Harold Brooks Franklin was born in New York City, New York in 1889. In 1914 he entered the theatre management business, moving to Los Angeles, California in 1927. After serving as president of Fox West Coast Theatres, he formed a partnership with Howard Hughes in 1931 with the Hughes-Franklin Midwest Theatre Corporation, Incorporated. In 1933, Franklin resigned, moved back to New York, and formed an independent theatre production company. He died in Mexico City, Mexico in 1941.

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