Stephen Blauner
Jules Stephen Blauner (September 19, 1933), commonly known as Steve Blauner, was Bobby Darin's manager,[1] producer, and member of BBS Productions.
Stephen was born to Eugene and Marion Blauner on September 19, 1933. At the time of Stephen’s birth, his parents had settled in New York City and he was born on 81st St. in Elmhurst Hospital. While in kindergarten, the family moved to White Plains where he met childhood friend and future collaborator, Bert Schneider. After watching The Jolson Story numerous times, Blauner developed a love for the entertainment business that he would soon pursue. While Blauner was serving time in the air force, he visited the Copacabana where Sammy Davis Jr. was performing. Blauner idolized Davis and said to the singer, “The way you feel about Frank Sinatra is the way I feel about you”. After Blauner completed his time in the military, he and Davis became very good friends. Blauner’s first job in the entertainment business was as an agent at GAC, at that time the third largest agency in the world. He met with Harriet Wasser and soon discovered singer-songwriter Bobby Darin. Blauner had almost no experience in management, but he signed Darin with GAC. His first action in management was a Connecticut concert that assured him Darin would become a success. Later, after he quit GAC, he asked Darin if he still wanted him to be his manager. Bobby Darin agreed and Blauner maintained his position as Darin’s official manager until 1965. During this time, Bert Schneider became vice president and treasurer of Screen Gems and after Darin had received his Academy-Award nomination for Captain Newman M.D, Blauner and Darin split professionally, but remained friends. He often refers to his management period with Darin as a “comet ride”. He soon began to work for Screen Germs and worked on popular TV. sitcoms such as, “Bewitched”, “I Dream of Jeannie”, “The Farmer’s Daughter”, “Hazel” and “The Monkees.” Blauner formed BBS with producers Bert Schenider and Bob Rafelson and during that time, the company produced the Academy-Award winning documentary Hearts and Minds, and New Hollywood flms Five Easy Pieces, The Last Picture Show, The King of Marvin Gardens and A Safe Place. Steve Blauner continues to represent the Bobby Darin estate.
Blauner himself appeared in a few videotaped comedy "blackout" sketches for television comedian Ernie Kovacs during the early 1960s. One sketch was entitled "Whom Dunnit", where Blauner played a dimwitted panelist wearing a "Beany Copter" hat and sweatshirt emblazoned with the word "Trenton" (which was a mocking reference by Kovacs to his hometown of Trenton, New Jersey).
He was portrayed by John Goodman in the 2004 Bobby Darin biopic Beyond the Sea.[2]
References
- ↑ (16 December 1994). King of the Hip. San Jose Mercury News, Retrieved November 16, 2010 ("Bobby Darin never put down any music," says his outspoken former manager and close friend Stephen Blauner, 61, who played Colonel Parker to Darin's Elvis")
- ↑ Clinton, Paul. (17 December 2004). Review: 'Beyond' good, thanks to Spacey, CNN, Retrieved November 16, 2010