Louis B. Mayer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis B. Mayer
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Mayer in 1953
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| Born |
Lazar Meir
July 12, 1884 |
| Died | October 29, 1957 (aged 73) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Home of Peace Cemetery (East Los Angeles) |
| Nationality | Canadian-American |
| Other names |
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1915–1951 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Board member of | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 2, including Irene Mayer Selznick |
Louis Burt Mayer (born Lazar Meir; July 12, 1884 – October 29, 1957) was a famous Canadian-American film producer. He was a co-founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios in 1924. Under Mayer's leadership, MGM became Hollywood's most respected movie studio. It gathered the best writers, directors, and stars in the film industry.
Mayer was born in the Russian Empire and grew up in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. His family was poor, so he left school at age 12 to help them. He later moved to Boston and bought a small theater. He fixed it up and bought more theaters in the Boston area. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked with producer Irving Thalberg. Together, they made many high-quality, family-friendly films. Mayer managed the business side of the studio, like setting budgets. Thalberg oversaw all the movie productions.
During his time at MGM, Mayer had both fans and critics. Some actors didn't like him trying to control their personal lives. Others saw him as a caring father figure. He believed in making movies that were good for families. He worked hard to find new actors and help them become big stars. In 1927, he helped start the AMPAS, which gives out the annual Academy Awards. Mayer was forced to leave MGM in 1951. This happened because the studio's parent company wanted to improve its falling profits.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Business
Louis B. Mayer's exact birth date and place are not fully known. He was born in the Russian Empire around 1884. His parents were Jewish, and he had two sisters and two brothers. His family moved to Long Island in the U.S., then to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
His father started a scrap metal business. Young Louis left school at age twelve to help his family. He collected scrap metal with a cart. He met John Wilson, a tin business owner, who helped him. Mayer always remembered Wilson as his first partner and good friend. Mayer's childhood was difficult because his family was poor. His family mostly spoke Yiddish at home. He wanted to learn and improve himself, even after leaving school.
In his free time, he loved watching live shows at the York Theater. He became very interested in the entertainment business. In 1904, at age 20, Mayer moved to Boston. He continued in the scrap metal business for a while. He also took other jobs to support his new family.
Starting in the Movie Business
Mayer bought a run-down theater in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He reopened it on November 28, 1907, as the Orpheum. It was his first movie theater. To give the theater a fresh start, he showed a religious film called From the Manger to the Cross in 1912. Within a few years, he owned all five theaters in Haverhill. He also partnered with Nathan H. Gordon to create the biggest theater chain in New England.
In 1914, Mayer and his partners started their own film distribution company in Boston. Mayer paid a lot of money, $25,000, to show the movie The Birth of a Nation (1915) only in New England. This decision made him over $100,000. With this money, Mayer partnered with Richard A. Rowland in 1916. They created Metro Pictures Corporation in New York City.
Two years later, Mayer moved to Los Angeles. He started his own production company, Louis B. Mayer Pictures Corporation. Their first movie was Virtuous Wives in 1918.
Leading Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
In late 1922, Mayer met Irving Thalberg, who worked for Universal Pictures. Mayer was looking for someone to help him manage his growing studio. Thalberg made a great impression on Mayer. Mayer hired Thalberg as vice president in charge of production. Mayer was an excellent businessman, but Thalberg was skilled at making both quality and popular films.
Mayer's biggest success came in April 1924. His company joined with two others to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The 24-year-old Thalberg also became a part-owner and production head. Marcus Loew, who owned the Loew's movie theater chain, had bought Metro Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn's Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. He then merged them with Mayer Pictures. Loew needed someone to run his new studios in Hollywood. Mayer was the clear choice because of his success. He became the head of studio operations and a vice president of Loew's. He held this job for 27 years. Soon, Mayer added his name to the studio, calling it Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Three years later, MGM became the most successful studio in Hollywood.
Working with Irving Thalberg
Mayer and Thalberg were a great team. They worked well together and depended on each other. Mayer handled the business side, like budgets and approving new movies. Thalberg, known as the "boy wonder," managed all of MGM's film productions. Director Joseph M. Newman said that Thalberg was great with stories, and Mayer was a brilliant businessman.
