The Woolner Brothers were an American film releasing company formed in 1955, made up of Lawrence (April 22, 1912 – July 21, 1985), Bernard (June 9, 1910 – February 21, 1977), and David Woolner. After US Army service in World War II, Lawrence started a New Orleans drive-in theatre in 1948. His brother Bernard had previously opened the first drive-in theatre in Memphis.
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Film financing
Like other drive-in owners, the Woolners advanced money to low-budget B picture producers to finance their product. Their first release was Roger Corman's Swamp Women, followed by Corman's Teenage Doll, both released through Allied Artists. The Woolners directly financed films made in Italy, and though they released several of Mario Bava's films in America, Bava turned down a contract to make films directly for them in 1965.
Lawrence later became a partner in Corman's New World Pictures in 1970 as President in charge of Sales and Distribution, but left with two other members of New World to form Dimension Pictures in 1971.