E336: Julian Schlossberg - MovieTalk, Memoirs & the Magic of Show Business
Two-time Oscar-nominated producer Julian Schlossberg joins Back2Basics to share unforgettable stories from a seven-decade career in film, theater, and television. From negotiating with Barry Diller at Paramount to restoring Orson Welles’ Othello, Julian takes us behind the curtain of show business—and into the lessons that shaped his life: staying grounded, surviving rejection, knowing your value, and never letting go of the ledge. We also talk about his memoir, Try Not to Hold It Against Me, and why true passion is what keeps you in the game.
Julian Schlossberg - MovieTalk, Memoirs & the Magic of Show Business
Learn more about Julian at: JULIAN SCHLOSSBERG - Home
Listen to his podcast at: Home | Julian
Episode Highlights
The Radio That Fueled Imagination:
Julian grew up with radio first—imagining the Lone Ranger's range and Jack Benny's vault. Television's arrival felt like magic: free shows, baseball games, and variety programs, all in his home.
The Audition That Never Happened:
On his first day job hunting, Julian told a white lie to an interviewer—"You don't remember me, but you told me to finish college and come back." The interviewer said, "I remember." He got the job. His mother couldn't believe it happened on day one.
The Ziegfeld Miracle:
As a 27-year-old running the "white elephant" Ziegfeld Theater, Julian booked *That's Entertainment*, *Tommy*, and *Roller Coaster*—grossing $3 million in one year when top tickets were $3-$4. Studios decided he "must know something."
The Barry Diller Negotiation:
When Paramount's Barry Diller wanted Julian in LA, Julian refused to leave New York. Diller offered two weeks in NY, two in LA. Julian said no again—and got hired anyway.
“Nobody But You":
Early in his marriage, Julian complained about his office messing up. His wife said, "Nobody but you." It took the wind right out of his sails—and kept him grounded.
The Orson Welles Restoration:
Julian's proudest achievement: restoring and distributing Orson Welles' *Othello*, which had languished in a vault for 40 years. No one else wanted it. He spent eight months raising money and fixing the film so the world could finally see it.
Stay on the Ledge:
Julian's advice to aspiring creatives: "You don't let go of the ledge. Actors are wounded people—they've been rejected constantly, yet they kept going because they wanted the prize.
Show Notes
📻 [02:48] Growing up in the Bronx: Radio first, imagination fueled
🗽 [04:18] Going downtown to see live shows
📰 [06:46] Mother forbids bringing *Variety* home—he reads it anyway
🤥 [09:52] The white lie that got him the job at ABC
📞 [11:19] First day job hunting
🎭 [14:20] Walter Reed Organization: Running theaters at 27
🏆 [15:35] The Ziegfeld Theater: From "white elephant" to $3 million in one year
😂 [20:31] "Diametrically opposed" – The conversation that made Barry Diller laugh
🏔️ [23:50] Castle Hill Productions: Building a 500-film library
💍 [27:41] The wife who keeps him grounded: "Nobody but you"
📖 [29:03] Writing the memoir during COVID: "The brain is a computer"
📚 [31:10] Short chapters: "I became the USA Today of memoirs"
📻 [34:58] *Julian Schlossberg's Movie Talk* podcast on Facebook
🎭 [35:46] Rob Reiner's last two interviews before his passing
🎬 [39:15] Proudest achievement: Restoring Orson Welles' *Othello*
🎤 [41:58] Excited for tomorrow: Interviewing Petula Clark
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Famous Works
CREDITS
Stage Appearances
Moderator, An Evening with Joseph E. Levine at Town Hall, Town Hall, New York City, 1974
Stage Work
Producer, An Evening with Joseph E. Levine at Town Hall, Town Hall, New York City, 1974
Coproducer, It Had to Be You, 1981
Producer, Nichols and May at the Rainbow Room, Rainbow Room, New York City, 1983
Coproducer, Mr. Gogol and Mr. Preen, Lincoln Center, New York City, 1991
Associate producer, Damn Yankees, Marquis Theatre, New York City,1994
Coproducer, Vita and Virginia, Union Square Theatre, New York City, 1994
Coproducer, Death Defying Acts, Variety Arts Theatre, New York City, 1995
Coproducer, Word of Mouth, Promenade Theatre, New York City, 1995
Coproducer, Moscow Stations, Union Square Theatre, 1995
Also worked on Slapstick, Too.
Film Work
Coproducer, Ten from Your Show of Shows, 1973
Director (with Danny Goldberg and Anthony Potenza) and producer, No Nukes (also known as The Muse Concert: No Nukes, Warner Bros., 1980
Director, Going Hollywood--The 30's (documentary), Castle Hill, 1984
Producer, Hollywood Uncensored, 1986
Producer and director, Going Hollywood--The War Years (documentary), Castle Hill, 1988
Producer (with Beverly Irby), In the Spirit, Castle Hill, 1990
Producer, Bad Girls (also known as Five Girls), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1994
Co-executive producer, Widows' Peak, Fine Line, 1994
Television Appearances
Series
Host, Julian Schlossberg's Movie Talk, syndicated, 1982-1983
Television Work
Specials
Producer, … Read More
