Screen Gems

Screen Gems
Formerly	M.J. Winkler Pictures (1921–1926); Winkler Pictures (1926–1931); The Charles Mintz Studio (1931–1933)
Industry	Animation
Founded	1921; 105 years ago
Founder	Margaret J. Winkler
Defunct	Template:End date and age
Successor	Sony Pictures Animation (theatrical shorts)
Headquarters	New York City, New York (1921–1931); Los Angeles, California (1931-1949), United States
Key people	Margaret J. Winkler; Charles Mintz; Frank Tashlin; Dave Fleischer; Henry Binder; Ray Katz
Products	Short films
Production output	Animation
Parent	Columbia Pictures (1931-1949)

Screen Gems is a film production entity based in the United States and is a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, itself part of the Japanese multinational Sony Group Corporation. Throughout its existence, Screen Gems has transitioned from an animation studio into a television production company and currently functions as Sony's division focused on genre films, with an emphasis on horror. It ranks among the five live-action labels within the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, alongside Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, and 3000 Pictures.

Animation studio (1921–1949)

Early years (1921–1933)

Producer Pat Sullivan once approached Harry Warner to secure a contract for the Felix the Cat series; Warner declined and suggested his secretary, Margaret J. Winkler, establish her own distribution firm. Responding to this, Winkler founded M.J. Winkler Productions, which soon managed distribution for Max and Dave Fleischer's Out of the Inkwell. By 1923, following disagreements with Sullivan, the Fleischer brothers created their own distribution company named Red Seal. After viewing Walt Disney's Alice's Wonderland, Winkler was impressed and collaborated with Disney to develop a series inspired by it. In 1924, Charles Mintz married Winkler and assumed control of her company, renaming it Winkler Pictures.

Due to conflicts with Sullivan, Winkler chose not to renew the Felix contract in 1925. By 1926, Disney ceased distributing the Alice Comedies through Winkler. Mintz encouraged Disney and Ub Iwerks to invent a new character, which led to the creation of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Universal Pictures' initial animated figure. Early in 1928, after Oswald gained popularity, Disney requested increased funding from Mintz; upon refusal, Mintz hired most of Disney's animators—excluding Iwerks and a few others—to produce Oswald cartoons under Winkler Pictures. When Oswald's contract was lost to Walter Lantz, Mintz turned his focus toward Krazy Kat, a property distributed by Winkler.

Originally named M.J. Winkler Productions, the company became Winkler Pictures under Mintz's leadership in 1926 and began collaborating with Columbia Pictures for distribution in 1929. The studio moved its operations from New York City to California in 1931 and rebranded as The Charles Mintz Studio.

Becoming Screen Gems (1933–1942)

In 1933, after Columbia Pictures acquired a stake in Mintz's animation company, the studio was rebranded as Screen Gems, a name derived from Columbia’s motto "Gems of the Screen." Under Mintz’s guidance, the studio received two Academy Award nominations for Best Short Subject: Holiday Land (1935) and The Little Match Girl (1937). Over approximately ten years, Screen Gems produced various series such as Krazy Kat, Scrappy, and Color Rhapsody. Between 1937 and 1940, some entries in the Color Rhapsody series were subcontracted to Ub Iwerks's animation studio.

Although the color cartoons from Screen Gems were well-received, later productions of Krazy Kat and Scrappy faced criticism for deviating from their original source material. Animator Isidore Klein voiced his dissatisfaction with the creative direction taken on Krazy Kat. Columbia enforced stringent budget controls that often resulted in financial overruns for Mintz. By 1939, burdened by debt and declining health, Mintz transferred ownership of his studio and the Screen Gems brand to Columbia to alleviate financial difficulties. He passed away later that same year. Following this, the Krazy Kat series concluded in 1940 and Scrappy ended in 1941.

