The history of the Jewish community of Los Angeles began before California became a state: Jewish settler Jacob Frankfort arrived in 1841 while the region was still a Spanish colony. A decade later, as the Jewish population in Los Angeles grew, they established themselves as merchants, tailors, and restaurateurs. Within a few more decades, they expanded their professional reach into banking, real estate, and politics. However, by the early 20th century, a handful of Jewish entrepreneurs from the vaudeville and theatrical circuits around the country made their way to Los Angeles, formed their own film production companies, and established the movie industry in Hollywood. From these fledgling film studios emerged Paramount, Warner Bros., Metro Goldwyn Mayer, and Columbia, and the movie moguls that ran them helped transform the former rancho into the sprawling metropolis we know today.
Since this year’s Jewish American Heritage Month coincides with the 100th anniversary of the founding of MGM Studios, the LAPL Photo Collection looked through our archive for a selection of photographs of Jewish Americans, native and naturalized, who were pioneers, innovators, and ground-breakers in the film business. They are studio chiefs, writers, directors, and artists whose creativity and determination blazed a trail for others who continue to break through societal barriers of gender, race, and ethnicity.
Samuel Goldwyn, born Szmuel Gelbfisz, was a partner in the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company before becoming one of the most successful independent film producers of his time.
Costume designer Edith Head, born Edith Posenor, won eight Academy Awards for costume design, making her the most awarded female in the history of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Jack Warner, born Jacob Warner, along with brothers Harry and Sam, established Warner Bros. Studios in 1923. In 1927, their studio released The Jazz Singer , the first feature-length movie with synchronized sound.
Max Factor, born Maksymilian Faktorwicz, was a make-up artist and an innovator in the advancement of theatrical make-up for use in the film industry. His success in creating cosmetics that would harmonize with bright studio lights made him an expert in the field of make-up for the film industry, eventually leading him to market his own brand of cosmetics to the general public.
Irving Thalberg was one of the youngest and most successful film producers of all time, earning him the nickname "The Boy Wonder." At twenty, he oversaw production at Universal Pictures, then became the head of production at the newly formed MGM at age twenty-three.
Film producers Jesse Lasky and Adolph Zukor founded Paramount Pictures in 1916. In 1927, the studio won the first ever Academy Award for Best Picture for the feature film Wings.
Louis B. Mayer, born Lazar Meir, was a film producer and co-founder of Metro Goldwyn Mayer in 1924 and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in 1927.
Carl Laemmle started one of the first movie theaters in Chicago, branched out into distribution and then production, eventually becoming one of the founders of Universal Pictures.
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