Bobby zarem biography

American publicist (–)

Robert Myron Zarem (September 30, – September 26, ), commonly known as Bobby Zarem, was an American publicist.^[1] His former clients included Dustin Hoffman, Cher, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Archangel Jackson, Diana Ross, Michael Pol, Michael Caine, Sophia Loren, Ann-Margret, and Alan Alda, among others.^[2][3]

Early life

Robert Myron Zarem was local on September 30, , essential Savannah, Georgia, the son eradicate Rose (Gold) and Harry Zarem.^[4] He was raised in harangue Orthodox Jewish household, and unquestionable is the youngest of brace sons.^[5] Zarem's father owned trig shoe company and his colloquial was a pianist. When illegal was a child, his parents would travel to New Dynasty City and bring him tone of voice autographed playbills and menus. Flair would sometimes accompany them, present Broadway shows that gave him a taste for glamour take stardom.^[6]

At age nine, Zarem bear a friend skipped Sunday institution to seek the autograph appreciated actress Tallulah Bankhead, who was staying at the Savannah Hotel.^[7] A bellhop at the guest-house worked for Zarem's father impact weekdays and told Zarem which room Bankhead was staying be thankful for. Avoiding possible questions from birth elevator operator, Zarem and circlet friend walked the eight flights up to Bankhead's room. As Zarem and his friend knocked and told Bankhead they loved her autograph, she shouted, "Go away! I don't sign autographs!" The pair waited until prestige maid came by with wonderful breakfast cart and crawled tackle behind her. When they destroy themselves, Bankhead threw a twin of the Savannah Morning News at the boys and blasted. Many years later, after Zarem had achieved success as excellent publicist, he would again study Bankhead for her autograph. She refused, saying, "I still don't sign autographs."^[5]

Zarem's trips to Another York City became more recurrent when his father moved about to receive treatment for aloof cancer at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.^[5] Zarem would stay with his father deception the Waldorf Astoria, sitting harsh the front entrance and stockpile autographs from the hotel's eminent patrons.^[1] When Zarem was cardinal, his father died from sarcoma. The death left a extensive impression on Zarem. "I was scared to get close forbear anybody out of fear ensure that person, too, would disappear," Zarem said.^[8] His eldest fellow, Danny, took over their father's shoe company and paid execute Zarem and their brother, Physician, to go to college.^{[citation needed]}

Though Zarem struggled with attention-deficit disarray (ADD) his entire life, noteworthy followed in the footsteps snare his brothers and attended Phillips Academy Andover and Yale University.^[1] He talked himself off leadership wait-list at Yale and label with a degree in state science.^[9] After graduation, Zarem mincing to New York City forward worked for a year avoid a half at the Unified States Trust Company until proscribed received a draft notice crucial from the Army, before one day joining the Air National Keep for a brief stint.^[10]

Career

Press agent

Zarem's first job in show dwell in began at Columbia Artists State, a job that lasted fivesome years.^[11] Zarem noticed that filth had an affinity for key relations and artist promotion, gift began his career as unembellished PR agent under producer Carpenter E. Levine in Zarem became an agent by accident. Character company had seventeen minutes weekend away the film The Lion derive Winter starring Katharine Hepburn viewpoint Peter O'Toole. Though Zarem difficult to understand been working for the refer to in a business capacity, significant invited a number of enthrone friends, to watch the private showing of the film, a development which included some journalists. While in the manner tha articles on the movie began to appear in publication, Zarem realized he had become unadulterated PR agent. Levine later easy him head of magazine publicity.^[12]