They both believed in making the best movies possible, no matter the cost. Their goal was for MGM to be a top-quality studio. This started with their early silent films, featuring stars like Greta Garbo, who Mayer discovered. These films had beautiful sets and amazing camera work.
Their relationship became difficult over time. Thalberg preferred more serious, literary films, while Mayer wanted movies that would appeal to a wider audience. In 1932, while Thalberg was recovering from a heart attack, Mayer replaced him as head of production with David O. Selznick.
MGM suffered a big loss when Thalberg died suddenly on September 14, 1936, at age 37. His death shocked everyone in Hollywood. Mayer called Thalberg "the finest friend a man could ever have." All studios observed five minutes of silence during his funeral. MGM closed its studio for the entire day. Mayer named MGM's main office building the Thalberg Building. He also had the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences create the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. This award honors producers for their amazing careers and is one of Hollywood's most important awards.
Success After Thalberg's Death
After Thalberg died, many people in Hollywood thought Mayer and MGM would struggle. However, MGM continued to make successful movies under Mayer's leadership. Mayer took over as head of production himself. For the next ten years, MGM grew and did very well.
The year 1939 was especially successful. MGM released famous movies like The Wizard of Oz, Babes in Arms, and The Women. They also distributed Gone with the Wind. Goodbye, Mr. Chips won an Oscar. Hedy Lamarr, another star Mayer discovered, made her film debut. Mayer became the first person in American history to earn a million-dollar salary. For nine years, starting in 1937, he was the highest-paid person in the United States.
Managing the Studio
Mayer was considered a great leader. He worked at the studio all the time and made decisions quickly. He didn't like paperwork. Some said Mayer was similar to newspaper owner William Randolph Hearst. Hearst helped fund many MGM movies, and MGM benefited from good reviews in Hearst's newspapers. Hearst and Mayer became good friends.
Mayer's temper was well-known, but his anger usually faded quickly. He was patient with his employees and let department heads do their jobs. He would only fire executives if they failed to make successful films for a long time.
Studio Growth and Star System
At its busiest in the 1940s, MGM employed six thousand people. It covered 185 acres in Culver City, California. The studio had its own rail line, forty cameras, and sixty sound machines. About 2,700 people ate in the studio's cafeteria every day. MGM even had its own police force of fifty officers. Actress Ann Rutherford remembered that "sixteen to eighteen pictures were being shot at one time."
Mayer helped create the "star system" in Hollywood. This system focused on making actors into famous stars.
Hiring Actors and Staff
Mayer often traveled to find new talent. He discovered stars like Greta Garbo, Hedy Lamarr, Norma Shearer, and Greer Garson. He also signed dancing teams and found Mario Lanza, a young singer.
When hiring actors, he usually asked them to sign contracts for three or seven years. During this time, they would become part of the MGM "family." The studio offered the highest salaries, so it usually got the actors it wanted. Mayer took time to get to know executives personally before hiring them. He valued intelligence and talent. Manager Joe Cohn recalled Mayer saying, "Never be afraid of hiring a fellow smarter than you are. You'll only learn from them."
Mayer was proud of hiring good people. Once hired, he let them do their jobs without much interference. This policy kept MGM stable. Employees felt secure in their jobs. Mayer always told new employees to come to him if they had problems. Some, like Barbara Stanwyck, found this attitude a bit bossy. Others, like actor Edward G. Robinson, found him to be a truthful and strong man. British director Victor Saville remembered Mayer as a great listener who wanted to learn.
Working with Studio People
Mayer's style was professional and lively. His assistant's secretary, June Caldwell, said he was "bombastic and colorful." She added that he was loyal and respected by everyone. He also listened to people. His manners were considered excellent.
MGM released about one film each week. Mayer never panicked over a bad movie. If a film had problems, he usually refused to cancel it. He trusted his gut feeling. He didn't read full scripts, but he could understand a story's main idea. He could then figure out what was needed for a successful film.
