SHOW BIZ ROYALS - NORTHERN ROYALTY, QUEENS & PRODUCERS

PATHWAY OF THE MOGUL AS THE TERRIBLE-TEMPERED MR. BANG:
Storyline: The pugnacious powerhouse uses fear and trembling tactics to establish himself in the entertainment realm, alternating a driving need to prove he’s the toughest of the tough, with an eye for beauty that he can never manifest about himself.
Suge Knight (Marion ‘Suge’ Knight) (1965) - American recording executive. Outer: Of African-American descent. Father was a truck driver and janitor from Arkansas, who played college football and sang tenor in an R&B group. Youngest of 3, called “Sugar Bear” by his father for his initial sweet disposition. Lived the gangsta life in Compton, with the Mob Piru Bloods, and never really lost his sense of gang affiliation. 6’3”, 315 lbs. A good athlete, he played defensive lineman at UNLV, where he majored in business, although he wound up a few credits shy of a degree, then played briefly with the Los Angeles Rams, before being cut. Arrested 8 times between 1987 and 1992 for his overtly aggressive behavior, pleaded no contest each time and was given suspended sentences and probation on all counts. Worked as a celebrity bodyguard for R&B artist Bobby Brown, then a promoter, and song publisher and finally a producer, beginning in 1991, after allegedly dangling white rapper Vanilla Ice from a balcony to insure his cooperation in a business deal. A self-made entrepreneur, he co-founded Death Row Records with Dr. Dre in 1992, one of the earliest and most successful of the rap recording companies, which reflected his own hard-edged personality, with beatings and gunplay common office procedure. Changed the lettering and logo on his building to reflect his ongoing gang affiliation. Opened a Las Vegas club, calling it 662, the telephone numbers for MOB. Also sported a MOB ring. Evinced little subtlety in his business dealings, using strong-arm techniques and his own petulant personality to recreate himself as a power in the record industry, taking on similar rough-hewn characters and helping to mold them into recording stars, amidst much controversy around his headline-making headbanging tactics, using physical intimidation as a business tool and hiring his fellow Bloods as bodyguards. Convicted on an assault charge in 1994 of using a telephone on two aspiring rockers and given probation. In the same car as his top artist, rapper Tupac Shakur, when he was gunned down in 1996. Avowed enemy of East Coast rap entrepreneur, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, in an ongoing sibling rivalry twixt the two, paralleling their earlier bi-coastal competitiveness. Sentenced to 9 years in 1995 for violating probation, and eventually returned to prison. Released in 2001, with the avowed ambition to become a major player once again, despite defections galore from his label, which was renamed Tha Row. In 2002, federal racketeering charges were dropped against him, and reduced to tax charges, although violent death continued to plague his cohorts, and he was re-arrested for parole violation at year’s end, and then released when most of the charges were dismissed. In 2003, after more of his inner circle were gunned down, he was returned to prison again for parole violation. Also was successfully sued for over a $100 million in 2005 by a former female partner to add to his woes. Later in the year, he was shot in the upper thigh at an awards ceremony, and subsequently declared bankruptcy, with a vow to revive Death Row, in his ongoing battle of wills with the larger world immediately around him, although in 2007, closed it down, following advice from church leaders, as well as acknowledging he was over $135 million in debt. Ultimately sold it in 2008 to the Global Music Group, after being knocked out in a money dispute outside a nightclub. Several months later he was arrested on drug charges and assault, after being discovered by police standing over his girlfriend with knife in hand. Inner: Angry, coarse and controlling. Strong-armed and hard-hearted, with a great need to have his own way. Bullheaded lifetime of trying to make his volition known regardless of the consequences, in an ongoing display of temper and obstinate temperament in his desire to wed the aesthetic and the entertaining with the power of his sheer will. Harry Cohn (1891-1958) - American movie mogul. Outer: Mother was an aggressive and domineering woman of Russian descent. Father was an immigrant German Jewish tailor who specialized in police uniforms, and was standoffish. 3rd of 4 sons, and younger brother of Jack Cohn (Diddy Combs). Thought all his brothers were weak. Had an impoverished upbringing, quit school at an early age, and went to work in a variety of jobs, first as a chorus boy, then as a shipping clerk for a music publishing house, then as a fur salesman, and also as a skilled pool hustler, who would run scams through small towns with a partner. In his early 20s, he teamed up with Harry Ruby, a future Broadway composer, in a brief vaudeville act. After working as a trolley conductor, he found some success as a song plugger, before joining his brother in working for Universal Studios founder Carl Laemmle (Michael Eisner) as his personal secretary. Along with another employee, Joe Brandt, and his sibling, he formed C.B.C. Films Sales Company in 1920, which was dubbed Corned Beef and Cabbage by the industrial elite. While Brandt and Jack Cohn stayed in NY to deal with paperwork and sales, he set out for Hollywood to take charge of the production aspect of the company. Able to successfully build a studio from scratch, and in 1924, the company was renamed Columbia Pictures. Married the previous year to Rose Barker. With an eye for talent and innovation, Columbia became a major Hollywood player in the succeeding 2 decades, thanks to its tight budgets and its focus on contemporary comedy and film noir, which kept costs down. Had a fascination with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, and made a documentary about him in 1933. Received a medal in Rome for his efforts, and decorated his office in the Mussolini style, with his desk raised and a light in visitor’s eyes, so he could command them. Also installed loudspeakers in his studios so he could scream at anyone at anytime, as well as a passageway between his office and the dressing-rooms of his contract actresses. Dubbed ‘White Fang,’ by screenwriter Ben Hecht, for his ruthless profanity. Proved to be a despotic studio chief, spying on employees through hidden microphones and informers, while using his terrible temper to try to frighten his underlings. Kept any act of charity under wraps, preferring to project himself as the heaviest of all the Hollywood studio heads. Developed many stars, but his need to be in absolute control, and his tightness with money, caused a greater turnover at his studio than any other. Fought constantly with his brother, and the duo often needed intermediaries to speak to one another, as each vied with the other for power. Eventually solidified his hold on Columbia in 1932. Despite extreme personal failings, he knew the ingredients of successful films, and was one of the few heads to remain in charge of the studio he helped found his entire working life. Insatiable sexual predator. Divorced because his wife couldn’t bear children, and married Joan Perry, a bit actress and model in 1941. Had a daughter who died in infancy, 2 sons and one adopted daughter, while using his wife’s face on the Columbia logo statue. Still in charge of everything, when he died of a heart attack. Both hated and feared, he had a huge Hollywood funeral, with everyone turning out just to make sure he was really dead. The definitive biography on him, ‘King Cohn,’ by Bob Thomas, was published in 1967. Inner: Vulgar, angry, coarse, control freak. Fascinated by beautiful women, but was unable to express any sense of beauty about himself. Prided himself on his toughness. Willful lifetime of giving uninhibited outspoken expression of his own sense of power, and able to maintain his position as a major Hollywood player longer than any of his contemporaries through the sheer dint of his unpleasant personality. Carl IX (1550-1611) - King of Sweden. Outer: Of the Hous of Vasa. 6th and youngest son of King Gustavus I (Erich von Ludendorff) of Sweden, mother was his father’s 2nd wife. Younger brother of Johan III (Russell Simmons). At 18, he was one of the leaders in the rebellion against the rule of his half/brother, which placed John III, on the throne, with whom he immediately clashed over control of his own duchy. The brothers eventually reconciled a little over 2 decades later, through a mutual opposition to the power of the nobles. Married in his late 20s to Maria, the daughter of the Elector Palatine, 6 children from the union. After his brother’s son, Sigismund (Diddy Combs), a devout Catholic who had succeeded to the Polish throne, also gained the Swedish throne in 1592, he called a convention that demanded that Lutheranism be declared the state religion. Following his wife’s death, he married in his early 40s to Christian, the daughter of a German duke, 4 children from the union. By playing off the fears of the nobles surrounding absentee absolute rule, he forced his will on them and was made regent of the state council. When Sigismund renounced the agreement, civil war ensued and he succeeded as administer on the deposition of his nephew in 1599. Ruthlessly oppressed the state council and all his other aristocratic rivals, creating an extremely tense environment among the nobility. Proclaimed king 5 years later, and crowned 3 years afterwards. His rule was largely one of terror. Conflicts with Poland ensued, and full-scale war broke out a year after he was proclaimed king, resulting in a disastrous defeat for his forces. Also had a desire for the Russian throne and marched on that country during its interim period between the fall of the Dukes of Muscovy and the rise of the House of Romanov. Provoked a war with Denmark, after his Russian adventures proved inconclusive. His bellicosity was underscored by an excellent administrative ability as well as the capacity to expand the country’s economy, through foreign expertise. Unlamented at the time of his passing. Succeeded by his 3rd son, the great warrior/king Gustav II Adolphus (Yukio Mishima). Inner: Coarse, uncultured and vulgar. Unscrupulous, angry and brutal, using fear as his primary political leverage. Fascination with beautiful women, once again, looking outside himself for what he wished was inside. Power-tripping lifetime of incarnating into rule, and using all the negative forces of his own undeveloped character to try to exert his considerable will on the northern tier of Europe.

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PATHWAY OF THE MOGUL AS LONGTIME SIBLING RIVAL:
Storyline: The self-important impresario constantly tries to one-up his longtime brother-in-arms, while cleverly selling himself in a variety of modes to sate his need to be constantly seen, heard and have his presence known in the extended industry of entertainment.
