Ira Eaker, 80; Helped Found, Publish Back Stage Magazine
Ira Eaker, 80, the co-founder and co-publisher of the entertainment magazine Back Stage, died June 26 at his home in Tamarac, Fla., after cancer surgery.
Founded in New York City by Eaker and Allen Zwerdling in 1960, Back Stage became a leading trade journal for performers. The publication featured audition notices, tips on job hunting, industry news and reviews.
It opened a Los Angeles office in the 1970s and split into two publications a decade later: Shoot, for film and television, and Back Stage, for live performances.
Billboard Publications bought Back Stage in 1986, and Eaker continued as a consultant before his retirement.
Born in New York City, Eaker served in the Army in Europe during World War II. After the war, he graduated from City College of New York and began a career in advertising.
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