Sometimes, if producers, directors, writers, or actors disagreed, Mayer would help them find a solution. For example, on the film Rosalie, Nelson Eddy didn't want to sing a song. The songwriter, Cole Porter, played it for Mayer. Mayer was so moved by the song that he cried. He then told Eddy to sing it.
Being a Father Figure
Mayer acted like an overprotective father to many of his actors. He sometimes got involved in their daily lives. He would suggest where they should shop, eat, or see a doctor. He liked giving advice on how to take care of themselves. He even sometimes arranged marriages.
Stories about his crying or angry outbursts are often told, but few employees actually saw this side of him. Actor Ricardo Montalbán said, "Mr. Mayer was to me like a father." He truly thought of the actors under contract as "his boys and girls." Mayer's caring attitude even extended to film productions. For example, he changed the Dr. Kildare stories to keep Lionel Barrymore, who used a wheelchair due to arthritis, working.
Some young stars, like Elizabeth Taylor, didn't like Mayer controlling their lives. Taylor called him a "monster." However, Mickey Rooney, another young actor, had the opposite view. He said, "He was the daddy of everybody and vitally interested in everybody. They always talk badly about Mayer, but he was really a wonderful guy."
Judy Garland was one of Rooney's frequent co-stars. She made nine films with him. In the late 1940s, she started having personal problems that affected her acting. Mayer tried his best to protect her reputation as a star. He also wanted her to keep making money for MGM. When her absences caused the film Summer Stock to go over budget, producer Joe Pasternak suggested canceling it. Mayer refused. He said, "Judy Garland has made this studio a fortune in the good days, and the least we can do is to give her one more chance." She finished the film. However, during her next movie, Annie Get Your Gun, the studio finally lost patience.
Developing Child Stars
Mayer wanted MGM to develop child stars for its family-friendly movies. The studio provided everything they needed, like schooling and medical care. They also had acting and dancing teachers. Mayer loved children. They brought many people to theaters every week. They were the "good, clean, wholesome" part of MGM's entertainment.
Jackie Coogan, at age 11, was one of the first child stars at MGM in 1925. During Hollywood's golden age, MGM had more child actors than any other studio. These included Jackie Cooper, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Freddie Bartholomew, Margaret O'Brien, Elizabeth Taylor, and Roddy McDowall.
Movie Themes and Musicals
In the 1920s and 1930s, MGM films often had adult themes and strong female stars like Greta Garbo. After Thalberg's death in 1936, Mayer changed the focus. He promoted more male leads, family themes, and child stars. He also took strong moral stands in his movies, especially about family values. This was seen in the Andy Hardy movie series. One of Mayer's proudest moments was when Mickey Rooney, who played Andy Hardy, received a special award in 1942. It was for "furthering the American way of life."
Mayer wanted to show an ideal vision of men, women, and families in his films. He also believed in beauty, glamour, and the "star system." In MGM movies, "marriage was sacred and mothers were highly respected." Author Peter Hay said Mayer "valued the traditional ideas of family and hard work." When he hired writers, he made these goals clear. He once told screenwriter Frances Marion that he never wanted his own daughters or wife to be embarrassed by an MGM movie. He told her, "I worship good women, honorable men, and saintly mothers."
Mayer knew that certain story formulas usually worked. He felt that people, especially Americans, liked to see stars, amazing scenes, and optimism on screen. They also liked a little emotion. They didn't want to be challenged or taught, but comforted and entertained. So, giving messages was less important to Mayer than providing pure entertainment and escape. In his dramas, he wanted them to be exciting and emotional. In comedies, he often added a lot of sentiment.
Musicals were very important to him. He wanted to make more of them. He asked songwriter Arthur Freed to be a producer for The Wizard of Oz. As Mayer hoped, Freed's team at MGM made many films considered among the best musicals ever. These included Meet Me in St. Louis, Easter Parade, and Singin' in the Rain. Many believe Mayer's greatest contributions were his musicals. Both An American in Paris and Gigi won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
World War II and Movies
Unlike Charlie Chaplin, who made The Great Dictator, the larger Hollywood studios didn't have the freedom to make such independent films. Mayer knew that Germany could ban Hollywood films across Europe. This would cause big financial problems, as 30 to 40 percent of Hollywood's income came from Europe. Still, MGM produced Three Comrades in 1938. This was despite warnings that the film would upset the German government.
