Episode #339
E336: Julian Schlossberg - MovieTalk, Memoirs & the Magic of Show Business
Julian Schlossberg - MovieTalk, Memoirs & the Magic of Show Business Learn more about Julian at: JULIAN SCHLOSSBERG - Home Listen to his podcast at: Home | Julian Episode Highlights The Radio That Fueled Imagination: Julian grew up with radio first—imagining the Lone Ranger's range and Jack Benny's vault. Television's arrival felt like magic: free shows, baseball games, and variety programs, all in his home. The Audition That Never Happened: On his first day job hunting, Julian told a white lie to an interviewer—"You don't remember me, but you told me to finish college and come back." The interviewer said, "I remember." He got the job. His mother couldn't believe it happened on day one. The Ziegfeld Miracle: As a 27-year-old running the "white elephant" Ziegfeld Theater, Julian booked *That's Entertainment*, *Tommy*, and *Roller Coaster*—grossing $3 million in one year when top tickets were $3-$4. Studios decided he "must know something." The Barry Diller Negotiation: When Paramount's Barry Diller wanted Julian in LA, Julian refused to leave New York. Diller offered two weeks in NY, two in LA. Julian said no again—and got hired anyway. “Nobody But You": Early in his marriage, Julian complained about his office messing up. His wife said, "Nobody but you." It took the wind right out of his sails—and kept him grounded. The Orson Welles Restoration: Julian's proudest achievement: restoring and distributing Orson Welles' *Othello*, which had languished in a vault for 40 years. No one else wanted it. He spent eight months raising money and fixing the film so the world could finally see it. Stay on the Ledge: Julian's advice to aspiring creatives: "You don't let go of the ledge. Actors are wounded people—they've been rejected constantly, yet they kept going because they wanted the prize. Show Notes [02:48] Growing up in the Bronx: Radio first, imagination fueled [04:18] Going downtown to see live shows [06:46] Mother forbids bringing *Variety* home—he reads it anyway [09:52] The white lie that got him the job at ABC [11:19] First day job hunting [14:20] Walter Reed Organization: Running theaters at 27 [15:35] The Ziegfeld Theater: From "white elephant" to $3 million in one year [20:31] "Diametrically opposed" – The conversation that made Barry Diller laugh ️ [23:50] Castle Hill Productions: Building a 500-film library [27:41] The wife who keeps him grounded: "Nobody but you" [29:03] Writing the memoir during COVID: "The brain is a computer" [31:10] Short chapters: "I became the USA Today of memoirs" [34:58] *Julian Schlossberg's Movie Talk* podcast on Facebook [35:46] Rob Reiner's last two interviews before his passing [39:15] Proudest achievement: Restoring Orson Welles' *Othello* [41:58] Excited for tomorrow: Interviewing Petula Clark Please leave a review or send us a Voice note letting us know what you enjoyed at: Back2Basics reconnecting to the essence of YOU (podpage.com) Follow us on IG and FB @Back2BasicsPodcast
