Allan Carr
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the comedian with a similar name see Alan Carr.
- For the self-help writer, see Allen Carr.
Allan Carr (born Allan Solomon on May 27, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois, died June 29, 1999) was an American film producer and manager of actors and musicians.
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[edit] Early life and career
Early in his career, Carr worked behind the scenes at Playboy Magazine with Hugh Hefner. Through the years, he became known as a great planner of promotional events and parties.
[edit] Film and Broadway theatre success
In 1977, producer Robert Stigwood hired him to produce the ad campaign for Saturday Night Fever. It worked so well that Stigwood hired him for Grease (1978). The two then worked on several other films, though not as successfully as in their first collaborative efforts.
Carr won a Tony Award in 1984 for producing the Broadway hit La Cage aux Folles.
[edit] As producer of the Academy Awards
His reputation for hosting expensive and lavish parties and creating spectacular production numbers led the producers of the 61st Annual Academy Awards to hire him to create the show based on his promise that he would turn it around from the dry, dull show it had been in previous years. Promising "the antithesis of tacky" it turned out to be a disaster culminating in the infamous pairing of Snow White (played by Eileen Bowman) and Rob Lowe singing "Proud Mary".
The telecast also featured a production number featuring what was introduced as "the youth of Hollywood", with all the participants in their 20s or early 30s. The show became a laughing-stock and has gone down in history one of the worst moments in awards show and television history.
Adding to the misery, the Walt Disney Company sued for illegal use of Snow White's image. Carr's reputation never recovered, although his decision to change the award announcement from "And the winner is..." to "And the Oscar goes to..." has become the norm, not just for the Oscars, but for awards shows in general.
He never worked in Hollywood again and at the time of his death, was employed in an office in Brentwood, California.
[edit] Death
He died on June 29, 1999 in Beverly Hills, California from liver cancer at the age of 62.
[edit] Management career
Allan managed the careers of many people, including:
- Peter Sellers
- Paul Anka
- Marvin Hamlisch
- Ann-Margret
- Melina Mercouri
- Cass Elliot
- Dyan Cannon
- Herb Alpert
- Peggy Lee
- Marlo Thomas
- Olivia Newton-John
- Tony Curtis
[edit] Production career
Allan was a film producer for numerous movies, including:
- C.C. and Company (1970)
- Grease (1978)
- Can't Stop the Music (1980)
- Grease 2 (1982)
- Where the Boys Are '84 (1984)
- Cloak & Dagger (1984)
He also wrote the screen adaptation of Grease.
