Home
Search transcripts:    Advanced Search
Notable New     Yorkers
Select     Notable New Yorker

Bennett CerfBennett Cerf
Photo Gallery
Transcript

Session:         Page of 1029

wanted to learn the publishing business. Donald was only interested in...

Q:

But he did join after you had left.

Cerf:

Yes, this was after I had left. They also hired a young fellow named Emanuel Siwek, who today is the president of Grossett and Dunlap. And when I was there, Ted Weekes was there with me. He became editor of the Atlantic Monthly--a very famous man in the book business. He was selling books for Liveright. There were people there destined to be importan in the publishing business--Dick Simon, Beatrice Kaufman...

Q:

It's amazing to think that he'd attracted all these people.

Cerf:

...Lillian Hellman.

Q:

Would you describe Horace Liveright as sort of an idea man”

Cerf:

I would say he could have been a Mississippi River boat. gambler with a long silk hat on. He would have been the perfect Mississippi River boat gambler. As I told you, he fancied himself as John Barrymore, and he did look like John Barrymore. He would ask the girls, “Do I remind you of anybody?” and if they said John Barrymore, he would be particularly pleased. He was a kind of matinee idol in his way, very handsome; smoked a cigarette with a long holder. There





© 2006 Columbia University Libraries | Oral History Research Office | Rights and Permissions | Help