One of the first masterminds of film distribution in the early 1910s. He banded loosely organized distribution territories into statewide systems that remained in effect for four decades. Unfortunately, one of the producers he signed to supply his need for product was the hard-driving
Adolph Zukor, who wanted to control distribution himself. He eventually maneuvered Hodkinson out of the chairmanship of his company, W.W. Hodkinson Corp., which eventually became Producers Distributing Corp., which in turn eventually became Paramount Pictures. Hodkinson later became an aircraft manufacturer.