TCM WORD OF MOUTH - Betty Garrett on Louis B. Mayer

From the TCM series "Word of Mouth", recollections from Hollywood's "Golden Era", actress Betty Garret remembers a meeting with MGM head Louis B. Mayer.

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I know she's telling the truth but she tells it so well

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

From _Get Happy_ the Judy Garland autobiography:
_Between the ages of sixteen and twenty, Judy herself was to be approached for sex - and approached again and again. ‘Don’t think they all didn’t try,’ she said. Top on the list was Mayer himself. Whenever he complimented her on her voice - she sang from the heart, he said - Mayer would invariably place his hand on her left breast to show just where her heart was. ‘I often thought I was lucky,’ observed Judy, ‘that I didn’t sing with another part of my anatomy.’ That scenario, a compliment followed by a grope, was repeated many times until, grown up at last, Judy put a stop to it. ‘Mr. Mayer, don’t you ever, ever do that again,’ she finally had the courage to say. ‘I just will not stand for it.’”_

[@tallysblood]

And LBM's response...? He breaks down (He could turn on the tears at the drop of a hat)- "How can you say that to me, to me who loves you?” etc. and Garland ends up consoling him . Mayer was a master manipulator, generally regarded as the greatest actor on the MGM lot.

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

@@tallysblood What an absolutely pathetic creep. MGM was run by them.
In the linked video, Shirley Temple recounts her experience with Arthur Freed and her mother’s experience with Louis B. Mayer:
ruclips.net/video/Z_KacEMBJg0/видео.htmlm50s

[@gilian2587]

Was Marcus Loew known for that kind of behavior, as well? This is an honest question -- I haven't looked far enough into the history to ascertain.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

@@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive All the Hollywood moguls were bastards.

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

@@ricardocantoral7672 At this point I would be surprised to learn some mogul was a good person who treated others with decency.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Francis X. Bushman said his career was ruined simply because he kept Louie B. Mayer waiting for five minutes.

[@johnerwin9024]

Mayer definitely a character ☝️

[@janedoe-yh4ok]

Loved her

[@frederickcombs8661]

Her book is very good.

[@luvellecummingsiii9438]

Edna Defazio in L&S

[@drewalton4644]

Harrasment

[@omarnina9770]

Yes, that's how its called nowadays

[@drewalton4644]

@@omarnina9770 I see 👀

[@kevinbutler1955NYC]

Or. as Ms.June Allyson said of Mayer.. he used Intimidation..on his performers, his craftsmen and his staff. He also used much worst tactics.

[@patrickryan1515]

Demonstrative fellow, wasn't he?