Academy Museum Erases Founding Jewish Studio Moguls

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has no been open to the public for long but it is already drawing a backlash by erasing the founding Jewish studio moguls of Hollywood.

The report from the Forward is devastating when it comes to not discussing the birth of Hollywood at the Academy Museum. Listen, I give the Academy credit in spotlighting diverse filmmakers. This is important. There’s so much film history that we don’t know about because films were lost to history or because of racism, etc. But anyway, Jews don’t account for a sizable population in the United States so when it comes to inclusivity, it’s shocking that the founding moguls aren’t included. Similarly, the new Academy rules for Oscar-qualifying do not count Jews towards the diversity/inclusion requirements.

Per Sharon Rosen Leib’s piece, the only mogul with any kind of a presence is Louis B. Mayer for being “the prime mover in founding the Academy and the villainous executive who tormented Judy Garland.” Oh yeah, it’s just a plaque.