Interview with Larry Auerbach - Now Online

Larry Auerbach was interviewed for two-and-a-half hours in Beverly Hills, CA. Auerbach detailed his 47-year association with the William Morris Agency, where he started part-time in the mailroom. He talked about his move out of the mailroom and his work booking talent in small nightclubs and theaters. He described his booking of musical talent on early television shows, including such talents as Sam Cooke, Sammy Davis Jr., and Elvis Presley. Auerbach described fully the circumstances by which he got Presley his first television exposure on the series Stage Show. He discussed representing Alan Freed and how the payola scandals ruined Freeds career. He also talked about the packaging of the unusual Mitch Miller series Sing Along With Mitch that featured on-screen lyrics for sing-alongs and was a big commercial hit. He talked about representing such television figures as Alan Alda, Beatrice Arthur, Agnes Nixon, and Aaron Spelling. Finally, he described in great detail the creation and packaging of the 1980s sitcom hit The Cosby Show. Auerbach then talked about his second career teaching at USC. The interview was conducted by Dan Pasternack on May 21, 2003.


You can view his entire interview online here, or visit emmytvelgends.org to see other interviews.

Legendary William Morris Agent Ruth Engelhardt Has Died-- Archive Interview Online

Ruth Engelhart was associated with the William Morris Agency for over fifty years. She died at the age of 86 on July 23.

Click here to watch Ruth Engelhardt's entire 8-part interview.

Interview Description:
Ruth Engelhardt was interviewed for three-and-a-half hours in Los Angeles, CA. Engelhardt vividly described her over 55-year association with the William Morris Agency. She recalled how she worked her way up from being a secretary to an executive in Business Affairs by earning her law degree attending night school. She discussed the structure of the Agency, the key figures in its executive suites, and its important television accounts. She talked about the packaging of such television series as The Life of Riley, The Danny Thomas Show, and I Spy. She spoke in great detail about the creation of one of the biggest hits of the 1980s, The Cosby Show. Additionally, Engelhardt talked about such topics as contract negotiations, the era of the Hollywood Blacklist, and the 1975 formation of CAA by ex-WMA agents. The interview was conducted by Karen Herman on October 9, 2003.

7/31/08 UPDATE: Read a wonderful tribute to Ruth Engelhardt's legacy by Variety's Cynthia Littleton.