Michael Benson & Craig Singer-story of 2 Movie Giants-Moguls

Book Bit for Jan. 2,2025

“Moguls: The Lives and Times of Hollywood Pioneers Nicholas and Joseph Schenck by Michael Benson and Craig Singer (Kensington Publishing Corp.)

 

It’s the story of the two most influential men in Hollywood history, whose stories have not been told until now. They didn’t just make movies, they created the Motion Pictures Academy, the Oscar, and helped launch United Artists, MGM, and Twentieth Century Fox studios, plus the Loew’s chain of movie theatres.

 

“The Schencks were responsible for metamorphosizing film, from its production and distribution to its star power, distribution via glitzy movie theatres, manipulating the headlines and celebrity narratives, and even how films were sourced, shot, and regarded by the public. They infused mystique, money, glamour, danger, sex, and romance into film and were there at the fledging start of “talkies.” Responsible for growing the celluloid industry into a multi-million dollar empire right through the Great Depression, one can draw a straight line from the efforts of the Schencks to today’s mega movie stars.”

But that’s not all! The Schencks (who started as pharmacists in Chinatown, NYC) halted a Nazi takeover of the movie industry and a shakedown by the Mob in the 1930s; Joe did four months in the fed pen for tax evasion (one of his deductions involved a menage a trois);their pals included William Randolph Hearst, Lillian Gish, Jacob Paley, John Huston, Fatty Arbuckle, Douglas Fairbanks, Irving Thalberg, Irving Berlin, and TV’s Superman George Reeves (whose mysterious suicide is linked to the brothers ) These guys knew everybody, and helped hundreds of people along the way. Joe’s brother-in-law was the iconic comic actor and silent screen star, Buster Keaton!

“MOGULS is a rollicking, entertaining romp through Hollywood’s unstoppable trajectory and its glitzy, sordid highs and lows, seen through the exploits of two brothers who made cinema history.”

Michael Benson (Brooklyn, NY) is the author of more than sixty books, including the nonfiction history and crime titles Gangsters vs Nazis, Betrayal in Blood, Killer Twins, Mommy Deadliest, Who’s Who in the JFK Assassination, and The Devil at Genesee Junction. He is the co-author, along with Frank Dimatteo, of the acclaimed American Mafia history books, plus the recipient of the Academy of American Poets Award.

Craig Singer is an Emmy-nominated director, producer, writer and filmmaker. A Former Disney executive, he directed and produced the films A Good Night to Die (2003), Dark Ride (2006), Perkins' 14 (2009) and Animal Room (1995). His latest film, 6:45, earned multiple awards, including Best Feature, Paris Independent Film Festival; Best Feature, Hollywood on the Tiber Film Awards; Best Horror Feature, Hong Kong Indie Film Festival; and Best Director, Catalina Film Festival.

 

Hear one of three interview with the authors on my podcast, onthebookshelf.podbean.com, two shorter and one 30 minutes  ON THE BOOKSHELF on WTBF-AM/FM.