Sam Warner
Sam Warner, born
Samuel Eichelbaum (
August 10,
1887 –
October 5,
1927) was a co-founder and
Chief Executive Officer of
Warner Brothers film company. The other Warner brothers were
Harry Warner (1881â€"1958),
Albert Warner (1883â€"1967), and
Jack L. Warner (1892â€"1978).
His interest in film came after seeing
Thomas Edison's
The Great Train Robbery while working as an employee at
Cedar Point Pleasure Resort in
Sandusky, Ohio.
Sam Warner can be credited as the brother who brought sound to Warner Brothers theaters, after tricking his brother Harry into attend a convention on the matter. Sam Warner placed all his efforts into developing sound for the company and some say it contributed to his early death due to a chronic sinus condition.
Unfortunately, Sam died the day before
The Jazz Singer made its debut in
New York City and he never saw his creation come to the theater, nor for that matter the enormous impact it had on the motion picture business.
He is interred in the
Home of Peace Cemetery in
East Los Angeles, California. His tombstone [
1] shows his birth year to be 1885.
For his contribution to the
motion picture industry,
Sam Warner has a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6201
Hollywood Boulevard.