Page 26 - The Islander - April '19

Page 26, The Islander DOUBLE SPACE

Book review

A Perfect Pair: Public Relations And Event Promotions

By Nils A. Shapiro

In addition to providing just sitting around having a • “Boxing is in my blood,” says Alan. His friendship with
the popular Trivia column, drink together! Chris Dundee, the fight promoter, and his brother, Angelo,
in every issue of Boca Club It is that entertaining. And the fight manager/trainer whose stable of champion boxers
News, Broken Sound’s how could it not be, when have included Muhammed Ali, goes back to Alan’s high
Stanley Morgenbesser is that story begins with young school days, when he and his fraternity brothers worked as
the leader of the club’s Alan Schneiderman writing ushers at matches. Throughout the years, Alan established
member social group known about sports for his Miami a personal relationship with Ali and covered such classic
as the “What’s Up Club” high school newspaper and fights as Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Carmen Basilio (1958),
that met once a week every for the Miami Beach Sun, a Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Tommy Hearns (1981), and, earlier,
single week since 1992 – a daily tabloid. Then on to the the Cassius Clay – Sonny Liston fight, after which Clay
remarkable record of more University of Miami, again famously announced his name change to Muhammed Ali.
than 1,400 consecutive writing about sports for the • For a list of clients that included such major
weekly meetings over a period of 27 years, and now meets school paper, and this time corporations as Maxwell House Coffee, Clairol, Wheaties,
once a month. Stan took over from “What’s Up Club” founder for the Miami Herald, as Nuprin, Evian, AT&T, General Mills (Betty Crocker),
Sidney Hyman about a decade ago, when Sidney passed away well. But when he moves to Los Angeles, another reporter on General Motors, MSNBC, as well as the U.S. Ski and
at the age of 100. the paper there has the same name, so he has to change his. Snowboard Association and the U.S. Postal Service, Alan
It is due to Stan’s thoughtfulness that I learned about Alan Since “Schneider” in German means “tailor,” he changes his Taylor’s public relations and event coordination agency
Taylor, who a month or so ago was the latest in a very long professional name to Alan Taylor, and sticks with it once the handled their participating sponsorships of eight Olympic
string of speakers whose varied backgrounds and interesting name becomes well known around town. Games, traveling to, and representing them, in: Calgary
presentations keep those club members returning week after It would take three pages in this issue to cover all of the (Canada) 1998; Seoul (Korea) 1988; Albertville (France)
week, year after year. When Stan heard that Taylor – an award- highlights of Alan’s career as a journalist, his achievements for 1992; Barcelona (Spain) 1992; Atlanta 1996; Nagano
winning journalist, public relations genius and sports event a celebrity-studded list of sports clients, and results his agency (Japan) 1998; Sydney (Australia) 2000; and Salt Lake City,
promoter – had written a book about his highly successful got for their famous product accounts ... so I will drop just a 2002.
career, he tipped me off about it, and the result is this month’s few names to give you some idea: • There is much more, from overseeing the Yukon
Book Review selection. • When Alan arrived in Los Angeles, he was assigned to Jack Arm Wrestling Championships to helping create a
As it turns out, Alan Taylor is now retired, residing at Boca cover the Dodgers, traveled with the team, and was on hand to new, “more modern” image of the iconic Betty Crocker to
Pointe. And, as I have noted more than once in earlier columns, report Sandy Koufax’s 5 to 0 no-hitter against the New York adorn the entire line of the famous product line ... but space
nothing pleases me more than introducing my readers to the Mets on June 30, 1962. limitations here make it impossible to describe all of the
works of wonderfully talented authors – fascinating men and • Alan became part of “Arnie’s Army,” walking the fairways diverse assignments that have marked Alan Taylor’s career.
women – you can be proud to call neighbors. with Arnold Palmer when he covered golf tournaments for a To get the full story, and to understand why he has been
Alan Taylor certainly fits that description, and this 234- Los Angeles newspaper. honored with so many of the awards in his field, you will
page, photo-filled paperback memoir of his career is written • Alan’s assignments in tennis included working with Billie have to sit with Alan himself ... or order a copy of the book
in a style so informal and fast-paced that you almost have the Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Pam Shriver, Vitas Gerulaitis from Amazon.com and enjoy it on your own schedule. Alan
feeling he is telling you his story while the two of you are and Bobby Riggs. probably already has a crowd around him most of the time.