Sean Combs (Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs) (1969) - American record executive and entrepreneur. Outer: Of African/American descent. Mother was a teacher and fashion model, father died when he was 3. Thought his sire was killed in a car accident until he was 14, when he discovered he was murdered running numbers or drugs. Modeled for a Baskin-Robbins ad when he was 2. Huffed and puffed so much when he was upset, he got the nickname ‘Puffy.’ Grew up in Harlem, then he and his mother moved to suburban Mt. Vernon, where he attended a Catholic H.S., proving himself in the classroom and on the playing-field. Attended Howard Univ. in Washington D.C., where he studied business administration, and began promoting hip-hop parties on campus, before dropping out and returning to NYC to work for a radio station, followed by Uptown Records under Andre Harrell, who emphasized melody in his rap releases. Became an A & R man there at 19, and then vice-president in 1993, but was fired for his arrogance. Founded ‘Bad Boy’ records, which helped mold the career of several highly successful rap artists. Used up-tempo musical themes that cannibalized heavier rap, and became a highly successful producer, as well as the deadly enemy of Death Row Records founder, Marion ‘Suge’ Knight. Most of his successful songs would employ replayed instrumentals from the 1980’s, sacrificing originality for commerciality. Also desired to be a viewed a star in his own right, and released his own solo album, ‘No Way Out,’ in 1996, to quickly become a celebrity artist, despite little real talent as a singer. Like Knight, he lost his top artist, the Notorious B.I.G., to murder, after earlier having been accused by Tupac Shakur to being behind his own attempted assassination in 1994, a charge he would later vehemently deny. Had a son via a girlfriend, then another son by model Kim Porter, before taking up with singer/actress Jennifer Lopez. Later had a pair of twins girls with Porter. Continually expanded his empire, which became Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group, with publishing, films, restaurants, and a marketing company, as well as licensing deals and clothing stores, while hanging out in the world of big money in a self-proclaimed lifestyle he tabbed as ‘ghetto-fabulous.’ Also mirrored Knight by assaulting a record company executive with 2 of his bodyguards for showing a video of him posed on a cross wearing a crown of thrones. Turned himself in after the incident, received an anger management class, which did little to stop further violent incidents in his desire to be notorious and big himself, including a nightclub scuffle that saw him indicted on a gun charge. Criticized for his lack of talent as a performer, he also saw his empire wither because of his volatile public image. Won his court case, was dropped by Lopez, but managed to rebound, claiming a newfound religiosity, while renaming himself P. Diddy, in an attempt to once again reinvent himself, and was able to successfully do so. Later shortened his sobriquet to just plain ‘Diddy.’ Made his Broadway debut in 2004 in a revival of “Raisin in the Sun,” to mixed reviews, while actively registering voters in ‘A Vote or Die’ gambit well in keeping with his own sense of ongoing personal drama. By his mid-30s, he was worth $315 million, thanks to an added men’s clothing-line, as well as his entrepreneurial expertise in remaining in the forefront of commercial pop culture, despite ongoing periodic bad boy behavior. In that spirit, he launched his own reality TV series in 2008 with “I Want to Work For Diddy.”Inner: Restless, highly ambitious, controlling, cocky, confident. Barely sleeps at night, as if his time here were limited, a proposition he acts out with his ubiquitous presence and daring lifestyle. Lavish party-thrower and social activist. Self-aggrandizing lifetime, once again, of doing battle with his longtime nemesis, while exploring his unique potential as entrepreneur, producer and performer, in an all-out assault on the twin demons of fame and fortune. Jack Cohn (1889-1956) - American movie executive. Outer: Mother was of Russian descent, an aggressive and domineering matriarch. Father was a German Jewish tailor who specialized in police uniforms, and was standoffish. 2nd of 4 sons, and older brother of Harry Cohn (Marion Knight), who thought he was weak. Dough-faced, stoop-shouldered and bespectacled. Quit school at 14, and worked for a NYC ad agency for 6 years, then toiled for Univeral Pictures under Carl Laemmele (Michael Eisner), for a decade, where he was joined by his sibling. Despite his homely appearance, he had a reputation as a sexual predator. With his brother Harry and a 3rd partner, Joe Brandt, he formed the CBC Film Sales Co. In 1923, he married Jeanette Lesser, a short, stocky, unassuming woman, who had been betrothed to an attorney, 3 children from the union, including producer Ralph Cohn. Remained in NYC while Harry was sent to the West Coat, and in 1924, their concern became Columbia Pictures, with both brothers keeping the length of the country twixt them, creating a continual power struggle between the siblings as the company grew more successful. Often had to communicate through intermediaries because of the intensity of their interchanges. Failed to oust him, and by 1932, Harry had gained control, ruling Columbia the rest of his life, while he played a secondary role, much to his chagrin. Lived well on a Connecticut farm, and predeceased his brother by 2 years, dying of a pulmonary embolism. Inner: Ambitious, controlling, highly competitive, but no match for the will and the manipulations of his sibling. Frustrated lifetime of running up against a familiar steel wall in his initial entry into the magical kingdom of popular entertainment, necessitating a competitive comeback in far more attractive form to do battle once again in order to test his own ongoing will to be centerstage and in control, no matter the competition. Sigismund III Vasa (1566-1632) - King of Sweden and Poland. Outer: Of the House of Vasa. Eldest son of Johan III (Russell Simmons), the King of Sweden. Two sisters, and one step-brother from his father’s second marriage. Raised a Catholic by his mother, and educated by Jesuits. Elected to the throne of Poland when he was 21, succeeding his uncle, although he had to accept a reduction in his royal powers to do so. Married Anna of Austria, an Austrian archduchess in his mid-20s, despite much court resistance, since she was from the ruling House of Hapsburg, which he desired to unite with. 5 children from the union, including his future heir, Wladislaw IV (Jay-Z). Following his father’s death the same year, he accepted the throne of Sweden. Crowned king 2 years later, after promising to uphold Swedish Lutheranism, although he did all he could to restore Catholicism, which made him unpopular. Left his uncle, the future Carl IX (Suge Knight), as regent in Sweden, and returned to Poland, rarely visiting his other kingdom. Carl, however, staged a successful rebellion and subsequently deposed him in 1599. From 1600 onward, Sweden and Poland waged intermittent war in his attempt to regain his throne. His wife died in 1598 and 7 years later, he married her sister, Constance, which occasioned a civil war in Sweden over the next 2 years, from which he emerged victorious. 7 children from the union, including John II Casimir (Damon Dash). His second wife was a powerful character who influenced policy, and tried to have her oldest succeed her husband, although she died a year before him. Invaded Russia, during a period known as ‘the Time of Troubles,’ and held Moscow for 2 years, and Smolensk afterwards. In 1617, after a period of truce, fighting broke out again between Poland and Sweden, and while he was doing battle in Moldavia, his kingdom was invaded by the Swedish king, Gustavus II Adolphus (Yukio Mishima), the son of Carl IX. After a truce was signed in 1629, he never regained the Swedish crown, and his continual battles resulted in a loss of land for Poland, as well as the loss of international prestige for his crown. Died 3 years later. Inner: Aggressive and obdurate, with far more of an appetite for power than the ability to hold it. Battle royal lifetime of struggling with longtime sibling/enemy, and ultimately leaving a legacy of loss and diminution from his efforts, despite his occasional victories.

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PATHWAY OF THE MOGUL AS ENTERPRISING ENTREPRENEUR:
Storyline: The megahit maestro serially carves out his own niche as a producer nonpareil, while also assaying performance as an adjunct to his unerring ear for public taste, no matter the medium he explores and exploits.
Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) (1969) - American record producer and performer. Outer: Grew up in the Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, with two brothers and two sisters. Mother supported the family working as a supervising clerk in an investment firm. inspired at age 9 by a street rapper, which had him studying the dictionary afterwards and writing his own rhymes. When he was 12, his father took off, putting the onus on him to support himself, which he did hustling drugs on the streets, while at the same shooting his crack addict brother, although was never prosecuted for it, and it remained a bitter memory with him. Later forgiven by the latter. Always musically inclined and constantly writing, he attended a tech high school, where he was a friend of rap artist Notorious B.I.G., and began doing the same under the sobriquet of Jazzy, which he later shortened to Jay-Z. 6’1”. Never graduated, and instead, used the money from his hustles to finance his rap career. Began releasing records in the late 1980s, showing an innate entrepreneurial talent, before launching his own recording career, first appearing on the records of his friend Jaz, and then turning himself into a hit-maker with “In My Lifetime,” in 1995. Set up his own Roc-a-Fella label the following year, along with two partners, Damon Dash and Kareem Biggs, and released his first album, “Reasonable Doubt” in 1996. His tribute album, “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1,” to Notorious B.I.G. in 1997 after his murder, proved to be his biggest hit up to that time, and led to a distribution deal with Def Jam Records, over which he became president and CEO. Appeared on the albums of others, and also wrote, produced and directed an autobiographical short, Streets is Watching, whose album was a synergistic launching of several of Roc-a-Fella’s up-and-comers. Continued with his chart-toppers through the decade and into the next, showing himself to be one of the savviest hip-hop entrepreneurs, with six consecutive albums that debuted at #1. Like his fellow market savvy impresarios, he added a clothing line, Roca-Wear, in 1999, to his empire, as well as a signature sneaker, while his net worth climbed to the hundreds of millions. Formed Roc-A-Fella films, as well, which would focus on hip-hop culture. Won a 2001 Grammy for Best Rap Album, and then publicly announced his retirement from performing 2 years later, only to continue releasing hit albums. Had the requisite feuds with a number of his fellow rappers, as well as an occasional violent incident to insure his street cred. In 2004, he sold his remaining interest in Roc-A-Fella Records, in an acrimonious split with his partners, and then proceeded to divest himself of some of his empire during the rest of the decade, while retaining some stakes, and beginning new enterprises, including a string of sports bars under the name of The 40/40 Club, part ownership of the New Jersey Nets, a professional basketball team, and StarRoc, a new label. Charitable in the extreme, with several organizations bearing his various imprimaturs, including a Scholarship Fund for kids from his area of Brooklyn, while focusing on global water shortage as one of his pet projects. In 2008, he wed longtime girlfriend, singer and dancer Beyoncé Knowles, whose records he had produced, to become the power couple of hip-hop for the new millennium. One daughter from the union, whose entrance he celebrated in song. Published his autobiography, “Decoded” in 2010, deconstructing his lyrics to show how they closely mirror his life, while providing a collage view of his own personal mythologies and personal re-creation after a fatherless youth. Worth over $450 million by 2010, with sales of 50 million albums worldwide, and a clutch of ten Grammy Awards on his mantleplace. Inner: Excellent business mind, combined with a good instinct for popular taste, and a willingness to conform, up to a point, with the thuggery of his calling. Great love of language, with a desire to see rap looked on as popular poetry. Nicknamed ‘Hova’ as in Jay Hova, to underline a sense of supreme self-confidence built on transcending a tough past in an incredibly competitive milieu. Impresario lifetime of following his crypto-family members into the hard-edged maw of hip-hop, and doing quite handsomely by his instinct for power, organization and profit. Joseph Schenck (1878-1961) - Russian/American producer. Outer: Of Russian-Jewish descent. Father supplied wood fuel for steamers on the Volga River, barely supporting his large brood. One of seven children, including brother Nicholas (Damon Dash). 5’9”. His family emigrated to NYC in 1893, and he and his brother hawked newspapers, before buying out the drugstore owner where they worked, then used some of the profits to become concession operators in an amusement park. Expanded their concession business, and in 1909, through the auspices of Marcus Loew (Michael Ovitz) bought Palisades Amusement Park, before working for him and his eponymous chain of movie theaters. In 1916, he married actress Norma Talmadge (Gwyneth Paltrow), no children from the union. Well-liked by everyone who knew him, in contrast with his cold, no-nonsense sibling, from whom he eventually diverged, although the two always helped one another in their separate enterprises. Headed to the West Coast on his own, because of a fascination with film and the whole freewheeling Hollywood lifestyle, and began producing comedy shorts as well as the work of director D.W. Griffith (Alfonso Cuaron), which led him to become chairman in 1924 and then first president of United Artists pictures in 1927. One of the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. After tiring of squabbling with the founding partners of UA, in 1933, he and Darryl F. Zanuck created 20th Century Pictures, which merged with Fox Film Corp. to become 20th Century-Fox in 1935. Divorced Talmadge in 1934, although continued to manage her career as well as her sister’s Constance (Christina Ricci). Became chairman of Fox and one of Hollywood’s major players, thanks to the monies put up by his brother, who was always the far more driven businessman. Wound up being convicted of income tax evasion after sending a personal check to a mobster to buy off unions, which were impeding profits, then testified in court against the mob and a union president in 1941 as part of a plea bargain. Sentenced to a year in 1946, although only served four months, thanks to a presidential pardon, and returned to Fox as head of production. Helped launch the career of Marilyn Monroe, and in 1952 was given a special Academy Reward. Co-founded the Magna Corp in 1953 with Michael Todd to market his wide-screen system, although by then the movie business had largely passed him by. Retired in 1957 and suffered a stroke shortly after from which he never recovered. Died five years later and was interred in a Brooklyn cemetery. Inner: Affable and well-liked, with a gift for finding commonground with business associates. Excellent communicator with a good facility for measuring public tastes. There at the beginning lifetime of giving cultural shape to America’s love of communing in the dark with celluloid fantasy, as one of the premier Hollywood players of his times. WladyslawIV Vasa (Wladislaw Zygmunt Waza-Jagiellon) (1595-1648) - Polish-Lithuanian king. Outer: Of the House of Vasa. Son of Swedish and Polish king Sigismund III (Diddy Combs), mother was an Austrian archduchess from the House of Hapsburg who died when he was 3. Older half-brother of John II Casimir (Damon Dash), by his aunt, who married his father following the death of his mother. His early influences and mentors led him to a great love of the arts, making him an active patron who raised the level of culture of his combined kingdom. Spoke and wrote in several languages and was quite well-educated. Although elected tsar of Russia when he was in his mid-teens, during the Time of Troubles prior to the Romanov dynasty, his Catholic father opposed the move because he would have had to convert to the Russian Orthodox religion. Tried to win the Russian throne militarily, although Moscow proved evasive to his invasion. Nevertheless, he emptily styled himself Grand Duke of Muscovy for the next near quarter century. Continued searching for military glory as an active campaigner, and ultimately won a reputation as a defender of the Catholic faith against the Ottoman empire’s designs on Europe. Traveled to Western Europe incognito to observe both its cultural treasures and also to learn further warfare arts, to become a reasonably skilled commander, although not in the same league as some of the adepts of his time. Became an opera enthusiast in Florence, and brought the form back with him, while ending his apprenticeship for rule by fighting in the last stages of the Swedish-Polish War. Following his father's death, he ascended to the Polish-Lithuanian throne in 1632 through election by the Polish nobility, and also legally succeeded his sire