From Stage 1. Early Childhood – The Innocent in the Nest

2/5/16
Reading Kenneth Turan’s review today in the LA Times of the Coen Brothers “Hail Caesar”, a fun insider spoof of the movie business, I had a flash realization of my cultural embeddedness in the working class world of the Hollywood craft and support industries. That’s the backdrop economy and culture within which I have grown up and lived.

Pop/Walter Stern – Universal Studios purchasing director under Carl Laemmle
Charles Levin – supervisor of processing labs for Selig, Chaplin, Hal Roach (25 years), CFI (25 years)
Edward Louis Levin – processing lab CFI (25 years; started after his father retired)
Eddie and Elaine – Disney collectibles, movie posters, largely to entertainment customers

Angelo Rossitto  – 300 films supporting actor
Mary Levin – many family friends in the business
Jennifer Emery – studied acting and modeling, got some work in both, professional photographer starting with head shots
Matthew Emery – scenic construction IATSE Local 44, college major Theatre Craft
Nicholas Rossitto- production assistant TV
Susie Rossitto- was stand-in for kids, TV series

My childhood neighbors and friends:
Melrose Elementary/Willoughby: Sherry Jackson (daughter on Danny Thomas show), Chuck Braverman (his mom was a TV actress, he became a documentary film maker)
Cleveland HS – Dick Conway (his dad was a writer for Leave it to Beaver while we were in school together)

Me – carpenter/stagehand IATSE Local 33