A Mogul Who Inspired Fear--and Loyalty

In Frank Rose’s “The Last Mogul” (May 21), he said that MCA head Lew Wasserman’s rages often left men in “toilet-hugging fear.” I always chuckle while reading how Wasserman, Michael Ovitz, Sidney Scheinberg et al are so feared--as were Sam Goldwyn, Louis B. Mayer and their colleagues in the old days

What was everyone afraid of? The worst that any of these men could do would be to fire you. And even that wouldn’t happen if you said something like: “Listen, you overpaid, undersized minimally talented rug merchant: Threaten me and I’ll throw you through one of your overpriced, handcrafted, tastelessly designed windows.”

You’d probably get a raise.

Sterling R. Johnson

Palm Springs

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I contest Rose’s statement that the “warmth Wasserman showed to clients did not extend to employees.” I was secretary to a motion-picture-department executive when MCA was an agency. I filled on for Wasserman’s secretary when she absent or on vacation and thus had a lot of contact with him. I never knew him to be or heard that he was less than a gentleman. He was concerned about the welfare of his employees and respected their suggestions.

On one occasion he bought a suggestion of mine that the assembled agents had previously voted down. On another, when I ultimately felt the need to work at something else, he tried at length to talk me out of quitting. (Although I’ve had an interesting career, I’ve had twinges of regret from time to time.)

What some people see as a “forbidding figure, cold and austere,” is actually a man who is the epitome of professionalism, one who brooks no nonsense and does not suffer fools gladly. Bully for him!

Juliet R. Ristom

Los Angeles