By 1940, Columbia had taken direct control of the studio; production manager Jimmy Bronis briefly led before being replaced by George Winkler, Mintz’s brother-in-law. In 1941, Columbia appointed former Disney writer and Leon Schlesinger director Frank Tashlin as head of the studio. Tashlin revitalized Screen Gems by recruiting animators displaced during the 1941 Disney strike and dismissing much of the existing staff. He directed The Fox and the Grapes, which introduced Columbia’s most enduring characters: The Fox and the Crow. Tashlin resigned as producer in April 1942 but continued to serve as creative supervisor.

Decline and closure (1942–1949)

A major creative influence, Tashlin promoted innovation but departed Screen Gems in June 1942 due to disagreements with Columbia executives. His successor was Dave Fleischer, co-founder of Fleischer Studios, whose detached management style and disruptive editing practices adversely affected production quality. Later producers included Paul Worth, Three Stooges producer Hugh McCollum, and former Schlesinger assistants Ray Katz and Henry Binder. The studio launched characters such as Tito and His Burrito, Flippy and Flop the Cat, Igor Puzzlewitz, Willoughby Wren, and adapted Al Capp's Li'l Abner, though with mixed success.

Following Tashlin’s departure, the studio experienced a creative downturn; animation historian Leonard Maltin observed that cartoons from the 1940s featured uninspired characters and weak narratives, as seen in shorts like Mass Mouse Meeting (1943) and Giddy-Yapping (1944). John Hubley, who directed several shorts during this era, expressed dissatisfaction with Columbia’s management approach. Al Capp himself criticized the Li'l Abner adaptations, which ceased after only five episodes. Productions overseen by Katz and Binder were regarded as inferior imitations of Warner Brothers’ style, featuring characters reminiscent of Sylvester the Cat and Daffy Duck.

The loss of experienced animators hired during Tashlin’s tenure further undermined the studio’s output. Columbia’s poor management and inability to retain talented directors and writers played a significant role in declining quality. Staff members during this period included Bob Wickersham, Alec Geiss, Sid Marcus (one of few pre-Tashlin holdovers), Howard Swift, Alex Lovy, as well as gag writer Bob Clampett before he established his own studio at Republic Pictures. Occasionally, Looney Tunes writers Michael Maltese and Tedd Pierce contributed scripts.

Screen Gems was the last major American animation studio to discontinue black-and-white cartoon production in 1946—three years after studios such as Famous Studios had stopped. Frustrated by declining output quality and rising expenses, Columbia shut down Screen Gems in 1946 but continued distributing existing shorts until 1949. The Screen Gems brand was later repurposed for Columbia’s television division. The Seward Street facility occupied by Screen Gems since 1940 was taken over by Walter Lantz Productions in 1947.

Legacy

Although the quality of Screen Gems cartoons fluctuated, they achieved moderate success and received three nominations for Academy Awards. Under the direction of Frank Tashlin, the studio experienced a surge in creative energy, yet it never reached the heights attained by rivals such as Walt Disney Productions, Warner Bros. Cartoons, or MGM Cartoon Studio. Eventually, United Productions of America (UPA) took over Screen Gems' position in the industry, with acclaimed works like Gerald McBoing-Boing and Mr. Magoo earning both critical acclaim and commercial success. From 1957 until 1967, a collaboration with Hanna-Barbera further shaped its legacy.

In 1999, Columbia TriStar International Television introduced Totally Tooned In, a syndicated series showcasing Columbia’s vintage cartoon catalog. With assistance from animation expert Jerry Beck, numerous Screen Gems and UPA animations were restored from their original 35mm prints. This program was broadcast internationally before premiering on Antenna TV in 2011 and later appearing on MeTV’s Toon In With Me in 2021. Despite these restoration efforts, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has not announced any plans for releasing these cartoons on DVD or Blu-ray formats. Following CPE Holdings, Inc.’s dormancy as of May 2024, theatrical distribution for Columbia Pictures is now managed by Sony Pictures Releasing, while television rights to most color Screen Gems and UPA cartoons reside with Sony Pictures Television.

