From the outset, MGM tapped into the audience's need for glamor and sophistication. Having inherited few big names from their predecessor companies, Mayer and Thalberg began at once to create and publicize a host of new stars, among them Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, William Haines, and Norma Shearer (who followed Thalberg from Universal and eventually married him). Established names such as Wallace Beery, Lon Chaney, Buster Keaton, and William Powell were hired from other studios. They also hired top directors such as Clarence Brown, Tod Browning, Victor Seastrom, King Vidor and Erich von Stroheim. The arrival of talking pictures in 1928–29 gave opportunities to other new stars, many of whom would carry MGM through the 1930s: Clark Gable, Nelson Eddy, Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy, Jeanette MacDonald (often paired with Eddy), Robert Montgomery, Robert Taylor, and Spencer Tracy among them.
From the outset MGM tapped into the audience's need for glamor and sophistication Having inherited few big names from their predecessor companies Mayer and Thalberg began at once to create and publicize a host of new stars among them Joan Crawford Greta Garbo John Gilbert William Haines and Norma Shearer (who followed Thalberg from Universal and eventually married him) Established names such as Wallace Beery Lon Chaney Buster Keaton and William Powell were hired from other studios They also hired top directors such as Clarence Brown Tod Browning Victor Seastrom King Vidor and Erich von Stroheim The arrival of talking pictures in 1928–29 gave opportunities to other new stars many of whom would carry MGM through the 1930s Clark Gable Nelson Eddy Jean Harlow Myrna Loy Jeanette MacDonald (often paired with Eddy) Robert Montgomery Robert Taylor and Spencer Tracy among them