About
"In my opinion, the most important attribute that a publicist must really have is to win the confidence of the media."
In his three-hour interview, John Strauss (1913-2001) describes entering the film business via the Buffalo, NY sales office of Warner Bros., and later transferring to California into the studio's publicity department. He then recalls working in other various studio publicity departments, including PRC and Columbia, before opening his own independent publicity firm. He talks about the growing influence of television at that time and the effects of the Hollywood Blacklist on people he knew. Strauss discusses the five major television production companies that he represented, including Desilu Productions, Lorimar, and QM Productions, and the projects that his firm worked on for each of them. He also recalls the people at those companies that he worked with, including Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Red Skelton, Quinn Martin, David L. Wolper, and others. Strauss reminisces about many of the individual celebrity clients he represented, including Julie Andrews, Fred MacMurray, David Niven, Jack Palance, Vincent Price, Stirling Silliphant, Andy Williams, Rod Steiger, and his best friend and client for over 40 years, Jimmy Stewart. Charles Davis conducted the interview on December 2, 1999 in Sherman Oaks, CA.
Highlights
John Strauss on planting stories by giving scoops to newspaper columnists Hal Humphrey and Erskine Johnson
John Strauss on Lucille Ball as a "tough broad" and a thoughtful friend
John Strauss on Fred MacMurray and his unique deal with Don Fedderson Productions
John Strauss on speaking to newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper on behalf of actor Sterling Hayden when he was suspected of being a Communist
John Strauss on advice to someone starting out in public relations
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on his impressions of early television; on his first job in the entertainment industry selling Warner Bros. films to movie theaters in Upstate New York
On his first job in publicity as a unit publicist at Warner Bros.; on the makeup of the publicity department at Warner Bros.
On becoming the head planter in the publicity department at Columbia; on planting stories with newspaper columnists Hedda Hopper, Louella Parsons, Rona Barrett, Erskine Johnson, and Hal Humphrey
Chapter 2
On the role of the publicity department at a studio; on the difference between publicity and advertising
On the big entertainment stories that occurred while he worked at Columbia; on the relationship between studios and newspapers when it came to potentially damaging stories
On television becoming a force in entertainment; on the studios' and movie stars' fear of television killing movies and how that did not come to pass
On his work on the executive board of the Publicists Guild of America; on his participation in two union strikes; on the strikes contributing to his decision to leave Columbia
On the Hollywood Blacklist; on the consequences for publicists of being a real or suspected Communist; on speaking to newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper on behalf of actor Sterling Hayden when he was suspected of being a Communist
Chapter 3
On the formation of his independent publicity firm, Cleary-Strauss and Associates, and how that firm became Cleary-Strauss and Irwin; on their client list
On his client and close friend, Jimmy Stewart; on the services his publicity firm offered clients; on the challenges of working with the studios as an independent publicity firm
On determining a fee structure for clients; on his television clients: Desilu Productions, Lorimar, Red Skelton, David L. Wolper, and Quinn Martin and his corporate clients: Whirlpool, 3M, Crocker Bank, First L.A. Bank; on the difference between working with entertainment clients versus corporate clients
On his firm's merger with McFadden and Eddy, and his break with Chip Cleary; on the creation of the firm ICPR; on ICPR's eventual demise
On the beginning of his working relationship with Desilu Productions; on his initial impressions of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball; on his personal and working relationships with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball
Chapter 4
On his feelings about Lucille Ball's second husband, Gary Morton; on other Desilu shows
On working with Quinn Martin's production company QM Productions; on handling publicity during high-profile legal cases
On working with sponsors and ad agencies; on the relationship between the networks and publicity firms
On working with Lorimar; on encouraging the audience to write in to save The Waltons; on working with producer David L. Wolper; on publicizing Quinn Martin and David L. Wolper shows
Chapter 5
On representing Red Skelton, Julie Andrews, and Carol Burnett
On representing Jack Lemmon; on Fred MacMurray and his unique deal with Don Fedderson Productions; on representing David Niven
On representing Jack Palance and the Saul Bass ad that helped launch his career; on working with advertising agencies; on Quinn Martin's appreciation of his publicity work
On his admiration for Vincent Price; on representing writer Stirling Silliphant; on how his firm lost Andy Williams as a client
On his personal and professional relationship with Rod Steiger; on his close personal and professional relationship with Jimmy Stewart
On the publicist's role in making sure client interviews run smoothly; on Rod Steiger declining to invite him on a publicity tour to Berlin
Chapter 6
On making the decision to retire; on advice to someone starting out in public relations; on the importance of imagination and writing skills in succeeding as a publicist
On how the industry has changed since he first started in the business; on the importance of a publicist winning the confidence of the media
On his mentors; on being nominated nine times for the Les Mason Award and his admiration for Les Mason; on the Publicists Guild of America
On career highlights; on fellow publicist Ben Irwin and other former colleagues
On columnist Army Archerd; on his wife, Renee Strauss
B-roll photos of Rod Steiger and John Strauss in 1983; Jimmy Stewart and Johnny Carson with others in 1986; Jimmy Stewart and John Strauss in 1986; Lucille Ball and John Strauss in 1986; John Strauss and Max von Sydow in 1988
Shows
Lucy Show, The
