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Ever hear of MGM? Betcha don’t know what it stands for. “Metro, Goldwyn, Mayer”. Now, there’s a whole ‘nother drama to that studio’s name, but today we’re focusing on the “G”. The name’s Goldwyn, Sam Goldwyn.
1879 - 1974
Sam was born in Poland to a Jewish family named Gelbfisz. He later “Americanized” his name to Goldfish, and again much later to Goldwyn (more on that below). As a young man, he headed to England on foot across Europe, to find work. And some of you complain about having to park 8 stalls from the doors of Target! 😛 He eventually sailed to the US (with money that was a gift - OR that he stole from a stranger, depending on whose version you hear).
Sam managed to find employment with a glove company, and despite his poor English became vice president of sales in just 4 years. This guy. Could hustle. He took quite a liking to his boss’ daughter, Bessie Ginzberg, but the feeling wasn’t mutual. No, Bessie ended up falling head-over-heels for a vaudeville producer, (guess who!) Jesse L. Lasky, and married him almost immediately. Sam, never a one-woman type of man (*ahem* hardly any of the moguls were), got interested in Jesse’s sister, the lovely Blanche Lasky.
After a while, he proposed to Blanche and she accepted – in spite of her brother’s protests. Jesse had asked some of his associates and found that Sam didn’t have a great reputation. Oh, snap! But Blanche wouldn’t budge. She wanted a solid, dependable, businessman like Sam – someone who wasn’t involved in show business. HA! 5 years later, Sam was in “show business”, the marriage was very unhappy and they divorced. Blanche got custody of their daughter, Ruth, and eventually she changed the child’s last name to Lasky. Burnnnnn! He did reconcile with his daughter when she was a young woman…so…props for “trying” to do well by her in the end.
One of the few times Sam was recognized for his position in the new company.
However, before the divorce drama, Sam went to a theater and saw a “moving picture”. He saw what few people were able to see in film at the time – money! Sam felt that these newfangled shows could rake in a lot of money, and being a salesman at heart, he set out to talk his vaudevillian brother-in-law Jesse into making a film. Eventually, his salesman tactics worked their charm and Jesse agreed reluctantly. They were in the picture business! In their company’s early years, producer Jesse and director Cecil got a lot of credit and recognition for their achievements, but Sam was rarely if ever mentioned. Naturally, this bothered Sam because he had a lot of input into their productions – but hardly ever got credit for it in the newspapers, ads, etc.
Before MGM took credit for Leo the Lion..it was Sam's logo. Jussayin.
Not too long after his split with Blanche, Sam was overheard making remarks against their newest partner, Adolph Zukor. He already wasn’t on good terms with the man, so when word got back to Adolph, he gave Jesse an ultimatum; it’s either Sam or me! So Jesse sided with Adolph (maybe some bad blood after the whole ‘divorcing-my-sister’ thing??) and ex-brother-in-law Sam left the company. He soon joined two brothers (last name Selwyn) to form a new company, “Goldwyn Pictures”, being a combination of their last names, Goldfish and Selwyn. The only alternative name combination was “Selfish Pictures” and that was a no-go. Sam liked the fictitious name so well that he had his own last name legally changed to Goldwyn, and bought a studio in Culver City, CA. Their roaring lion logo is still recognized today as “MGM”s logo!
Goldwyn Pictures distributed a revolutionary German silent film that is renowned in today’s day and age, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920). In 1920, however – it wasn’t a favorite among the general American public. Far ahead of it’s time, the film was a fantastic work of art that many consider to be the first “true horror movie”, shot entirely on elaborate interior sets (no outdoor shots) with a twist ending.
An ad for Goldwyn Pictures. Yes, we know - advertising has come a LONG way.
In 1919, Goldwyn Pictures took on a wealthy investor named Frank Godsol. Big mistake. Frank was a big spender, willing to provide a ton of funding for Goldwyn Pictures, in return for a large piece of the company. Before you know it, ol’ Frank had taken over and SOLD THE COMPANY, right out from under Sam’s nose. Goldwyn Pictures became property of Marcus Loew, who merged Metro Pictures and Goldwyn Pictures, putting Louis B. Mayer in charge and naming it “Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer”. Sam was understandably furious and left the company – but they kept his name on it! So he sued to have his name removed – and lost. So the company he had founded was not only stolen, but his lion logo AND his name were hijacked too…is nothing sacred??
...'Nuff said.
Sam had a quirk of making contradictory statements that never seemed to make sense. These became known as “Goldwynisms”. Some of the best are: “Include me out”, “Every Tom, Dick and Harry is named Bill” and “When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you”. Word is, Sam was pleased at how notorious his speech errors became so…everyone go Google some Goldwynisms and have a hearty laugh!
1946: Finally won an Oscar - and the coveted Thalberg Award.
After leaving MGM, Sam decided to never again let anyone else control his projects, and became an independent producer – but not just any ol’ indie producer…he was the most successful independent in Hollywood. This success continued throughout the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s, receiving several nominations for Oscars but always losing to (who else?) Louis B. Mayer. Until 1946 that is! Yes, Sam finally got recognition from the Academy for his film “The Best Years of Our Lives”. He was also awarded with the presidential Medal of Freedom from President Nixon in 1971. 3 years later, Sam passed away after struggling with his health for quite some time. He left behind 2 children: his daughter Ruth and his son, Samuel Jr. from his second (and final) marriage to actress Frances Howard.
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