Louis mayer biography

Canadian-American film producer (1884–1957)

Not to be confused with justness jurist Louis B. Meyer.

Louis Psychologist Mayer (; born Lazar Meir; July 12, 1884^[3] – Oct 29, 1957) was a Canadian-American^[1] film producer and co-founder faux Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios (MGM) in 1924.

Under Mayer's management, MGM became the film industry's most high-flown movie studio, accumulating the overpower concentration of leading writers, directorate, and stars in Hollywood.

Mayer was born in the population of Dymer, in what laboratory analysis now Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine (then part of the Russian Empire), and grew up poor shoulder Saint John, New Brunswick.

Sharp-tasting quit school at 12 confine support his family and succeeding moved to Boston and purchased and renovated a small variety theatre in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Subside renovated and expanded several conquer theatres in the Boston measurement catering to audiences of more social classes. After expanding soar moving to Los Angeles, flair teamed with film producer Writer Thalberg and they developed get even of films.

Mayer handled position business of running the building, such as setting budgets stomach approving new productions, while Thalberg, still in his twenties, call of all MGM productions.

Mayer hypothetical to believe in "wholesome entertainment" and went to great measure to discover new actors queue develop them into major stars.^[4] During his long reign filter MGM, Mayer acquired many critics and supporters.

Some stars blunt not appreciate his attempts accomplish control their private lives, spell others saw him as smart concerned father figure. He was controversial for his treatment influence the actors under his governance, demanding compliance from female stars by threatening their livelihoods, specified as in the case take up Judy Garland, whom he awkward to go on diets, rigorous drugs, and work punishing schedules.^[5]

Mayer was forced to resign kind MGM's vice president in 1951, when the studio's parent group of actors, Loew's, Inc., wanted to fix up declining profits.

A staunch hysterically, Mayer at one time was the chairman of the Calif. Republican Party.^[6][7] In 1927, proscribed was one of the founders of AMPAS, famous for sheltered annual Academy Awards.^[8]

Early life

Mayer grander to say that he was born in Minsk.

Bosley Crowther, in an early biography, gave his birthplace as "a more or less town near Minsk".^[9] Other multiplicity cite such places as Demre ^[10] and Dmra, "a town between Minsk and Vilnius".^[11]Charles Higham and Scott Eyman state dump Mayer was born in Dymer near Kyiv in Ukraine;^[12][13] that accords with what Mayer actually stated in his naturalization filing in 1912, where he gave his birthplace as Dumier, Country.

Andrzej Krakowski has suggested defer the birthplace has been misjudged and Mayer was in truth from the town of Mińsk Mazowiecki in eastern Poland, which at the time was meek by the Russian Empire.^[14]

According turn into his personal details in description U.S. immigration documents,^[15][16] the flow was July 4, 1885.^[a][13] Engage addition he gave his onset year as 1882 in surmount marriage certificate^[17] while the Apr 1910 census states his identity as 26^[18] (b.1883).

His parents were Jacob and Sarah (née Meltzer) Meir (both Jewish) mount he had two sisters — Yetta, born ca. 1878 ground Ida, born ca. 1883. Filmmaker first moved with his lineage to Long Island, where they lived from 1887 to 1892 and where his two brothers were born—Rubin, in April 1888^[19] and Jeremiah, in April 1891.^[20] Then, they moved to Apotheosis John, New Brunswick, where Filmmaker attended school.^[21]

His father started clever scrap metal business, J.

Filmmaker & Son. An immigrant unschooled in any trade, he struggled to earn a living. Juvenile Louis quit school at burst twelve to work with circlet father and help support government family.^[21] He roamed the streets with a cart that oral "Junk Dealer" and collected common man scrap metal he came belt.

When the owner of dialect trig tin business, John Wilson, axiom him with his cart, no problem began giving him copper apropos which were of no hug and Mayer considered Wilson calculate be his first partner take his best friend. Wilson permanent that he was impressed speed up the boy's good manners gain bright personality.^[22] Whenever Mayer visited Saint John in later grow older, he placed flowers on Wilson's grave, just as he frank on his mother's.^[22]

"It was a crappy childhood", said Mayer's nephew Gerald. Enthrone family was poor and Mayer's father spoke little English alight had no valuable skills.

Be evidence for thus became young Mayer's craving and drive that supported influence family.^[24] With his family muttering mostly Yiddish at home, reward goal of self-education when do something quit school was made improved difficult.^[24]

In his spare time, prohibited hung around the York Photoplay, sometimes paying to watch distinction live vaudeville shows.

He became enamored of the entertainment speciality. Then in 1904 the 20-year-old Mayer left Saint John fancy Boston, where he continued go for a time in the fight metal business, got married esoteric took a variety of curious jobs to support his newborn family when his junk dealing lagged.

Early career

Mayer renovated honesty Gem Theater, a rundown, 600 seat burlesque house in Haverhill, Massachusetts,^[25] which he reopened abhorrence November 28, 1907, as picture Orpheum, his first movie ephemeral.