as king of Sweden, although he never set foot in the country, and failed to realize any power or authority there, despite calling himself its monarch. Refused permission by the pope to marry a Protestant princess, in the extremely hostile climate between the two religions, and wound up renewing his house’s alliance with the Austrian Catholic Hapsburgs. Contemplated wedding numerous highborn women for various diplomatic reasons, before settling on Archduchess Cecilia Renata, sister of the future HRE Ferdinand III (Andrew Lloyd Weber). The duo wed in 1637, and she successfully married off his favorite mistress to another, while sharing his love for music and theater. Two children from the union, although both died young, and she passed on from an infection in her early 30s in 1644. Genuinely mourned her, and the following year he married Ludwika Maria, the daughter of a French duke, who outlived him, and wound up wedding his brother after his death. No children from the union. Able to keep his combined Commonwealth out of the 30 Years religious war and also maintain the integrity of its borders. Proved to be a relatively liberal leader, championing religious tolerance in a time of extreme division between Protestant and Catholic, while also modernizing the army, so as to compete with the infantry and artillery-oriented forces of other European nations. His efforts at a navy were quashed by the withholding of funds, which also frustrated his desire for a far more aggressive foreign policy. Despite his Catholicism, he saw little in the Counter-Reformation that enhanced his state, and did not support it. His efforts at reform and accruing more power to the monarchy were often stymied, although he oversaw a golden age, where the cultural life of his polity was enhanced, thanks to his love for both music and art. Collected Italian and Flemish baroque paintings, patronized a number of artists, and sponsored decorative architecture. Towards the end of his reign, the Cossacks revolted, and Poland suffered a terrible defeat at their hands. Following his sudden death, his heart and viscera were buried separately from him. Inner: Extremely ambitious, but without the true force of dominating character to make his wishes realities, thanks to internal Protestant resistance to his Catholic schemes. Albeit thrifty, he lived well, and was generous to his courtiers. Wished to be seen as a conqueror and a molder of European his/story, although received little support in that regard. Bent sword lifetime of trying to make his continental martial will manifest, only to run up against far too much resistance, which probably fed into his ultimate desire to affect the cultural, rather than the religious and political realm in lives succeeding. Romanus I Lecapenus (c870-948) - Byzantine Basileus. Outer: Father was an Armenian peasant who became an imperial guardsman with the nickname of “the Unbearable,” after rescuing the emperor Basil I (Maxim Gorki) from the Saracens. Ill-educated, he pursued a military career in the navy steadily rising through the ranks, until he was appointed strategos of the Samian theme, a position of considerable responsibility, giving him authority over both its civil and military administration. Performed well, while marrying Theodora, of unknown origins. Eight children from the union, with the first three of his four sons all becoming co-emperors, and the fourth patriarch of Constantinople. A fifth, illegitimate son became a court eunuch. Following a disastrous defeat by the Bulgarians in 917, he saw his future not in the field, but in Constantinople, where he proved himself adept at court intrigue, linking himself up with the underage Constantine VII (Tupac Shakur), by marrying one of his daughters, Helena, to him, while secretly dreaming of founding his own dynasty. Through his ongoing manipulations, in 920, he was crowned co-emperor, and subsequently and serially crowned his three oldest sons over the next three years. Deliberately did no harm to Constantine, while marrying his remaining daughters to members of powerful court families. Constantine had been the product of his emperor father, Leo VI’s (Leo Tolstoy) fourth marriage, which had been forbidden under church law, so that his hold on throne had always been tenuous. Lost his wife in 923, and elevated his oldest son’s spouse in her stead. Spent the first four years of his rule fighting the Bulgarians, before negotiating with their leader, Simeon I, to lift his siege of Constantinople, to achieve a loose peace. On the latter’s death his successor launched an invasion of Thrace, but also proved himself open to negotiation, while offering his granddaughter in marriage, which led to four decades of peace between the two polities. His primary commander, John Kourkouas, proved continually successful in the field against the Muslims, allowing the empire later reconquests of lost territories throughout much of the rest of the century. Continually sought peace , rather than war as his mode of imperial operation, including trying to heal the rift between the eastern and western churches. Named his youngest son as patriarch of Constantinople in 933, despite a distinct lack of spiritual luster to him, and, as a lawgiver, protected small landowners against the rapacious nobility. Increased taxes on the latter group, but during the latter part of his reign, he had an overwhelming guilt about usurping the throne from the rightful emperor, Constantine VII. Largely unloved by the populace, he rarely showed himself in public. After he lost his oldest son in 931, he did not raise his two younger sons over Constantine, and they, fearing they would be blocked from the succession, had him arrested in 944, sending him into exile, and tonsuring him as a monk. Their attempts at doing the same to Constantine met with a revolt by the populace, and they were sent off to join their father, while the former was finally raised to the purple. Constantine in his writings would disparage his intelligence and lack of education and refinement, showing a deeply held bitterness around his long wait to rule. Inner: Conciliatory, relatively sensitive and quite guilt-ridden for someone operating in the realm of pure power politics. Moderate and able in his actions, enabling him to deal with the two most vexing problems handed him, the Church and the Bulgarians, although largely colorless. Always preferred exile to blinding, unlike many other Byzantine officials, and harbored a huge aversion to bloodletting . Unlettered lifetime of showing himself competent in all his undertakings, although an overweening sense of unworthiness would ultimately dethrone him, and curtail his much hoped-for dynastic ambitions.

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PATHWAY OF THE MOGUL AS BUSINESS ADEPT & ART COLLECTOR:
Storyline: The entertainment entrepreneur has an instinct for accrual, and a great need to continue hustling and building on what he has created, as he continues to compete with his longtime crypto-brother, while playing with the unforgiving vicissitudes of fame’n’fortune.
Damon Dash (1971) - American record producer and businessman. known as “Dame.” Outer: Grew up in relatively comfortable circumstances in Harlem, and sent himself to a boarding school because of a desire for a better education, despite a strong identification with his neighborhood roots. Largely a class clown in high school, hiding far deeper ambitions behind the veneer of being a cut-up, while always equating money with power. After losing his mother, he felt driven to succeed since he knew there was no one he could fall back on. Began his career as a rap producer with Original Flavor, then co-founded the Roc-A-Fella label with Jay-Z and Kareem Biggs in 1995. Immediately showed his entrepreneurial skills through integrating his further acquisitions with his artists and high profile friends as marketing devices, while focusing on branding to insure the success of the company’s corollary lines, Rocawear Clothing and Roc-A-Fella Films. Eventually split from Roc-A-Fella because of a desire to expand into other interests, including film and art. Sold his interests in Roc-a-Fella to their parent company Island Def Jam Records for $10 million in 2004, in a desire for complete control over his various concerns. Experienced a brief period of being hounded by creditors, but quickly rebounded. Began the Damon Dash Music Group afterward with earlier partner Kareem Burke, before creating Damon Dash Enterprises, a catchall for his wide variety of businesses, ranging from fashion to film to music to boxing, a lifelong love of his. Sold his stake in Rocawear to Jay-Z for $22 million, which freed him to begin his own fashion line, while buying back Roc-A-Fella Records as a distributor for his releases. Had planned to marry actress and singer Aaliyah at the time of her tragic death in 2001. Married fashion designer Rachel Roy in 2005, and launched his own CEO clothing line, while also involving himself in his wife’s designs. Two daughters from the union, which ended when his spouse filed for divorce in 2009. Produced a reality show for BET called “Ultimate Hustler,” where he judged various business schemes, although was sued by others claiming they had originated the idea. A film producer as well, with his most notable work, in 2004, The Woodsman. Less a performer than acting as an extension of himself, he has used appearances and interviews largely to sell his considerable line of products. Created a Tribeca arts space, while his continued need to expand and overreach has put him in financial arrears several times, only to see him successfully rebound. Inner: Brash, extremely self-confident. Suffers from Type 1 diabetes. Hard worker, always hustling, feeling compelled to continually build and expand on what he has, since life is filled with uncertainties. Hustler’s handbook lifetime of wishing to be a billionaire right out of the gate, while showing excellent business instincts and eclectic tastes, in his ongoing partnership with his crypto-brother as the acquisitor and taste-maker, to the latter’s love of being center-stage. Nicholas Schenck (1881-1969) - American producer. Outer: Father was a laborer, who earned a meager living by supplying steamers on the Volga River with wood fuel. One of seven children, including older brother Joseph Schenck (Jay-Z). His family emigrated to America in 1893, and he and Joseph hawked newspapers on the streets of Harlem, and eventually saved up enough money to buy out the drugstore owner for whom they worked. Used their pharmacy money to invest in concessions, and through the auspices of Marcus Loew (Michael Ovitz) bought Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey. Expanded into nickelodeons and vaudeville, as he provided the business acumen for their acquisitions as partners with Loew and his theater chains. Continued his association with Loews, Inc., as the number two man there, while his brother went off to Hollywood, although the two would remain close their entire lives. Always the hard-nosed businessman, controlling everything he touched, in contrast to his brother’s relative warmth and accessibility. Married and divorced. Helped Loew’s amalgamate Metro Pictures and Goldwyn Pictures into MGM, after bringing Louis B. Mayer (Master P) aboard, and at the his mentor’s death in 1927, he assumed control of the company as president of its parent company, Loew’s Inc., to become the most powerful man in Hollywood, without any fanfare. When he asked William Fox (Russell Simmons) to bankroll the deal, Louis B. Mayer (Master P), felt he would be forced out and kiboshed it on antitrust grounds via his Justice Dept. connections, creating extreme animosity twixt the two, which eventually led to him to maneuver Mayer out anyway in 1951. Wed Pansy Wilcox, sister of director Fred Wilcox, and the duo had three daughters. By 1932, he had a huge empire, and along with his brother, were two of the most powerful people in Hollywood. Owned the Loew theater circuit, so he had distribution over the product created by MGM and Goldwyn Pictures. Managed his Hollywood holdings from NYC, while constantly watching the bottom line, which caused tensions with the creative end of his product, although his watchful stewardship enabled MGM to weather the Depression handsomely, and pay dividends to its shareholders, the only film company to do so. Helped his brother form 20th Century-Fox through his moneys. Made the top ten list of richest men in America in the 1930s, coming in at number 8 according to some reckonings. At one point owned over 200 movie theaters, and always made sure they were stocked with at least one new feature a week, taking on the responsibility of overseeing precisely what America watched from 1930 to 1950. Insisted on maintaining an expensive production plant, which ultimately drained MGM of its resources, causing its talent to seek work elsewhere. Failed to see the full impact of TV, as his company flagged during the 1950s because of his inability to change with the times. In 1955, he was succeeded as Loew’s president by the founder’s son, while retaining his title as Chairman of the Board. Known as “the General” to his underlings, greenlighting all projects. Retired afterwards to enjoy his wealth, dividing his time between his 20-acre 30 room estate on Long Island, and his estate in Miami Beach, where he died. Inner: Extremely hard-nosed, cold and driven. Excellent strategist, while continually staying in the background, preferring to be the power behind the throne. Loved racehorses as his secondary interest, and was always a strong family man. Bottom line lifetime ot quietly serving as one of the most powerful cultural forces of the first half of 20th century America, as part of a longtime brother tandem dedicated to both profit and proffering quality entertainment, as uncrowned kings of the glittering realm of Hollywood. John II Casimir Vasa (Jan II Kazimierz Vasa) (1609-1672) - Polish-Lithuanian king and Jesuit cardinal and abbot. Outer: Of the House of Vasa. Father was Polish king and Lithuanian Grand Duke, Sigismund III (Diddy Combs), mother was an Austrian archduchess from the ruling HRE House of Hapsburg, and his father’s second wife. Younger half brother of the future Wladislaw IV (Jay-Z), and the oldest surviving son of seven children. Mother was extremely strong-willed and passed her powerful religiosity onto him. His early years saw Poland and Sweden do battle over his house’s claim to the throne of the former, and following his mother’s death in 1631, and his father’s the following year, he remained a secondary figure to his brother, who ruled until 1648. Identified far more with Hapsburg than Polish culture, alienating him from his own country’s nobility. Evinced some ability as a commander doing battle against the Muscovites, while his brother tried to negotiate a favorable dynastic marriage for him. After serving on a diplomatic mission to Vienna, he joined the HRE army fighting against the French, while enjoying a lavish year at the Viennese court. On his return his brother thwarted a romance between him and a baroness, and then the Polish Parliament blocked a move to make him the sovereign of several eastern counties. Left for Spain in 1638 to become Viceroy of Portugal, only to fall into the hands of French agents, who imprisoned him until 1640, when he was released. The following year, per his mother’s earlier influence, he decided to become a Jesuit and went to Germany, joining the order, much to the dismay of his sibling, which caused a rift between the Commonwealth and the papacy. Made a cardinal, but realized by 1646, he was unsuited for the life of a cleric and returned to Poland, where he was released from his vows by the pope and stood elections for the Polish throne, hoping to gain it through Hapsburg support. The following year he succeeded a nephew, while his dominating brother also died. Married his widow, Ludwika Maria, the daughter of a French duke, in 1649, and she proved an active support, reflecting his own mother’s personality, while becoming involved in Polish affairs. Became the last of the House of Vasa to rule the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, while his time upon the throne would be beset by war with both Russia and Sweden, with Sweden devastating the country in what became known as the Deluge of 1655. During the conflict he put himself under the protection of the Virgin Mary and pronounced her Queen of Poland. An active patron of the arts, with a particular love for Dutch painting, he saw some of his collection looted, although managed to hide the rest of it, while putting together the major part of his collection during his last decade of rule. Forced to renounce his house’s claim on the Swedish crown in 1660, and the year after his wife’s death in 1667, he lost all taste for rule and abdicated the Polish-Lithuanian throne. Returned to France with many of his paintings, and rejoined the Jesuits to become an abbot over two abbeys awarded him by the king, spending the remainder of his life there. Left no progeny and outlived all his siblings. While his body was reinterred in Poland, his heart remained forever buried in Paris. Inner: Subject to depression, thanks to having his will continually thwarted. Enjoyed the love and support of two powerful women at life’s beginning and near-end, which awakened a deep esthetic as well as a sense of intellectual spirituality within. Uneasy lies the head lifetime of mixing his talent for cultural acquisition, with an extremely tenuous throne over a country with which he was less than enthralled, causing him ultimately to opt for the far more ordered existence of religious order, to end his days in contemplation, rather than royal constraint.

