In January of 1927, just five weeks after the Studio Basic Agreement was a fact of Hollywood life, the first seed-idea for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was planted. It happened during a Sunday dinner at the Santa Monica beach home of Louis B. Mayer, during a conversation between Mayer and three of his guests, actor Conrad Nagel, director Fred Niblo and producer Fred Beetson. The men agreed there should be one organized group that could benefit the entire industry, help solve technological problems, aid in arbitrating labor disputes, and assist Will Hays in policing screen content. Stimulated by the idea, the four men planned a dinner for the following week, which would be attended by representatives from all the creative branches of the motion picture industry who, it was hoped, would be equally willing to support such an organization. On January 11, 1927, thirty-six people gathered at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, listened to the proposal and applauded the whole idea. These film industry leaders became the official founders of the International Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the "International" was later dropped during incorporation proceedings). The thirty-six founders: J. A. Ball -- Richard Barthelmess -- Fred Beetson -- Charles H. Christie -- George Cohen -- Cecil B. De Mille -- Douglas Fairbanks -- Joseph W. Farnham -- Cedric Gibbons -- Benjamin Glazer -- Sid Grauman -- Milton Hoffman -- Jack Holt -- Henry King -- Jesse L. Lasky -- M. C. Levee -- Frank Lloyd -- Harold Lloyd -- Edwin Loeb -- Jeanie MacPherson -- Louis B. Mayer -- Bess Meredyth -- Conrad Nagel -- Fred Niblo -- Mary Pickford -- Roy Pomeroy -- Harry Rapf -- Joseph M. Schenck -- Milton Sills -- John M. Stahl -- Irving G. Thalberg -- Raoul Walsh -- Harry M. Warner -- Jack L. Warner -- Carey Wilson -- Frank Woods