Harry Brand
| Harry Brand | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Harry Robert Brand October 20, 1895 New York, New York, US |
| Died | February 22, 1989 (aged 93) Beverly Hills, California, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Press agent |
| Years active | 1925–1984 |
| Employer | 20th Century Fox |
| Spouse(s) | Sybil Brand (married 1933) |
Harry Brand (October 20, 1895 – February 22, 1989) was an American press agent. Described as "the mastermind who made Shirley Temple the most famous child star in history, Betty Grable a GI Joe pinup girl and Marilyn Monroe a sex goddess," Brand was the head of publicity at 20th Century Fox from 1935 until 1962.
Known as the "Herald of Hyperbole" for his exuberant press releases, Brand was an accomplished fixer. Married to Sybil Brand, a prominent philanthropist and political fundraiser, and the brother of a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, he utilized his family connections as well as his relationships with powerful columnists such as Louella Parsons and Walter Winchell to keep scandals and indiscretions which involved his clients from making headlines.
Brand was born in New York to Austrian immigrants Louis Brand, a tailor, and Celia Berry Brand. He moved with his family to Los Angeles in 1900, and in 1902 he broke his leg. Set improperly, he walked with a limp and was in pain for the duration of his life.
Brand went to Los Angeles High School, where he edited the school paper and served as the treasurer for the debate team. He briefly attended the University of Southern California.
Brand began his career as a sports writer and editor at the Los Angeles Express. Interested in politics, he left the paper to become the secretary to Los Angeles Mayor Arthur "Pinky" Snyder, where he saw to it that the sometimes drunk mayor did not make an "official fool of himself" and had "all the reporters and correspondants keep his greatness in the public eye." Brand was then hired by Warner Bros. Pictures, where he served as the press agent for Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton, among others. He worked on several films with producer Joseph M. Schenck, and in 1935, when Schenk founded 20th Century Pictures with Darryl F. Zanuck, he hired Brand as the studio's publicity head. He played an essential role in the career of the famously abrasive Zanuck; he advised him on "all problems related to his personal contact" with the public and often played 'good cop' to Zanuck's 'bad cop' to resolve disputes with 20th Century Fox stars.
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