Samuel Goldwyn and Edgar Selwyn establish Goldwyn Pictures.

Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, established in 1916, was a significant early player in the burgeoning American film industry. Founded by Samuel Goldfish (later Samuel Goldwyn), Edgar Selwyn, and Archibald Selwyn, the company’s iconic roaring lion logo, created by publicist Howard Dietz, became a hallmark of quality in filmmaking. Despite its ambitious productions and attempts to compete with major studios, Goldwyn Pictures struggled with financial and organizational challenges. In 1924, the company was acquired by Marcus Loew and merged with Metro Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer Productions, forming Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), one of the most iconic studios in Hollywood history. Though the Goldwyn Pictures name ceased to exist after the merger, its legacy endures, particularly through the contributions of Samuel Goldwyn and the lion logo, which remains a symbol of cinematic excellence under MGM.