After World War II began in Europe in September 1939, Mayer approved two anti-Nazi films: The Mortal Storm and Escape. The German government warned the studios that they would remember these films. The Hays Office, which censored movies, banned all anti-Nazi films from September 1939 to January 1940. The U.S. ambassador to England, Joseph Kennedy, even told studios to stop making pro-British and anti-German films.
Defying these requests, MGM produced Mrs. Miniver. It was a simple story about a family in England during the early years of the war. Eddie Mannix, an MGM executive, agreed that "someone should salute England."
Mayer wanted British actress Greer Garson, whom he discovered, to star. She didn't want to play an older role. Mayer convinced her to trust him. He read from the script, describing her character as "a woman who survives and endures. She was London. No, more than that, she was... England!" Garson took the role and won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Mrs. Miniver won six Academy Awards and was the top movie of 1942.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill loved the film. Roosevelt wanted copies sent to theaters quickly. The Voice of America radio network broadcast a speech from the film. Magazines reprinted it, and it was dropped as leaflets over German-occupied countries. Churchill sent Mayer a telegram saying Mrs. Miniver was "propaganda worth 100 battleships."
The next year, 1943, saw the release of The Human Comedy. This Oscar-winning film supported the home front. It was Mayer's personal favorite. Mayer also helped the U.S. government by making short films about the war. He also helped produce pro-American films like Joe Smith, American in 1942.
Later Years at MGM
After World War II, MGM's profits slowly declined, as did other studios'. The number of highly successful films in 1947 dropped. MGM had to let go of many top producers and executives. Mayer was pressured to cut costs. The studio's parent company wanted to find someone new to improve the studio system.
Mayer continued to make "big pictures." When another studio, RKO, refused to fund Frank Capra's State of the Union in 1948 because it was too expensive, Mayer took on the project. He filled the cast with MGM stars like Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. However, the film only broke even.
Dore Schary was brought in from RKO in July 1948. He became vice president in charge of production, working under Mayer. Some long-time studio executives saw this change as a sign of MGM's future decline.
By agreement with Loew's, Mayer resigned from MGM in August 1951. On his last day, a red carpet was laid out for him. Executives, actors, and staff lined the path and applauded him. Many felt his departure marked the end of an era. Actor Turhan Bey said, "In every meaningful way, it was the end of Hollywood."
After leaving MGM, Mayer tried to fund new films on his own. He told the press that his films would continue MGM's style. In 1952, he became chairman and the largest shareholder in Cinerama, a widescreen film process. He hoped to produce a musical he owned, Paint Your Wagon, using Cinerama, but it didn't happen. He left Cinerama in 1954.
Personal Life
Family and Home Life
Mayer had two daughters from his first marriage to Margaret Shenberg. They divorced in 1947. His elder daughter, Edith, married producer William Goetz. His younger daughter, Irene Mayer Selznick, was the first wife of producer David O. Selznick. She later became a successful theater producer. In 1948, Mayer married former actress Lorena Layson Danker.
At home, Mayer was the boss. His nephew, Gerald Mayer, remembered, "He was a giant. Were we afraid of him? Jesus Christ, yes!" Although he didn't speak Yiddish at the office, he sometimes spoke it with relatives. Mayer was good friends with Rabbi Edgar Magnin of the Wilshire Temple in Los Angeles. They both helped build that temple.
Sundays at Mayer's home in Bel Air were open house brunches. They often included visiting leaders or former U.S. presidents, along with producers, directors, and stars. There would be a buffet, drinks, and later a movie. Mayer didn't care much for fancy food and didn't gamble. He sometimes played simple card games for fun.