Film review

The Wife

By Nils A. Shapiro

I had initially planned for this film to be the subject of last Oscar was instead given to Joseph is a philanderer. His wife leaves him and he marries
month’s March issue review column. However, I decided Olivia Colman for her role Joan, whose own ambitions as a writer are discouraged when
that most of you would have already seen the movie by in The Favourite. publishers point out that male authors’ works are looked at
then, because I assumed you would have been motivated So I will take this more seriously, and that her own writing is, therefore, less
to do so by Glenn Close’s Best Actress Academy Award opportunity to describe likely to be even considered.
for her performance in The Wife and wouldn’t need any why Ms. Close did win Instead, she encourages Joseph’s writing efforts,
encouragement on my part to seek out the film. 14 Best Actress awards contributing to his work and watching him become ever
But I was shocked and disappointed when Glenn Close’s for her role in The Wife, more famous and successful as an author. They have a son,
name – for the seventh or eighth time as a Best Actress from organizations ranging as David, who also hopes to be a writer someday and seeks his
nominee – was once again not the one announced, and the widely as the Screen Actors father’s help and approval — but is ignored by Joseph’s self-
Guild to the Palm Springs centeredness.
International Film Festival... On the flight to Sweden, the Castlemans are approached
Southern Exposure Technologies the Critics’ Choice Awards to by another passenger, Nathaniel Bone (Christian Slater), a
Computer Install/Setup/Repair the San Diego Film Critics journalist, who professes to want to congratulate Joseph on
Society ... the Independent Spirit Awards to the Golden Globes.
his Nobel Prize, but who has actually contracted to write a
(561) 315-0144 Based on a bestselling novel by Meg Wolitzer, The Wife biography of Joseph and is intent on arranging an interview.
getsetgo.annie@gmail.com is the story of a marriage that appears to be reasonably happy As it turns out, he knows a little too much about the couple’s
* DSL, Broadband,Wireless Install on the surface, but with a simmering, inexplicable sense of marital secrets and plans for his book to be less than fully
* Networking, Troubleshooting tension in the air. In the opening scene, the couple – Joseph complimentary.
* Instruction and Joan Castleman (Jonathan Pryce and Glenn Close) – are When the family arrives in Stockholm Joseph is treated
* Hardware/Software Installation awakened by a phone call. It is one they have been hoping royally, and is even assigned an attractive young woman as a
* Virus/Spyware/Adware Fix would come: a call from Stockholm informing Joseph, a photographer to record every aspect of his visit. Joan, on the
* Cleanup/Maintenance/Backup
* Business Consult/Startup/Move bestselling author, that he has been selected to receive the other hand, is asked almost dismissively if she would like to
* Website Design/Maintenance Nobel Prize for Literature! join the other wives on a shopping tour.
Call S.E.T. to install your “new computer, printer Joseph and Joan jump up and down for joy on their bed – In every scene, in every way, Glenn Close’s face – her
and wireless network”! but the lingering expression on Joan’s face, which proves to sometimes icy smile, eyes a narrow slit – reveals the steely
GET S.E.T. GO! be the mirror of the film’s emotions throughout, signals that self-control that is coiled within her. At the Nobel dinner,
REASONABLE HOURLY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY RATES something is amiss. the man seated next to her asks, “And what do you do, Mrs.
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES FOR AS LOW AS $50.00 AN HOUR, In scenes that switch back and forth from their trip to Castleman?” Without turning her head, she replies, “I am a
WITH A MINIMUM OF 6 HOURS A MONTH, Stockholm for the Nobel Prize awards dinner, to flashbacks kingmaker.” It is a moment to savor that says it all!
OR 2 HOURS A WEEK, OR ON AN AS-NEEDED
BASIS RATE OF $75.00 P/HOUR. showing how they met and their earlier life together – starting Eventually, things come to a head, we learn the truth
START YOUR NEW YEAR WITH SECURE BACKUPS, when she was a student in his creative writing class at Smith, ... and we understand how and why the magic of Glenn
QUALITY MAINTENANCE, ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND an all-girls college, and he a married professor with a child – it Close’s expression-nuanced face has carried this film from
PERSONABLE ON-SITE SUPPORT! becomes clear that Joseph is a flawed man. Playing the role beginning to end — a brilliant performance that made this
(561) 315-0144
CALL S.E.T. TODAY FOR YOUR COMPUTER NEEDS! of the young Joan is Annie Starke, who in real life is Glenn film for me. I loved every moment with her and believe
Close’s daughter, and she does a wonderful job of it. you will, as well.