Lazar Meir was born in the Ukraine, fleeing Russian oppression with his parents to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada in 1886. He grew up in poverty, subjected to physical and emotional abuse by his nearly-illiterate father, a peddler.
As a young man, Meir changed his name to Louis and altered his birthdate to July 4, 1885, a more "patriotic" date. He moved to Boston in 1904, struggling as a scrap-metal dealer before eventually purchasing a burlesque house.
Louis B. Mayer's early business ventures focused on legitimate theater in New England, but he later shifted his attention to the film industry. He made a significant fortune from the success of "The Birth of a Nation" (1915) and went on to acquire and refurbish numerous small movie theaters.
In 1918, Mayer, along with Samuel Goldwyn and Marcus Loew of Metro Pictures, formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM),a new company that would become the "Tiffany of the studios" over the next 25 years.
During his tenure at MGM, Mayer became the prime creator of the enduring Hollywood of myth, producing more films and movie stars than any other studio in the world. He was responsible for launching the careers of legendary stars like Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford, and Jean Harlow.
Mayer's success extended beyond the film industry, as he became one of the country's most successful horse breeders, a political force, and Hollywood's leading spokesman. He reached the peak of his career at the end of World War II, but was eventually forced out of MGM in 1951.
Mayer died of leukemia in 1957, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential and successful figures in the history of Hollywood.