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PATHWAY OF THE RULER AS HOLLYWOOD GRANDE DAME:
Storyline: The glamorous amoreuse gets ready for her close-ups by making beauty her business on all levels, while continuing to play the regal role of magnetic queen.
Gloria Swanson (Josephine Swenson) (1897-1983) - American film actress. Outer: Of Swedish and Italian descent. Daughter of a civil official connected to the military, and, as an only child, had a peripatetic, unsettled childhood, before circling back to where she began, Chicago, in her early teens. At 14, an aunt took her on a tour of Essanay Studios in Chicago, and she asked the director if she could play an extra in a crowd scene, beginning her legendary film career. Married actor Wallace Beery (Randy Quaid) in her late teens, and the duo went to Hollywood, where her husband helped get her hired, and she became an early screen romantic comedienne with director Mack Sennett (Quentin Tarentino), sometimes under the name of Gloria Mae. 5’, 100 lbs. Changed studios with Sennett, and did a series of tearjerkers, while unhooking herself from her large husband, whom she no longer needed. Married 6 times all told, including Henri de la Falaise a French marquis in 1925, Michael Farmer, a movie executive and restauranteur in 1931, George Davey, a broker in 1945, and finally William Dufty, a writer in 1976. 2 daughters from her brief unions, as well as an adopted son whom she outlived. Began working with director Cecil B. DeMille, who made her into a star through bedroom farces, and she became a reigning Tinseltown queen, with a brilliant penchant for self-advertisement and style-setting, making herself into Hollywood silent screen glamour personified. Extremely extravagant, she made $8 million between 1918 and 1928 and spent nearly all of it. Became involved, in her late 20s, for 3 years with Joseph Kennedy, Sr., patriarch of the Kennedy clan, who bankrolled part of her career. Met his family, and was treated like a sister by his unknowing wife Rose, then abruptly broke with him, trying to produce her own films, but lost much of her money in a runaway production under director Erich von Stroheim (Alejandro Inarritu). Retired in her mid-30s, after proving unsuccessful in talkies, to attend to her romances and business interests. Made a sensational comeback in 1950 with Sunset Boulevard, playing an aging movie star, with von Stroheim as her servant. Made only 2 screen appearances afterwards, but starred in the Broadway revival of “Butterflies Are Free,” when she was in her mid-70s. Involved in various business enterprises, and remained an occasionally seen public icon pushing health products, and marrying for the last time at the age of 79. Died after heart surgery. Wrote her autobiography, Swanson on Swanson in 1980. Inner: Glamorous, strong-willed, keen business sense. Loved leopard-skin on all her accessories, demanded attention, with a continual desire to be treated like royalty. We-had-faces-then lifetime of allowing herself the unencumbered freedom of her own considerable will to become a figure of power in her own right through the magic of moviedom. Desiree (Desiree Clary) (1777-1860) - Queen of Sweden. Outer: Father was a successful silk merchant in Marseille, mother was his 2nd wife. Her sister married Joseph Bonaparte (Arthur Seyss-Inquart), the brother of Napoleon Bonaparte (Gregor Strasser) who fell in love with her, although she ultimately rejected him. Married the handsome future king of Sweden, Carl XIV Johan (Randy Quaid), instead, in her early 20s. Their singular issue, Oscar I (Ted Danson), ultimately succeeded his father to the throne. Didn’t care for the chilly Stockholm climate, and it took her several years before she could be persuaded to come to Sweden, so that she was not crowned until 11 years after her husband, in 1829. Eventually accommodated herself to her frozen realm, and lived a long life, enjoying her royal role, until she was taken ill at the theater, and hastily returned to the Royal Palace, only to die on the stairway before she could reach her royal apartments. Inner: Death symbolized a desire to ascend her fascination with playing the queen to far more benign climes, which she later did in her transposition from her Swedish beginnings in Chicago to the balmy air of Southern California. Fur-coated lifetime of dealing with powerful political figures, readjusting to rich, but frigid realities, and accruing the queenly experience to allow her to continue as a regal figure in a much more hospitable realm. Anne of Austria (Ana Maria Mauricia) (1601-1666) - Spanish queen of France. Outer: Eldest daughter of Felipe III (Kurt von Schuschnigg) of Spain, mother was the daughter of an Austrian archduke. Sister of Felipe IV (Walt Disney). Affianced at 10, and married by proxy at 14 to Louis XIII of France (Cecil B. DeMille), 2 sons from union. Her husband was probably sexually dysfunctional in their arranged political marriage, and for the first 2 decades of their union, they led totally separate lives, where she discretely had affairs. Lived according to Spanish etiquette, with her own Spanish ladies-in-waiting, and remained a completely alien figure at court, although effort was made to integrate her into its ways. A series of miscarriages further cooled the king towards her, and she became enemies with the powerful Cardinal de Richielieu (Henry Kissinger), and spent much energy plotting and scheming against him to little avail. A scandal occurred when the Duke of Buckingham (Warren Beatty) announced his lust for her at court, which did nothing to enhance her reputation. In 1635, France declared war against Spain, which further weakened her position, although one night the king was forced to seek shelter at her residence, and the result was no less than Louis XIV (Charles de Gaulle), 9 months later, although the king continued treating her with cool reserve for the rest of their life together, even after she produced a spare heir, the future Philippe I, Duke of Orleans (Gianni Versace). After her husband’s death, she held the regency for 8 years with her reputed lover, Cardinal Mazarin (Francois Mitterand), as her chief adviser. Resisted a rebellion of nobles known as the Fronde by dividing their interests. In 1659, the war with Spain ended, and she cemented relations between the two countries by marrying her son to her niece, a Spanish Hapsburg princess. Retired when Louis XIV came of age, and died of breast cancer. Inner: Strong-willed, powerful political sense, highly ambitious for herself and her progeny. Actualizing lifetime of playing her powerful will off of the strongest counter-forces the political world had at the time, before relinquishing her position after proving to his’n’herstory she was more than ready for her close-up.

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PATHWAY OF THE PERFORMER AS MALLEABLE MAMMOTH:
Storyline: The former lovable slob goes for craft rather than public affection, and finds himself less able to ingratiate himself in the American imagination thanks to his superior skills in creating a less identifiable character in favor of far better characterizations.