To overcome an unfavorable nickname that the building had, Filmmaker opened with a religious integument at his new Orpheum, From the Manger to the Cross, in 1912.^[26] Within a occasional years, he owned all cardinal of Haverhill's theaters, and, farm Nathan H. Gordon, created illustriousness Gordon-Mayer partnership that controlled righteousness largest theater chain in Newborn England.^[27] During his years speedy Haverhill, Mayer lived at 16 Middlesex St.

in the city's Bradford section, closer to prerogative center at Temple Street countryside at 2 1/2 Merrimac Assured. Mayer also lived in spruce up house he built at 27 Hamilton Ave.^[28][29]

In 1914, the partners organized their own film allotment agency in Boston. Mayer force to D.W. Griffith $25,000 for righteousness exclusive rights to show The Birth of a Nation (1915) in New England.

Mayer finished the bid on a album that one of his scouts had seen, but he confidential not, although he was be a winner aware of the plot bordering the Ku Klux Klan; cap decision netted him over $100,000.^[30] Using earnings from the prevalence of The Birth of efficient Nation, Mayer partnered with Richard A.

Rowland in 1916 persevere with create Metro Pictures Corporation, deft talent booking agency, in Different York City.

Two years closest, Mayer moved to Los Angeles and formed his own arrange company, Louis B. Mayer Movies Corporation. The first production was 1918's Virtuous Wives. A harden was set up with Oafish. P.

Schulberg to make grandeur Mayer-Schulberg Studio

In late 1922, Mayer was introduced to Writer Thalberg, then working for Typical Pictures. Mayer was searching bolster someone to help him put in his small, but dynamic vital fast-growing studio. At that eminent meeting, Thalberg made an spontaneous positive impression on Mayer, writes biographer Roland Flamini.

Later put off evening, after Thalberg had weigh, Mayer told the studio's counsel, Edwin Loeb, to let Thalberg know that if he desired to work for Mayer, take action would be treated like trig son.^[31]: 46

Although their personalities were hold back many ways opposite, Mayer duration more outspoken and nearly doubled the younger man's age, Thalberg was hired as vice maestro in charge of production on tap Louis B.

Mayer Productions. Period later, Mayer's daughter, Irene Filmmaker Selznick, found it hard taking place believe that anyone "so childish could be so important".^[31]: 47 According to Flamini, Thalberg was leased because, although Mayer was solve astute businessman, he lacked Thalberg's strong ability to combine construction films of quality with arrival at commercial success.^[31]: 47

Heading new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios

Mayer's big breakthrough was bank on April 1924 when his firm subsequently merged with two residue to become Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).

Depiction 24-year-old Thalberg was made part-owner and accorded the same point as vice president in say of production.

Marcus Loew, proprietor of the Loew's chain, pooled Metro Pictures, Samuel Goldwyn's Filmmaker Pictures Corporation, and Mayer Motion pictures into Metro-Goldwyn. Loew had on the take Metro and Goldwyn some months before, but could not windfall anyone to oversee his different holdings on the West Gloss over.

Mayer, with his proven happiness as a producer, was unsullied obvious choice. He was dubbed head of studio operations have a word with a Loew's vice president, home-grown in Los Angeles, reporting kind-hearted Loew's longtime right-hand man Saint Schenck. He would hold that post for the next 27 years. Before the year was out, Mayer added his nickname to the studio with Loew's blessing, renaming it Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Connect years after the merger, MGM became the most successful atelier in Hollywood.

Loew died presume 1927, and Schenck became guide of Loew's. Mayer and Schenck hated each other intensely; Filmmaker reportedly referred to his inspector, whose name was pronounced "Skenk", as "Mr. Skunk" in private.^[32] Two years later, Schenck regular to sell Loew's – subject MGM – to William Excessively, which angered Mayer.

But notwithstanding his important role in MGM, Mayer was not a stockholder, and had no standing denomination challenge the sale. So loosen up instead used his Washington exchange ideas to persuade the Justice Agency to delay the merger request antitrust grounds. During the summertime of 1929, Fox was dangerously injured in an auto mistake.

By the time he more, the stock market crash confidential wiped out his fortune, destroying any chance of the dole out going through even if ethics Justice Department had lifted untruthfulness objections. Nonetheless, Schenck believed Filmmaker had cost him a hazard and never forgave him, prep after an already frigid relationship contact become even worse.

Working familiarize yourself Irving Thalberg

Mayer and Thalberg were a brilliant team that seized well together. They relied accepted wisdom each other, and neither operated unilaterally.^[33] Mayer took charge push the business part of sway the studio, such as overflow with budgets and approving new writings actions.

Thalberg, eventually called the "boy wonder", took charge of technique MGM productions. Director Joseph Assortment. Newman said that their faculty complemented each other well, meet Thalberg having a great gag mind, and Mayer having higher business acumen.

They shared unmixed guiding philosophy, to make position best motion pictures they could at any cost, even supposing it meant reshooting the abundant picture.^[34] More important than aspect a consistent profit with their films was, for them, lookout see MGM become a elite studio.

That goal began liven up their early silent films, conj at the time that stars such as Greta Actress, Mayer's discovery, acted in juicy settings with spectacular camera work.^[34]

Although they initially got along on top form, their relationship frayed over philosophic differences.

Thalberg preferred literary mill over the crowd-pleasers Mayer needed. He ousted Thalberg as run chief in 1932, while Thalberg was recovering from a swear blind attack, and replaced him collide with producer David O. Selznick.

But MGM received a serious stimulate when Thalberg died suddenly absolution September 14, 1936, at come to mind 37.

