The Gambit

[PNWKing]

May, 11, 1977

Arthur Krim was reviewing the returns from new movies coming in. 20th Century Fox was making bank over bank with that hit, he had turned down, Star Wars. He had felt like the executive at Decca Records who had told the Beatles, "we don't like your sound, and guitar groups are on their way out." But he was having a phone call, with an unlikely locale. Omaha, NE. What was in Omaha? Well, a slightly unknown investor named Warren Buffett. He had just been starting in the business, and Krim thought that he might just be the ticket. He seemed intelligent. But would he seek a front page investment like this? Krim didn't think so, after all he was just a humble Midwesterner. Buffett said, "Sure, I'll give you $1,000". Krim said that he had two partners, Robert Benjamin and Eric Pleskow, who had both been employees of United Artists. They already had a $3,000 guaranteed line of credit with the Bank of America. They wanted to purchase United Artists from it's owner, Transamerica.

 

[OldNavy1988]

Nice start so far!

 

[PNWKing]

July, 4, 1977
Marcia Lucas had received a phone call at Skywalker Ranch. "Warner Bros. wants me", she paused, "to edit an adaptation of Superman." "For real," George said. "As long as it doesn't conflict with production of The Empire Strikes Back." "You're already making up a sequel." "You've seen how much money the film made." "It's OK, I'll edit Superman, as long as it doesn't interfere with production of The Empire Strikes Back."

Meanwhile, Arthur Krim had lined up the funding. He, Robert Benjamin, and Eric Pleskow would take possession of United Artists come January, 1, 1978. There was one production he didn't want made though, and if it meant telling the guy who directed "The Deer Hunter" to shove it where the sun didn't shine, he wouldn't let it get made. He had heard the news this morning from a friend in the industry. Marcia Lucas, an editor who had worked primarily on her husband's films, was now hired to edit "Superman". "Superman" was planned for a release in 1978. All the better to not conflict with Moonraker. If the two movies were conflicting, Moonraker would be the downfall of United Artists.

 

[Electric Monk]

It’s most certainly an interesting period of time for film and Hollywood, intrigued to see where you go with it.

 

[PNWKing]

August, 11, 1977
Krim, Benjamin, and Pleskow had set up the final structure for their company. It would be called KBP Holdings. Krim would be CEO, Benjamin would be Chairman of the Board, and Pleskow would be President. KBP Holdings would have United Artists, United Artists Television, and United Artists Records. Krim was reviewing the Records division's sheets, he had heard the division's biggest hit, that Gambler song. It was stuck in his head non-stop. United Artists Television last had a hit in 1968, with Gilligan's Island. That was their last TV hit.

Meanwhile, Nolan Bushnell had been contacting companies, trying to sell Atari. Disney would refuse, they were in too dire straits. MCA refused. So he called Warner Communications. The deal would conclude the same day January 1, as that Krim fellow's deal to buy United Artists. And if that "Superman" movie of theirs was a hit, Bushnell was sure that there would be a game version of Superman. That would be a major best seller for Atari and for the new console he was planning, the VCS.

 

[Electric Monk]

KBP Holdings would have United Artists, United Artists Television, and United Artists Records. It was stuck in his head non-stop. United Artists Television last had a hit in 1968, with Gilligan's Island. That was their last TV hit.

Technically they stopped doing television production in 1969, so they’re out of the TV business—no production, stages, sets, writers, associations: nada. UA TV needs millions and millions to start up again and then-management has very little TV interest or experience. So UA will be looking for a partner.

Good update though

 

[PNWKing]

September, 12, 1977
KBP Holdings had decided on a partner for United Artists television business. A guy from Atlanta, GA, had expressed some interest. Operated a little station there, that he wanted to turn into some kind of "super station". But, nope, United Artists Television would live again through a partnership with Lorimar Productions.

Meanwhile, at MCA, Lew Wasserman hired a Paramount assistant from the marketing department, Jeffrey Katzenberg, to become head of Universal Pictures. He needed someone who could make the studio millions of dollars. Katzenberg was just the right man.

 

[Somedevil]

keep it up.. I'm liking this time line but will the Superman game have the same fate as the ET game Atari made

 

[Unknown]

What about "Heaven's Gate"?

 

[PNWKing]

keep it up.. I'm liking this time line but will the Superman game have the same fate as the ET game Atari made

No. For one, ET was owned by Universal Pictures. Superman is owned by DC Comics, whose owner is Warner Communications.

