... BackGround and HisTory ...

Paramount Motion Pitures celebrated its 94th anniversary in 2006, the company started from July12,1912 and has been carrying on ever since then. The founder of Paramount was a man called Adolph Zukor who also was the founder of the production company Famous Players Film Corp. Even now Paramount still stick with their slogan " If it's a Paramount Picture, it's the best show in town".

In 1912, Zukor secured the American distrubution rights to a woman called Sarah Bernhart's who created a for reel film called Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth was the first full length drama show in the USA. Famous Players began to produce movies in New York and the first film "The Prisoner of Zenda" but also, " The Count of Monte Cristo". Later on, Zukor invested in a film distrubution company called Paramount Pictures.

Four years later, 1916 was Paramounts turning point - Paramount was about to combine with The Jesse L. Lasky Company, which was a Hollywood distrubutor and producing films, Zukor and Lasky created a new studio on Marathon Street, Hollywood, where the company actually stands since 1916.

Paramounts earliest stars were director Cecil B. DeMille and William S. Hart and stars such as Mary Pickford, Rudolf Valentino and Clara Bow. In 1928, Paramount produced "Wings" which recieved the very first Academy Award for "Best Picture", from the members if the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Gulf and Western Industries, Inc. had all control of Paramount on March 24th, 1966 - the comapny turned its interest towards the new entertainment company division. On June5, 1989 the Gulf and Western Industries was renamed Paramount Communications Inc.

On March 11, 1994, Paramount combined with Viacom under the influence of Sumner Redstone, chairman of the board and chief executive officer.Paramount Pictures, together with Paramount Television, CBS Television, Simon & Schuster Publishing, MTV Networks, Showtime Networks, Infinity, BET, UPN, Paramount Parks and Blockbuster Entertainment are all joined the entertainment leader, Viacom Inc. Paramount Pictures is the only major motion picture studio located in Hollywood.