Jack Warner took control of Warner Bros. in 1956 after his brothers sold out; Harry died two years later

Harry, Albert and Jack Warner controlled Warner Bros. in 1956. In July 1956 the brothers agreed to sell control to a group led by Serge Semenenko, a vice president of the First National Bank of Boston. The first announcement said Jack would sell a large block of his shares along with Harry and Albert. Variety then reported that under "a complete rewrite of the agreement," Jack was adding shares, expected to buy 200,000 more from his brothers and their families and trusts. Variety also reported that Harry was offered extra money "as an inducement to break down his reluctance about selling." Harry, Albert and their families sold about 600,000 shares at $30 each, about $18 million. On July 11, 1956, the new board named Jack president. He kept more than 200,000 shares and became the largest single stockholder. Harry Warner died on July 25, 1958. He left an estate of $6 million to his widow, Rea, and his daughters, Doris Vidor and Betty Sperling. Jack Warner died in 1978^†. His will left most of a $15 million estate to his widow, Ann, and $200,000 to his estranged son, Jack Jr.^†. Harry's granddaughter Cass Warner Sperling published the family's account in 1998.