Kennedy's Misadventures as a Producer

Kennedy learned quickly from his misadventures as a producer that for aspiring businessmen with large ambitions, but limited capital, it made more sense to distribute and exhibit moving pictures than to make them. In November 1919, he organized his own film distribution company, Columbia Films, and secured the franchise to distribute Universal's films in New England. Kennedy had never intended to stay at Hayden Stone forever, but the lackluster performance of the stock market through the winter and spring of 1920 reinforced his wish to move on sooner rather than later.