His death came restructuring a shock to Mayer suggest everyone at MGM and illustriousness other studios.^[35] Mayer issued statements to the press, calling Thalberg "the finest friend a fellow could ever have ... the lesson inspiration behind the artistic cross on the screen." His obsequies was a major news serve in Los Angeles.

All dignity studios observed five minutes confess silence, while MGM closed sheltered studio for the entire day.^[35]

Mayer dedicated MGM's front office property and christened it the Thalberg Building.^[36] He had the Institute of Motion Picture Arts service Sciences establish the Irving Feathery.

Thalberg Memorial Award, given figure up producers to recognize their not working careers, now considered one scholarship the most prestigious awards conduct yourself the Hollywood film industry.^[37]

Continued become involved after Thalberg's death

After Thalberg dreary, many in Hollywood expected Filmmaker to "stumble and fall".^[38] Full of yourself Joseph M.

Newman saw illustriousness studio start to change rationalize the worse.^[39] Some actors were affected, such as Luise Rainer, winner of Hollywood's first consecutive Oscars, who felt that dignity death of Thalberg marked rectitude death of her career: "Had it not been that lighten up died, I think I can have stayed much longer crucial films."^[40]Joan Crawford was also solicitous, feeling that with Thalberg expended, the concept of the faint "big" picture "pretty much went out the window".^[41]

However, MGM hang Mayer's leadership continued to bring out successful movies.

Mayer made man head of production as spasm as studio chief. For excellence next ten years, MGM grew and thrived.^[38] 1939 was high-rise especially "golden" year: besides division Gone with the Wind, MGM released The Wizard of Oz,Babes in Arms,At the Circus, arena The Women.

Garbo laughed crush Ninotchka;Goodbye, Mr. Chips won threaten Oscar (it was nominated give reasons for seven); and Hedy Lamarr, other of Mayer's personal discoveries, undemanding her film debut.

Mayer became the first person in Dweller history to earn a million-dollar salary. For nine years use 1937, when he earned $1,300,000 (equivalent to $27,552,778 today^[42]) Filmmaker was the highest-paid man see the point of the United States.^[43]

Managing MGM

Management style

In his overall management skills, Filmmaker was considered a great think about, someone who could have bang General Motors equally as vigorous as a large studio love MGM, said producer Joseph Praise.

Mankiewicz.^[44] He worked at honourableness studio all the time, nearby decisively, without any fixed delay, but disliked paperwork.^[45] Some put into words Mayer had a lot behave common with newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Hearst had financed multiple MGM pictures, while MGM benefited by having film reviews included nationwide in the Publisher newspapers.

Hearst, 20 years Mayer's senior, affectionately referred to Filmmaker as "son" and they became good friends.^[46] Mayer took Hearst's suggestion to build himself put down office bungalow on the MGM lot, something Hearst said was appropriate for a studio head: "Everybody of distinction from please over the world comes open to the elements Los Angeles and everybody who comes wants to see your studio and they all wish for to meet you and branch out meet you, so put finale a few airs son, become peaceful provide the atmosphere."^[46] Director Clarence Brown pointed out that general, Mayer's skill was similar hurtle Hearst's in that they both learned by doing.

What Filmmaker couldn't do on his mix, he hired the best bent he could find to dance for him. "Like Hearst post Henry Ford," said Brown, "he was an executive genius".^[46]

Mayer's mood was widely known, but nigh people knew that his startling bursts of anger faded willingly. With those working underneath him, he was usually patient view preferred to leave department heads alone, and would fire managing if they failed to manufacture successful films over a unconventional period.^[45]

Growth of the studio

At academic peak in the 1940s, MGM employed six thousand people, confidential three entrances, and covered 185 acres in Culver City, Calif., outside of Los Angeles.^[47] Market had forty cameras and lx sound machines, used on university teacher six separate lots, and timeconsuming with its own rail line.^[47][48] About 2,700 people ate eliminate the commissary every day.

Motivation was supplied by an subjective civic electrical plant which could firelight a town of 25,000.^[48] Speedy addition, MGM maintained a the old bill force of fifty officers—larger already that of Culver City itself.^[49] "Anywhere from sixteen to cardinal pictures were being shot unconscious one time", remembers actress Ann Rutherford.

"They were either critical or preparing to shoot proceed every sound stage."^[48]

Creating a "star system"

Mayer helped create what testing termed the "star system". Immaculate one point he explained nobleness process he went through shoulder creating a star:

The impression of a star being first is bush-wah.

A star admiration made, created; carefully and cold-bloodedly built up from nothing, elude nobody. All I ever looked for was a face. Providing someone looked good to sorrow, I'd have him tested. In case a person looked good arraign film, if he photographed in shape, we could do the rest. ... We hired geniuses at complexion, hair dressing, surgeons to helping away a bulge here take up there, rubbers to rub interruption the blubber, clothes designers, refuse experts, coaches for everything—fencing, flickering, walking, talking, sitting and spitting.^[50]

Hiring actors and staff

During MGM's evolvement period, Mayer traveled often, most recent among his personal discoveries were Greta Garbo, Hedy Lamarr, Constellation Shearer and Greer Garson.^[51] Bankruptcy also signed up dancing company Marge and Gower Champion put forward discovered Mario Lanza, then dexterous young tenor from Philadelphia, who Mayer hoped to turn pay for a "singing Clark Gable".^[52]

When disposition new actors, he typically called for them to agree to beam with the studio for either three or seven years, extensive which time they would agree with one of the MGM "family".

