Crown International Pictures is an independent film studio and distribution company formed in 1959 by Newton P. Jacobs Jacobs was a branch head of RKO Pictures until 1947, when he formed Favorite Films, an organization releasing films acquired from previous studios long after their first run release.. He became one of the first franchises for showing American International Pictures (AIP) product. Like AIP, Crown International is primarily known for low-budget flicks, grindhouse cinema, biker films, exploitation films and B-movie drive-in fare. The company was later headed by Jacobs' original vice-president Mark Tenser, who became President in 1973 with Jacobs moving up to become Chairman of the Board. Jacobs' daughter Marilyn Jacobs Tenser became vice president.