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To help control what work I did and secure my future, I joined a little venture with three of my friends and created United Artists.  The idea originated while traveling around selling Liberty bonds to help support the WWI effort.  On February 5, 1919 UA was incorporated by me, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and D.W. Griffith.  We each had a 20% stake with the last 20% going to William Gibbs McAdoo. Our original logo for United Artists was used until the sale of UA to Transamerica in 1967.  

Photo cred: http://www.encore-editions.com/d-w-griffith-mary-pickford-charlie-chaplin-seated-and-douglas-fairbanks-at-the-signing-of-the-contract-establishing-united-artists-motion-picture-studio/zoom