Ira Eaker (Back Stage)
Encyclopedia
Ira Eaker was a co-founder of Back Stage
, a weekly newspaper aimed at the theater, television and movie industries that is considered a "must-read" for actors and other professionals looking for jobs and industry information.
Eaker grew up in New York City
and attended public school before serving in the United States Army
during World War II
. After completing his military service, Eaker attended the City College of New York
, where he was awarded a degree in business.
He had worked at a number of different publications while he was attending college and was hired 1948 as the advertising manager of Show Business
, a trade paper for the theatrical industry. After a dozen years at Show Business, he left the paper together with co-worker Allen Zwerdling
to establish Back Stage. The publication was established in 1960 in a small office on West 46th Street in Manhattan, producing a print run of 10,000 copies. From its inception, Back Stage focused on a combination of details about theatrical and movie productions that would be hiring actors and ancillary workers, articles aimed at the aspiring actor, and reviews of new performances for the general public. With the growth of the television industry in New York City during the 1960s, the publication's circulation grew, reaching 32,000 by the time of Eaker's death. Eaker opened a Los Angeles office in 1975 and expanded coverage for Back Stage to Boston
, Chicago
and Florida
.
Back Stage was sold in 1986 to Billboard Publications
, with Eaker staying on as an adviser until his retirement in 1989.
Eaker died at age 80 on June 26, 2002 at a hospital in Tamarac, Florida
. He was survived by his wife, a son and daughter, sister and two grandchildren. His daughter was editor-in-chief of Back Stage at the time of his death, and was an editor at large as of 2009.
Back Stage
Back Stage is an entertainment-industry brand aimed at people working in film and the performing arts, with a special focus on casting, job opportunities, and career advice.Back Stage publishes a weekly tabloid-sized trade magazine in the U.S...
, a weekly newspaper aimed at the theater, television and movie industries that is considered a "must-read" for actors and other professionals looking for jobs and industry information.
Eaker grew up in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and attended public school before serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After completing his military service, Eaker attended the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, where he was awarded a degree in business.
He had worked at a number of different publications while he was attending college and was hired 1948 as the advertising manager of Show Business
Show Business Weekly
Show Business, also known as Show Business Weekly, is a performing arts trade magazine published by Manhattan-based publisher Show Business Inc. The magazine's editorial mission is to guide actors, singers and dancers toward success in their performing arts careers...
, a trade paper for the theatrical industry. After a dozen years at Show Business, he left the paper together with co-worker Allen Zwerdling
Allen Zwerdling
Allen Zwerdling was a co-founder of Back Stage, the "casting bible" for theater performers.-Biography:...
to establish Back Stage. The publication was established in 1960 in a small office on West 46th Street in Manhattan, producing a print run of 10,000 copies. From its inception, Back Stage focused on a combination of details about theatrical and movie productions that would be hiring actors and ancillary workers, articles aimed at the aspiring actor, and reviews of new performances for the general public. With the growth of the television industry in New York City during the 1960s, the publication's circulation grew, reaching 32,000 by the time of Eaker's death. Eaker opened a Los Angeles office in 1975 and expanded coverage for Back Stage to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Back Stage was sold in 1986 to Billboard Publications
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, with Eaker staying on as an adviser until his retirement in 1989.
Eaker died at age 80 on June 26, 2002 at a hospital in Tamarac, Florida
Tamarac, Florida
Tamarac is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,427. It is part of the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010 census....
. He was survived by his wife, a son and daughter, sister and two grandchildren. His daughter was editor-in-chief of Back Stage at the time of his death, and was an editor at large as of 2009.