Today is Lew Wasserman's birthday

No, that is not Clark Gable nor Robert Taylor; this handsome buck is Lew R. Wasserman, founding father (with Jules Stein) of MCA, the biggest talent agency ever. His business became so large that he was forced by the government to divest himself of the agency business. He had already made the decision to go full time into telvision and film production. He bought (from Decca Records, using Decca's own money) Universal Pictures and its 432 acre lot in Universal City for $10 Million Dollars. Admired and feared, his actions shaped the business for decades. Labor Strikes were resolved because he said so: and he said so usually in a fair and just manner. In addition to his sixty plus year marriage to Edie Beckerman ,his intimate friendships crossed every boundary (real, moral, economic, legal) and his friends largely showed him passionate and undying loyalty. He resisted selling his business to corporate interests until well into his 80. He is one of my real-life heroes and role models.

Happy birthday Mr. Wasserman, I hope I see you again in the commissary corner booth having that awful chicken burger. I am completely positive you will be preoccupied today while Suzanne Pleshette tells you and Sidney some filthy jokes. If she says any wordcombos that are especially difficult, I'm here for you.

Love,


Cliff



you should wiki him if you don't know about the motion picture country home