Who is bennett cerf

The company was headquartered there from until Some of the most popular writers of the s were published by Random House. At the end of the s, 30 percent of Random House stock was offered to the public. The following year, Random House acquired the imprint of Alfred A. Knopf, and Alfred and Blanche Knopf joined its board of directors.

Although Cerf concentrated on the editorial side of Random House's operations, he was still a keen and insightful businessman, perhaps a reflection of his days on Wall Street early in his career. According to Cerf's own recollections of the discussions with RCA, David Sarnoff and other RCA negotiators seemed to have sized up Cerf as a lightweight when it came to business dealings. Cerf carefully avoided doing anything to disabuse them of this notion. When Sarnoff suggested they break off talks and resume the following day, Cerf calmly announced that he and his wife had vacation plans the next day, plans they intended to keep.

RCA met Cerf's demands, and the deal was closed. First impressions, Cerf made clear, can be deceiving. After selling Random House, Cerf and his wife spent much of their time at their country home in Mount Kisco, New York, less than an hour from the city. It was there that he died at the age of 73 on August 27, Throughout his career, some in the publishing business had dismissed Cerf as superficial and somewhat frivolous, pointing to his obvious delight at basking in the public spotlight.

This more measured assessment of Cerf came from the Saturday Review shortly after his death: "He gave full measure to his profession. Everyone connected with the world of books is in his debt. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. The Gale Group, , http:www. All rights reserved. Kept His Authors Happy A good deal of Cerf's time was spent playing nursemaid to some of his more temperamental authors.

Show all 6 episodes. Bennett Cerf Self - Celebrity Contestant. Self - 'What's My Line? Self - Publisher. Levitt Self - Panellist. TV Series Self - Episode 4. Self - Guest Host. Hide Show Archive footage 4 credits. Self - 'What's My Line' Panelist uncredited. See more ». Alternate Names: Bennett Alfred Cerf. Height: 6' 1" 1. Spouse: Phyllis Fraser his death 2 children See more ». Edit Did You Know? Personal Quote: To my mind, a bad editor is a frustrated writer himself.

So many editors are only editors because they haven't made it as writers. He also hosted the Miss America pageant for many years. He was married to actress Sylvia Sidney briefly in the thirties, and in to Phyllis Fraser, with whom he had two sons, Christopher and Jonathan.

Bennett Cerf recorded an extensive interview with the Columbia University Oral History Office in , three years before his death. Koch Mary Lasker John B. Search transcripts: Advanced Search. He continued as president of Random House until As a Columbia undergraduate, he wrote a daily column for the Spectator and edited the Jester , a humor magazine.

Cerf took the job vacated by his classmate Richard Simon Columbia College , who left to start his own publishing venture with Max Schuster Columbia College When Cerf died in , his funeral service was held at St.