MGM Effect: How a Hollywood Studio Changed the World

by Steven Bingen

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s emblem, which has opened thousands of movies since 1924, is the most recognized corporate symbol in the world. Not just in the entertainment industry, it should be noted, but of any industry, anywhere, in the history of human civilization. But MGM has been a competitively insignificant force in the motion picture industry for nearly as long as it once, decades ago, dominated that industry. In fact, the MGM lion now presides not over movies alone, but over thirty world-class resorts, and is, or has been, also a recognized leader in the fields of real estate, theme parks, casinos, golf courses, consumer products, and even airlines, all around the world. But the MGM mystique remains. This book is a look at what made MGM the Mount Rushmore of studios, how it presented itself to the world, and how it influenced everything from set design to merchandising to music and dance, and continues to do so today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Film

360 pages, Hardcover

Published August 15, 2022

About the author

Steven Bingen is an author, archivist, lecturer and Hollywood insider who has contributed to dozens of books, articles, and documentaries regarding film history and in particular Hollywood's physical past, including recent successes MGM: Hollywood's Greatest Backlot, Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot, and Paramount: City of Dreams.

Reviews

[Martin Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most books about Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cover the out-sized personalities and delve into the quintessential moments behind the making of the studio's landmark movies. This book, however, takes a wholly different point of view, which helps complete any serious 360° view of the most influential studio during Hollywood's golden era. In examining not what MGM did but the flow-on effect of their efforts, Steven Bingen's deeply researched book is a necessary puzzle piece for any movie fan trying expand their understand of Hollywood history. Oh yeah, and it's a terrific read, too.

[morgan ☽ · Rating 3 out of 5]

"To make people forget these temporary things and reality was waiting outside when the show was over."

I've finally finish this! I took me most of the month but I did it! You can really tell the amount of love and research that went into writing this book. I really enjoyed all of the pictures scattered throughout.

[Nathan Villegas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Is easy to see the large amount of effort put into it. Covering everything MGM, it is a true chronicle of a truly iconic movie maker.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for any old Hollywood lover! This was an engaging overview of MGM.

The real stand-out was the organization. While Part 1 was interesting, Part II was my favorite. I loved the ‘MGM, as depicted…’ section especially, and have added many films and books to my to-watch/read list.

I also appreciated the inclusion of the studio’s influence on fashion while acknowledging that a lot of it was just them hyping themselves up.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of classic movies this book is a wealth of knowledge about MGM’s studio system and beyond. There are so many books already written about MGM movies, stars, and L.B. Mayer, it’s refreshing to read a contemporary novel that focuses on the studio and its impact as it reaches us today. The introduction sets the book up well by letting the reader know they’ll learn about the corporate structure, the decline the studio experienced, branding, the impact it has made on popular culture and it’s impact on the individual. The author writes as though he’s speaking to a friend which makes the many facts and past discrepancies easy to understand.

I never thought about the fall of the studio because I live for watching TCM which keeps the golden age of MGM alive and well but like the author points out, while the brand is known, I can’t think of a recent MGM movie. I enjoyed learning how Ted Turner became involved with the company and the personal account of Woolsey Ackerman’s archiving journey. As a former Universal Orlando Jaws ride skipper I loved finding out that old boats from when the ride initially opened went to the MGM theme park in Vegas. How disappointing to read about how James T. Aubrey auctioned so many studio heirlooms in the 70s. To think some items were even sold cluelessly in hotel gift shops! The author leaves no stone unturned discussing each piece MGM has touched from theme parks, hotels, fictionalized works to Broadway. In the middle of the book, A lot of time is spent on Mayer and his portrayals in popular culture that are redundant especially where the author breaks down every film and book reference Mayer or an impression of him can be found.

The book paints a totality of how MGM ceased to be but still retains it’s recognition beyond classic movies. How sad to read that MGM doesn’t hold a seat with the Motion Picture Association considering what it once was. I highly recommend this book as a great alternative to the making of a movie stories and star biographies that are a dime a dozen. There will definitely be something new to learn by reading this book.

Thank you to Roman & Littlefield and NetGalley for the advance copy!

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arguably the best studio, MGM made Hollywood the factory of dreams that it became. Bingen takes a close look at the company and shines a light on the people pulling the strings. This is not the history of the movies that they made. It is not about the creative side, but the business part of the equation. The author has done in-depth research and there are dates, photographs and documents that you won’t find anywhere else. From the founding of the company to MGM today, the history of the lions that were featured on the logo, the buildings, stages and backlots, the side businesses, everything is here. Readers looking for the history of the films won’t find much, this is for people looking to learn about the machinations of the business team. They were, after all, the ones who made the decisions that built an empire. I studied the history of film for years in college, so I had a base and was never confused by the amount of data presented here. Someone looking for a casual dive into movies could possibly be overwhelmed by the details. I was also surprised by the amount of text devoted to rehabilitating Louis B Mayer in the “me too” era (having read a lot of books about classic Hollywood, I never found anything to make me believe that he was a monster, so all that chapter just reinforced what I knew from before). Other than that, I enjoyed it all.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Rowman & Littlefield, Lyons Press!

