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1995 IDA Preservation and Scholarship Award: Roger Mayer

By IDA Editorial Staff


An older man smiles directly at the camera.

As the president and chief operating officer of Turner Entertainment Company, Roger Mayer has made a significant contribution to preserving and protecting the vast Turner film library. Mayer's responsibilities at Turner Entertainment include overseeing the restoration, preservation, and storage of the company's film holdings. He supervises licensing of film clips and stills, dubbing, booking and shipping of library films, and coordinating remakes and sequels of titles in Turner's library . His success in ensuring the future of these irreplaceable films is a source of inspiration to all who care about preserving the heritage that Hollywood has created.

Mayer joined Turner Entertainment in 1986, after 25 years with MGM. He served as senior vice president of administration for MGM Entertainment Company and as president of MGM Laboratories, Incorporated. In those roles, he was responsible for corporate administration and the supervision of studio and laboratory operations. His involvement with the motion picture industry began earlier, however, in 1952, when he worked as a lawyer for Columbia Pictures. He subsequently became general studio executive at Columbia, leaving there in 1961 to join MGM as assistant general manager of the studio.

Mayer is a member of the National Film Preservation Board. He also serves on the board of the Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, having been elected to AMPAS Board of Governors in 1994.  As a tire less spokesman and goodwill ambassador for the important cause of film preservation, Mayer has proven that one person can, indeed, make a difference.

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