MGM Studios Born: Hollywood's Golden Age Takes Shape
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was formed on April 17, 1924, through the merger of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures, and Louis B. Mayer Productions, orchestrated by theater chain owner Marcus Loew to secure a steady supply of films for his venues. Louis B. Mayer became head of production, and Irving Thalberg, at just 24 years old, became head of creative operations. The studio adopted the roaring lion logo from Goldwyn Pictures. MGM dominated Hollywood's Golden Age, producing The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Singin' in the Rain, and Ben-Hur. At its peak, MGM had more stars under contract than any other studio and its slogan "More Stars Than There Are in Heaven" was barely an exaggeration. Samuel Goldwyn, ironically, had nothing to do with MGM; he had left Goldwyn Pictures before the merger.
April 17, 1924
102 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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