LOUIS B. MAYER - DOCUMENT SIGNED 06/27/1931 - HFSID 276080

LOUIS B. MAYER
The film mogul borrows the services of an Oscar-winning writer from Warner Bros. for one month.
Documentary Letter signed: "Louis B Mayer", 2p, 8½x11. Culver City, California, 1931 June 27. On letterhead of First National Productions Corporation. As Vice-President of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Mayer signs a loan-out agreement to obtain the services of screenwriter Robert Lord for a period of not less than two weeks, commencing 1931 June 26 and ending no later than 1931 July 23, compensating First National Studios, an affiliate of Warner Bros., at the rate of $850 per week. Russian-born LOUIS B. MAYER (1882-1957) opened his first movie theater in 1907, and soon owned a whole chain of movie houses in New England. In 1918 he began producing his own films. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, he secured the Vice Presidency and de facto control of what became Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios in 1924. For a quarter century, Mayer was one of Hollywood's most successful movie moguls, an originator of the star system who kept his many stars - "more stars than in the heavens" - under strict control. A firm exponent of what today would be called "family values," he insisted that his films present a morally uplifting, some would say idealized, vision of American life. Less successful in responding to changes in popular tastes after World War II, he was ousted from control of the studio in 1948. ROBERT LORD (1902-1976), a prolific screenwriter, brought an Oscar to Warner Bros. in 1934 for Best Writing, Original Story: One Way Passage. He was nominated for another in 1937: Black Legion. Research has not revealed an MGM film credit for Lord, who worked mainly for Warner Bros. until forming his own production company in partnership with Humphrey Bogart after World War II. The short period of the loan suggests that he was called in to help with another's script. Staple and binder holes and paperclip impression at top. Lightly creased. Ink corrections have been initialed (not by Mayer). Overall, fine condition.