Coming in early June 2025...The Dream Factory! Please enjoy this excerpt from an upcoming episode.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was an exceptional movie studio that existed at a special moment in film history, the classic Hollywood era of the 1920s-1950s.

This new podcast is a chatty deep dive into the whirling world of MGM in its heyday. Known today primarily for their fabulous output of musicals, MGM was a dominant force in old Hollywood where the greatest stars of the era were matched by an unparalleled level of moviemaking. And all of it created in a factory-like setting across a swath of land in Culver City, CA.

Please join me and various guests as we travel back to that moment in time and wallow in the lavish MGM-ness of it all!

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Welcome to the Dream Factory!  For our first episodes we are taking a documentary style approach to the history of the first 50 years of MGM. I am joined by movie buff Nate Hallett to explore the history of the people and films that were the backbone of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during Hollywood's Golden Age. 

We start before the establishment of the studio in 1924 to the events and people who made the creation possible. We trace early MGM successes and the bumpy transition to the talkies into its heyday of the 1930s, where lavish and glamorous productions thrived under the co-leadership of L.B. Mayer and "boy wonder" Irving Thalberg, Mayer being the administrative head, Thalberg the creative force who brought sophistication and class to the studio as well as cultivating stars and setting in motion key movies series that MGM would become known for...but tragedy would rock the studio in 1936.

After these initial three MGM history episodes, we will take a much more conversational and chatty tone breaking down several key MGM films...we hope you continue to join us for this unique glimpse into a movie company that still has influence today. 

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Episode two of our deep dive into the history of movie factory MGM is here!  I am once again joined by Nate and together we travel back to the Culver City of over 80 years and further explore who were the artists who created these movies throughout Metro's reign as a film giant.

The shock of Thalberg's death in 1936 rocked the studio and paved the way for L.B. Mayer's to be the singular leader of MGM into the profitable late '30s and into the war years. Mayer's vision changes the direction of the MGM's films from literate and glamourous to more homespun and family-friendly, characterized by perhaps the greatest film to be made on the MGM lots...the immortal 1939 masterpiece The Wizard of Oz. 

The studio system is in full swing at this point and no studio had more stars than MGM. From Greta Garbo and Clark Gable and William Powell and Myrna Loy to Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, Mayer understood how to cultivate a movie star and how to exploit each of their unique talents and thereby created a huge stable of stars.

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

For our third and final MGM history episode, Nate and I conclude our look at a movie company that was a small city unto itself in Culver City. Riding high in the mid-40s, the studio faced external forces that threaten its existence by the end of the decade.

New stars like Lana Turner, Hedy Lamarr and Van Johnson enter the scene after the exit of MGM stars like Garbo, Shearer and Crawford and the tone of MGM changes with the war. At this time producer Arthur Freed forever puts MGM musicals on the map with the classic Meet Me In St. Louis and he created his own production unit that forever changed musicals. 

The 1950s sees the exit of L.B. Mayer, the rise of television, releasing the big stars from their contracts leading to the slow dismantling of the greatest studio over the next 20 years...the whole story of how this happened in this last MGM history episode. 

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Before we get super nerdy with our movie breakdown episodes, I am joined by Conor of the fabulous podcast The Garland Gab for part one of our overview of Judy Garland's 15 years working at MGM. 

To start our season focused on two of the movies from the one-of-a-kind talent Judy Garland, we are going to get chatty about her full movie career while at MGM. We start with our first introductions to Judy then trace here career from her first auditions with the the studio to her biggest hit while at MGM, the musical classic Meet Me in St. Louis.

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

In our second of two episodes discussing the amazing legacy of Judy Garland's MGM career, Conor from the Garland Gab and I pick up in the mid-40s and break down her most difficult years at MGM culminating in her leaving the studio in 1950 under a cloud. 

These overview episodes are to provide a wider context as our next episodes we will do in-depth breakdowns of the production of two Garland Technicolor classics.

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Welcome to the first episode of our breakdown of the 1946 film The Harvey Girls. Starring our favourite gal Judy Garland, this Technicolor fun-fest has everything we love about MGM musicals; great songs, colourful settings and wonderful performers. Set in the 1890s American west, a group of wholesome waitresses attempt to “settle” a wild frontier town with just the help of some steak, coffee and some singing and dancing!

Conor Grant from The Garland Gab joins me for our initial thoughts and pre-production history of The Harvey Girls. We delve into how the movie ended up at MGM and discuss the screenwriters (there were 6 in the end!) who brought it to the screen. 