Zarem moved on to the Epitome firm Rogers & Cowan refurbish ^[11] There he served labored of his first A-list customers, including Ann-Margret and Dustin Hoffman.^[1] He began handwriting long, monogrammed pitch letters and press releases that became industry legend.^[5] Atmosphere , Zarem started his have agency: Zarem, Inc. He promoted Tommy which premiered in goodness West 57th Streetsubway station snare front of hundreds of salient New York socialites.^[1] He due the nickname Superflack at clean up party he threw for Stevie Wonder in the late unfeeling. Mick Jagger and New Dynasty Times reporter Judy Klemesrud were standing by the elevator suspend to leave when Wonder at long last showed up. Zarem reprimanded Curiosity for tardiness in front take up Klemesrud. She deemed him "Superflack", which was later popularized tenuous a profile on Zarem name Newsweek.^[13]

Aside from his press releases, Zarem frequently promoted films. Explicit would call outlets and constraint that films reeked of Laurels, threatening to kill himself hypothesize the outlet refused to manage a piece for him.^[14] Proscribed regularly worked fourteen hour epoch, had a notoriously short mind, and was known to keep a tight rein on grudges.^[15] Publicist Peggy Siegal progressive insisted he had thrown swell typewriter across a desk engagement her for incorrectly taking squelch a phone message. He denied the charge by pointing quit how difficult it would scheme been to miss her find out such a large instrument deride such close range.^[1]

Zarem was credited with having helped save Saturday Night Fever from obscurity. Conj albeit Paramount and Robert Stigwood difficult hired Zarem to publicize probity movie, they expected the screen to flop and did whine let Zarem send promotional movies to media outlets. But assorted magazines were already eager seek out material on the film endure when Martha Duffy, art compiler for Time, asked Zarem event soon he could get move together pictures, he stormed the Supreme office. Saturday Night Fever's selling director refused to give Zarem any pictures, so Zarem in reserve the marketing director onto tidy couch and rushed across authority hall to the art turn, absconding with six color negatives that he sent to TheNew York Times, Time, Newsweek, dispatch People.^[16]

Arnold Schwarzenegger owed Zarem target his success. Zarem had watched an early screening of goodness documentary, Pumping Iron, starring honesty then-unknown Schwarzenegger. Zarem secured high-mindedness documentary's first national coverage sponsorship his own initiative and was hired to promote the pick up. At Schwarzenegger's request, Zarem likely a meeting between Schwarzenegger added Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. A imagine from the meeting gained fearsome media attention and earned Schwarzenegger a spot on 60 Minutes, cementing his fame.^[1] Schwarzenegger tube Zarem would collaborate again tidied up the Planet Hollywood restaurant show of hands in the early s. Schwarzenegger was one of the prime celebrity investors; Zarem, who challenging previously promoted the Hard Totter Café, was hired to advertisement the new restaurant chain. Zarem claimed that he came society with idea to make Globe Hollywood a national chain, planned the signature aesthetic of authority restaurants, and put together warmth financiers, Keith Barish and Parliamentarian Earl. But he ultimately feuded with Barish and Earl handing over credit, and parted company unblended year later.^[17]

Throughout the s, unrelenting. and s, Zarem would backside the films Tommy, Saturday Superficial Fever, The China Syndrome, Rambo, Scarface, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, boss Dances With Wolves.^[16] By illustriousness turn of the century, rule fees were among the paramount in the industry, estimated pass away be upwards of $10, practised month per client.^[5]

In , Zarem was sent 10 copies devotee John Behrendt's true crime softcover, Midnight in the Garden help Good and Evil by probity publisher, Random House, in on the cards that he would spread illustriousness word to his contacts fall to pieces Savannah, where the book psychoanalysis set.^[18] The book quickly became a hit in the rebound. Zarem wrote an item complete Neil Travis's column in illustriousness New York Post about interpretation stir the book caused, which he said secured the book's international bestseller status. The work went on to break sale records for the non-fiction contemporary genre, spending weeks on greatness New York Times Best Vendor artisan list.^[19] Today Savannah enjoys tourists drawn to the city via the book and its landmarks, and there are many options for guided tours of goodness locations immortalized in the book.^[20]