Randy Quaid (1950) - American actor. Outer: Father was an electrician, mother was a real estate agent. The duo separated when he was almost 16, and later divorced. Older brother of actor Dennis Quaid. His sire had always wanted to be an actor, which was a motivation for him. Attended Houston Baptist College and the Univ. of Houston, but while still in college, he was chosen for roles in 2 Peter Bogdanovitch films, allowing him to make his debut at 18 in Targets, and then a more memorable turn in The Last Picture Show as a clumsy teenage suitor. Continually active in films afterwards, in both comic and dramatic turns, usually in support roles. 6’4”. Excellent mimic, and capable of a variety of accents. Played Pres. Lyndon Johnson in a TV biopic of his early years, and as a regular for 2 seasons on TV’s “Saturday Night Live,” he did a dead-on impression of Pres. Ronald Reagan. Married Ella Jolly in 1980, divorced 5 years later, one daughter from the union. In 1989, he wed former model Evi Motolanez, a producer/director, one daughter and an adopted son from the union, which would be strains on his larger family, because of their inability to deal with his tightly-wound wife. Able to bring humor and menace to his exaggerated roles, although never a big star in his own right, despite his large, affable screen presence. After the turn of the century, he assayed comedic TV series again, although has yet to find a small screen vehicle to embrace his true talents. Always looking for challenges in his screen portraits, with more than 90 films to his credit. Wound up banned for life from Actor’s Equity and heavily fined for abusive behavior and causing a show to close during its pre-Broadway run, and also sued the producers of Brokeback Mountain after feeling he was cheated out of the proceeds of the controversial film’s unexpected boxoffice success. Added to his lunkhead reputation by skipping out on a $10,000 hotel bill at an exclusive resort in California, in 2009, causing both him and his wife to be arrested. Eventually had the charges dismissed against him, while his wife was made to do 240 hours of community service. The following year, the duo were arrested on burglary charges after they were found squatting in a house they formally owned. Fled to Vancouver to avoid the court hearing, only to be nabbed again. Subsequently gave as excuse, that he and his wife were being pursued by “Star Whackers,” intent on doing both them and a host of other celebrities in, for their money. Inner: Gregarious, likeable, but with more than a touch of crypto-royal prerogative in his unpredictable behavior as he has gotten older. Second banana lifetime of being given early access to films, although never quite able to build a large following for his particular blend of comedy and drama, because of his chameleonic ability to change with each role, rather than imprinting a singular personality on the public mind. Wallace Beery (1885-1949) - American actor. Outer: Father was a city policeman of Irish descent. Youngest of 3 brothers, including actors William and Noah Beery (Ted Danson). Quit school after 2 years of being in the 4th grade. Ran away from home, and at the age of 16, joined the Ringling Bros. circus as an elephant trainer. Returned home and 2 years later he made his stage debut, singing in NYC musical variety shows. 6’1”, 225 lbs, with a homely, rubbery face, crooked smile and good-humoured eyes. Spent his early show business career alternating with Broadway musicals and Kansas City stock companies, before signing a film contract in his late 20s. Made his film debut with a series of comedy shorts in which he played Sweedie, a Swedish maid. Appeared in numerous one and two reel films, before unsuccessfully forming his own company and trying to produce films in Japan. Came back to Hollywood, where he played both villainous and comic roles. Married his co-star in a series of Sennett comedies, Gloria Swanson, in his early 30s, helping to bring her into film. The pair divorced 2 years later, when she no longer needed his aid in her career. Married in his late 30s to Rita Gilman, an aspiring actress, and the couple adopted the daughter of a friend who had died and left 3 children. May also have adopted a second child. Lost heavily in the stock market crash of 1929, then saw his house burn down. Failed his initial elocution tests when Hollywood first began producing talking pictures, but was able to make a highly successful transition to sound. The addition of his gravelly voice to his strong screen presence made him America’s most beloved slob. Won an Academy Reward in 1931 for his role in The Champ. Particularly effective playing off of children, using his large size to offset their cuteness. Teamed up with comedienne Marie Dressler (Gilda Radner) in a number of popular movies. Suffered a paternity suit by a willowy bit actress towards the end of his career. Continued as an audience favorite, and unlikely screen hero, until his death from a heart attack. Inner: Happy-go-lucky, generous, open. Practical joker, loved kids. Curious Oriental and Swedish connections early in career, unconsciously mimicking his future brother’s earlier turn as a Swedish-born portrayer of the Chinese detective, Charlie Chan. Large-hearted lifetime of winning the affection and admiration of the American public, despite an ungainly physique, and a decidedly non-movie star personality. Carl XIV Johan (Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte)(1763-1844) - Swedish and Norwegian king. Outer: Father was a lawyer. Enlisted at 17 in the French army. Handsome and dashing, he had a tattoo of ‘Death to Tyrants,’ on his arm. Became an enthusiastic supporter of the French Revolution, and within two years, had risen from being a sublieutenant to a brigadier general by 1794. Gained a reputation for integrity and discipline by stopping his troops from looting during subsequent campaigns in Germany, the Low Countries and Italy. Met the future emperor Napoleon in 1797, although their relationship eventually degenerated into one of competitive mistrust. Thought he’d be put in command of Napoleon’s army in Italy, but instead, he was made ambassador to Vienna, as a way of restricting his influence. Later that year, in 1798, he married Desiree (Gloria Swanson), whose sister was wed to Napoleon’s older brother Joseph (Joachim Von Ribbentrop), and who Napoleon once fancied for himself. One son from union, the future Oscar I (Dennis Quaid), who would succeed him. Served as the ruling Directoire’s minister of war for several months in 1799, but his friendship with radical Jacobins, as well as his fame, caused his removal. Refused to participate in Napoleon’s subsequent coup d’etat, and instead, served as a councilor of state. After several more appointments, he was made one of the 18 marshals of France by the emperor in 1804. Had a subsequent mixed martial record, in the next two years, and was censured by Napoleon, although he redeemed himself against the Russians and made a good impression on Sweden through his humane treatment of the Swedish prisoners that he took, when the French army defeated the Swedes in Pomerania in 1807. Also proved to be a humane administrator, when not fighting. Stripped of his offices in 1809 by the emperor, after another dismal showing, but the following year, he was adopted by the elderly king of Sweden, Carl XIII in 1810, and was made regent and rechristend as Crown Prince Carl Johan, a move which Napoleon approved, thinking this was another arena he could easily control. Accepted Lutheranism as his religion and landed in Sweden later that year. Maintained Sweden’s neutrality, until Napoleon occupied Pomerania in 1812, and then he allied with Russia and Prussia against the emperor, letting the latter two countries do most of the fighting, while he saved his own troops for an ultimate showdown with Denmark. After the decisive battle of Leipzig, in 1813, which was Napoleon’s first significant loss, he defeated the Danes, and won Norway for his country, although was disappraised of his greater dream of becoming king or protector of France. Norway ultimately opted for a liberal constitution, although recognized Carl XIII as king. When the old king died in 1818, he assumed the throne of both Norway and Sweden as Carl XIV Johan, which would launch the House of Bernadotte. His wife was extremely reluctant to join him in such a cold climate, but eventually did, and she was finally crowned 11 years after him. Extremely popular with his subjects, although he never mastered Swedish. Proved to be a moderate monarch, doing much to bring his country more into line with Europe, thanks to good relations with Britain and France. Inaugurated a period of peace, while improving the economy, although his autocratic ways muzzled the press, while muting much needed reforms in commerce and industry. Opposed by liberals after 1830, who wished him to abdicate, he, nevertheless, rode their antagonisms through and managed to maintain his popularity with the common populace. Died of apoplexy. Inner: Likable, honest and humane, with great personal charm. Mixed record commander, showing skill and enterprise in some situations, and none in others. It’s good to be king lifetime of sitting on an alien throne, and playing with extremely challenging times, that showed him the outmoded state of royalty, and probably convinced him to seek the personal, rather than the political, as a further mode of self-expression in his future go-rounds in this series.

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PATHWAY OF THE PERFORMER AS VILLAIN TURNED HUMOROUS HERO:
Storyline: The self-analytical small screen star gives his dark side play in his characterizations rather than his life, despite occasional lapses, while playing opposite to his helpful nature in an attempt to release himself from some of his hidden elements, without letting them affect his larger existence.
Ted Danson (Edward Danson III) (1952) - American actor. Outer: Father was a noted archaeologist and architect. Grew up in a scientific community in Arizona, where his sire was both a university professor and a museum president. Began acting while in boarding school. After going to Stanford Univ. and then Carnegie Mellon Univ., he went to NYC to begin a stage career. Married a college classmate, divorced 7 years later. 6’2”. His 2nd marriage in 1977, was to was to Casey Coates, an interior designer. His wife suffered a stroke during the childbirth of their daughter, but recovered 3 years later. Later added an adopted daughter to their brood. Made his mark in the long-running sitcom, “Cheers,” playing an ex-baseball player turned bartender, Sam Malone, forever looking to score. Beginning in 1982, the show ran for 12 seasons. Made his screen debut in his late 20s in The Onion Field, and has since appeared sporadically on the silver screen, while showing himself to better effect on the small screen, including a star turn in Jonathan Swift’s (James Joyce), “Gulliver’s Travels.” Founded America’s Ocean Campaign, a lobbying organization that he and his wife started, dedicated to cleaning up sea pollution. After divorcing his 2nd wife, he took up with actress Whoopi Goldberg, but embarrassed them both by showing up in blackface at a roast for her. Eventually married actress Mary Steenbergen in his late 40s, and was able to find marital accord with her. The duo subsequently did an unsuccessful sitcom together, “Ink.” Finally found another TV vehicle that suited him in “Becker,” in 1998, which explored his darker side as a caring, but acerbic doctor with low income patients, that proved to be a success for 4 seasons. Disappeared afterwards, then resurrected his career with “Damages” on cable in 2007, playing far darker than usual, before taking over the lead in the long-running network drama, CSI in 2011, for the show’s 12th season. Inner: Highly self-critical, and self-deprecating. Solid foundation lifetime of switching from the villainous to the humorously heroic mold, while allowing some of his darker interior to pop through upon occasion, despite his well-intentioned and socially conscious persona. Noah Beery (1884-1945) - American actor. Outer: Father was an Irish city policeman, mother was of Swiss descent. One of 3 brothers, including actors William and Wallace Beery (Randy Quaid), his younger half-brother. Began his stage career in his mid-teens, after selling gumdrops at a local theater. Had a good singing voice, took some lessons, and adapted naturally to the stage, working steadily until his early 30s. Happily married in his mid-20s to Marguerite Lindsay, son of the same name became a supporting actor, while his eldest son died. 6’1 1/2”, 230 lbs. Did not enter films until his early 30s, but began working the day after his arrival in Hollywood. Made his debut in The Social Highwayman. Established himself quickly as a heavy, often playing scoundrels and villains. Best remembered during the silent era for his turn as the ruthless Sergeant Lejaune in Beau Geste. Viewed as the worst dressed man in Hollywood, casual to the extreme. Had a good sonorous speaking voice, and made an easy transition to sound, while continuing to play character roles in B movies until shortly before his death of a heart attack while in his brother’s home rehearsing for a radio play, on the latter’s birthday. Inner: Generous, unselfish, the total opposite of his screen image. Loved the soil, farmer at heart, also an excellent marksman. Release lifetime of being typecast in order to allow his dark side full resonance on the silver screen, rather than in his own life. Oscar I (Joseph-Francois-Oscar Bernadotte) (1799-1859) - Swedish king. Outer: Of the House of Bernadotte. Father was French marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (Randy Quaid), who would later be enthroned as the king of Sweden. Mother was Desiree (Gloria Swanson), who took quite a while to warm up to the cold climes of her queendom. Raised in France, and was given an excellent education. In 1823, he married Josephine, the daughter of Eugene Beauharnais (Ferdinand Foch), the son of the French empress. 4 sons and one daughter from the union, including his successor, Carl XV (Dennis Quaid), and the latter’s successor as well, Oscar II. Showed himself to be a liberal and progressive, somewhat in tune with the larger trends of his times, and quickly picked up the Swedish language after coming to Scandinavia. Wrote articles on popular education, and an anonymous work on prison reform, showing himself to be an expert on the sociopolitical issues of his new realm, serving it twice as viceroy of Norway, during his father’s reign. in 1838, his progenitor began suspecting him of having early designs on the throne, thanks to his avowed liberalism, which would be muted once he was in power. Ascended the thrones of Sweden and Norway in 1844, on the death of his sire, and established freedom of the press. Despite being paternalistic, he ushered in a period of reform, although the revolutions of 1848, which spread across Europe, gave him considerable pause, and he retreated into a more conservative mode, particular where the power of the monarchy was concerned, vis a vis, the Swedish constitution. A skilled diplomat, he was interested in a close alliance with neighboring Denmark, and also made the construction of Sweden’s railways a major concern, putting much of his focus on the economic life of his kingdom. Wanted to unite all three Scandinavian countries under one kingly banner, but found far too much resistance to the idea. Remained neutral during the Crimean War, and effected European treaties to maintain his borders against any possible Russian encroachment. 2 years before his death, he became ill, and his oldest son, the Crown Prince, functioned in his place. Inner: Humane and autocratic. Centerstage lifetime of joining his longtime cohorts in serial order upon a throne, before opting, like them, to explore himself via performing, rather than running against the tides of a changing social order, that no longer needed an all-powerful monarch to define them.

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PATHWAY OF THE PERFORMER AS EDGY STAR:
Storyline: The pseudo sleuth searches for some sense of inner peace, after earlier masking his Scandinavian inscrutability with an Oriental facade and performing similar detective work in the service of sheer entertainment.
