Title supplied by cataloger.; Photograph was edited for publication purposes. Edith Norma Shearer was born on August 10, 1902 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was one of the most popular actresses in the 1920s and 30s. Moving with her mother and sister to New York in 1920, she started out modeling and appeared in several silent films. She caught the eye of producer Hal Roach and in 1923 moved to Hollywood with a contract for $250 a week from Louis B. Mayer Pictures. MGM was formed the next year and Shearer was given starring roles. She became one of their biggest attractions and by 1925 was earning $1000 a week, rising to $5000 a week over the next five years. While at MGM, she met film producer Irving Thalberg, nicknamed "The Boy Wonder" for his youth and uncanny ability to produce very profitable films. They married in 1927 and had two children. In 1930 she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the film "The Divorcee." After Thalberg's death in 1936, she continued to act, finally retiring in 1942. That same year, she married Martin Arrouge, a former ski instructor. She remained active in the Hollywood social scene until 1960 when she desired more privacy. She died on June 12, 1983.; Marie Dressler was born on November 9, 1868 in Canada. She was a stage and screen actress and early silent film and Depression-era film star. She was in the first full-length film comedy and later won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1931. She died on July 28, 1934. George Arliss was born on April 10, 1868 in London, England. He was an actor, author, playwright and filmmaker, the first British actor and the earliest-born to win an Academy Award. He died on February 5, 1946. Lionel Barrymore was born on April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a star of stage, screen, radio, and was also a film director. He won an Academy Award in 1931 for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul, and may be best known for his role of the evil Mr. Potter character in the 1946 film "It's a Wonderful Life." He was a member of the theatrical Barrymore family. He died on November 15, 1954. Photograph caption dated November 11, 1931, reads "Photo, taken at the banquet of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, shows Norma Shearer presenting a gold statuette to Marie Dressler as the academy's award for the best performance by an actress in 1931, her portrayal in 'Min and Bill.' At left is George Arliss, wearing a monocle and watching the ceremony. At right is Lionel Barrymore, who won the award for the best performance by an actor because of his work in 'A Free Soul.'" The women are standing and the men are seated at a dining table. The 4th annual Academy Awards event was held at the Biltmore Hotel in Downtown, Los Angeles.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;15 x 22 cm. on 17 x 24 cm. board. Photographic prints
Shearer, Norma,--1902-1983 Dressler, Marie,--1869-1934 Dressler, Marie,--1869-1934--Awards Arliss, George,--1868-1946 Barrymore, Lionel,--1878-1954 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Millennium Biltmore Hotel (Los Angeles, Calif.) Motion picture actors and actresses--United States Motion picture producers and directors--United States Academy Awards (Motion pictures) Hotels--California--Los Angeles Women--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Eating & drinking--California--Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.) Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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