Join us as we try to shed some light on an underrated MGM musical, from the Oscar-winning song “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe” to Judy’s red lipstick to Angela Lansbury’s pompadour…all board!

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Thanks for listening to the Dream Factory! This week we’re finally entering into the film itself chatting about the main titles of The Harvey Girls as well as Judy’s first musical number “In the Valley” which she sings hanging off the back of a moving train!

Conor (@gethappyconor from @thegarlandgab) and I love talking about our leading lady and her unparalleled voice and lipsyncing abilities. We also get into some of the more technical aspects of how main titles worked in the old Hollywood era as well as a geeky discussion of film recording technology of the time.

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Our deep dive into the 1946 MGM musical The Harvey Girls continues with the first few scenes of the film where we meet the bulk of the cast and the Harvey girls themselves! Hear about some of the actresses who filled these roles and the character building moments that ensue from matrimonial ads to saloon girls to chicken sandwiches.

Conor Grant from the @thegarlandgab and I also discuss what it took to be an actual Harvey Girl in the 19th century and what brought some of these women out west at that time. We also discuss the filming of the movie on the amazing MGM backlot and leading man John Hodiak.

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

If The Harvey Girls is remembered for anything it’s the incredible music number “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.” Conor and I discuss the entire 8.5 minute cinematic extravaganza in detail, highlighting the cast and musical geniuses behind the scenes who make this rousing, Oscar-winning moment come to life onscreen. 

The term “deep dive” was invented for episodes like this as we explore unsung performers like Dorothy Tuttle, Ben Carter, Eleanor Bailey, Dorothy Raye, all of whom have their moments in this big musical number that culminates in an incredible Garland solo. This moment is peak MGM!

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

The Harvey Girls dissection continues as Conor and I discuss the scenes that follow the epic “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe” musical number where our heroine Judy Garland meets her fiance via correspondence for the first time and realizes she’s been catfished! We also explore the lives of some of the film’s key character actors (Chill Wills!) and discuss the young upstart director of this movie, George Sidney.

We also explore the climate of MGM in 1945 and the growing power of the musical unit helmed by songwriter turned producer Arthur Freed. Freed’s films were so successful that he had free reign over the resources of the studio to take chances with movies and push musicals forward.

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

In this episode of our breakdown of the MGM classic The Harvey Girls, I’m once again joined by Conor to sing the praises of some incredible women who contributed so much to this film. Plus we discuss what happens when “Judy gets the meat”!

Musical arranger turned author Kay Thompson was a key member of the Freed unit at this time, adding the stylish sophistication to the unit that is unmistakably present in The Harvey Girls. The legendary Angela Lansbury played the villainous showgirl Em at just age 19 and was so good she was hissed at in public for being so mean to Judy!

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Our latest episode exploring the MGM musical The Harvey Girls finally turns our attention to the other women in the cast: the deadpan and fabulous singer Virginia O’Brien and the gifted dancer soon to be MGM superstar Cyd Charisse.

The movie is forging ahead and Conor and I are trying to keep up with the numerous characters and even more numerous cut scenes plus some cool filming locations! And we end with a fabulous fight scene between the good Harvey girls and the sassy saloon girls.

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Oh no, our last Harvey Girls episode! Will the straight-laced waitresses prevail or will the saloon girls dance away with the men of Sandrock? They have a big dancing party to fight it out!

Conor Grant joins me one last time as we wrap up our analysis of the 1946 Judy Garland film. Our main goal is trying to piece together the heavily edited last act of this film, we had to be forensic experts for this! Plus we get the Dorothy and Scarecrow reunion we’ve always longed for (we missed them most of all).

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Howdy neighbour! The Dream Factory now steps into exploring a new Judy Garland film: the 1950 musical Summer Stock! While not revered when first released, the movie has gained a beloved following in recent years, not only because of Judy but also her stupendously talented co-star Gene Kelly. 

The wonderful Nate Hallett makes his triumphant return to the pod as my co-host. Nate brings not only his unbridled enthusiasm and stellar research to us but also his expertise as a therapist as we attempt to navigate this difficult moment in Judy’s life.

To open our discussion of this light musical, we discuss our relationship with the film and the delicate state MGM was in when the movie went into production in 1949.

And please check out the fantastic book "C'mon, GetHappy: The Making of Summer Stock" by David Fantle & Tom Johnson. It helped us tremendously in our research for these episodes.

Please note: these episodes on Summer Stock deal with frank discussions on addiction and mental health. If you or someone you know requires resources in these areas please visit CAMH in Canada (1-800-463-2338 or camh.ca) and NIMH (988 or nimh.nih.gov) in the US. 

