Media Moguls Mid-Term Exam: Lew’s Legacy
1A. No one would disagree that Lew Wasserman had tremendous influence in the entertainment industry. Wasserman came from a dirt-poor beginning and rose to create an empire. He was easily the most powerful mogul and outlasted the rest. An entertainment world without Lew Wasserman would be an indubitably different world, to say the least. Nonetheless, the time period still presented other powerful moguls. Had Wasserman been absent from the entertainment industry, Louis B. Mayer might have become the top mogul. From his impeccable management skills to his aptitude for creating movie stars, Mayer had the knowledge and guts to subdue the rest. A Lew Wasserman-less world would result in a Louis B. Mayer-full …show more content…
Kennedy and Lew Wasserman began in early 1962. Kennedy was in the middle of a secret affair with Marilyn Monroe. During the time of their relationship, Monroe was unhappy with her agency, MCA. She went to Kennedy and complained. Monroe was angry at being exploited by Wasserman. Concurrently, the election that put John F. Kennedy in the White House also put Robert F. Kennedy in charge of the U.S. Justice Department. And in 1962, Kennedy instigated proceedings that culminated in the breakup of the most powerful talent agency in town.
After Monroe’s death, Kennedy vowed not to take Wasserman’s MCA lightly. Kennedy charged after the monopolistic MCA and would not back down until the company went under. Kennedy wanted to see MCA crash and burn. However, in order to avoid criminal and civil penalties for suspected antitrust violations, MCA denuded itself of its talent agency at the same time that the company bought struggling Universal Pictures and Decca Records. Literally overnight, MCA quit the talent business and created the largest entertainment assembly line in Hollywood. And what was Robert F. Kennedy left with? …show more content…
Lew had bounteous designs for the growth of MCA – he invariably believed in this company. While Lew is no longer with us a physical state, his spirit and energy and passion for the entertainment industry lives on. We, as a studio, will continue cherish Lew’s legacy. We will not let it die or go to waste. Lew’s legacy will prosper.
Lew’s business model for MCA was, and still is strong. We will not be changing our business model or any of our clients. We will maintain the structure that Lew set up for us in his time at MCA. Everyone will continue their jobs as they have before – no one is at risk in this time of transition. Lew treasure every one his employees, and I shall do the same.
Our new Universal City Studios, Inc. is still undergoing change, as all new studios do. Our studio tours have opened up the public, allowing us to share our journey with the audiences. While logistics are still being figured out, you can rest assured that our company will only go further from here. We will continue to focus on television, as its presence grows strong in the average American household. Our made-for-television movies have seen great progress and great attention. Our films will continue to advance as well – we still have a plethora of A-list writers, directors, and stars who are more than willing to make their due commitment to MCA’s
1A. No one would disagree that Lew Wasserman had tremendous influence in the entertainment industry. Wasserman came from a dirt-poor beginning and rose to create an empire. He was easily the most powerful mogul and outlasted the rest. An entertainment world without Lew Wasserman would be an indubitably different world, to say the least. Nonetheless, the time period still presented other powerful moguls. Had Wasserman been absent from the entertainment industry, Louis B. Mayer might have become the top mogul. From his impeccable management skills to his aptitude for creating movie stars, Mayer had the knowledge and guts to subdue the rest. A Lew Wasserman-less world would result in a Louis B. Mayer-full …show more content…
Kennedy and Lew Wasserman began in early 1962. Kennedy was in the middle of a secret affair with Marilyn Monroe. During the time of their relationship, Monroe was unhappy with her agency, MCA. She went to Kennedy and complained. Monroe was angry at being exploited by Wasserman. Concurrently, the election that put John F. Kennedy in the White House also put Robert F. Kennedy in charge of the U.S. Justice Department. And in 1962, Kennedy instigated proceedings that culminated in the breakup of the most powerful talent agency in town.
After Monroe’s death, Kennedy vowed not to take Wasserman’s MCA lightly. Kennedy charged after the monopolistic MCA and would not back down until the company went under. Kennedy wanted to see MCA crash and burn. However, in order to avoid criminal and civil penalties for suspected antitrust violations, MCA denuded itself of its talent agency at the same time that the company bought struggling Universal Pictures and Decca Records. Literally overnight, MCA quit the talent business and created the largest entertainment assembly line in Hollywood. And what was Robert F. Kennedy left with? …show more content…
Lew had bounteous designs for the growth of MCA – he invariably believed in this company. While Lew is no longer with us a physical state, his spirit and energy and passion for the entertainment industry lives on. We, as a studio, will continue cherish Lew’s legacy. We will not let it die or go to waste. Lew’s legacy will prosper.
Lew’s business model for MCA was, and still is strong. We will not be changing our business model or any of our clients. We will maintain the structure that Lew set up for us in his time at MCA. Everyone will continue their jobs as they have before – no one is at risk in this time of transition. Lew treasure every one his employees, and I shall do the same.
Our new Universal City Studios, Inc. is still undergoing change, as all new studios do. Our studio tours have opened up the public, allowing us to share our journey with the audiences. While logistics are still being figured out, you can rest assured that our company will only go further from here. We will continue to focus on television, as its presence grows strong in the average American household. Our made-for-television movies have seen great progress and great attention. Our films will continue to advance as well – we still have a plethora of A-list writers, directors, and stars who are more than willing to make their due commitment to MCA’s