Theatrical short film series

All series were distributed by Columbia unless otherwise specified.

Krazy Kat (1925–1939) (originating from Bray Productions)
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (1928–1929) (transferred from Disney to Walter Lantz)
Toby the Pup (1930–1931) (distributed through RKO)
Scrappy (1931–1939)
Color Rhapsodies (1934–1949)
Barney Google (1935–1936)
Fables (1939–1942)
Phantasies (1939–1948)
The Fox and the Crow (1943–1946)
Li'l Abner (1944)
Flippy (1945–1947)

Early years (1948–1954)

Ralph Cohn—son of Columbia co-founder Jack Cohn and nephew of studio chief Harry Cohn—established Pioneer Telefilms in 1947 with a focus on producing television commercials. He later championed Columbia’s entry into television, resulting in a $50,000 investment to acquire Pioneer and rebrand it as Screen Gems in 1949, marking Columbia’s deliberate expansion into TV production.

By 1951, Screen Gems had transformed into a comprehensive television studio engaged in both production and syndication of popular programs. Ralph Cohn secured a contract with Ford Motor Company to produce Ford Theatre, representing one of the earliest examples of a major film studio creating content specifically for television. The subsidiary also contributed episodes to Cavalcade of America, broadening its production scope.

Initially, the "Screen Gems" brand was used to mask Columbia's involvement to alleviate industry apprehensions about television competing with motion pictures. By 1955, however, Columbia openly linked Screen Gems with its corporate identity to capitalize on its established market standing.

In 1952, Screen Gems introduced "TV Disk Jockey Toons," releasing approximately 100 synchronized film shorts intended for television broadcast, demonstrating early innovation in content distribution methods.

Period of Growth (1954–1968)

In 1954, the company achieved notable early triumphs by debuting Father Knows Best on CBS and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin on ABC.

On July 1, 1956, industry expert Irving Briskin departed Columbia Pictures to establish Briskin Productions, Inc., which produced series for Screen Gems and managed its production slate. Later that year, Screen Gems broadened its reach into television syndication by acquiring Hygo Television Films and United Television Films, thereby enhancing its distribution network.

The studio began distributing Columbia Pictures' film catalog to television outlets, including the syndication of The Three Stooges shorts in 1957. Additionally, it secured syndication rights to Universal’s horror collection Shock Theater, contributing to a resurgence in the genre’s popularity.

Between 1958 and 1974, under the leadership of President John H. Mitchell and Vice President of Production Harry Ackerman, Screen Gems produced several successful TV series such as Dennis the Menace, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Partridge Family. The company also became the original distributor for Hanna-Barbera Productions, founded by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Screen Gems collaborated on Canadian programming with CTV and expanded internationally through Screen Gems Australia, which produced shows like The Graham Kennedy Show for the Nine Network.

Diversification included ownership of television stations such as KCPX (Salt Lake City), WVUE-DT (New Orleans), WAPA-TV (San Juan), and WNJU (Linden, New Jersey), along with radio stations including WWVA (AM). To finance these acquisitions, 18% of Screen Gems’ shares were spun off from Columbia, making it a publicly traded entity on the NYSE until 1968. The company also maintained partial ownership of Venezuela’s Canal 11 Televisión from 1966 through 1968.

In 1963, senior executive William Dozier departed to create Greenway Productions, initially partnering with Screen Gems for distribution; however, Greenway subsequently aligned with competitor 20th Century-Fox Television.

Screen Gems ventured into music publishing by acquiring Don Kirshner’s Aldon Music in 1963, appointing Kirshner as head of the Columbia-Screen Gems music division. Following Kirshner’s exit in 1967 due to disputes involving The Monkees, Lester Sill assumed leadership until 1985. This division was eventually sold to EMI for $23.5 million in 1976.

From 1964 until 1969, former child actor Jackie Cooper held the position of Vice President of Program Development, overseeing projects such as packaging Bewitched. Ahead of the 1965–1966 television season, Screen Gems recruited prominent talents including writer Sidney Sheldon and director Hy Averback to develop new series.