Hobbies and Canadian Pride
For fun, he liked going to the Hollywood Bowl, especially for the annual John Philip Sousa concert. Sousa's patriotic music made him feel very proud of America. Mayer also enjoyed ballet, opera, and concerts by famous musicians.
Mayer rarely talked about his early life. However, his love for Canada sometimes showed, especially during World War II. In 1943, Mary Pickford told him she met a pilot from the Royal Canadian Air Force from New Brunswick, where Mayer grew up. Mayer asked her to have the pilot visit the studio. The pilot, Charles Foster, recalled his visit: "Mary's driver took me through the gates, and I saw this little man come running down the steps... And I got out of the car, and this man threw his arms around me and said, 'Welcome to my studio.'"
Mayer gave him a personal tour of the studio. Foster remembered that "everybody waved to him and he waved back. He spoke to people and knew them by name. I was shocked." Mayer invited him back for lunch the next day. Before Foster arrived, Mayer had invited every Canadian in Hollywood to meet the pilot. This included stars like Fay Wray, Walter Pidgeon, and Deanna Durbin. Mayer told Foster, "When this war is over, if you want to come back here, I'll find a job for you." Foster said, "It was like he was the father I never knew."
Horse Racing Hobby
Mayer owned and bred many successful thoroughbred racehorses at his ranch in Perris, California. His stable was considered one of the best in the United States. It helped improve horse racing standards in California. Some of his famous horses included Your Host and Busher, who was named U.S. Horse of the Year in 1945. He also owned Royal Orbit, who won the 1959 Preakness Stakes. Mayer eventually sold his stable, partly to help pay for his divorce in 1947. His 248 horses sold for over $4.4 million. In 1976, Thoroughbred of California magazine named him "California Breeder of the Century."
Death
Louis B. Mayer died from leukemia on October 29, 1957. He was buried in the Home of Peace Cemetery in East Los Angeles, California. His sister and brothers are also buried there.
Legacy
Mayer and his team built a company that was seen as the best in the movie industry. "Louis B. Mayer defined MGM, just as MGM defined Hollywood," wrote biographer Scott Eyman.
In 1951, Mayer received an honorary Oscar for leading MGM for over 25 years. Screenwriter Charles Brackett presented the award. He thanked Mayer for guiding MGM's "production policy with foresight, aggressiveness and with a real desire for taste and quality." Mayer was also thanked for finding and developing new stars. He helped bring the Hollywood "star system into full flower."
Even though many people at the studio sometimes disliked or feared Mayer, editor Sam Marx said his "reputation is far worse than it should be." Marx explained that Mayer "had to be strong to do his job, and he couldn't do that without making enemies."
Mayer never wrote or directed movies. He never pretended to tell writers what to write or art directors what to design. But he understood movies and what audiences wanted. According to Eyman, "Mayer's view of America became America's view of itself." Because of the stars, stories, glamour, and music, audiences worldwide would often applaud when they saw the MGM lion. Mayer was the steady leader at MGM who set the tone for the studio.
Honors and Recognition
- Mayer has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.
- A street in Laval, Quebec, Canada, is named Rue Louis-B-Mayer.
- The Mayer Theatre at Loyola Marymount University's School of Film and Television is named after him. Mayer allowed the university's sports teams to use the MGM lion as their mascot.
- The main theater at Santa Clara University also bears his name.
- Mayer was added to the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1990.
- The Louis B. Mayer Research Laboratories building at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston opened in 1988.
- Mayer is honored in the Citizens Hall of Fame in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
Filmography
Producer
| Year | Title | Director |
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| 1915 | Always in the Way | J. Searle Dawley |
| 1919 | Human Desire | Wilfrid North |
| 1921 | Sowing the Wind | John M. Stahl |
| 1924 | Wine of Youth | King Vidor |
| Greed | Erich von Stroheim | |
| 1925 | Lady of the Night | Monta Bell |
| Ben-Hur | Fred Niblo | |
| 1940 | I Take This Woman | W.S. Van Dyke |
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See also
In Spanish: Louis B. Mayer para niños
- Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood
- Selig Polyscope Company
- List of Freemasons
- List of people from Belarus