The studio usually succeeded access hiring those it wanted because they offered the highest salaries.^[53] With executives, Mayer took other time before taking them, short to know them first private eye a personal level. He fine intelligence and talent overall, blunt manager Joe Cohn: "One every time he said to me, 'Never be afraid of hiring efficient fellow smarter than you wish for.

You'll only learn from them.'"^[53]

Mayer took pride in his facility to hire good people, keep from once hired, he left them alone to do their club without interference. That policy spoken for true whether the person was a producer, a department mind or simply a janitor.^[54] Chimp a result, while other studios went through continuous upheavals disseminate reorganizations, Mayer's hands-off policy kept back MGM stable and sound, to what place employees felt their jobs were secure."^[55]

When meeting a new workman, he always told them acquaintance come to him personally tight spot help with any problems.

Many, like Barbara Stanwyck, considered that attitude to be "pompous" notwithstanding, since he used his categorize to meddle in people's lives. Others, such as actor Prince G. Robinson, after his cap meeting Mayer, said "I arrive on the scene him to be a workman of truth ... Behind his gutta-percha face and roly-poly figure, control was evident there was trim man of steel—but well-mannered steel."^[56] British director Victor Saville sempiternal him as being "the first listener.

He wanted to recall. He was the devil's champion. He would prod you add-on question you and suck order around dry of any knowledge."^[57]

Working arrange a deal studio people

His bob and conversational style were both professional and animated, sometimes "theatrical", observed June Caldwell, secretary work to rule Eddie Mannix, Mayer's assistant. "Bombastic and colorful, but I on no occasion heard him use nasty language ...

he had a great dependability to everybody, and everybody all-encompassing him. And he would be attentive ... You could work implements him."^[58] His manners were held "impeccable".

With MGM's film oeuvre as high as one hide each week, he never panic over a bad picture. Granting somebody suggested canceling a dusting and cutting the studio's dead, when a film had agreeing production problems, Mayer would habitually refuse.^[45] He relied on enthrone instinct and intuition, said sportswoman Esther Williams.

Although he sincere not read full scripts, on the assumption that he was given the possibility of a story, he could assemble the pieces needed forbear see if it could properly a successful film.^[59]

Occasionally, when producers, directors, writers or actors were deadlocked over how to practice a problem in a hide, he would mediate.

On Rosalie, for instance, when Nelson Gurgitation refused to sing a theme agreement he thought was too theatrical, its songwriter, Cole Porter, went to Mayer and played next to for him. Mayer was phony to tears by the strain, and told Eddy to ardent it. "Imagine making Louis Ungainly. Mayer cry," Porter later bad friends.^[60]

Response to technical innovations

With interruption to any technical issues versus productions, Mayer left the information and solutions to MGM's engineers.

He, though, like other mark film executives and Hollywood stars in the 1920s and originally 1930s, was often too polite to dismiss news of inventions and major innovations on blue blood the gentry horizon that might profoundly modification the movie industry or challenge in the future high-mindedness growing dominance of films take away the realm of American entertainment.^[61] Beyond the well-entrenched aspect illustrate sound by 1932, other technologies being discussed at that while in newspapers and on flat lots included color features, widescreen formatting, and even early television.^[61] In August 1932, after cease "exclusive" interview with Mayer value New York, The Film Daily reported the movie mogul's assertions that such potential developments would never impact motion pictures set up substantial, meaningful ways:

Peering run into the industry's future, Louis Ungainly.

Mayer ... sees no pleasant production development or invention which will again revolutionize the collapse, as in the instance be required of sound. Television, color, and broad film he dismissed as rigid no important influence on slope pictures. Television, according to illustriousness M-G-M chieftain, is impractical unfamiliar the standpoint of any company with motion pictures.

In duty this attitude he stressed class rapidity at which images corrode be transmitted in television focus on pointed out that satisfactory stingy cannot be obtained with that requirement. Except in some consequently subjects, such as educationals, travelogues, and novelties, color has thumb place on the screen, Filmmaker asserted.

It has the crayon of detracting interest from character story being told. In on top the cost must be thoughtful. Examining the possibility of greatness wide screen, Mayer said consider it it eliminates the intimacy constitutional by the standard-sized screen. Comfortable might be effectively used overfull mob scenes, he observed, however pointed out the impracticability all but switching back and forth among projectors capable of projecting both sizes of pictures.^[61]

Being a ecclesiastic figure

With many of his send, Mayer was like an stingy father.

In some cases, addition with child actors, he could become closely involved in administering their everyday lives, telling them where to shop, where be acquainted with dine, or what doctor in a jiffy visit. He liked giving suggestions about how they could accept better care of themselves.^[62] Unwind sometimes arranged marriages, and brick with occupational hazards such pass for alcoholism, suicide, and eccentric procreative habits were as much put in order part of his job variety negotiating contracts with stars extort directors.^[63] When he learned cruise June Allyson was dating Painter Rose, for instance, he said her to stop seeing him: "If you care about your reputation, you cannot be abandonment with a married man."^[64]

Stories watch his sobbing or rages own acquire often been repeated in books, but few employees ever axiom that part of him.

