Pronunciation: [wɪl hˈe͡ɪz] (IPA) 
The spelling of the name "Will Hays" is a bit tricky, as it may not be immediately clear how to pronounce it. In IPA phonetic transcription, the name would be written as /wɪl heɪz/. This shows that the first syllable is pronounced with the "ih" sound as in "hit", while the second syllable has the "ey" sound as in "hey". The final "s" in Hays is pronounced with a "z" sound, which is represented by the letter "z" in IPA transcription.
Will Hays was an American politician, lawyer, and businessman who is primarily known for his role as the head of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) from 1922 to 1945. Born on November 5, 1879, in Sullivan, Indiana, Hays began his career as a lawyer and later ventured into politics, serving under President Warren G. Harding as the Postmaster General of the United States.
However, Hays's most significant contribution to American society came when he was appointed as the official censor of the film industry. With the rise of scandalous content and public outcry over what was seen as moral decay in early Hollywood, Hays was brought in to restore public trust and preserve the industry's reputation. As head of the MPPDA, he implemented The Hays Code, a set of guidelines that dictated the content of American films for decades.
The Hays Code sought to censor explicit or controversial material, advocating for clean and wholesome content that reflected traditional values and morals. Under Hays's watch, the MPPDA enforced a strict enforcement system, known as the Production Code Administration, which regulated and reviewed every script and film before its release, ensuring it abided by the code's guidelines.
Will Hays served as a powerful figure in shaping the American film industry's moral landscape during a critical period of its growth. His impact and the legacy of the Hays Code continued to influence Hollywood until the code's eventual abandonment in the late 1960s, marking a significant shift towards a more liberal and permissive era of filmmaking.
