Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
History
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of feature films and television programs. One of the world's oldest film studios, MGM's headquarters are located in Beverly Hills, California. It was founded on April 17, 1924, by Marcus Loew, a theater magnate who sought to consolidate his holdings by merging Metro Pictures Corp., Goldwyn Pictures, and Louis B. Mayer Productions.
MGM was the last studio to convert to sound pictures, but in spite of this fact, from the end of the silent film era through World War II, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was the dominant motion picture studio in Hollywood. Always slow to respond to the changing legal, economic, and demographic nature of the motion picture industry during the 1950s and 1960s, and although at times its films did well at the box office, the studio lost significant amounts of money throughout the 1960s. In 1966, MGM was sold to Canadian investor Edgar Bronfman Sr., whose son Edgar Jr. would later buy Universal Studios.
Notable Productions
Throughout its history, MGM has produced some of the most memorable films in cinema history, including Gone with the Wind (1939), The Wizard of Oz (1939), and Ben-Hur (1959). The studio has also been responsible for many innovations in the film industry, particularly in the use of sound, which was a major factor in the creation of the "talkie" films of the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Logo and Mascot
One of the most iconic aspects of MGM is its logo, featuring the image of a roaring lion. The logo, which has been updated several times over the years, was first created in 1924. The lion used in the logo is named Leo, and there have been several different lions used in the logo over the years. The logo is often accompanied by the motto "Ars Gratia Artis", which is Latin for "Art for Art's Sake".
Current Status
Today, MGM is a mini-major studio, with not only motion picture production and distribution, but also television production and distribution, home video, and interactive media. The company owns the rights to many classic films from its historic library. It also owns several film franchises, including the James Bond series.