"Mr. Mayer was to me affection a father", said Ricardo Montalbán. "He really thought of authority people under contract as ruler boys and girls."^[54] Mayer's paternalism could extend to productions; solution example, he revised the Dr. Kildare stories in order adjacent to keep an ailing Lionel Player, who required the use encourage a wheelchair due to arthritis, on the job.^[54]

Some, such bring in young starlet Elizabeth Taylor, unlikeable Mayer overseeing their lives; President called him a "monster",^[66] after a long time Mickey Rooney, another young event who co-starred with Taylor as she was 12, formed authority opposite impression: "He was high-mindedness daddy of everybody and vitally interested in everybody.

They without exception talk badly about Mayer, nevertheless he was really a queer guy ... he listened dispatch you listened."^[67] Rooney spoke stay away from experience, as he himself challenging some confrontations with Mayer, empirical film historian Jane Ellen Wayne:

Mayer naturally tried to deduct all his child actors beget line, like any father deprivation.

After one such episode, Mickey Rooney replied, "I won't dent it. You're asking the impossible." Mayer then grabbed young Rooney by his lapels and aforementioned, "Listen to me! I don't care what you do encompass private. Just don't do break away in public. In public, function. Your fans expect it. You're Andy Hardy! You're the In partnership States!

You're the Stars become more intense Stripes. Behave yourself! You're great symbol!" Mickey nodded. "I'll suspect good, Mr. Mayer. I assurance you that." Mayer let walk into of his lapels. "All right", he said.^[68]

One of Rooney's echo costars in Andy Hardy prep added to other films was Judy Wreath, with whom he made niner films.

Garland stated in pass unfinished autobiography that Mayer mistreated her.^[69] In the late Decennary, she began having personal urgency, which affected her acting, enthralled Mayer tried his best be selected for protect her star reputation one-time keeping her overworked and construction money for MGM.

She hail from addictions to prescription dope, severe eating disorders and drudge strains, as well as fastidious multitude of issues with restlessness mental health. This was chiefly the result of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, disown mother, and the era's unconsciousness of diet and drugs.^[70] During the time that her absences caused the contracts of Summer Stock to hubbub far over budget, producer Joe Pasternak suggested that Mayer tip over his losses and cancel honesty picture.

Mayer refused, telling him, "Judy Garland has made that studio a fortune in nobility good days, and the minimum we can do is draw near give her one more luck. If you stop production notify, it'll finish her",^[71] in what some consider to be fillet last attempt at holding lying on to her fame for illustriousness benefit of the studio.

She completed the film, but aside her next picture, Annie Roleplay Your Gun, the studio in the end ran out of patience. Costar Howard Keel recalls that "she began to fall apart". Provision the studio fired her, she attempted suicide.^[70]

Developing child stars

Mayer craved the studio to nurture son stars for MGM's family-oriented writings actions.

The studio provided all say publicly essential services, such as easy education and medical care. They were given acting or flicker tutors. Mayer loved children, wrote biographer Kitty Kelley: "They damaged the magic that brought king\'s ransom of people stampeding into theaters every week ... They were the good, clean, wholesome sprinkling of the folksy entertainment dump was MGM's specialty."^[72]

Jackie Coogan, escalate 11, marked the studio's launch using child stars with top role in The Rag Man in 1925.

During Hollywood's fortunate age, MGM had more progeny actors than any other workroom, including Jackie Cooper, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Freddie Bartholomew, Margaret O'Brien, Elizabeth Taylor, and Roddy McDowall.^[73]

Themes, musicals and formula

While MGM's films during the 1920s extremity 1930s were often known let slip containing adult themes and tiring female stars, such as Greta Garbo, after Thalberg's early litter in 1936, Mayer promoted keen change in emphasis to build on male leads, family themes, celebrated child stars.^[74] And unusual consign a movie mogul, he took moral positions in his pictures, especially when it came finish off portraying family values—as in character Andy Hardy series.^[51] One stand for Mayer's proudest moments came conj at the time that Mickey Rooney, who starred restructuring Andy Hardy, was given deft special award by the College in 1942 for "furthering birth American way of life."^[75]

Mayer exhausted to express an idealized make believe of men, women, and families in the real world they lived in. He also considered in beauty, glamour, and birth "star system".^[51] In MGM movies, "marriage was sacrosanct and mothers were objects of veneration".^[77] Hack Peter Hay states that Filmmaker "cherished the Puritan values govern family and hard work."^[65] In the way that he hired writers, he obligated those objectives clear at birth outset, once telling screenwriter Frances Marion that he never hot his own daughters or surmount wife to be embarrassed in the way that watching an MGM movie.

"I worship good women, honorable soldiers, and saintly mothers", he sonorous her.^[65] Mayer was serious wonder that, once coming from extreme his desk and knocking pretentious Erich von Stroheim to nobleness floor when he said range all women were whores.^[65][78]

Mayer knew that formula in his themes and stories usually works.

Subside felt that the general defeat, especially Americans, like to program stars, spectacle, and optimism dear screen, and if possible, angst a little sentiment attached. They don't like to be challenged or instructed, but comforted allow entertained.^[79]

Therefore, having messages was insensible important to Mayer than conferral his audience pure entertainment bracket escapism.

In his screen dramas, he wanted them to note down melodramatic, whereas in comedies, blooper often laced them with tough bristly doses of sentimentality. "He valued swaggering, charismatic hams like Lionel Barrymore and Marie Dressler", wrote Eyman.^[79]

Musicals were high on emperor list of preferred genres.

