Picture Corporation, which owned 251 cinemas and the film studio Shepherd 's Bush Studios. Also in 1941 went the Paramount cinema in the possession of the company over (but which were sold in 1949 to the BBC ). The acquisition of the majority of voting rights in the company Allied Cinemas and Irish Cinemas Ltd.. Rank was until the early 1980s, even the largest film catering for Ireland.

For the Rank Organisation also included the UK's five largest film studio, which included the Pinewood film studios and Denham Film Studios, which were 650 cinemas connected.

The company branch Independent Producers Ltd.. had the greatest film directors of Britain under contract, including Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, David Lean, Frank Launder, Sidney Gilliat, Ken Annakin or Muriel Box.

In 1945, with rank of The Company of Youth drama school, which was also known as The Charm School, the numerous players owed ​​the beginning of her career, such as Diana Dors and Christopher Lee. Although they did not belong to the school, was also the singer Petula Clark contract with Rank and also appeared in several films of the organization, including in the musical film London Town (1946 ), one of the most expensive flops of the British film industry.

Between 1959 and 1969, more than 500 weekly short films in the series Look At Life, each of which constituted a part of British life emerged at Rank. After the previous production company Anglo - Amalgamated ceased production, Rank took over from 1966 to 1978, the production of the popular parody series " Carry-on ...", many of which are in German with the title " Carry on ... " began.

Expansion

After a financial crisis in 1949 rank was forced to the studios in Islington and Shepherd's Bush to sell. Just one year before the Amalgamated Studios was acquired by MGM. Also in 1949 bought Rank but the production company Bush Radio and started a new company branch in the radio industry. After taking over the radio manufacturer Murphy was born 1960 Rank Bush Murphy Group, which merged into the Great Universal Stores in 1978.

In 1952 J. Arthur Rank the post of CEO, but remained chairman until 1962. Under the leadership of Sir John Davis moved Rank his productions exclusively in the Pinewood Studios and joined the Independent Producers Ltd.. With a partnership of the Haloid Corporation began in 1956 the company's history of Rank Xerox and 1958 Rank partner in the consortium that successfully mitbot in the division of ITV transmitter, which led to the establishment of the station Southern Television.

From the late 1950s, Rank was also on music production with the label rank Records Ltd.. involved, which was held under Top Rank and Jaro Records. Top Rank was taken over in 1961 by EMI. Rank Audio Visual was founded in 1960 and united Ranks multimedia interests, which also included since the purchase of Gaumont British in 1941, Bell and Howell and the company Andrew Smith Harkness Ltd.. and Wharfedale Ltd.. On the shopping list of rank were then in 1968, the beach Electric Holdings and 1969, the HJ Leak & Co.

Resolution

In 1980, the Rank Organisation a their film productions. In 1995, the organization went on in the "The Rank Group ", which took over all shares of stock. In the next few years, the Rank Group sold all traditional business parts of the Rank Organisation. The Rank Film Distribution went to Carlton Communications for 65 million pounds. This company then went on in the Granada International. In 1996, Rank Xerox completely to the U.S. parent company Xerox. As of 1998, 53 nightclubs of rank were sold and the American holiday chains of Oasis. Since 1998 Rank was considered a takeover candidate by different companies.

In February 2000, the Odeon cinemas were sold for 280 million pounds and the Pinewood Studios sold for 62 million to a consortium led by Michael Grade (nephew of Sir Lew Grade ). Also a part of the Universal theme parks in Orlando, Florida was sold and the Tom Cobleigh and Catering went for £ 90 million to new owners. The remaining British possessions Holiday Butlins, Haven and Oasis were brought to the man for 700 million pounds. The Operating Company Rank Leisure Machine Services, which took care of in the amusement parks, among other things, the supply and repair of game machines, was sold in 2004 for 30 million pounds. 2006 Hard Rock businesses were sold to the Seminole Tribe in Florida for 965 million pounds. These included 124 Hard Rock Cafes, four Hard Rock Hotels, two Hard Rock Casino Hotels, two Hard Rock and Live! Concert venues. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas was sold to the Morgans Hotel Group in May 2006.