[Martin Maenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

The MGM Effect: How a Hollywood Studio Changed the World comes out this week on August 15. Rowman and Littlefield provided an early galley for review.

Personally, I grew up in the era of few television channels so weekends were often the time for classic movies. MGM films were a big part of those presentations. I also have a fascination with the classic Hollywood studio system, so this title was an instant interest for me. The story of the studio and the movie business, however, is only a part of this book (the first quarter or so). There is so much more to the MGM story. If you ever wanted to know about MGM's forays into casinos, amusement parks, radio and TV, records, interactive video games and more, it is discussed within these pages.

I also was intrigued by the in-depth look into Louis D. Mayer and the study of his actions through the biographies and writings of others. This was a time when lives were not recorded in intense detail, so building the facts from so many sources is to be admired. This takes careful and thorough research.

Steven Bingen has a wealth of experience in this area - being an author, archivist, lecturer and Hollywood insider. The man knows his stuff, and he shares that knowledge in his latest book. His style is relaxed, conversational. This reads very much like having a deep conversation with a friend over beers. He keeps the narrative entertaining and avoids being scholarly dry. I appreciate that.

[AnnieM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautiful visually (from the photos, archival materials to the chapter headings and the font). This book is meticulously researched and its emphasis is not just on MGM the movie studio, but primarily on MGM the corporation. This makes this book stand out as really unique in the history of MGM. I loved Bingen's writing too -- he brings a great sense of humor throughout and I found myself smiling and laughing at times throughout. I also took a lot of notes for additional reading I want to do -- from novels that use MGM or Hollywood films as the backdrop, to all of the depictions of Louis B. Mayer in films and books, to all the MGM lion depictions over the years. From a MGM as corporation perspective, we learn a lot about its roller coaster history from mergers/acquisitions and takeovers and being sold for parts. Also, how the MGM brand extended to other entertainment empires. What is also fascinating is MGM's influence on other art forms (music, television, architecture, fiction and non-fiction etc.). As a bonus at the end, there is an appendix listing all of the leaders through time at MGM -- as he put it -- it's there for our convenience and incredulity. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Rowman & Littlefield, Lyons Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Zeb Kantrowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably one of the most iconic and well-known logos in the world, the roaring lion is recognized all over the world for it's films and now it's resort-casinos. It's history from the beginnings of the movie industry as Metropolitan Pictures and then the creation of the mega studio in the early twenties and into the sound and color eras, it was always one of the big five (MGM Universal Warner and Paramount) until the movie companies competition was destroyed by TV.

In the fifties (just after the war) the studios were forced to divest themselves from their movie theaters because of trust concerns, many of the studios were force into sales or merging with other companies (both foreign and domestic). Losing these cash cows meant that the studios couldn't count on ticket sales to keep them afloat or the ability to play even the worst movies to try and recoup their investments.

This meant that one big blockbuster movie that flopped could drive a studio into bankruptcy. This happened to MGM more than once, the outcome being that they lost vast portions of their studio lots and control of their old movies. MGM who turned over multiple times tried to modernize by creating TV shows, and real estate ventures. The only one that mad money was their Casino Resorts. The current MGM has almost nothing to do with the creation of media.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay book, providing a history of MGM, both as a Hollywood studio and as an international brand. The author, film historian Steven Bingen, explores how MGM expanded from a high end film studio to a brand name signifying decadent entertainment. The book is divided into clear sections, covering a business history of the MGM brand, its many components, and the individuals most associated with its rise and fall. As a film historian, Bingen centers his story on the origin and expansion of MGM as a “film factory.” A fair chunk of the book centers on L. B. Mayer and the culture of excellence he created, which became the foundation of the brand’s success. Unfortunately, though trying to tell a positive story about the MGM brand, Bingen seems to have little respect for the executives who came after Mayer, all of whom played a major role in expanding the brand. Thus, the book reads as both an ode to MGM as an entertainment culture while disparaging those who, rightly or wrongly, successfully or poorly, expanded that culture from its Hollywood roots into other industries. This confusion permeates the book, preventing the balanced business history the author’s thesis requires. A good book for understanding Hollywood’s many periods of transition.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sort of a corporate history of MGM from its golden movie making days to it current multiple corporate reincarnations. I did not find this book too interesting because I like Hollywood but not business history. But that is not the fault of the author. What is the author’ s fault is the mediocre writing style in which the book is written. Too conversational , poor grammar etc.. made it difficult to take the book seriously. If you like what the book is about you will probably get through it but to others the writing may make you put the book down.

[C.G. Twiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extensive analysis on the famous movie company MGM. Lots of interesting stuff here including how the company was founded and its importance in the history of Hollywood—but be warned it does take very long digressions away from celebrity and movies to how the name was copyrighted and sold to other businesses like casinos.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and Steven Bingen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love old Hollywood history. This was so well researched and full of new information, I reread some of the chapters to be sure I didn't miss any choice information. So entertaining. MGM is such a symbol of Hollywood, we don't realize the effect it has on the world stage, from movies to hotels.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this copy. The opinion here is solely my own.