M-G-M 100 -- April 17. 2024

Film Daily, 06-April-1924

100 years ago today, on 17-April-1924, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (M-G-M) Corporation was formed by the merger of the Goldwyn Company and Louis B Mayer's Metro Pictures Corporation. M-G-M became the most powerful film corporation in Hollywood. I notice that this item does not mention the Loewe Corporation. I remember the credit on M-G-M movies that said "Controlled by the Loew's Corporation." 

Along with Mayer, the new company received production manager Irving Thalberg and his wife actress Norma Shearer.

The Boy Wonder and the Studio Queen -- March 20, 2023

Motion Picture News, 03-March-1923

I thought it was interesting that I found items about both Irving Thalberg and Norma Shearer this month.

Motion Picture News, 03-March-1923

Norma Shearer was nearly 21 when the top article lauded her work. She had been in the movies since 1919. Irving Thalberg was nearly 24 when he moved to Louis B Mayer's Metro Pictures Corporation "as vice-president and manager of productions." He was called a boy wonder, and he stayed with Metro and its successors, including M-G-M, for the rest of his short life. 

Shearer and Thalberg married on 19-September-1927, They were a real power couple as a star (Norma) and a senior executive at M-G-M. Thalberg died in 1936. 

irving Thalberg -- May 7, 2020

Motion Picture News, 08-May-1920

Irving Thalberg was nearly 21 when he greeted new executives, representing Universal head Carl Laemmle.  Thalberg, often called a "Boy Wonder" had been studio manager since 1919. He went on to have a remarkable career.