History[edit]

Manson was founded in 1953 by former Columbia Pictures executive Edmund Goldman and Sam Nathanson as Manson Distributing Corporation. It initially focused on distributing foreign films in the United States. Among its films distributed was Godzilla. By the time it was incorporated in 1962, it began distributing primarily sex trip movies, where its features were marked as either "hard" or "soft". In 1975, Edmund's son Michael took over the company and shifted it into marketing and international licensing of independent films.


By the early 80s, Manson became Manson International and ventured into film production with Radioactive Dreams, as well as international TV distribution and arthouse pictures.^{[3][4][2][5][6]} At its peak, Manson International held the distribution rights to the libraries of Intercontinental Releasing Corporation.


In 1987, Manson was sold to Management Company Entertainment Group, a production company owned by Jonathan D. Krane.^[7] As a result, Intercontinental Releasing switched distribution to United Film Distribution Company. In 1995, MCEG and Orion Pictures merged to form Metromedia International Group. In 1997, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquired Metromedia. MGM currently owns the Manson library, with certain exceptions.^[8][1] The aforementioned Intercontinental Releasing titles were acquired separately in November 16, 1994 by MCEG.^[9][10]