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Our deep dive into the 1950 MGM film Summer Stock ramps up as we enter into our first scene and it’s a scandalous one…Judy gets her Janet Leigh moment in the shower, without the violins and screaming!

Nate again joins me and brings his unique expertise as we delve into Judy’s sensitive state when she started filming Summer Stock in 1949. Far from a tragic person, we see the true resilience of Garland at a low point in her life and this movie is a testament to her greatness.

Please note: these episodes on Summer Stock deal with frank discussions on addiction and mental health. If you or someone you know requires resources in these areas please visit CAMH in Canada (1-800-463-2338 or camh.ca) and NIMH (988 or nimh.nih.gov) in the US. 

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Nate and I continue our scene by scene dive into the 1950 movie Summer Stock, a movie remarkable for being the third onscreen pairing of Gene Kelly and Judy Garland and for being Garland’s last film at MGM.

This episode is fun as we get to explore the background of a few of the characters actors in the movie (Erville Alderson anyone???) as well as getting into different versions of the film’s initial scripts. Plus Judy gets her first chance since she played Dorothy to sing a knockout of a song on a tractor!

And please check out the fantastic book "C'mon, GetHappy: The Making of Summer Stock" by David Fantle & Tom Johnson. It helped us tremendously in our research for these episodes.

Please note: these episodes on Summer Stock deal with frank discussions on addiction and mental health. If you or someone you know requires resources in these areas please visit CAMH in Canada (1-800-463-2338 or camh.ca) and NIMH (988 or nimh.nih.gov) in the US. 

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Now that Judy Garland as Jane Falbury has her beloved tractor the plot of Summer Stock (1950) can really get cooking. Talented and studly Gene Kelly finally enters the picture and shakes up not only Falbury farm but Jane herself!

Nate Hallett returns as my wonderful co-host as we venture back to stage 27 at MGM studios to talk about the leading man of Summer Stock, the incomparable Kelly. We also talk about Gene’s second wife who appears as a dancer in this movie- look for her in the white shirt and blue jeans during the rousing number Dig, Dig, Dig For Your Dinner!

And please check out the fantastic book "C'mon, GetHappy: The Making of Summer Stock" by David Fantle & Tom Johnson. It helped us tremendously in our research for these episodes.

Please note: these episodes on Summer Stock deal with frank discussions on addiction and mental health. If you or someone you know requires resources in these areas please visit CAMH in Canada (1-800-463-2338/camh.ca) and NIMH (988 or nimh.nih.gov) in the US. 

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Nate and I put on our dungarees and help out on Judy Garland’s farm as we continue our exploration of the 1950 MGM musical Summer Stock! We’re about as much help as Gene Kelly’s theatre troupe with the farm chores but we do dig into the plot and more supporting characters in the film.

We traverse the careers of MGM ingénue Gloria DeHaven, boy-next-door Carleton Carpenter and vocal technician Hans Conried, all of whom make up the stellar acting ensemble of Summer Stock.

And please check out the fantastic book "C'mon, GetHappy: The Making of Summer Stock" by David Fantle & Tom Johnson. It helped us tremendously in our research for these episodes.

Please note: these episodes on Summer Stock deal with frank discussions on addiction and mental health. If you or someone you know requires resources in these areas please visit CAMH in Canada (1-800-463-2338 or camh.ca) and NIMH (988 or nimh.nih.gov) in the US. 

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod

Happy Halloween! 

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Technicolored programming on the Dream Factory, sorry I mean the SCREAM FACTORY, for a seasonal change of pace. I travel back to MGM in 1935, a place of glitter and glamour but not many ghouls, to take a bite out of the horror film Mark of the Vampire. Hollywood was horror movie crazy at this time and MGM jumped on the bandwagon resulting in the atmospheric but messy Mark of the Vampire directed by the legendary Tod Browning. 

Flying solo for this one-off special episode, I dissect this strange little movie about vampires terrorizing a village and an occult expert brought in to solve a murder. It manages to squeeze Lionel Barrymore, Bela Lugosi, amazing shots, creepy sets and costumes and a truly incredible ending into its lightning-quick 60 minute run time. 

Mark of the Vampire is not a standard MGM offering but it does contain the distinctive MGM style and look, even on a small budget ...and remains an odd and kooky experiment by the studio.

Thanks for listening to the special episode of the Scream Factory and happy Halloween!

Thanks for listening!

Derek

Instagram: @thedreamfactorypod

bio.site/thedreamfactorypod