The History of MGM Studios

In April 1924, Metro Goldwyn Productions (later, MGM Studios, or Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) began as a merger between Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures, and Louis B. Mayer Productions. Both Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg played key roles in shaping production and the company produced a string of hit silent films. In the 1930s, MGM was the only studio to make a profit in the midst of the Great Depression. In particular, 1939 was a banner year for the studio with hits like The Wizard of Oz and Goodbye Mr. Chips. During the studio’s heyday in the 1930s and 1940s, the list of stars working for MGM included Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Jean Harlow, and Elizabeth Taylor. The studio also became known for its Leo the Lion mascot and massive film lot (once the largest in Hollywood). The studio entered a period of decline in the 1950s and 1960s, although MGM did produce a few hits during the time, including Doctor Zhivago and 2001: A Space Odyssey. In 1969, businessman Kirk Kerkorian purchased a large chunk of MGM and began selling off assets, including the backlot. In 2022, the MGM name was purchased by Amazon for 8.5 billion; the corporation now produces films under the MGM name.