Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 22, 1943)

LOUIS B. MAYER Vice-president in charge of production at Metro-GoldwynMayer, a former resident of St. John, New Brunswick, who still maintains friendships in that city. anniversary that will take place next year, one that has shone increasingly each time it recurred, will be the 20th year of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was made possible by farsighted men whose business courage and shrewd judgment is reflected today in the motion picture’s standard of excellence and its universal appeal. Nineteen years ago—-April 18th, to be exact—-MGM came into existence to inspire the motion picture industry. The first picture produced by the new organization was the still unforgotten “‘Ben tur” and the pace it set left its mark on film makers. Opposition organizations had to be good or get out of the league. That still goes for MGM, The story of MGM is one of constant striving for quality of product, of continual seeking greater channels of public interest, and of joining with others of a like mind who were just as sincere and ambitious. The company began with a union of the best men with the livest ideas and there is still a tenacious adherence to that policy. . \ NOTHER bright Hollywood T= chief proponent of the last mentioned idea when it was first made a fact in the motion picture industry is still at the helm of MGM as vice-president in charge of production—and he continues to believe in it. His name is Louis B, Mayer. Mayer is an ex-resident of St. John, New Brunswick, and he still maintains his friendship with Walter Golding and old friends and neighbors, He worked as a ship salvager with his father. Recently he was honored by the province with the degree of LL.D. Better Than They Knew... After almost 20 years MGM, under Louis B. Mayer, continues to prove that the men who founded it knew what they were doing from the Brunswick. The industry’s highest-paid executive left St. John to enter the theatre business with a single theatre in a New England town and built it into a chain. The original Metro company was started in 1915 by Richard A. Rowland and was turning out such pictures as “Scaramouche,” “Prisoner of Zenda’ and “The Four Horsemen.” Mayer, one of its earliest franchise holders, was its first secretary. This lively exhibitor recognized the possibilities of production and, with his characteristic willingness to venture in a big way, sold out his theatre holdings. He moved to Los Angeles, took over the Selig studios and produced pictures that were distributed by Metro and First National. Mayer is now 58. He once stayed overnight in the White House at the invitation of the president. University of New T the time Mayer was running “™ Selig other alive exhibitors had discerned the rising of the motion picture sun, among them the brain trust of the Marcus Loew organization—Nicholas M. Schenck, David Bernstein and Marcus Loew. The last began investing heavily in Metro in 1920 and soon bought the company. Back of Loew’s venture was the need of product for his growing chain of theatres. Another visionary was active then, Samuel Goldwyn, who was turning out films in association with Toronto-born Edgar Selwyn, the latter a Broadway producer of fame. Goldwyn realized that the play was the thing in films as well as stage. He was the first to build a roster of writers for motion picture purposes exclusively. A merger between Mayer and the Loew’s interests was a natural, After it took place the new company bought the Goldwyn facilities and so in 1924 MGM for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer became letters of distinction throughout the motion picture world. They still retain their lustre. From its beginnings to the MGM list of emrisen from 500 to present the ployees has 4,000. Its stars have won twice as many Academy Awards for MGM than any other studio. There are 13 miles of paved roads in the 167 acres it occupies in Culver City, five miles from Hollywood, and within that area are 30 sound stages and 22 projection rooms. The story department goes through 20,000 scripts yearly to find enough good stories for 50 or more films. Under Arthur Loew, son of Marcus, the company had built more foreign theatres than any other up to the outbreak of war. (pas distribution of Metro pro duct in Canada has been handled since 1919 by Regal Films, of which the late N. L. Wathanson was president until 1940. A new company was formed in 1941, with Henry L. Nathanson as president and general manager. Henry Nathanson started with Regal in 1916 as salesman in Winnipeg, became branch manager in Calgary and Vancouver, then was promoted to Western Division Manager, a post he held for four years before coming to Toronto. Under his leadership Regal has occupied a leading place in the Canadian motion picture industry. Metro product originally came to Canada in 1915 when Herbert Lubin and Arthur H. Sawyer, later responsible for the erection of the Roxy Theatre, New York, opened Star Films in Montreal. The late Jim O’Loghlin, Canadian chief of Twentieth Century-Fox until his death earlier this year, was office manager under Abe Fisher and Abe E. Smith, now Regal manager in St. John, New Brunswick, was booker, salesman and revisor until he left for Vancouver with Lubin to open an office there. Lubin and Sawyer’s venture ended in litigation and Joe Unger, now with Paramount in New York, acquired the Metro franchise. Unger opened his own offices, the Toronto one being managed by Harry Law, who was succeeded by Harry Price. The late N. L. Nathanson had opened Regal Films in 1916, with Alex Aaronson, later associated in theatre ventures with him, in a—eeeeeeeeeeeeee eee HENRY L. NATHANSON President of Regal Films Corp. (1941) Ltd, Canadian distributors of Metro-GoldwynMayer Pictures, is one of the leading figures in the Canadian film industry. charge. Nathanson bought out Unger, who remained until the late Phil Kaufman replaced him. Harry Kaufman, now general manager of Monogram, was in charge of the West. DS cries MGM opened activities in 1924 there was a general celebration at the studio, with civic dignitaries speaking and Will Rogers acting as master of ceremonies. Next year, if the celebration is duplicated, it will be shared by more people in more places than the founders ever had in mind when they created the company. erry Abe Polakoff HBHoliday Greetings yx Lou Polakoff IEA AAAI EIA IEEE. ‘ 2 rs ¥ 8 ee be De De De Bebe De be De Be De BeBe BP DDD Dee Dee Bee Be Be BeBe Bee BeBe Be Be Bebe Be De ee PR |