Dennis Quaid (1955) - American actor. Outer: Father was an electrician, mother was a real estate agent, duo separated when son was 12, and later divorced. His sire was a frustrated actor, which gave him a desire to enter the same profession, as it did his older brother, Randy Quaid. Had a normal childhood, sharing a room with his sibling. Went to the Univ. of Houston, where he studied acting, but quit in his junior year. Visited his brother on the set of Missouri Breaks which convinced him of his life’s calling. 6’1 1/2”, and sculpted. Moved to Los Angeles, after never having left Texas his first 21 years, and made his debut in his early 20s in Sept 30, 1955, the date of the death of actor James Dean (Sean Penn). Began drawing notice for his roles as a confused teenage cyclist in Breaking Away and a New Orleans detective in The Big Easy, which established him as a sardonic star. Slightly oriental in his muscular look, an unconscious throwback to his earlier turn as the Chinese detective, Charlie Chan. Married in 1978 to actress P.J. Soles, divorced in 1983. Married actress Meg Ryan in his mid-30s, one son from union. Also a musician with the rock band, the Electrics, and later the Sharks, and has played musicians in several films, while viewing his musicianship as live theater. Despite a successful career and marriage, he was not able to countenance his star status, and suffered a 5 year cocaine problem as a result, as well as a compulsive need for infidelity. Finally overcome his drug habit, through a rededication to work, and his relationsip with Ryan. Made his directorial debut in 1998 with the TV film, “Everything That Rises.” Split up with MR after 9 years, in 2000, forcing him once more to face himself, although he rebounded nicely, adding to his 50 odd film credits with a deeper sense of his own innate acting sensibilities, and a newfound sense of self. In 2004, he married Kimberly Buffington, a Texas real estate agent. Had twins with her, a boy and a girl, who were carried by a surrogate mother, only to have them suffer an accidental drug overdose at the hospital, and enter the world via intensive care. Created the Quaid Foundation afterwards to set up bedside bar-coding to insure all patients get the right medicines, while also narrating a series of documentaries on medical malfeasance, and serving as an advocate for more reliable health care. Inner: Volatile, highly ambitious and competitive, with the capacity for resurrection. Always fit on the outside, has learned how to transliterate it on the inside. Transition lifetime of switching from character parts to leads, while learning how to control and channel his own considerable inner demons through a stabilizing homelife and a more rewarding sense of his own craft, only to see even that tandem eventually challenged, before successfully rebounding from his losses. Warner Oland (Werner Uhland) (1880-1938) - Swedish/American actor. Outer: His parents emigrated to America when he was 13, to settle on a farm in Connecticut. One brother. After high school, he went to Curry’s Dramatic School in Boston. His debut role was as Jesus, then spent a year on tour with “The Christian.” Joined the E.H. Southern (Kenneth Branagh) and Julia Marlowe (Emma Thompson) company, where he played various Shakespearean roles with them. Began working in the theater as not only an actor, but also a set designer and as a translator of the plays of August Strindberg (Ingmar Bergman) and Henrik Ibsen (Arthur Miller). Made his film debut in his early 30s with the lead in The Life of John Bunyan Pilgrim’s Progress, and soon found himself playing character parts before being typecast as an Asian, occasionally playing off of Pearl White (Meg Ryan) in her various perils. In 1907, he married Edith Shearn, a stage and screen actress, who was an accomplished musician and painter. Had a happy union for 3 decades, but his heavy drinking ultimately ended it. 6’’, nearly 200 lbs. Ultimately found his popular niche as the Chinese detective Charlie Chan. Never wore make-up for the role other than a small mustache. Had an enormous ranch in Mexico as well as homes in the U.S., and for the last 7 years of his life, played numerous films in the Chan series. His wife sued him for divorce in 1937 and he suffered a nervous breakdown, dying a year later in Sweden of bronchial pneumonia. Actress Pearl White (Meg Ryan) died two days earlier. Inner: Highly domestic, with a calm dignity, although probably roiled by his own demons hid deep underneath. Unintegrated lifetime of never quite finding the balance between his seemingly outward serenity, and his increasing need to keep his inner seas calm with a steady dosage of alcohol. Carl XV (1826-1872) - Swedish king. Outer: Of the House of Bernadotte. Father was Swedish king, Oscar I (Ted Danson), mother was the grand/daughter of the French empress, Josephine (Estee Lauder). Oldest of 5. Married Louise of the Netherlands, a Dutch princess in 1850, whose mother had been Prussian. One son and one daughter from the union, although the former died as a child, robbing him of an official heir. Served as regent for 2 years during his father’s final illness, and then was crowned king of Sweden in 1859, proving to be a well-liked figure. Forced to deal with both the growth of liberalism and Norwegian nationalism during his reign. A new constitution was granted in 1864, which greatly reduced his power, as the Riksdag or parliament, increased its import, while he supported a bicameral legislature. Championed Pan-Scandinavism, and was viewed favorably by the other 2 partners in that union, Norway and Denmark, although he unwisely offered aid to the latter during the Schleswig-Holstein crisis of 1864, which fed into the royal house’s subsequent demotion in the country’s power equation. His wife predeceased him by a year. Succeeded by his younger brother, Oscar II. Inner: Intelligent, artistic and open to the changes that would reduce the power of royal houses of his time. Last throne lifetime of following his close cohorts into the corseted role of rule in rapidly changing egalitarian times, which led him, like them, to abandon his sceptre for the less secure realm of the magical kingdom of Hollywood.

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PATHWAY OF THE RULER AS SELF-INVOLVED SHOWMAN:
Storyline: The flamboyant show-off stays in the picture with his own ongoing follies, acting out both his grandiosity and his flare for the personally dramatic, while accruing to his ongoing legend as popular entertainment impresario extraordinaire.
Bob Evans (Robert Shapera) (1930) - American actor/producer. Outer: Father was a dentist who ran the first racially integrated clinic in America. Acted as a child performer on more than 300 radio shows. When he was 12, his progenitor changed the family name to Evans as a tribute to his dying mother, whose maiden name was Evan. Became the youngest disc jockey in the country during WW II. A collapsed lung took him temporarily out of the spotlight, and at 21 he joined his older brother’s successful sportswear company, Evan-Picone, becoming a millionaire by 25. In his mid-20s, he was spotted at pool-side by actress Norma Shearer, who tapped him to play her husband, producer Irving Thalberg (Steven Spielberg) in the 1957 Lon Chaney (Dustin Hoffman) biopic, Man of a Thousand Faces. On his next picture, the director wanted to fire him, but producer Darryl Zanuck boomed through his bullhorn, “The kid stays in the picture,” which ultimately became the title of his hilarious auto-hagiography. Culminated his early acting career with a provocatively sniveling performance in The Fiend Who Walked The West, in an unconscious parody of the subterranean part of his persona. Sold his share of his sportswear business at a huge profit, and became an independent producer for 20th Century Fox. Married actress Sharon Hugueny in 1961, divorced the following year, then wed actress Camilla Sparv in 1963, and divorced her two years later. Joined Paramount in his mid-30s, and produced numerous hits, including The Godfather, becoming their youngest production chief ever. Linked with numerous Hollywood beauties, including Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Raquel Welch, Lana Turner and Joan Collins. Had been invited to the Tate home for dinner the night she and 4 others were murdered by Charley Manson’s minions, but cancelled at the last minute. Lived life to the hilt in a lavish, luxurious style, while feeling invincible. Married actress Ali McGraw in his late 30s, divorced 3 years later when she dumped him for actor Steve McQueen, one son from the union. Married former Miss America Phylllis George in 1977, and divorced the following year. Began producing independently in his mid-40s, with a score of successes including Chinatown, although his world fell apart in his early 50s, when he was legally chided for cocaine use, and had to do an anti-drug TV special as penance. His next picture, The Cotton Club, drained him financially, and a shady producer associate was murdered, further clouding his name. Fired by Paramount, he weathered allegations about drug trafficking, and wound up dead broke. Forced to sell his beloved 16 room French Regency house to a neighbor and rent it month to month. Thought about suicide, but was reinstated on the Paramount lot and began his comeback at the end of the decade. Eventually repurchased his house, and worked his way back into the Hollywood mainstream, limning his life story in 1994 in “The Kid Stays in the Picture.” Married actress Catherine Oxenberg in 1998, although it was annulled less than two weeks later. Suffered a paralyzing stroke at 67, while delivering a toast to Hollywood horrormeister Wes Craven, but recovered. His audiotape of his life story became a favorite among Hollywood insiders, many of whom love doing imitations of his inimitable style. Continues as a producer into the new century, and was the subject of a documentary based on his book, allowing him another victory lap around the public ring to initiate his 70s. Married Leslie Ann Woodward, a model, in 2003. His screening room burst into flames the same year, destroying many totems from his career, although he remained a figure of public interest through an animated TV series, “Kid Notorious,” based on his iconic image. Divorced in 2004, and the following year, he initiated a radio show, “In Bed with Robert Evans,” his favorite receiving arena for guests. The same year, he married a 7th time, to socialite Lady Victoria White, the mother of 3. Inner: Narcissistic, high energy, acquisitive, endlessly entertaining, with as much a flair for the dramatic in his private life as in his screen creations. Self-congratulatory lifetime of turning himself into a Hollywood legend, in an all-around performance worthy of a special Oscar for the sheer bravura of his existence. Florenz Ziegfeld (1869-1932) - American theatrical producer. Outer: Father was a German immigrant and a music teacher who owned the Chicago Musical College, parents were German Catholics. Received a public school education and then went to work as treasurer for his sire’s enterprise. Lanky, saturnine, with Mephisophelian looks. Sent to Europe to bring musicians for a concert hall at the World’s Columbian Exhibition, but the show failed to attract an audience. Decided to produce on his own, and imported strong man Eugene Sandow (Arnold Schwarzenegger), whom he successfully managed for 3 years. Formed a production team with a comedian in 1896, and imported French actress and singer Anna Held (Deanna Durbin), garnering much publicity for her with press releases about her milk baths, while passing her off as his wife, establishing a pattern of intertwining much ballyhoo with star performers to stir up audience interest. Later married her, but the duo separated and were divorced in 1913, at which time he married actress Billie Burke (Cillian Murphy), one daughter from the union. In 1907, he produced his first revue, The Follies of 1907, modeling it on the Folies-Bergere in Paris, but toned down to more puritanical American tastes. Although his initial ‘Follies’ was only a moderate success, within 3 years, he had created a must-see Broadway phenomenon, adding his name to the mix, as the "Ziegfeld Follies." Repeated his annual revues for the next 23 years, combining pageantry, the discreet display of flesh and comedy to showcase a host of talent, including Bert Williams (Sidney Poitier), W.C. Fields (Robin Williams), Will Rogers (Arlo Guthrie) and Fannie Brice (Rosie O’Donnell), among his many stars. Also produced several successful Broadway shows, as his name became synonymous with the best and the brightest entertainment that the Great White Way had to offer. Despite his string of successes, he was ultimately ruined by huge gambling debts, his own gross sense of extravagance, and the stock market crash of 1929, from which he never recovered. Suffered heart problems and died from a lung infection contracted from pleurisy. Inner: Impatient, highly emotional, with a high-pitched whiny voice. Arrogant perfectionist, constantly on the search for beauty, becoming involved with many of his stars, only to turn on them in his need to control and dominate. Introduced film clips onto the stage, and fashioned his shows with an acute eye towards esthetics, while controlling the pacing and splendor of all his spectacles, showing excellent taste and an uncanny judgment in his public life that was totally missing in his private existence. Two-sided lifetime of evincing a distinct duality between the visionary showman and the self-obsessed boor, which necessitated another go-round of follies to try to better integrate his flamboyant and, at heart, esthetic, self. Eric XIV (1533-1577) - King of Sweden. Outer: Eldest son of Gustavus I Vasa (Dan Halutz), the founder of the ruling House of Vasa on the Swedish throne. Brother of Carl IX (Harry Cohn), a later king of both Poland and Sweden, and half-brother of Johan III (Russell Simmons), who succeeded him. Succeeded his father on his death in 1560, although evinced signs of mentally instability. Handsome with large blue eyes, a roman nose, and a beard that he grew to two six inch points. Strong and athletic. Had a great love of splendor, and put on the most spectacular coronation Sweden had ever seen. Also the first Swedish king to be styled as ‘Majesty.’ In the early part of his reign, he made overtures to various European queens, including Elizabeth I (Mae West) of England, but was not able to complete the negotiations with any of them. Had several mistresses, as well as 2 children with one of them, a noted Stockholm beauty. Held a great fear of the powerful Sture family, feeling they were plotting to seize the throne. In 1567, he had 3 of their members imprisoned and murdered along with several relations, although he was filled with deep remorse afterwards, hiding for several days, before arranging for a magnificent funeral for them. Began exhibiting more and more schizophrenic behavior, alternating between murderous anger and abject repentance. In 1568, he publicly married and crowned Karin Mansdotter, the daughter of a corporal in the Royal Life Guards, who had been a common nutseller, 5 children from union. His half-brothers immediately rose in rebellion over the act and marched on Stockholm, imprisoning and deposing him, while Johann III succeeded him. Brought to trial and sentenced to life imprisonment the following year. Moved from place to place as his interment varied in severity, while his wife remained loyal to him, bearing their youngest child in captivity. Finally made to drink poison in a pea soup and died in agony. Inner: Flamboyant but deranged, with a grandiose sense of his own inner magical kingdom. Act out lifetime of giving total vent to his eccentric, unintegrated nature so as to purge his interior of its madness, allowing him to express it in lighter eccentricities further on in this series.

