Priceless Memories - Bob Barker [89]
The part of this whole fiasco that I enjoyed the most was a line in the Washington Post that said, “Joe Torreneuva has cut them all, from Brando to Barker.” I liked being in the same sentence with Brando, even if I got second billing.
My business management combo is pretty impressive, too, when it comes to longevity. Guy Gadbois, a well-known and well-respected business manager, and I were seatmates on a flight from New York City to Los Angeles in 1962. By the time the plane landed in California, I was so impressed with Guy that I retained him to handle my business affairs. Guy suggested that I buy some land in the Perris Valley adjacent to land already purchased by two of his clients, Jimmy Stewart and Tony Curtis. I bought the land, and over the years it has become the best single investment I ever made. It may not be number one on Jimmy’s and Tony’s lists, but I know they did well, too.
Unfortunately, Guy passed away in 1976. But Mary Prappas had worked in Guy’s office for years, and when she opened her own office, both Jimmy Stewart and I became her clients. When Mary retired in 1992, her son, William, took over the office, and both Jimmy Stewart and I became William’s clients. Of course, Jimmy is gone now, but William and I are still chugging along together. In fact, William is the business manager for the DJ&T Foundation, too. So, like Tinker to Evers to Chance, it has been Guy to Mary to William for me for almost half a century.
Sol Rosenthal, a prominent entertainment attorney, and I have been associated for twenty-six years. Sol has negotiated many a contract for me professionally, and he has participated in writing the agreements for the endowment funds I have established with universities on behalf of animals.
And, of course, there is Henri Bollinger. Henri has been my public relations representative for more than twenty years. He has watched over me like a mother hen in all sorts of situations in all sorts of places with all sorts of people and never missed a beat.
Which brings me to Tom Stasinis, a true artist of the needle. Frequently, I have been complimented on my clothes, and Tom has been my tailor for thirty years. Tom has made me everything from corduroy jackets to tuxedos, and he has never dropped a stitch. He’s a great luncheon companion too, with stories about clients all the way back to George Raft. (If that name isn’t familiar, your grandfather will explain.)
All of these fellows with whom I have been associated for so many years are gentlemen of the old school, and I am proud to have them as friends as well as business associates.
A gentleman of the old school who is new to the Barker clan is my collaborator, Digby Diehl, with whom I have had a good time writing my book. I must also give thanks to his wife, Kay, for her proofreading and research and to his daughter Dylan, for her compliments and chocolates.
Good fortune smiled on me yet again on the day that Christina Boys became editor of Priceless Memories. Although Christina and I have not met, in our lengthy telephone conversations she has warmly encouraged me and expertly guided me in the preparation of this book. Working with Christina has become another one of my priceless memories.
I have a long list of cousins, nephews, a niece, and in-laws spread all over the country, but the only family I really spend any time with these days is my brother, Kent, and his wife, Beth. They live about fifteen minutes from me.
I began playing with Kent when he was a baby in his crib. He’s seventy years old now, and we still enjoy playing together. But he has a couple of grandchildren now, about whom he talks endlessly. He was a lot more fun when I got to talk about