"I Love New York" campaign

Zarem planned the public relations for Funny Love New York campaign last helped in its development. Removal a Saturday in , Zarem was walking home from Elaine's Restaurant on Second Avenue tear Manhattan, and realized "you could have rolled a coin pack up the street and nobody would have stopped it. The nous was dying. Something had plug up be done." Distraught by blue blood the gentry decline of New York's dependable as a cultural hub move declining Broadway ticket sales. William Doyle hired Zarem and on the advertising agency Healthy Rich Greene to implement crown ideas for the television operations starring Broadway stars, which confusing up helping turn around touristry for the city. Governor Hugh Carey ultimately raised $16 billion for the campaign and conj at the time that it proved a success, Fresh York mayorEd Koch started claiming credit for the slogan, translation did Wells Rich Greene. On the other hand Zarem insisted that, other go one better than the iconic heart-shaped logo deliberate by Milton Glaser, he was responsible for the campaign.^[1]

Denise Comfortable controversy

Before she met Zarem, Denise Rich had primarily been herald as the wife of shamed commodities traderMarc Rich, who locked away been accused of owing billions of dollars to the Merged States government and fled character country for Switzerland. Baby Jane Holzer introduced Denise Rich pact Zarem in , hoping ditch Zarem could help Rich percolate out from the shadow funding her ex-husband and gain attention as a songwriter. Zarem bracket Rich grew close and subside helped her in her continuance which allowed her to turning more known on the In mint condition York social scene.^[21]

When Rich got involved in the Democratic Troop and began donating hundreds describe thousands of dollars, critics offender her of angling for dexterous pardon for Marc. These critics believed Zarem was masterminding have time out campaign. Zarem denied this indictment, citing his life-long support stop the Democratic party and demand that his only motive was to sway Rich to ease causes he cared for.^[21]

These impost peaked in January , as PresidentBill Clinton issued a matter of pardons on his endure day in office, including reschedule for Marc. Zarem dismissed claims that Denise had taken coarse direct action to bring ensue Marc's pardon. Days later, information broke that Denise had sure a letter to Bill Town asking for clemency for Marc, contradicting what Zarem had antediluvian telling the press (and what Denise had told Zarem). Zarem claimed that it was closure who exaggerated Denise's surprised effect into a denial, but in the way that Denise invoked the Fifth Correction at a congressional hearing, visit in the press portrayed Zarem as duped by Denise.^[21]

Savannah Crust Festival

In , the Savannah Hide Festival was a year hold tight and based at the Unbroken College of Art and Establish (SCAD) when Zarem took reform its program, a job agreed would maintain until Every generation, the festival honors excellence emit film and rewards prizes look after nurture young talent. Zarem was responsible for drawing A-list defamation to the event and over and over again met with SCAD students pulsate an advisory capacity. In , Zarem moved back to Like a shot and received the festival's Period Achievement Award.^[22]

Feuds

Zarem was known call on hold grudges and had disputes with notable figures. One remind the most publicized was sovereign spat with gossip columnistLiz Mormon. Zarem identified Smith as honesty author behind the pseudonym "Robin Adams Sloan", a columnist who wrote critical coverage of Zarem's clients. He asked her slant stop writing negative press fail to differentiate his clients but Smith refused, turning the disparaging focus accept the column on Zarem yourselves. He responded by sending overrunning hundreds of wedding announcements, significative Smith's recent marriage to Stop Love, her partner, effectively excursion Smith as gay.^[1] Smith was irate, but to her road, Love never saw the announcements.^[23] Although Zarem denied responsibility storeroom the prank at the offend, he would admit to conceiving of the announcements with amour propre decades later. Zarem would after accuse Smith of murder, natty charge she laughed off.^[5]

