Introduction
Ida Brockway "Kay" Koverman (May 15, 1876 – November 24, 1954) was an American film executive. She is best known as the woman who "ran MGM" as Louis B. Mayer's executive secretary and, later, director of public relations for the studio.
Early life and work
Ida Brockway was born on May 15, 1876 in Cincinnati. She completed school and then got work in the jewelry business. She worked as an executive for Consolidated Gold Fields, during which time she met future president Herbert Hoover. In 1910, she married Oscar Henry Koverman. They remained married until his death in 1934.
Koverman worked as the executive secretary for Calvin Coolidge's 1924 presidential campaign and Herbert Hoover's 1928 presidential campaign, both of which were successful.
Career at MGM
In 1928, Louis B. Mayer hired Koverman as his executive secretary. She brought Mayer into contact with President Hoover and was described by one paper at the time as "a political expert" employed "to keep Mr. Mayer advised politically."
Koverman was well-known as a powerful decision-maker at MGM. Jimmie Fidler wrote in 1938 that "she happens to be one of the most powerful personages in the entire motion-picture industry." Another executive commented that she "damn near ran the studio." Koverman helped discover, develop, and mentor stars for the studio, including Robert Taylor, Nelson Eddy, Robert Montgomery, Clark Gable, Leatrice Joy, Jean Parker, Jeanette MacDonald, Elizabeth Taylor, and Judy Garland. At Koverman's suggestion, MGM ran a school for young stars; Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, Jackie Cooper, Mickey Rooney, and Donna Reed all attended.
In 1947, Koverman helped form the Hollywood Republican Committee with Robert Montgomery and George Murphy. She campaigned for Thomas E. Dewey in 1948 and for Richard Nixon's 1950 senate run.
Howard Hughes once offered her $1000 a week to work for him at RKO. Koverman declined. She worked as Louis B. Mayer's executive secretary until 1951, when Nicholas Schenck made her head of public relations for MGM.
Ida Koverman died on November 24, 1954 in Los Angeles.
In popular culture
Koverman appears as a character in two biopics about Judy Garland: Rainbow (1978, played by Rue McClanahan) and Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001, played by Rosemary Dunsmore). Koverman is also a character in the 1985 film Malice in Wonderland (played by Bonnie Bartlett).
Koverman appears as a character in Adriana Trigiani's novel All the Stars in the Heavens.