A Spy With a Mission
To ensure no funny business was going on behind the scenes, Schenck sent Mannix to Hollywood to keep taps on Mayer. But a funny thing happened when the Schenck brothers’ most trusted man was in California—Mannix and Mayer became close friends. The two guys were both brass managers, and there are several stories in which the two appear to be the bad guys.
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But truth be told, many people in town loved them. As head of the studio’s police force, Mannix kept a detailed ledger of every MGM production’s cost and profits. He was the first person Mayer met with in the morning, making sure to keep the co-founder up-to-date with MGM’s financial status.