WHEN HOLLYWOOD HAD A KING: The Reign of Lew Wasserman, Who Leveraged Talent into Power and Influence
Connie Bruck, . . Random, $29.95 (528pp) ISBN 978-0-375-50168-5
Until his death last year, Wasserman was one of the last survivors from the corporate side of Hollywood's golden era. Having started as an agent at MCA, he eventually became the firm's president, but not before he'd turned the talent agency into a powerful film and television studio, buying out Universal in the process. Wasserman's story is inseparable from that of MCA, and this book appropriately begins with an account of the company's founder, Jules Stein, who began booking bands from his Chicago office in 1924. This put Stein, and MCA, in contact with the local musicians' union, which then linked him to organized crime—the first of several such links the book explores. Wasserman helped shift the balance of power to Hollywood, remaining with the firm despite being widely sought after by rival agencies and movie studios. He also helped extend MCA's political influence, through extensive fund-raising and a longstanding connection with former client Ronald Reagan.
Reviewed on: 04/28/2003
Genre: Nonfiction
Analog Audio Cassette - 978-1-59007-514-2
Compact Disc - 978-1-59007-515-9
Paperback - 528 pages - 978-0-8129-7217-7
Peanut Press/Palm Reader - 302 pages - 978-1-58836-299-5