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PATHWAY OF THE MOGUL AS EVER-EXPANDING ACTIVIST:
Storyline: The innovative entrepreneur recognizes cultural trends well before they hit the mainstream, and is able to exercise vast influence through his shrewd business sense and desire to both uplift and inspire in all spheres, while fighting a past tendency to overreach himself and become victim of his own success.
Russell Simmons (1957) - American producer. Outer: Of African-American descent. Had a middle-class upbringing. Father was a supervisor of attendance for one of NYC’s school districts, and also taught black his/story at Pace College. Mother was an artist and pre-school teacher. Middle of 3 sons, younger brother was rapper Rev. Run of Run-DMC, which would become the first group he managed. His older brother, Joseph Simmons, became an actor/novelist. Acted as warlord in a gang called the 7 Immortals, and made money selling pot on street corners, which is where he got his first business experience. Known as ‘Rush,’ from his teens onward. The only time he ever worked for anyone was for a month at Orange Julius, before he was fired for tossing oranges into the street. 5’8”. Studied sociology at City College, where he began to promote rap parties, along with future rapper Kurtis Blow, and was present at the founding of hip-hop culture in the late 1970s. Began promoting other groups, and with a white partner, formed Def Jam Records in 1983, a bare-bones operation which proved so successful, that Columbia Records backed him in 1986 as he steadily expanded. Split with his partner, and continued to add to his growing empire, with Def Pictures, producing his first film, Krush Groove, a rap musical, in 1985. Produced “Def Comedy Jam,” a showcase for young black talent on HBO in 1992, and the following year, inaugurated One World magazine. Expanded into clothing with Phat Farm in 1992, and sold distribution rights to his records to Polygram in 1994, although maintained control over the music, while helping to launch the careers of numerous hip-hop stars. Married a striking Japanese model, Kimora, in 1998, 2 daughters from union. Kimora was also involved as CEO of his Baby Phat women’s wear line, and became a recording artist. Although the marriage ended in 2006, he continues as her business partner. In 1999, he sold Def Jam for $100 million. Able to further expand into politics, as a progressive trying to overturn NY’s draconian drug laws, while also working towards slavery reparations. Democratic presidential hopefuls seek his support, as his long reach has also extended into financial services, and a new energy drink, Def Con 3. Also won a Tony award in 2003 for his Broadway show, “Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam on Broadway.” Has become a major cultural force to the post civil-rights generation, with his influence extended into all spheres, as he steadily builds on his achievements, rather than remaining focused in one area, as he did his previous go-round in this series, which was his ultimate undoing. In 2005, he returned to Def Jam in a partnership with his own Music Group. Also published a self-help book, “Do You!” in which he touts both yoga and meditation. Inner: Continually on the go, practices hatha yoga daily, while keeping himself constantly attuned to the needs and wants of his vast audience. Man-on-a-mission lifetime of using his entrepreneurial skills to uplift and improve the lives of everyone his creations touch, in a genuine desire to make the world a far better place for his having been in it. William Fox (Wilhelm Fried) (1879-1952) - American producer. Outer: Of German-Jewish descent. Father was a machinist. Came to America at the age of 9 months. The eldest of 13 children, he had an impoverished tenement upbringing, and was working from childhood onwards, selling items, before quitting school at 11 to labor in a sweatshop for 12 hours a day. Married Eve Leo on his 21st birthday, 2 daughters from union, his wife Eve would became involved in his productions as well. Proved a moderate success with his own garment business, and bought a failing penny arcade in 1904, and discovered his true metier, turning it into a chain of 15 NY theaters. Went into distribution, because of its greater profitability, and then protected himself from a monopolistic takeover, where 57 of 58 exchanges were bought out, leaving only his, before forming his own production company in 1912. Put his entire enterprise under the banner of the Fox Film Corporation in 1915, and continued to expand during the next decade and a half, buying a controlling interest in Loews, Inc., as well as 45% of England’s most important film company. Just as he reached his pinnacle in 1929, however, the stock market crashed, he got slapped with an antitrust suit, and was injured in an automobile accident. The following year, he was forced to sell his shares in his own company, and by 1936, he was forced to declare bankruptcy. In and out of court for years with bankruptcy proceedings and in 1941, he was sentenced to a year for trying to bribe a judge. Wound up spending six months in a Pennsylvania penitentiary. Failed at a comeback in 1944, but eventually paid off his debts through some patents he owned. Inner: Outfoxed lifetime of following the trajectory of America’s love affair with films and money, only to become undone by circumstances, before paying the piper, so as to start off clean again the next time around. Johan III (1537-1592) - King of Sweden. Outer: 2nd son of Gustavus I Vasa (Dan Halutz), the founder of the ruling House of Vasa on the Swedish throne. Mother was his second wife. Younger half brother of Eric XIV (Bob Evans). One of 10 siblings, including the future Carl IX (Suge Knight). Received a solid religious education in Lutheranism, giving him a theological expertise. In 1562, he married Catherine Jagellonica, the youngest daughter of the king of Poland, who was a Catholic. One son from union, Sigismund III (Diddy Combs), who eventually succeeded to that throne, as well as Sweden’s, and two daughters. Along with his brothers Carl and Magnus, he rose in rebellion and marched on Stockholm in 1568, imprisoning Eric, and declaring himself his replacement. Crowned king of Sweden in 1569, after imprisoning his half-brother Eric. For as long as he lived, which was another 8 years, he always had to fear plots that his sibling’s champions would dethrone him, and so, eventually poisoned him. On claiming the throne, he immediately came into conflict with his brother Carl over religious issues, which were not resolved until 2 decades later. A lavish patron of the arts, he did not, however, have the administrative skills or financial acumen to bring his larger vision of things to bear upon his country. Ended Sweden’s long war with Denmark in 1570, by renouncing Sweden’s claims to its Estonian acquisitions, although afterwards, he involved the country in the Livonian War, as a means of regaining them, which he was able to do by the end of his reign. Very much interested in reconciling Sweden’s Lutheranism with Roman Catholicism, he introduced his own liturgy, called “The Red Book,” in 1577, to that effect, and tried to negotiate with Catholic leaders of Spain and Rome to see if the new and old ways could be brought together, although his efforts largely went for naught. Continued to try to impose his Red Book, despite ongoing opposition to it from his brother Carl. Two years after his wife’s death in 1583, he married Gunilla Bielke, a 17 year old, one son from union. In 1586, he nominated his son, Sigismund, who had been raised by his mother as a Catholic, for the throne of Poland, although balked when the latter country demanded the return of Estonia. He was overridden by his own nobles, however, which brought about a reconciliation with his brother Carl, over their shared concern about an erosion of their royal power. His son wound up assuming the Polish throne in 1587, much to his frustration. Wound up embittered over not being able to bring his theological views to bear upon the country, or make his larger will manifest. Inner: Highly moral and deeply religious, as well as scholarly, with a strong esthetic sensibility. Unable, however, to match his inner values with his outer financial and administrative skills. Thwarted lifetime of failing to impose his vision upon his country, thanks to his undeveloped abilities in other arenas, which he would serially address down through time, until finally bringing all of his capabilities together in his latest incarnation as a mover, shaker and social force for change.

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PATHWAY OF THE PERFORMER AS TRANSPACIFIC STAR:
Storyline: The cross/cultural easterner is continually thrust into alien cultures as an exotic, forcing her to rediscover herself over and over, in an ongoing attempt to truly know who she is.
