Robert C. Schuler
Encyclopedia
Robert Charles Schuler (April 30, 1917 — December 25, 2007) was an American advertising and public-relations executive, television producer, and writer. He is best known for creating and producing the ABC-TV primetime variety series The Patrice Munsel Show. Schuler was married to Munsel for more than five decades.
, Schuler studied at St. Mary's College
, the University of Minnesota
, and Northwestern University
. He was an active member of the Alpha Tau Omega
fraternity. Schuler also studied acting at Max Reinhardt
's School of the Theatre in Hollywood and with Lee Strassberg at the American Theatre Wing
.
Schuler first worked as an advertising copy writer for Sears Roebuck in Chicago
. Hating the cold weather, he decided to quit his job and move to California
. He ended up living in an artist colony in Malibu where he founded the Malibu Theatre. He tried to make a career as a film actor, landing small uncredited roles for MGM, Columbia, and Universal during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
Schuler eventually gave up on his dream of an acting career and took a position as Assistant Advertising Manager at Western Airlines
. He returned to working in entertainment in the late 1940s, notably working as the Associate Producer of the 1947 Broadway play, Laura. He then became a Director and TV Casting Director for Young & Rubicam
. He later became the president of the public relations firm, Celebrity International, Inc. in New York City, serving in that position for fifteen years.
In 1952 Schuler married renowned opera singer Patrice Munsel
. During their marriage of fifty-five years they had four children together: Heidi, Rhett, Scott and Nicole. Schuler notably conceived and produced the ABC-TV primetime variety series The Patrice Munsel Show, which of course starred his wife. The program was broadcast on ABC from 1956-1957. He also wrote a 2005 memoir of his life with his wife entitled, The Diva & I. Schuler's other work as writer included eight travel books entitled, The Little Book: Dare to Do It Yourself series. He was also a frequent contributor to Details
during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Schuler died on Christmas Day 2007 at his home in the Adirondack Mountains
in New York
.
Biography
Born in Winona, MinnesotaWinona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
, Schuler studied at St. Mary's College
Saint Mary's College (Michigan)
Saint Mary's College, also known as St. Mary's College of Madonna University, is a college located in Orchard Lake Village, Michigan. St. Mary's College shares its campus with St. Mary's Preparatory and SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary. It is located on the former site of the Michigan Military...
, the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, and Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. He was an active member of the Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
fraternity. Schuler also studied acting at Max Reinhardt
Max Reinhardt
----Max Reinhardt was an Austrian theater and film director and actor.-Biography:...
's School of the Theatre in Hollywood and with Lee Strassberg at the American Theatre Wing
American Theatre Wing
The American Theatre Wing is a New York City-based organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," according to its mission statement...
.
Schuler first worked as an advertising copy writer for Sears Roebuck in 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...
. Hating the cold weather, he decided to quit his job and move to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He ended up living in an artist colony in Malibu where he founded the Malibu Theatre. He tried to make a career as a film actor, landing small uncredited roles for MGM, Columbia, and Universal during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
Schuler eventually gave up on his dream of an acting career and took a position as Assistant Advertising Manager at Western Airlines
Western Airlines
Western Airlines was a large airline based in California, with operations throughout the Western United States, and hubs at Los Angeles International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, and the former Stapleton International Airport in Denver...
. He returned to working in entertainment in the late 1940s, notably working as the Associate Producer of the 1947 Broadway play, Laura. He then became a Director and TV Casting Director for Young & Rubicam
Young & Rubicam
Y&R is a marketing and communications company specializing in advertising, digital and social media, sales promotion, direct marketing and brand identity consulting.-History:...
. He later became the president of the public relations firm, Celebrity International, Inc. in New York City, serving in that position for fifteen years.
In 1952 Schuler married renowned opera singer Patrice Munsel
Patrice Munsel
Patrice Munsel is an American coloratura soprano, the youngest singer who ever starred at the Metropolitan Opera, nicknamed "Princess Pat"....
. During their marriage of fifty-five years they had four children together: Heidi, Rhett, Scott and Nicole. Schuler notably conceived and produced the ABC-TV primetime variety series The Patrice Munsel Show, which of course starred his wife. The program was broadcast on ABC from 1956-1957. He also wrote a 2005 memoir of his life with his wife entitled, The Diva & I. Schuler's other work as writer included eight travel books entitled, The Little Book: Dare to Do It Yourself series. He was also a frequent contributor to Details
Details (magazine)
Details is an American monthly men's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, founded in 1982. Though primarily a magazine devoted to fashion and lifestyle, Details also features reports on relevant social and political issues.-History:...
during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Schuler died on Christmas Day 2007 at his home in the Adirondack Mountains
Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.