Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood S01E03 · The Dream Merchants (1920-1928)

Overview

The Hollywood studio system flowered in the 1920s, headed by strong-willed leaders -- most of them immigrants and small-time entrepreneurs and many of them Jewish. Each studio had its own house style. MGM, headed by Russian-born Louis B. Mayer with Irving Thalberg as his "boy wonder" production head, was super-glossy. Warner Bros., eventually to be led by brother Jack, provided grit, while Paramount, headed by Hungarian-born Adolph Zukor, lent glamour. Laemmle's Universal Pictures produced lavish spectacles and a series of fantastic dramas starring Lon Chaney. The movies' influence grew more powerful, affecting real life in terms of fashion, attitudes and behavior.

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1. 1 1. Peepshow Pioneers (1888-1907)2010-11-01 · 1h 0mAs America was transformed by the arrival of millions of immigrants in the 1890s, the first generation of American filmmakers joined with other innovators and entrepreneurs to crea
2. 2 2. The Birth of Hollywood (1907-1920)2010-11-08 · 1h 0mCalifornia was quickly recognized as the ideal setting for the American film industry, with its relative freedom from patent problems, constant sunshine and varied geography. As ea
3. 3 3. The Dream Merchants (1920-1928)2010-11-15 · 1h 0mThe Hollywood studio system flowered in the 1920s, headed by strong-willed leaders -- most of them immigrants and small-time entrepreneurs and many of them Jewish. Each studio had
4. 4 4. Brother, Can You Spare A Dream? (1929-1941)2010-11-22 · 1h 0mThe movies broke their silence in 1927, as Warner Bros. introduced the first major synchronized sound film, The Jazz Singer. Stage-trained actors were suddenly in demand, and among
5. 5 5. Warriors and Peacemakers (1941-1950)2010-11-29 · 1h 0mWhen the U.S. entered World War II, movies became a powerful means of promoting patriotism, not only through overt propaganda but through films that rallied support while also ente
6. 6 6. Attack of the Small Screens (1950-1960)2010-12-06 · 1h 0mDuring the 1950s, with the nation enjoying a new prosperity and television providing fierce competition, the reign of the old moguls began a long decline. The movies needed new ide
7. 7 7. Fade Out, Fade In (1960-1969)2010-12-13 · 1h 0mIn the 1960s America was in the midst of the most jarring political and social upheaval in decades. Without the old Hollywood structure, as studios were bought, sold and reconfigur