In 1965, Columbia Pictures acquired a 50% interest in New York-based commercial production firm EUE, incorporating it into Screen Gems as EUE/Screen Gems. These studios were later sold in 1982 to executive George Cooney following Columbia’s acquisition by The Coca-Cola Company.

Integration with Columbia Pictures and Transition to Columbia Pictures Television (1968–1974)

On December 23, 1968, Screen Gems merged with its parent company Columbia Pictures Corporation to form Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., in a transaction valued at $24.5 million.

In 1969, Leonard Goldberg—formerly vice president of programming at ABC—joined Screen Gems as vice president of program development, succeeding Jackie Cooper. Goldberg’s period saw modest achievements with The Partridge Family standing out as a key success before he left after three years to establish a production company alongside Aaron Spelling.

In 1971, Douglas S. Cramer, previously executive vice president at Paramount Television, launched The Douglas S. Cramer Company affiliated with Screen Gems to produce film and television projects through Columbia Pictures. The following year, David Gerber formed his own production company connected with Screen Gems, producing notable programs such as NBC’s Police Story. In 1973, Blye-Bearde Productions entered into an independent development agreement with Screen Gems. That same year saw Vice President of Production Harry Ackerman depart to create a Paramount Television-affiliated enterprise.

On May 6, 1974, Screen Gems was rebranded as Columbia Pictures Television under studio president David Gerber—who succeeded Art Frankel. The final major production released under the Screen Gems banner was the miniseries QB VII in 1974. This renaming signified Columbia’s official branding commitment to television production.

Later years and aftermath

In 1982, Columbia was acquired by Coca-Cola, which continued to operate under the CPT brand. By the mid-1980s, Coca-Cola streamlined its television holdings into Coca-Cola Television, combining CPT with Embassy Communications’ TV division to form Columbia/Embassy Television. Despite this merger, both entities remained distinct until January 2, 1988, when Columbia/Embassy and Tri-Star Television united under the CPT banner. Additionally, Columbia oversaw Colex Enterprises, a joint distribution effort with LBS Communications that handled the Screen Gems catalog until 1987. The Columbia Pictures Television name was revived in 1985 to syndicate classic television programs.

On December 18, 1987, Coca-Cola divested its entertainment assets to Tri-Star Pictures in a $3.1 billion transaction, resulting in the creation of Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc., which consolidated Columbia and Tri-Star into Columbia/Tri-Star while preserving their separate production and distribution operations. Sony Corporation acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment in 1989. The company was rebranded as Sony Pictures Entertainment on August 11, 1991. In 1994, CPT merged with a reestablished TriStar Television to form Columbia TriStar Television. Later on, the Screen Gems name was resurrected for the syndicated classic television block Screen Gems Network, which aired from 1999 through 2002.

Currently, the television division functions as Sony Pictures Television.

Television series

Programs produced or syndicated by Screen Gems include:

The Ford Television Theatre (1948–1957)
Cavalcade of America
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (syndicated reruns, 1952–1958)
Art Linkletter's House Party (1952–1969)
Captain Midnight / Jet Jackson, Flying Commando (1954–1956)
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954–1959)
Father Knows Best (1954–1960; rights later relinquished)
Tales of the Texas Rangers (1955–1957)
Treasure Hunt (1956–1959)
Selected episodes of Playhouse 90 (1956–1960)
Celebrity Playhouse (1955–1956)
Jungle Jim (1955–1956)
Ranch Party (1957–1958)
Jefferson Drum (1958)
The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966; rights later relinquished)
Rescue 8 (1958–1960)
Naked City (1958–1963; rights later relinquished)
Behind Closed Doors (1958–1959)
Tightrope (1959–1960)
Dennis the Menace (1959–1963)
Distribution of The Three Stooges shorts (1959–1974)
Two Faces West (1960–1961; syndicated)
My Sister Eileen (1960–1961)
Route 66 (1960–1964; rights later relinquished)
Hazel (1961–1966)
Shannon (1961-1962; syndicated)
Line 'em Up (1962-1963; CTV)
Empire (1962–1963)
Our Man Higgins (1962–1963)
Grindl (1963–1964)
The Farmer's Daughter (1963–1966)
Bewitched (1964–1972)
Early production phase of Days of Our Lives, starting in 1965
Mid-60s sitcoms such as Camp Runamuck, Gidget, among others
I Dream of Jeannie (1965–1970)
Various additional series including The Monkees, with syndication rights retained by Sony Pictures Television
Late 60s and early 70s productions including titles like The Flying Nun, Here Come the Brides, and the Johnny Cash Show
Early 70s shows produced by Ashmont Productions and Lorimar Television such as ‘’Bewitched’’, ‘’The Paul Lynde Show’’, and ‘’The Good Life’’
Soap operas beginning in 1973 like ‘’The Young and the Restless’’, initially produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company and Corday Productions, later handled by Columbia Pictures Television and Sony Pictures Television
Crime dramas including ‘’Police Story’’ and ‘’Police Woman’’, with production transitioning to Columbia Pictures Television following Screen Gems
Several programs originally planned for Screen Gems but ultimately produced by its successor Columbia Pictures Television during the mid-1970s due to corporate restructuring and strategic realignment

This broad catalog underscores Screen Gems' prominent role in television production, showcasing its adaptive business strategies involving rights management, syndication, and collaborations with key producers and affiliates. Leadership decisions throughout this era were instrumental in establishing its competitive position within the television industry.

Films

Head (1968; adapted from the television series The Monkees)

Television series and specials

Note: (*)= Currently under the ownership of Turner Entertainment and Warner Bros.

The Ruff and Reddy Show (1957–1960)*
The Huckleberry Hound Show (1958–1961)*
The Quick Draw McGraw Show (1959–1961)*
The Flintstones (1960–1966)*
The Yogi Bear Show (1961–1962)*
Top Cat (1961–1962)*
The Hanna-Barbera New Cartoon Series (1962–1963)*
The Jetsons (1962–1963)*
The Magilla Gorilla Show (1964–1967)*
Jonny Quest (1964–1965)*
The Peter Potamus Show (1964–1966)*
The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show (1965–1967)*
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1966)*
Space Ghost and Dino Boy (1966–1967)*
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show (1971–1972)*
The Flintstone Comedy Hour (1972–1974)*
Yogi's Ark Lark (1972)*
Gidget Makes the Wrong Connection (1972)
Tabitha and Adam and the Clown Family (1972)
Jeannie (1973)
Partridge Family 2200 A.D. (1974)

Theatrical shorts and feature films

Note: (*) = Currently owned by Turner Entertainment and Warner Bros.

Loopy De Loop (1959–1964; theatrical shorts)*
Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! (1964; feature film derived from The Yogi Bear Show)*
The Man Called Flintstone (1966; feature film based on The Flintstones)*

Briskin Productions

Goodyear Theatre (1957–1960)
Alcoa Theatre (1957–1960)
Casey Jones (1958)
The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966; full ownership transferred to Donna Reed estate since 2008)
Manhunt (1959–1961)

Specialty Feature Film Division (1998–present)

Screen Gems was relaunched on December 8, 1998, as a specialty film unit within Sony's Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, replacing Triumph Films. This division specializes in producing medium-budget movies that fill the space between Columbia Pictures’ mainstream releases and Sony Pictures Classics’ films. Its range includes horror, thriller, action, drama, comedy, and urban-themed projects, positioning it alongside competitors such as Dimension Films, Hollywood Pictures, Searchlight Pictures, and Rogue Pictures.

By 2023, Screen Gems’ highest-earning film is Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016), which grossed more than $300 million globally at the box office.

Additional resources

The Columbia Crow's Nest – a site focused on the Screen Gems animation division.