John Strauss on doing publicity for The Lucy Show
My Three Sons
John Strauss on Fred MacMurray and his unique deal with Don Fedderson Productions for filming My Three Sons
Waltons, The
John Strauss on encouraging the audience to write in to save The Waltons
Topics
Advertising and Sponsorship
John Strauss on the value of both publicity and advertising
Publicist John Strauss on working with sponsors and ad agencies
Advice
John Strauss on advice to someone starting out in public relations
Creative Influences and Inspiration
John Strauss on his mentors
Hollywood Blacklist
John Strauss on the Hollywood Blacklist
John Strauss on speaking to newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper on behalf of actor Sterling Hayden when he was suspected of being a Communist
Industry Crossroads
John Strauss on the Hollywood Blacklist
John Strauss on his participation in two union strikes
John Strauss on speaking to newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper on behalf of actor Sterling Hayden when he was suspected of being a Communist
Industry Strikes
John Strauss on his participation in two union strikes
Pivotal Career Moments
John Strauss on his mentors
Ronald Reagan
John Strauss on an interview newspaper columnist Hal Humphrey conducted with Ronald Reagan
Television and the Presidency
John Strauss on an interview newspaper columnist Hal Humphrey conducted with Ronald Reagan
Television Industry
John Strauss on the Hollywood Blacklist
John Strauss on his participation in two union strikes
John Strauss on speaking to newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper on behalf of actor Sterling Hayden when he was suspected of being a Communist
John Strauss on the value of both publicity and advertising
John Strauss on advice to someone starting out in public relations
John Strauss on how the industry has changed since he first started in the business
Publicist John Strauss on working with sponsors and ad agencies
Professions
Publicist
John Strauss on the makeup of the publicity department at Warner Bros.
John Strauss on the role of the publicity department at a studio
John Strauss on the value of both publicity and advertising
John Strauss on the role of the publicist in smoothing over difficult interviews, with Fred MacMurray as an example
John Strauss on the importance of writing skills and imagination in succeeding as a publicist
John Strauss on the importance of a publicist winning the confidence of the media
John Strauss on advice to someone starting out in public relations
Publicist John Strauss on determining a fee structure for clients
Publicist John Strauss on working with sponsors and ad agencies
John Strauss on publicizing David L. Wolper and Quinn Martin shows
Representatives
John Strauss on the makeup of the publicity department at Warner Bros.
John Strauss on the role of the publicity department at a studio
John Strauss on the value of both publicity and advertising
John Strauss on the role of the publicist in smoothing over difficult interviews, with Fred MacMurray as an example
John Strauss on the importance of writing skills and imagination in succeeding as a publicist
John Strauss on the importance of a publicist winning the confidence of the media
John Strauss on advice to someone starting out in public relations
Publicist John Strauss on determining a fee structure for clients
Publicist John Strauss on working with sponsors and ad agencies
John Strauss on publicizing David L. Wolper and Quinn Martin shows
Genres
Comedy Series
John Strauss on Fred MacMurray and his unique deal with Don Fedderson Productions for filming My Three Sons
John Strauss on doing publicity for The Lucy Show
Drama Series
Publicist John Strauss on encouraging the audience to write in to save The Waltons
People
Julie Andrews
John Strauss on representing Julie Andrews
Army Archerd
John Strauss on columnist Army Archerd
Desi Arnaz
John Strauss on his personal and working relationships with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
John Strauss on his personal and working relationships with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball
John Strauss on Lucille Ball as a "tough broad" and a thoughtful friend
Saul Bass
John Strauss on the ad created by Saul Bass that helped launched Jack Palance's career
Don Fedderson
John Strauss on Fred MacMurray and his unique deal with Don Fedderson Productions
Sterling Hayden
John Strauss on speaking to newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper on behalf of actor Sterling Hayden when he was suspected of being a Communist
Hedda Hopper
John Strauss on working with newspaper columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons
John Strauss on speaking to newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper on behalf of actor Sterling Hayden when he was suspected of being a Communist
Fred MacMurray
John Strauss on Fred MacMurray and his unique deal with Don Fedderson Productions
John Strauss on the role of the publicist in smoothing over difficult interviews, with Fred MacMurray as an example
Quinn Martin
John Strauss on Quinn Martin's appreciation of his publicity work
John Strauss on his admiration for producer Quinn Martin
John Strauss on publicizing David L. Wolper and Quinn Martin shows
Gary Morton
John Strauss on his difficult relationship with Gary Morton
David Niven
John Strauss on his admiration for client David Niven and why the media loved him
Jack Palance
John Strauss on the ad created by Saul Bass that helped launched Jack Palance's career
Louella Parsons
John Strauss on working with newspaper columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons
Vincent Price
John Strauss on his admiration for his client, Vincent Price
Ronald Reagan
John Strauss on an interview newspaper columnist Hal Humphrey conducted with Ronald Reagan
Red Skelton
John Strauss on representing Red Skelton
Rod Steiger
John Strauss on his friendship with Rod Steiger, which continued even after their professional relationship ended
Jimmy Stewart
John Strauss on how he helped Jimmy Stewart receive an honorary Oscar
John Strauss on his 40-year friendship and business relationship with Jimmy Stewart and how it began
Andy Williams
John Strauss on how his firm lost Andy Williams as a client
David L. Wolper
John Strauss on working with producer David L. Wolper
John Strauss on publicizing David L. Wolper and Quinn Martin shows