Editing Jack L. Warner (section)

===Postwar era===
Warner responded grudgingly to the rising popularity of television in the late 1940s.<ref name="thomas190">Thomas (1990), p. 190.</ref> Initially he tried to compete with the new medium, introducing gimmicks such as [[3-D films]], which soon lost their appeal among moviegoers.<ref name="thomas191">Thomas (1990), p. 191.</ref> In 1954, Warner finally engaged the new medium, providing [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] with a weekly show, ''[[Warner Bros. Presents]]''.<ref name="thomas192">Thomas (1990), p. 192.</ref> The studio followed up with a series of [[Western (genre)|Western]] dramas, such as ''[[Maverick (TV series)|Maverick]]'', ''[[Bronco (TV series)|Bronco]]'', and ''[[Colt .45 (TV series)|Colt .45]]''.<ref name="thomas194">Thomas (1990), p. 194.</ref> Accustomed to dealing with actors in a high-handed manner, within a few years Jack provoked hostility among emerging TV stars such as [[James Garner]], who filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. over a contract dispute.<ref name="thomas196-198">Thomas (1990), pp. 196–198.</ref> Warner was angered by the perceived ingratitude of television actors, who evidently showed more independence than film actors, and this deepened his contempt for the new medium.<ref name="thomas199">Thomas (1990), p. 199.</ref> Following his deal with ABC, Warner also made his son, Jack Jr., head of the company's new [[Warner Bros. Television|television department]].<ref name="sperling291">Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 291.</ref>

[[File:Warner Brothers Presents.png|thumb|The "Warner Bros. Present[s]" title card from the first wave of color cartoons in the "Looney Tunes" series of cartoon shorts, from October 1942 until May 1947.]]
During this period, Warner showed little foresight in his treatment of the studio's [[Warner Bros. Cartoons|cartoon operation]]. Animated characters such as [[Bugs Bunny]], [[Daffy Duck]], and [[Porky Pig]], while embraced by cartoon lovers, "were always stepchildren at Warner Bros."<ref name="thomas211">Thomas (1990), p. 211.</ref> As biographer Bob Thomas wrote, "Jack Warner...considered cartoons no more than an extraneous service provided to exhibitors who wanted a full program for their customers."<ref name="thomas211"/> In 1953, during a rare meeting between the Warners and the studio's cartoon makers, Jack confessed that he didn't "even know where the hell the cartoon studio is", and Harry added, "The only thing I know is that we make [[Mickey Mouse]]," a reference to the flagship character of a competing company, [[Walt Disney Productions]].<ref name="thomas211-212">Thomas (1990), pp. 211–212.</ref> Several years later, Jack sold all of the 400 cartoons Warner Bros. made before 1948 for $3,000 apiece. As Thomas noted, "They have since earned millions, but not for Warner Bros."<ref name="thomas212">Thomas (1990), p. 212.</ref>

Jack's tumultuous relationship with his brother Harry worsened in February 1956, when Harry learned of Jack's decision to sell Warner Bros.' pre-1950 films to [[Associated Artists Productions]] (soon to merge with [[United Artists Television]]) for the modest sum of $21&nbsp;million.<ref name="thomas225">Thomas (1990), p. 225.</ref><ref name="ymrt">Schickel and Perry (2008), p. 255.</ref> "This is our heritage, what we worked all our lives to create, and now it is gone," Harry exclaimed, upon hearing of the deal.<ref name="thomas225"/> The breach between Jack and Harry widened later that year. In July 1956, Jack, Harry, and Albert announced that they were putting Warner Bros. on the market.<ref name="thomas226">Thomas (1990), p. 226.</ref>  Jack, however, secretly organized a [[syndicate]] that purchased control of the company.<ref name="sperling303">Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 303.</ref> By the time Harry and Albert learned of their brother's dealings, it was too late.<ref name="thomas226"/> Jack, as the company's largest [[stockholder]], appointed himself as the new company president.<ref name="sperling306">Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 306.</ref> Shortly after the deal was closed, he announced that the company and its subsidiaries would be "directed more vigorously to the acquisition of the most important story properties, talents, and to the production of the finest motion pictures possible".<ref name="vindy-07-12-56">
{{cite news
  | title = 2 Warners Sell Most of Stock in Film Firm: Harry and Albert Dispose of Shares to Banker; Jack to Be President
  | author = The United Press
  | work = The Youngstown Vindicator
  | date = July 12, 1956
| page = 22
}}</ref>

The two brothers had often argued, and earlier in the decade, studio employees claimed they saw Harry chase Jack through the studio with a lead pipe, shouting, "I'll get you for this, you son of a bitch" and threatening to kill him.<ref name="sperling283">Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 283.</ref> This subterfuge, however, proved too much for Harry. He never spoke to Jack again.<ref name="thomas226"/> When Harry died on July 27, 1958, Jack did not attend the funeral, and he departed for his annual vacation at [[Antibes|Cap d'Antibes]].<ref name="sperling313">Sperling, Millner, and Warner (1998), p. 313.</ref> Asked to respond to his brother's death, he said, "I didn't give a shit about Harry."<ref name="thomas226-227">Thomas (1990), pp. 226–227.</ref> At the same time, Jack took pride in the fact that President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] sent him a letter of condolence.<ref name="thomas226-227" />