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The Agency: William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business
- Narrated by: Marlin May
- Length: 21 hrs and 59 mins
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The Agency: William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business
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Summary
For decades, hidden from the public eye, William Morris agents made the deals that determined the fate of stars, studios, and networks alike. Mae West, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Danny Thomas, Steve McQueen--the Morris Agency sold talent to anyone in the market for it, from the Hollywood studios to the mobsters who ran Vegas to the Madison Avenue admen who controlled television. While the clients took the spotlight, the agency operated behind the scenes, providing the grease that made show business what it's become.
The story begins more than a century ago, when a fiery young immigrant named William Morris opened a vaudeville-booking office on New York's Fourteenth Street and went up against the trust that ruled the leading entertainment medium of the day. Led after Morris's death by the legendary Abe Lastfogel, a cherubic little man who treated agents and clients alike as family, the firm transformed the agent's image from garish flesh-peddler to smooth-talking professional. But when Lastfogel's successor brutally sacrificed his best friend--the man who'd brought Barry Diller and Michael Ovitz out of the mail room--William Morris gave birth to its own nemesis: Ovitz's new firm, CAA. Throughout the '80s and '90s, as the Morris Agency made, and lost, such stars as Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, Kevin Costner and Tom Hanks, Ovitz's power grew inexorably as Morris's waned. Lulled by the phenomenal success of Bill Cosby and the upward spiral of the Beverly Hills real estate market, Morris's board failed to act as death and defection thinned its ranks. Finally, with its flagship motion-picture department on the brink of collapse, the board was faced with the stark reality of having to buy its way back into the business it had once owned.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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- MelC
- 21-10-17
Don't bother wasting your time, money or points!
I believe it's important to say the reason why I chose to purchase this audiobook, because I do have the hard copy but the book is so thick, like a doorstep, and heavy, that I have seriously injured myself by carrying it around. That big; honestly! Plus I already have a spinal injury so I felt that buying the audiobook would assist me in reading the book, on the go, and get it read fast with less agro than it's worth.
I am very interested in some of the leading agencies, including William Morris and CAA, so I didn't even sample it as there was only one option to purchase it on audible. I didn't even think about it; so I partially blame myself.
I did also see there was only one star rating of three stars; but no review. Please people; give a review because it enables people the option to ascertain whether it's worth purchasing.
I am in total disbelief!! From the very beginning; I knew something was wrong. It is very important that the reader has a voice of interest, and this reader read this book like he had a gun to his head!! Come on audible! Surely you can audition or interview people that read for you, because this is THE worst reading I have ever come across. Let me try and explain.
His voice is boring, monotone, doesn't change in intonation, and seems like he must have been put in a position of threat to have to read the book. I ask myself..does he know how to read? Has he just learnt? Was he forced to do it against his will? Why??
I loved reading, the actual book, when I first got it, but on listening to just 5 minutes of it on audible; I absolutely can not torture myself to listen to a whole 467 pages of this drizzle for 21 hours!
This is my honest opinion. I have listen to many audiobooks and have enjoyed every moment of it. It's a great idea, but seriously!
I do not recommend this book for the reason of the reader alone, and I will now resign myself to bulk reading it myself over the whole weekend, starting from now (7am Saturday morning), avoiding all choirs, tasks, and even eating so I can get through it and start the company analysis that I am doing on WME without having to torture myself further by listening to this mans voice.
I challenge anyone to listen to this audiobook and not only find it interesting, but give an alternative review to mine.
For a full review of the actual book; I will put it up on Goodreads when I'm done.
Other than that; don't bother wasting your time, money or points.
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