Academy Founders 18b

Louis B. Mayer came up with the idea for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in conversation with Fred Beetson, of the Association of Motion Picture Producers (A.M.P.A.S. founder # 33); actor Conrad Nagel (# 5); and director Fred Niblo (# 11). 

A native of the Kiev region of Ukraine, Mayer grew up in New Brunswick. With money from his successful scrap-metal operation, he bought a burlesque house in Boston; from there his rise was swift, and with the mega-merger of Metro and Goldwyn Pictures with his own Louis B. Mayer Productions he created the model Hollywood studio, with “more stars than there are in the heavens.” 

His tenure at MGM lasted a quarter century, and if he left in comparative ignominy – forced out by Nicholas M. Schenck, also in this photo – Mayer had overseen an extraordinary run of films and shaped the careers of hundreds of film stars. In 1951 he won an honorary Academy Award for “distinguished service to the motion picture industry.”

I will identify the others in the photo in Harry Rapf’s post.

Academy Founders 11

N.B. The member numbers follow The Internet Movie Database's list order announcing the Academy in January 1927. 

11. Fred Niblo (Frederick Liedtke, 1874-1948) of the Directors Branch. 

Niblo had something of a specialty during the silent period: replacing directors who had lost control of their productions. He is most famous for rescuing BEN-HUR: A TALE OF THE CHRIST (1925) and then Greta Garbo's film THE TEMPTRESS (1926). 

His career limped into the sound era, but his last successful films were silents: CAMILLE (1926), with Norma Talmadge and Gilbert Roland, and the splendid MYSTERIOUS LADY (1928), with Garbo and Conrad Nagel (A.M.P.A.S. founder #5).

Niblo's first wife was Josephine Cohan, sister of George M. Cohan; his second was Enid Bennett, star of many of his early films.

Hollywood at play

Conrad Nagel’s yacht TIBURON was a prominent feature in his personal publicity. Here he is with his wife Ruth, their daughter Ruth, Beverly Bayne (the former wife of silent star Francis X. Bushman, and a star in her own right), and Leatrice Joy (John Gilbert's ex-wife, and ditto), in August 1927.

Academy Founders 5

N.B. The member numbers follow The Internet Movie Database's list order announcing the Academy in January 1927.

5. (John) Conrad Nagel (1897-1970) of the Actors Branch, fourth president of the Academy, 1932-33. The photo is by Ruth Harriet Louise.

In 1940, Nagel shared a special Academy Award with three others (including Jean Hersholt) for services to the motion picture industry. He also hosted three Academy Awards presentations: comparatively small industry events in 1930 and 1932, and (with Bob Hope) the first televised version, in 1953.

Rush proofs

I have a number of MGM rush proofs in my collection, remarkable (ironically?) for the beauty of their finish. A number of them are connected to Marion Davies' silent version of QUALITY STREET (1927), which co-starred Conrad Nagel, Helen Jerome Eddy, and Flora Finch - one of the first comedy film stars, and best remembered for her partnership with John Bunny. The film's cinematography is credited to Hendrik Sartov.