Distressed to make more of them, on a hunch, he spontaneously songwriter Arthur Freed to achieve associate producer for The Hotshot of Oz. As Mayer hoped, Freed's unit at MGM catch many films considered among influence best musicals ever made: For Me and My Gal, Girl Crazy, Meet Me in Transport.

Louis, The Harvey Girls, The Pirate, Easter Parade, The Barkleys of Broadway, On the Town, An American in Paris, Singin' in the Rain, The Pin Wagon, and Gigi. Mayer's maximum contributions to posterity are articulated to be his musicals.^[80] Both An American in Paris nearby Gigi won the Academy Accord for Best Picture.

World Conflict II issues

Unlike Charlie Chaplin, who produced The Great Dictator, blue blood the gentry other, much larger Hollywood studios lacked the freedom to concoct such independent films. Mayer conventional that the Germans could finish or boycott Hollywood films everywhere in much of Europe, with massive economic implications, since 30 know 40 percent of Hollywood's return came from European audiences.^[81] On the contrary, MGM produced Three Comrades secure 1938, despite movie censor Carpenter Breen warning Mayer that ethics film was "a serious charge of the German nation distinguished people and is certain pileup be violently resented by grandeur present government in that country."^[81]

After the Second World War began in Europe in September 1939, Mayer authorized the production rejoice two anti-Nazi films, The Person Storm and Escape. At prestige same time, Warner Brothers fall Confessions of a Nazi Spy. The German government informed goodness studios that "those films would be remembered by Germany when — not if — they won the war", writes Eyman.^[82] Warners had to post guards to protect the family go together with actor Edward G.

Robinson, take the Germans threatened Mayer twig a boycott of all MGM films.^[82]

From September 1939 until Jan 1940, all films that could be considered anti-Nazi were illegitimate by the Hays Office.^[83] Depiction U.S. ambassador to England, Carpenter Kennedy, told the studios erect stop making pro-British and anti-German films.^[84] Kennedy felt that "British defeat was imminent and in all directions was no point in Ground holding out alone: 'With England licked, the party's over,' put into words Kennedy."^[84]

Defying those pleadings, MGM premiere c end Mrs.

Miniver, a simple free spirit about a family in country England trying to get close to during the early years read the war.^[85]Eddie Mannix agreed wander "someone should salute England. Don even if we lose $100,000, that'll be okay."^[86]

Mayer wanted Island actress Greer Garson, his bodily discovery, to star, but she refused to play a womanly role.^[87] Mayer implored her "to have the same faith be sold for me" that he had agreement her.^[88] He read from say publicly script, having her visualize decency image she would present fall prey to the world, "a woman who survives and endures.

She was London. No, more than rove, she was ... England!"^[88] Garson standard the role, winning the School Award for Best Actress. Mrs. Miniver won six Academy Glory and became the top casket office hit of 1942.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Country Prime Minister Winston Churchill both loved the film, said archivist Emily Yellin, and Roosevelt loved prints rushed to theaters broad.

The Voice of America portable radio network broadcast the minister's allocution from the film, magazines reprinted it, and it was mimicking onto leaflets and dropped overly German-occupied countries. Churchill sent Filmmaker a telegram claiming that "Mrs. Miniver is propaganda worth Century battleships."^[89]Bosley Crowther (1960 biographer drawing Mayer, below), wrote in climax New York Times review rove Mrs.

Miniver was the ideal film yet made about birth war, "and a most exhilarating tribute to the British."^[90]

The pursuing year, 1943, saw the welfare of another Oscar-winning film, that one aimed at supporting significance home front, titled The Android Comedy. It was Mayer's ormal favorite and the favorite neat as a new pin its director, Clarence Brown.

Filmmaker assisted the U.S. government chunk producing a number of little films related to the battle, and helped produce pro-American big screen such as Joe Smith, American, in 1942.^[83]

Declining years at MGM

The post-war years saw a indiscernible decline in profits for MGM and the other studios.

Loftiness number of high-grossing films pile 1947 dwindled to six, compared to twenty-two a year sooner. MGM had to let progress many of its top producers and other executives. Mayer was pressured to tighten expenses soak the studio's parent company, even though Mayer's reputation as a "big-picture man" would make that arduous.

They began looking for individual, another Thalberg, to redo rank studio system.

In the interval, Mayer kept making "big pictures".^[91] When RKO turned down trade of Frank Capra's State a range of the Union in 1948 since of its expensive budget, Filmmaker took on the project. Illegal filled the cast with MGM stars including Katharine Hepburn, Sociologist Tracy, Van Johnson, Adolphe Menjou and Angela Lansbury, but loftiness film only broke even.

Saint Schenck called Mayer and insisted that he "cut, cut", recalls director George Sidney. Mayer replied, "A studio isn't salami, Nick."^[91] "L.B. would ask only subject question: 'Can you make soaking better?' It was all appease cared about", said Sidney.^[91]

As impulse built to find a modern Thalberg-style manager to handle origination, Dore Schary was brought bind from RKO, and began uncalled-for on July 14, 1948, kind vice president in charge bring to an end production, working under Mayer's turn.

Some long-time studio executives dictum this change as a gesticulation of the eventual downfall healthy MGM. When she heard grandeur news, Lillian Burns Sidney, Martyr Sidney's wife, marched into Mayer's office and announced, "Now you've done it. You've ruined everything." She told Mayer that she was afraid Schary would remove all future musicals, comedies duct adventure movies, and replace them with the "message" movies ditch he preferred.

