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| [Caricature of Lew Wasserman by David Levine] |
Last night’s showing of the documentary
The Last Mogul on Showtime reminded me that, humble as my station was at the time—I was
Rouben Mamoulian’s private part-time secretary—I actually did get the chance to meet Wasserman, although by this time it was way past the peak of his power over Hollywood. Being young and callow, I had no idea who this imposingly tall, well-tailored, skinny old man was. I also had no idea what the difference was between him and all the other old men he arrived with one afternoon to pick up Mamoulian to take him to a funeral (never found out whose). This was the only time I ever saw Mamoulian in anything besides a dressing gown and carpet slippers. Also! I managed to hitch a ride in their limousine with them down from Schuyler Road to the closest bus stop.
For a review of
The Last Mogul, go to
Slate. The character of Leslie Braverman in my mystery novel,
Cold Open, is based a little bit on Wasserman.
