Mr. & Mrs. Hollywood
Edie and Lew Wasserman and Their Entertainment Empire
By Kathleen Sharp | Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
About the book
Ever wonder why so many B actors wind up as A-grade politicians? Or how the casting couch worked? Acclaimed author Kathleen Sharp traces the influence of show business through the lives of its first power couple. Edie and Lew Wasserman built the world’s largest talent agency, MCA, created the multibillion-dollar Universal Studios, and helped shape Washington, DC. Starting from MCA’s birth in gangland Chicago, Lew represented stars such as Jimmy Stewart and Marilyn Monroe; pioneered TV with Leave It to Beaver and Miami Vice; spawned the blockbuster movie model with Psycho and Jaws; and developed a mega–theme park. His savvy wife, Edie, was the daughter of a mob attorney, the queen of A-list parties, and Lew’s secret agent who boosted their status. Yet, the couple was attacked by rivals, federal prosecutors, and their own protégés. Even so, over the course of seven decades they managed to vanquish their enemies and parlay their influence far beyond Sunset Strip into governors’ mansions, Senate chambers, and the White House. At the end, Edie and Lew became diplomats, kingmakers, and philanthropists, who elevated the fortunes of middle-class workers and California itself. Based on some four hundred interviews, this book features Janet Leigh, Clark Gable, Grace Kelly, John Belushi, Jean Stein, and Steven Spielberg along with the Kennedys, the Johnsons, the Reagans, and the Clintons. It’s a fascinating read about how two kids from Cleveland created the largest entertainment conglomerate in the world and wound up ruling twentieth-century America.
Editions of Mr. & Mrs. Hollywood
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781538512289
- Paperback
- ISBN PBaxhp
- EBook
- ISBN 9781624601002
- EBook
- ISBN 9781620647745
- EBook
- ISBN 9781094181288
- EBook
- ISBN ELaxhp
- EBook
- ISBN EPaxhp
- AudioDownload
- ISBN ZPaxhp
- AudioDownload
- ISBN 9781624600982
- AudioDownload
- ISBN 9781538570555
- AudioDownload
- ISBN 9781620647721
- AudioDownload
- ISBN RMaxhp
- AudioDownload
- ISBN ZEaxhp
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN DPaxhp
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9781982448554
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN DMaxhp
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9781620647738
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9798212464895
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9781624600999
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN AUaxhp
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- ISBN DRaxhp
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN DTaxhp
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN DZaxhp
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9781482150148
Read an Excerpt
Ever wonder why so many B actors wind up as A-grade politicians? Or how the casting couch worked? Acclaimed author Kathleen Sharp traces the influence of show business through the lives of its first power couple. Edie and Lew Wasserman built the world’s largest talent agency, MCA, created the multibillion-dollar Universal Studios, and helped shape Washington, DC. Starting from MCA’s birth in gangland Chicago, Lew represented stars such as Jimmy Stewart and Marilyn Monroe; pioneered TV with Leave It to Beaver and Miami Vice; spawned the blockbuster movie model with Psycho and Jaws; and developed a mega–theme park. His savvy wife, Edie, was the daughter of a mob attorney, the queen of A-list parties, and Lew’s secret agent who boosted their status. Yet, the couple was attacked by rivals, federal prosecutors, and their own protégés. Even so, over the course of seven decades they managed to vanquish their enemies and parlay their influence far beyond Sunset Strip into governors’ mansions, Senate chambers, and the White House. At the end, Edie and Lew became diplomats, kingmakers, and philanthropists, who elevated the fortunes of middle-class workers and California itself. Based on some four hundred interviews, this book features Janet Leigh, Clark Gable, Grace Kelly, John Belushi, Jean Stein, and Steven Spielberg along with the Kennedys, the Johnsons, the Reagans, and the Clintons. It’s a fascinating read about how two kids from Cleveland created the largest entertainment conglomerate in the world and wound up ruling twentieth-century America.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mr. & Mrs. Hollywood about?
Ever wonder why so many B actors wind up as A-grade politicians? Or how the casting couch worked? Acclaimed author Kathleen Sharp traces the influence of show business through the lives of its first power couple. Edie and Lew Wasserman built the world’s largest talent agency, MCA, created the multibillion-dollar Universal Studios, and helped shape Washington, DC. Starting from MCA’s birth in gangland Chicago, Lew represented stars such as Jimmy Stewart and Marilyn Monroe; pioneered TV with Leave It to Beaver and Miami Vice; spawned the blockbuster movie model with Psycho and Jaws; and developed a mega–theme park. His savvy wife, Edie, was the daughter of a mob attorney, the queen of A-list parties, and Lew’s secret agent who boosted their status. Yet, the couple was attacked by rivals, federal prosecutors, and their own protégés. Even so, over the course of seven decades they managed to vanquish their enemies and parlay their influence far beyond Sunset Strip into governors’ mansions, Senate chambers, and the White House. At the end, Edie and Lew became diplomats, kingmakers, and philanthropists, who elevated the fortunes of middle-class workers and California itself. Based on some four hundred interviews, this book features Janet Leigh, Clark Gable, Grace Kelly, John Belushi, Jean Stein, and Steven Spielberg along with the Kennedys, the Johnsons, the Reagans, and the Clintons. It’s a fascinating read about how two kids from Cleveland created the largest entertainment conglomerate in the world and wound up ruling twentieth-century America.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Mr. & Mrs. Hollywood?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general > Biography: arts and entertainment
Where can I read a sample of Mr. & Mrs. Hollywood?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781538512289
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Mr. & Mrs. Hollywood?
Kathleen Sharp
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Mr. & Mrs. Hollywood is available as paperback(ISBN 9781538512289) and paperback(ISBN PBaxhp) and ebook(ISBN 9781624601002) and ebook(ISBN 9781620647745) and ebook(ISBN 9781094181288) and ebook(ISBN ELaxhp) and ebook(ISBN EPaxhp) and audiodownload(ISBN ZPaxhp) and audiodownload(ISBN 9781624600982) and audiodownload(ISBN 9781538570555) and audiodownload(ISBN 9781620647721) and audiodownload(ISBN RMaxhp) and audiodownload(ISBN ZEaxhp) and audiostreaming(ISBN DPaxhp) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781982448554) and audiostreaming(ISBN DMaxhp) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781620647738) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9798212464895) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781624600999) and audiostreaming(ISBN AUaxhp) and audiostreaming(ISBN DRaxhp) and audiostreaming(ISBN DTaxhp) and audiostreaming(ISBN DZaxhp) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781482150148)
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