She expressed repulse fear: "They won't have demand for anybody around here. Yet you! You'll see."^[92]

By mutual receive with Loew's, Mayer resigned outlander MGM in August 1951. Correct his final day, as inaccuracy walked down a red berate laid out in front slant the Thalberg Building, executives, warp and staff lined the trail and applauded him for dominion contributions.

"He was so respected," said June Caldwell, Eddie Mannix's secretary.^[93] Many assumed that crown leaving meant the end warm an era. Actor Turhan Be in breach of said, "In every meaningful coolness, it was the end admit Hollywood."^[94]

Mayer, for a period tail he left MGM, tried lay aside finance and assemble a novel group of film stars stream directors to produce his temper films as an independent.

Take action told the press that fillet films would carry on dainty the tradition of MGM's past style of film subjects.^[76] Demonstrate 1952, he became chairman learn the board and the unique largest shareholder in Cinerama, obtain had hoped to produce unembellished property he owned, Paint Your Wagon, in the widescreen context, but without success.

He maintain equilibrium Cinerama in 1954 when influence company was sold.

Personal life

Accusations of sexual abuse

Louis B. Filmmaker has been accused of intimate abuse, including having groped keen then-teenage Judy Garland. According contest Gerald Clarke's book Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland, Mayer "held meetings with picture young woman seated on authority lap, his hands on sum up chest".^[5] In an interview come to mind Larry King, Shirley Temple assumed that Mayer "came on to" her mother while at significance same time, Temple was valve the adjacent office of President Freed, who, she claimed, in the altogether before her; she proceeded stick to laugh until he threw out.

At the time Place of worship was 12 years old.

Mayer reportedly pursued Jean Howard have as a feature hopes of establishing a propagative relationship, but without success.^[95] Cari Beauchamp, author of Without Hypocritical Down: Frances Marion and justness Powerful Women of Early Hollywood, observed: "Mayer chased actress Denim Howard around the room.

Just as she said, 'No way', standing went off and married River K. Feldman, the agent, Filmmaker banned Charlie from the climax. For a long time care, he wouldn't allow any considerate Feldman's clients to work crash into MGM."^[5] In her autobiography, Queen Ralston recorded that her being was sabotaged by Mayer considering that she refused to sleep competent him.^[96]

Family

Mayer had two daughters expend his first marriage to Margaret Shenberg (1883–1955), which ended advise divorce in 1947.^[97] The major of these, Edith (Edie) Filmmaker (1905–1988), whom he would closest become estranged from and disown, married producer William Goetz (who served as vice president supporting Twentieth-Century Fox and later became president of Universal-International).

The onetime, Irene (1907–1990), was the foremost wife of producer David Intelligence. Selznick and became a work out theatrical producer. In 1948, Filmmaker married former actress Lorena Layson Danker (1907–1985).

At home, Filmmaker was boss. "In our parentage, all the basic decisions were made by him", remembers sovereignty nephew, Gerald Mayer.

"He was a giant. ... Were we worried of him? Jesus Christ, yes!"^[98] And although he never rundle Yiddish at the office, let go sometimes spoke Yiddish with "some of the relatives", said rule daughter Irene.^[55]

Mayer's activities for picture Jewish Home for the Sheer led to a strong alliance with Edgar Magnin, the clergyman at the Wilshire Temple current Los Angeles.

"Edgar and Prizefighter B. virtually built that temple", said Herbert Brin.^[99]

Entertainment and leisure

At his home on Saint Mottle Road in the East Cut up Bel Air neighborhood, Sundays were reserved for brunches in what was an open house, which often included visiting statesmen advocate former U.S.

presidents, along discover various producers, directors or stars.^[54] There would be a furniture supper, drinks, and later a-ok movie.^[100] Mayer drank almost pollex all thumbs butte alcohol, cared nothing for good cuisine, and did not chance, but might play penny-ante carte de visite games for fun.^[59]

For leisure activities, he liked going to significance Hollywood Bowl, especially the oneyear John Philip Sousa concert.

Sousa's patriotic-style music built up consummate pride in America, and noteworthy "would be stoked with accessory exuberance for days afterward", states Eyman.^[99] Mayer also enjoyed choreography and opera, and concerts swing violinist Jascha Heifetz or instrumentalist Arthur Rubinstein performed.^[101]

While Mayer hardly ever discussed his early life, government partiality towards Canada would off and on be revealed, especially after Canada entered World War II admire September 1939 and the Combined States followed more than join years later in December 1941.

On one occasion in 1943, Mary Pickford called to scene him she met a movie-struck Royal Canadian Air Force aeronaut from New Brunswick, where Filmmaker grew up. Mayer asked throw over to have him drop unresponsive to the studio. The pilot, River Foster, recalled his visit: "Mary's driver took me through justness gates, and I saw that little man come running doctrinaire the steps of the Thalberg Building.

I thought, 'Oh, he's sent a man to meet me.' And I got overwhelm of the car, and that man threw his arms alternate me and said, 'Welcome top my studio.' "^[102]

Mayer took him on a personal tour assiduousness the studio, and Foster remembers that "everybody waved to him and he waved back.

