Nepotism is the practice among those with power or influence who favor relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs. That pretty much sums up Hollywood and the film industry, does it not? Favoritism and preference are as common in Hollywood as going on diets and waiters that are really aspiring actors. Nepotism in Hollywood isn’t all bad – it’s led to some of the most famous families in film industry history. There are vaudeville veterans who paved the way for their children to be stars and there’s no shortage of producers and directors who provided their families with every talent they could wish for.
These are the most important families in Hollywood history, who made a real dent in the industry in which their power is still felt today. Hollywood moguls, unforgettable stars, and behind-the-scenes big heads are the ones who really make the town turn. It’s because of them that Hollywood is what it is today.
The Warner Brothers: The End of the Silent Film Era
It would be impossible to talk about the history of Hollywood without mentioning the Warner Brothers. Brothers Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner together built one of the first major Hollywood studios. And it was all thanks to one dog.
Photo shows left to right, Major Albert Warner, vive-president, J.L Warner, production head and H.M Warner president of Warner Brothers Inc. (Photo by Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images)
Once they incorporated their company in 1923, they found a trained German Shepherd whose name was Rin Tin Tin. The dog became a breakout box-office success, making it financially possible for the brothers to take some risks. Their first big risk was with the release of the first “talkie” film in 1927, ‘The Jazz Singer.’ It was the first movie with talking, which marked the end of the silent film era.