Louis B. Mayer Biography

His father started a scrap metal business and Louis worked with his father in the business until he was in his late teens, when he went to Boston.

In 1907 he purchased a house in Haverhill, refurbished it as a nickelodeon, and opened one of the earliest custom-designed cinemas.

He established theatres in New England which brought him to the film production of Metro Films in 1915, and the formation of the Metro-Goldwyn Mayer in 1924.

The first vice-president in charge of production for MGM, he was instrumental in the creation of Hollywood as a dream factory and the establishment of the star system, with such successes as Ben Hur (1926), Grand Hotel (1932), the Andy Hardy series, Ninotchka (1939), and countless others.

By 1948, due to the introduction of television and changing public tastes, MGM suffered a considerable dropoff in its success. Three years without a major Oscar award provoked conflict between Mayer and Nicholas Schenck, president of MGM's parent, Loews, Inc.

Mayer worked to control costs, hiring writer and producer Dore Schary as production chief. Schary preferred message pictures in contrast with Mayer's taste for "wholesome" films. Three years later, Mayer reportedly called Loews headquarters in New York with an ultimatum, "It's either him, or me" and Schenck fired Mayer from the post he'd held for 24 years.

Mayer tried to stage a boardroom coup but failed and largely retired from public life.

In 1950 Mayer received an honorary Academy Award.

Mayer had two daughters from his first marriage to Margaret Shenberg. Daughter Irene Gladys Mayer, married producer David O. Selznick and second daughter Edith Mayer married producer William Goetz - who later became President of Universal Pictures.

He died in 1957 and was laid to rest in the Home of Peace Cemetery in Los Angeles. Rumour has it that his last words were, "Nothing matters."