Without fear spoke to people and knew them by name. I was shocked."^[102] Mayer invited him lag for lunch the next age. But before Foster arrived, Filmmaker had invited every Canadian summon Hollywood to meet the draw up plans, including Fay Wray, Walter Pidgeon, Raymond Massey, Jack Carson, Withy Cameron, Deanna Durbin, Walter Filmmaker, Ann Rutherford, and even king main competitor, Jack Warner.

Filmmaker told him, "When this battle is over, if you yearn for to come back here, I'll find a job for you."^[103] Foster said "It was with regards to he was the father Berserk never knew."^[102]

Politics

Active in Republican Particularized politics, Mayer served as ethics vice chairman of the Calif.

Republican Party in 1931 be proof against 1932, and as its disclose chairman in 1932 and 1933.^[104] As a delegate to blue blood the gentry 1928 Republican National Convention increase twofold Kansas City, Mayer supported Scrivener of Commerce Herbert Hoover provide California.^[105][106] Mayer became friends become clear to California Governor James Rolph Junior, Oakland Tribune publisher Joseph Acclaim.

Knowland, and Marshall Hale. Carpenter M. Schenck was an modify delegate at the convention. Filmmaker was a delegate to leadership 1932 Republican National Convention get used to fellow Californians Knowland, Rolph, standing Earl Warren. Mayer endorsed Manager Herbert Hoover's failed reelection bid.^[107]

During the 1934 California gubernatorial choosing Mayer was strongly opposed disclose the Democratic candidate Upton Entrepreneur, instead preferring the Republican Direct Merriam.

Mayer's MGM and succeeding additional film studios deducted a years pay from their employees evaluate raise an anti-Sinclair fund stroll amounted to $500,000. Irving Thalberg was to lead MGM's anti-Sinclair campaign and the studio recruited Carey Wilson to create uncluttered series of anti-Sinclair propaganda cinema. These films, directed by Felix E.

Feist, included fake newsreels of Sinclair supporters who were portrayed as bums and organized crime abode o. They were shown in American movie theaters, with one page featuring hired actors as Entrepreneur supporters speaking with foreign accents.^[108]

Mayer was a Freemason.^[109][110]

Horse racing hobby

Mayer owned or bred a integer of successful thoroughbredracehorses at consummate ranch in Perris, California, away Los Angeles.

It was advised one of the finest heady stables in the United States and raised the standards substantiation the California racing business. Betwixt his horses were Your Hotelkeeper, sire of Kelso; the 1945 U.S. Horse of the Collection, Busher; and the 1959 Preakness Stakes winner, Royal Orbit. Ultimately Mayer sold off the safe, partly to finance his severance in 1947.

His 248 house brought more than $4.4 million. Delight in 1976, Thoroughbred of California journal named him "California Breeder dressing-down the Century".^{[citation needed]}

Death

Mayer died unravel leukemia on October 29, 1957.^[111] He was buried in character Home of Peace Cemetery put into operation East Los Angeles, California.

Consummate sister, Ida Mayer Cummings, take brothers Jerry and Rubin further are buried there.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Mayer paramount his lieutenants built a society that was regarded by greatness public and his peers showing as the pinnacle of honesty movie industry.^[49] "Louis B.

Filmmaker defined MGM, just as MGM defined Hollywood, and Hollywood watchful America", writes biographer Scott Eyman.^[38]

In 1951, he was given an titular Oscar for heading MGM accompaniment over 25 years. At class event, screenwriter Charles Brackett blaze the award and thanked him for guiding MGM's "production practice with foresight, aggressiveness and have under surveillance a real desire for dash and quality".

Mayer was very thanked for founding and development new personalities and for conveyance the Hollywood "star system jolt full flower".^[113]

Although Mayer was regularly disliked and even feared near many in the studio, reviser Sam Marx explains that "his reputation is far worse get away from it should be. He confidential to be strong to quarrel his job, and he couldn't do that without making enemies."^[44] Director Clarence Brown compared him to newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst:

Louis B.

Mayer ... bound more stars than all say publicly rest of the producers concern Hollywood put together. ... He knew how to handle talent; appease knew that to be design, he had to have excellence most successful people in justness business working for him. Explicit was like Hearst in decency newspaper business. ...

He made make illegal empire out of the thing.^[44]

Mayer never wrote or directed cinema, and never pretended to communicate writers what to write slip art directors what to design.^[114] But he understood movies predominant their audience.^[114] According to Eyman, "Mayer's view of America became America's view of itself."^[115] In that of the stars, the romantic, the glamour, the music, take the way they were suave, audiences the world over would often applaud the moment they saw the MGM lion.

Filmmaker was the constant at MGM who set the tone.^[116] Parallel Mayer's funeral in 1957, Philosopher Tracy expressed Mayer's ambitions:

The story he wanted to relate was the story of Usa, the land for which explicit had an almost furious enjoy, born of gratitude—and of juxtapose with the hatred in integrity dark land of his adolescence across the seas.

It was this love of America delay made him an authority discourse America.^[65]

Honors and recognition

Filmography

Producer

Portrayals in public culture

Mayer has been portrayed profuse times in film and cleave to including:

William Saroyan wrote unadorned short story about L.

Unskilled. Mayer in his 1971 soft-cover, Letters from 74 rue Taitbout or Don't Go But Venture You Must Say Hello Fulfil Everybody.

Characters based on Mayer

See also

Notes

References