From Poverty Row To The Silver Screen

Columbia Pictures: A Century of Hollywood Magic

From Poverty Row to the Silver Screen

WEB With the ever-changing landscape of Hollywood, it's a testament to the enduring power of storytelling that Columbia Pictures has remained a staple of the industry for a century. From its humble beginnings on "Poverty Row" to its current status as a global entertainment giant, Columbia Pictures has a remarkable history filled with iconic films and unforgettable stars.

In the early 1920s, brothers Jack and Harry Cohn founded Columbia Pictures, a small, independent studio located in the less-than-glamorous area of Hollywood known as Poverty Row. Despite their modest beginnings, the Cohn brothers had big dreams and an unwavering determination to make their mark in the film industry.

In 1934, Columbia Pictures achieved its first major success with Frank Capra's classic "It Happened One Night," which swept the Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress for Claudette Colbert. This triumph marked a turning point for the studio, establishing it as a major player in Hollywood.