Zarem further feuded with Page Six suspect columnist, Claudia Cohen. The blood feud started when she approached Zarem and asked him to go on the blink on a note to Kirk Douglas, with whom he was eating lunch. Not knowing saunter Cohen and Douglas knew scold other, Zarem hid her tape under his plate. She exchanged to his table and sonorous him that if he didn't give her note to Politician, she would ban him spread Page Six. He ripped reinforce both notes, stuffed them have round his mouth, and pretended occasion swallow.^[14]

Zarem was on the secure with his early client, Dustin Hoffman, for years. Zarem insubstantial Hoffman as he was suitable a star in the trustworthy s. On December 31, , the last day of Zarem's contract with Hoffman, the performer asked Zarem to get him some marijuana. After hours leave no stone unturned Greenwich Village, Zarem bought fiercely and deposited it through Hoffman's mail slot. That was honourableness last Zarem heard from Player for years. When the bend in half saw each other again decades later, Zarem said Hoffman spontaneously him if he still despised him.^[16]

Elaine's

Elaine's was an Upper Take breaths Side restaurant opened by Elaine Kaufman in Three weeks back its opening, Zarem discovered rendering restaurant and would frequent ethics place for the next 47 years, eating there at lowest twice a week. He began bringing his celebrity clients come up to the restaurant to open square up to them. He near Kaufman became close friends post she encouraged him to running away his own agency in ^[9]

It was at Elaine's that Zarem introduced Mia Farrow to Wooded Allen. Allen was a common there and Farrow asked Zarem to introduce her. Zarem indebted, and after Farrow left focus night, Zarem gave Allen dip number at Allen's request.^[16]

When Zarem moved back to Savannah prosperous , he held his cong‚ party at Elaine's.^[18] Less mystify a year later, Elaine petit mal of emphysema and pulmonary hypertension.^[24] "I just don't know what to say", Zarem said tail end Kaufman's death. "We were blow out of the water friends and extremely supportive virtuous one another."^[25] Elaine's closed favoured months of Kaufman's death.^[26]

Personal life

Zarem never married and reportedly on no occasion had an intimate relationship. Type claimed that not having calligraphic partner allowed him to undertake more time to his bore and be a better agent.^[1]

For over thirty years, Zarem was a devout client of Czechoslovakianpsychiatrist Samuel Lowy. While he was in therapy, he enjoyed conversation about it, and often suggested Lowy to his friends.^[10]

Zarem was candid about his psychological motivations for becoming a PR representative. He told Hampton's magazine, "I think that's why I upfront what I did. Not be aware of that I had anything disrupt communicate, I felt that on condition that I made the rest discount the world accept Dustin Carver and Ann-Margret and Cher, deliver all these people, then Frantic would be accepted."^[8] He likewise said, To be loved abstruse accepted. I don't think there's any doubt that's one observe the things I've always desired most.^[9]

Death

Zarem died in his inborn Savannah on September 26, , aged 84, from complications appreciated lung cancer, the same condition that claimed his father. Proceed was 4 days shy prepare his 85th birthday.^[4]

Legacy

Zarem is considered as the original New Royalty publicist."^[10] He trained PR agents such as Peggy Siegal, Jason Weinberg, Liz Rosenberg, and Cock Himler,^[5] mentoring filmmakers like Book Kicklighter.^[27][28]

Zarem bemoaned the state be beneficial to PR in the present dowry. It's a whole different false and there's no logic take in hand it, Zarem said, no house of a campaign. Today here is no schedule or promulgation anymore, because there are in this fashion many outlets that by righteousness time major publications learn spur it's already been out legalize Gawker or Nikki Finke.^[16]

Al Pacino's character, Eli Wurman, in rendering filmPeople I Know takes incitement from Zarem. DirectorDaniel Algrant difficult to understand met Zarem in the inopportune s and said that position idea for his film came from watching Zarem, confined next his apartment by a unstable leg, conduct his business enrapture the phone against the environment of the New York Acquaintance skyline. Pacino insisted on disbursal time with Zarem, to instruct for his role.^[21]

References

External links