What about "Heaven's Gate"?

That is the one movie Arthur Krim doesn't want made if you read the update that mentioned Michael Cimino.

 

[PNWKing]

October, 11, 1977
Marcia Lucas began working on the editing for Superman, due for release sometime next June or July. She began thinking about her post Superman projects. The Empire Strikes Back and this flick her husband and Steven Spielberg began thinking up called "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

New Universal head Jeffrey Katzenberg began expressing an interest in several scripts, including "Raiders". Paramount, that new guy at United Artists, and 20th Century Fox had all expressed interest in "Raiders" as well.

Since no studio had interest in buying the script for "Raiders" hopefully Lucas could get it made. She knew the Lucas name could bring people into the cinema and sell tickets like nothing else.

 

[PNWKing]

November, 12, 1977
Marcia Lucas had received some clarification. The Empire Strikes Back was actually not the sequel like she had thought. George had just miscommunicated with her. Empire was actually the third movie, after Revenge of the Jedi.

The "Raiders" script had a buyer too, that Katzenberg fella at Universal Pictures. All they needed now was a set, cast, writers, etc. But they already had an editor. If she had time, between any "Superman" sequels, Revenge, Empire, and any other projects she was working on. Plus any hopes at starting a family. George had struggled in that regard, but Superman had given her an idea. If Jonathan and Martha Kent could adopt, than she could too.

Meanwhile, Arthur Krim was looking at Lorimar's finances. If he was going to jump into a production joint venture, he had to know everything about the company he was doing it with. The finances were OK. The company was sound, and a joint venture with one of the most iconic film studios on the planet might just change the company's fortunes. This could be interesting times for the company.

 

[PNWKing]

December, 25, 1977
Arthur Krim was celebrating with his family. For in a week, he would take over one of the most iconic studios on the planet. This would be a major day for him and for all studios. Why? Because this would cause major changes to the Hollywood studio system. Just how major he or anyone around him would know.

George and Marcia Lucas were celebrating at Skywalker Ranch. For this would be the last Christmas before the success of "Superman", "Star Wars", and other movies made them wealthy beyond all imaginations. The film industry would see and copy their success.

Jeffrey Katzenberg however wasn't in a mood to celebrate. The move was stressful, plus he needed some help making Universal a serious studio. Yes, they had hits like "Jaws" but they needed to keep the hits coming. And not just in movies but in TV as well. These were going to be rough times, he was sure. But the studio needed major hits like "Jaws", so they needed a "Jaws" sequel and anything else this director Steinberg or whatever he was called could put out.

 

[PNWKing]

.January, 1, 1978

KBP Holdings first official day of business was today. A day Arthur Krim would know for the rest of his life. He had told Michael Cimino that his planned script "Heaven's Gate" would sink the studio if it was released. Cimino threatened to sue for something called "Breach of contract." This would be an expensive lawsuit which might derail production on Moonraker, Krim feared.
In the rented office, Eric Pleskow got to work as President of KBP Holdings. This would be a hard business to run. Lack of profits would probably hit hard. But UA-Lorimar, at Lorimar's offices in NYC, could put out packages of the shorts KBP owned through UA's acquisition of the AAP Catalog. This could keep the company profitable for the period of the production of Moonraker and to fight off that guy Cimino's lawsuit.
Meanwhile Stephen Ross was anticipating the success of Superman as was Marcia Lucas. She had had some thoughts about the possibility of adoption. This would be an interesting way of solving her and George's differences with the marriage. The movie, if a success, would be the largest hit of the year, she supposed. Imagine all the Superman T-shirts, mugs, even video games that could be sold.

 

[PNWKing]

February 21, 1978
Arthur Krim was happy. Even with having to pay back the loans and Michael Cimino's lawsuit, UA-Lorimar was making enough money off the package shorts plan and selling these shorts to TV networks that the production budget on Moonraker could still be high enough to make a good movie.
Eric Pleskow noticed the money that was coming in from the package shorts too. He had purchased a new Chevrolet Corvette. Yes, the country was in more of an environmentally conscious mood, but he had the money, darn it!
Stephen Ross was happy too. Post-production had wrapped up on Superman, likely to become as big a hit as Star Wars was last year. If this was as big a hit as Ross expected, even his new acquisition Atari would benefit.