Samuel Goldwyn claimed to have been born on August 27, 1882 in Warsaw, Poland but in truth Schmuel Gelbfisz was born in July 1879.
Sixteen-year-old Schmuel Gelbfisz literally walks across Europe from his native Poland to Germany, from where he sails to England.
Relatives rename Schmuel Gelbfisz Samuel Goldfish.
Enters America through Canada, eventually winding up in Gloversville, New York, to take part in the booming glove business.
Marries Blanche Lasky and soon talks her vaudeville partner/brother Jesse L. Lasky, into entering the motion picture business.
Daughter, Ruth Goldfish, is born.
Goldfish and Lasky produce THE SQUAW MAN, hiring Cecil B. DeMille to direct his first movie.
Ousted from Paramount Pictures. Partners with Broadway-based Selwyn brothers and forms Goldwyn Pictures.
Samuel and Blanche divorce.
Petitions to change name to Samuel Goldwyn. For $325,000, purchases modest but modern studio facilities in Culver City, CA.
Ousted from Goldwyn Pictures by his partner Joseph Godsol.
Creates Samuel Goldwyn Inc. This new company would establish him as the industry's 'great independent' producer.
Joseph Godsol, Marcus Loew and Louis B. Mayer merge their companies to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Meets Frances Howard in March of 1925 at a party in New York City. In April, they marry and soon move to Hollywood.
Samuel Goldwyn Jr. is born. Goldwyn Sr. gives a young cowboy named Gary Cooper his first important role in THE WINNING OF BARBARA WORTH.
Made a partner of the United Artists Corporation.
Produces THE AWAKENING, starring Vilma Banky. It is Goldwyn's first picture with sound.
Produces his first musical, WHOOPEE! creating a major star out of Eddie Cantor.
John Ford directs his first film for Goldwyn, ARROWSMITH. This was to be Goldwyn's first Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
Goldwyn sees the screen test of young upstart actor David Niven and signs him to a seven-year contract.
Lillian Hellman's first Hollywood writing assignment is for Goldwyn on THE DARK ANGEL, the first of several collaborations.
The film THESE THREE, director William Wyler's first film for Goldwyn, is released.
Produces STELLA DALLAS again, this time with sound. The film is directed by King Vidor and stars Barbara Stanwyck.
Produces WUTHERING HEIGHTS. Its stars Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier who makes his Hollywood comeback with the film.
Produces THE LITTLE FOXES, with Lillian Hellman adapting her own play. The film is nominated for nine Academy Awards.
Produces THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES, starring Gary Cooper. The film is nominated for eight Academy Awards.
Produces UP IN ARMS, introducing movie audiences to Danny Kaye.
Mounts his greatest triumph, THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, which becomes a blockbuster and wins the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Releases HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN starring Danny Kaye. The film becomes a box-office hit and is nominated for six Academy Awards.
Produces GUYS AND DOLLS starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra. The film garners three Academy Award nominations.
Goldwyn produces PORGY AND BESS, his 80th and final film.
January 31, 1974 Samuel Goldwyn dies in his home on Laurel Lane in Los Angeles, California at the age of 94.
