ATPAM HONORS 60 YEAR MEMBER DANNY
NEWMAN
IATSE PRESENTS LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP GOLD CARD
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Gordon Forbes with Danny Newman
and IATSE VP Dan Kerins |
At a luncheon held on August 7, 2002 in a private
dining room of Petterino’s Restaurant in the heart of Chicago’s
theatre district, ATPAM honored the well-known Press Agent and
Subscription Ghuru, Danny Newman who has been a member of the Union for 60
years.
The ATPAM Chicago membership gathered to fete the
legendary Press Agent for the Chicago Lyric Opera on the occasion of his
retirement. Newman was accompanied by his wife, who was seated next to him
at the head table.
Newman, whose career spans seven decades is perhaps
best known today for his indispensable how-to book, "Subscribe
Now!" which is now in it’s 11th printing. The book is a
compendium of marketing and subscription building techniques used by
performing arts institutions around the globe.
ATPAM Secretary-Treasurer, Gordon G. Forbes served as
the master of ceremonies for the event. He recalled that "many ATPAM
members knew who Danny Newman was long before they ever knew there was a
labor union that represented Press Agents and Managers in the legitimate
theatre." He went on to say that "Newman was a member of the
Union in the days long before the advent of the Pension and Health plans
most members take for granted today." Newman was then, and is today,
a staunch supporter of his Union. Without the dedication of Newman other
early ATPAM members, Managers and Press Agents working today would not
have the professional standard of living that has been achieved. He said
"the younger members owe a debt of gratitude to the great generation
that preceded us."
The lifetime gold membership card was presented to
Newman by IATSE International Vice President Dan Kerins a well known and
respected member of Chicago’s arts community. IATSE (International
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) is ATPAM’s parent union,
representing over 100,000 workers in the entertainment industry. Kerins
recalled some of the public relations stunts pulled by Newman over the
years and fondly remembered Newman’s velvet touch with difficult star
performers and impressarios alike. Kerins good-naturedly roasted Newman
and congratulated him on his stellar career. Kerins conveyed best wishes
from IATSE President, Thomas C. Short.
Accepting his honor, Newman demonstrated that he is
still in the vanguard of press-agentry when he burst into a hip-hop parody
of Gilbert and Sullivan, in which he breathlessly recounted the highlights
of a remarkable career to the delight of the audience.
Read more about Danny Newman in our
Member Spotlight Section |