Maggie Cheung (Cheung Man-Yuk) (1964) - Outer: Of Chinese descent. Parents were from Shanghai, spent her early life in Hong Kong. Originally wanted to be a hairdresser. Moved with her family at the age of 8 to Bromley, Kent, where she grew up as the single Asian at her school. 5’6”. Returned to Hong Kong in 1981, and began modeling, as well as appearing in commercials. Became the first runner-up in the Ms. Kong Pageant in 1983, which led to a film career, beginning with Beyond the Yellow Line in 1984. Never had to audition afterwards. Achieved stardom the following year with a Jackie Chan actioner, Police Story. Went on to be a big star via action films, although professionals always did her stunts. Eventually felt burnt out by excess press attention and also being pigeonholed and announced her retirement, only to return 2 years later. In 1998, she married French director Olivier Assasyas, after working with him on Irma Rep. The duo divorced in 2001, although she continued collaborating with him, winning the Best Actress Reward at Cannes, for Clean, in which she played a drug addict. Continues pursuing more ambitions roles, using her extended genre apprenticeship to forge a far more satisfying oeuvre as a real actress. Inner: Thoroughly European, with a strong sense of self. Repeat lifetime of trying to integrate East and West in herself, and then trading off a safe stardom, for a riskier journey of rediscovery. Anna May Wong (Wong Liu Tsong) (1907-1961) - American actress. Outer: Third generation Chinese-American. 2nd daughter in a family that ran a laundry. Her name meant ‘Frosted Yellow Willow.’ Raised in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, then moved to a Mexican and Eastern European neighborhood. Fascinated from a young age with nickelodeons, she also liked to hang out near shoots. Went to a Chinese language school, and spent all her money on the movies. Made her film debut in 1919 as part of a large procession scene in The Red Latern. Her cousin James Wong Howe, a well-known cinematographer, showed her picture around, and she soon had a career in the movies, with her first starring role in Toll of the Sea. Two years later, in 1924, she appeared as a slave girl in the first full length Technicolor production, Thief of Baghdad, after catching the eye of its star Douglas Fairbanks (Robert Downey, Jr.). 5’4 1/2”, with high cheekbones, and heavily lidded eyes. Ethnic minorities were not allowed to rise above a level of menace, or stock and menial roles, although she achieved stardom through the public’s temporary taste in Oriental mysteries, dying, as she put it, a thousand deaths. Able to win worldwide fame, despite the limitations of her opportunities, she went abroad in 1928, chaperoned by her sister, and both lectured and appeared in films in England and Germany, learning the language so well that she did not have to be dubbed. Hobnobbed with the cultural elite as a multi-lingual cosmopolitan, and worked on stage in Vienna, while also gaining fluency in French. Never married, although was linked with several European directors, as well as Marlene Dietrich. Returned to the U.S. in 1930 to appear on Broadway in “On The Spot.” Given a contract by Paramount, although her later films were largely undistinguished crime melodramas. Nevertheless, she was the first and only Chinese actress to become a major western attraction, despite all the limitations put on her, ultimately making more than 60 films. Did an extended tour of Europe in the mid-30s and retired in 1942, although shot 2 more films afterwards, and also did fundraising for the China Relief Fund. As her career waned, she began drinking more and more. In 1951, she starred in a TV series, “The Gallery of Madame Liu,” in which she played a Chinese-American picture dealer and detective, and added to her lists of firsts by becoming the first Asian woman to be featured in a small screen series, which ran for several months. Sank into ill health, as her drinking escalated, and finally died in her sleep of a massive heart attack, while suffering from cirrhosis of the liver. Inner: Proud and aloof, and extremely independent. Loved reading, and was very athletic. Otherness lifetime of dealing with an alien culture on her own terms, and both adopting to and rejecting its stultified view of her, while trying to give expression to who she really was in a world that was largely uninterested. Yekatrina I (Marta Skowronska) (1684-1727) - Russian empress. Outer: From a peasant background. Orphaned at the age of 3 and raised by a Lutheran pastor, where she performed menial household tasks. Grew up to be a beautiful, voluptuous young woman, and probably married a Swedish dragoon who was killed in battle. Taken prisoner when the Russians seized Marienberg, she became the mistress of a foreign officer in the Russian service, then the mistress of a Russian field marshal, and finally mistress of Alexandr Menshikov (Nikita Khruschev), when Tsar Peter I (Yukio Mishima), spotted her serving wine. Became lovers with the latter, and after the birth of their first child, was received into the Russian Orthodox Church and rechristened Yekatrina. After divorcing his first wife, the duo were married privately in 1707 and then publicly in 1712. The couple had 10 children all told, including the the future Empress Elizaveta (Helena Rubinstein), although 8 of the 10 died before maturity. A constant companion of the tsar’s, following him on his campaigns, and then reverting to domesticity when they returned home. In 1724, she was crowned empress-consort of Russia, and when her husband died the following year, without naming an heir, she was declared empress, with the backing of the power establishment. Determined, however, to be more than a figurehead, she tried to implement her will, but found too much resistance to the idea of a female ruler. Created a privy council with her husband’s advisers on it, and handed over the reigns of government to it, thereby undermining the other institutions of governance. Became Menshikov’s lover again, while he used her to enhance his own considerable ambitions. Her last years were filled with bitterness over her failures and sense of loss, both of the love of her life and her children, and she took to drinking heavily. Her health deteriorated, and she was probably infected with her husband’s syphilis, but before she died, she appointed Peter’s grandson as her heir, Peter II (Peter Revson). Inner: Charming, strong-willed, with her go-round arced between extreme sadness at the beginning and the end. Cinderella lifetime of rising from the humblest of beginnings to empress, based largely on her physical attributes, but also a sense of loyalty, charm and ability to intertwine on all levels with an individual of great power and charisma. Martina (c598-c643) - Byzantine empress. Outer: From a patrician family, with her mother a sister of the Byzantine emperor Heraclius (Yukio Mishima). Despite protests of incest, she married her uncle in her mid-teens, after the death of his first wife in 612. The union was officially considered legal, since it conformed to proscribed limits of kinship, although the general populace was deeply bothered by it, as was the rest of the royal family, who continually made their objections known to the emperor. Nine children from the union, several of whom were retarded or misshapen, with four dying in infancy. Served as a supporter, adviser and assistant to her warrior spouse, accompanying him on his campaigns and influencing his policy, although she remained reviled by the city-at-large, no matter what she did. Her primary objective throughout her husband’s reign was to secure the succession of her own first-born, Heracleonus, over her spouse’s oldest son, Constantine III. Both were co-crowned in 638, and when the emperor died three years later, his will left her co-ruler with both, but the populace refused to acknowledge it, since they held her responsible for her spouse’s decline and death. Publicly read her husband’s will, while claiming herself as the empire’s senior authority, much to the populace’s vocal displeasure. Briefly held the reigns of state, but was unable to suppress the senate and the army’s opposition to her, as she did everything within her power to maintain her son’s position over his older brother by her husband’s first marriage. The tensions between her and Constantine boiled over when he died of tuberculosis soon afterwards, while she sent his most prominent supports into exile. Accused of poisoning him, she had her tongue slit and was banished to Rhodes, along with Heracelonus, who was also mutilated, while Constans II, the son of Constantine III, was crowned in their stead. Died soon afterwards. Inner: Highly competent with a love of power, but the victim of the fates of birth. Extremely ambitious, but totally distrusted in a patriarchal atmosphere that couldn’t countenance female motivation around power. Incestuous lifetime of actualizing the hidden degree of intimacy with her longtime partner, which robbed the empire of a proven leader, before the two could have actualized one more full-fledged alliance to heal the condemnatory wound, and show what they could truly do as partners in power.

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PATHWAY OF THE MOGUL AS PERFECTIONIST CONFECTIONIST:
Storyline: The manipulating fluffmeister taps into the wasteland fantasies of America and repeatedly reflects it, while playing with his own masculine/feminine sense of himself through alternate warrior and wispy go-rounds as a fierce entertainment force.
Aaron Spelling (1923-2006) - American writer and producer. Outer: Father was a Russian-Jewish immigrant tailor, mother was a Polish immigrant. Had a poor, working/class upbringing, youngest of 5. Sickly, shy and slight as a child, he was bullied because of his foreignness and called ‘Jewbaby.’ Had a nervous breakdown at 8 in response to it, and was confined to his bed for a year, where he developed his imagination through reading. Enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942, and won a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, to belie his earlier sense of weakly invalidism. Organized theatrical events towards the end of his 3 year tour of duty for a special service branch. Attended the Univ. of Paris for a year, then returned to the U.S. and Southern Methodist Univ., where he was the school’s first Jewish cheerleader. Wrote several one-act plays, winning a Eugene O’Neill award for one of them. After graduating, he directed plays in the Dallas area for a regional theater, causing his father to lose his job when one was written by an African-American, then moved to NYC, before coming out to Los Angeles, where he did odd jobs, then became a director at the Preston Sturgis theater-restaurant. Acted on TV in bit roles, beginning with the police drama, "Dragnet." Appeared in more than 40 shows, as well as a dozen motion pictures, usually playing villains and losers. Began writing teleplays in the mid-1950s, before becoming a producer in 1960 with the "Zane Grey Theater." Had his first hit in 1963 with "Burke’s Law." Formed a production company in 1967 with comedian Danny Thomas, and the following year scored with "Mod Squad." In 1953, he married actress Carolyn Jones (Dakota Fanning), whom he often cast in his series, the duo later divorced in 1964. His 2nd marriage, in 1973, was to Candy Marer, an interior decorator and former hand model, and both their children, Tori and Randy, went on to show business careers. Close relationship with his children, although his marriage in the Hollywood rumor mill was consigned to that of convenience. Signed a production deal with ABC, doing a series of police shows in association with Leonard Goldberg, then hit the jackpot in 1970 with "Charlie’s Angels," and parlayed that formula into a series of flesh jiggling successes, focusing on melodrama as his forte. Accused of profiteering, although never prosecuted. Also showed his Hollywood clout by effectively blacklisting Farrah Fawcett-Majors when she tried to get out of her contract after a year on "Charlie’s Angels." Went on to become one of TV’s most successful producers with "The Love Boat" and the prime time soap, "Dynasty," ultimately entering the Guinness Book of Records with the most hours ever produced on the small screen, over 3000. Continued his successes, taking his company public and bought a huge multi-million dollar 123 room 56,000 square foot estate, with a pair of 24 hour guards and a uniformed butler, while maintaining his role as America’s primary producer of entertainment fluff surrounding the problems of the rich and the powerful. Suffered network cancellations at the end of the 1980s, and deep depression over it, but bounced back with "Beverly Hills 90120" and "Melrose Place," in the early 1990s, and from then on always had at least 2 programs on network TV. Wrote his auto-biography, “A Prime-Time Life,” and continued to work as if his whole career depended on his next move, seeing no other real purpose to his life. Suffered a stroke, and died of its after-affects a week later at home. Inner: Obsessive worker, facile, with great attention to detail, going over every storyline and script. Refused to fly since his Air Force days, and rarely traveled, using armed bodyguards whenever he did go out. Extremely demanding of those he worked with, as a shrill control freak, who never forgot his impoverished roots. An odd combination of the masculine and the feminine. Often took credit for creating shows, that others had done. Fluffmeister lifetime of reversing his fortunes to allow him to build from weakness to strength, in order to expose his wounds to himself from a different perspective, although a lack of irony and emotional resonance kept him tied to his outer work rather than his inner development. John Augustin Daly (1838-1899) - American playwright and producer. Outer: Mother was the daughter of a lieutenant in the British army, father was a shipowner. Following his sire’s early death, he moved to NYC as a child with his mother and brother, the latter serving as his constant companion. Had a passion for the theater from an early age, and belonged to amateur organizations and little theater groups, although he was more interested in constructing plays than acting. At 18, he rented his first hall in Brooklyn to begin his career as a producer. Tall, handsome, with a dominating personality that reflected his military heritage. Worked as a drama critic for a decade, writing for various publications. Had his first success in Boston in his mid-20s, adapting a German play. Experimented with adaptations of French and German works before writing his own melodramas, and scored his first hit with one in 1867. 2 years later, he married the daughter of the owner of the Olympic Theater. Established Daly’s Theater after a visit to London in his early 40s, then stopped writing his own melodramas and went back to adapting French and German ones, often radically changing them, while preferring to build on the ideas of others. Although he developed many actors, many moved on, finding him far too controlling. Wrote, altered or adopted 90 plays. A powerful theatrical figure of his time, feeding into popular, rather than high-brow, tastes. Died during a business trip abroad. Inner: Dominant, strong ego, overbearing, very male, demanded absolute loyalty from all his subordinates. Had supreme confidence in his abilities, able to weather both success and failure. Martinet lifetime of early supplanting his father, to become a theatrical paterfamilias himself, while exploring himself through a thoroughly male perspective and an ongoing gift for giving the public precisely what it wanted. Karl IV Theodor, Palatinate Elector and Duke of Bavaria (1724-1799) - Bavarian ruler. Outer: Of the House of Wittelsbach. Only surviving child of the Palatinate Count, mother was the grandniece of the famed warrior Henri de Turenne (Bernard Kouchner). Lost the latter at 4, and was well-educated in Mannheim, showing an innate sense of refinement and taste. Succeeded his sire in 1733, before inheriting the Electoral Palatinate and two duchies in 1742. The same year he married Elisabeth August, a Mannheim princess. Their one son, who was born 20 years into the union, died as an infant. Had a liaison with a French actress, Françoise Després-Verneuil, eventually elevating her to a countess, before her death in 1765. One daughter and a short-lived son from the union. Also had a liaison with a much younger Austrian noblewoman, one son and three daughters from the union, which ended in her death in childbirth in 1771. Although popular in his initial rule, he would eventually see his relationship with his subjects take a distinct downward turn, thanks in large part to his overweening ambitions. Had a great love of both drama and music, sponsoring a court orchestra in Mannheim that was considered world-class. Also supported an Italian opera company, as well as a troupe of French performers. Assembled a high quality collection of sculpture as well, although the school of artists who worked under him were inferior to others in Europe, and sponsored several large architectural works, in the popular French and Italianate styles of the time. In 1777, he became Elector and Duke of Bavaria, and moved to Munich, a city which he greatly enhanced culturally. Shifted it out of its medieval past by dismantling its old fortifications and expanding it, while creating the English Garden, its largest and most distinctive park. Helped establish a museum of science and a National Theater, as well, which was one of the first to produce plays in German. Despite his cultural innovations, he proved an unpopular ruler, by trying to exchange Lower Bavaria with the HRE Joseph II (Michael Moore) for the Austrian Netherlands, which precipitated the War of the Bavarian Succession in 1778. In the treaty that followed, his descendants were denied the throne of Bavaria. Disbanded all secret societies, forcing them underground, including the order of the Illuminati in 1785, an organization interested in world domination and the overthrow of all governments and religious institutions. Saw the state reorganized under him the same year, and returned to Mannheim in 1788, only to come back the following annum. In the mid-1790s his duchies were invaded and occupied by French revolutionary forces. Despite his willingness to make Bavaria a puppet state of the HRE in return for support, it was not forthcoming. Following his first wife’s death in 1794, he married a second time the following year, to an archduchess over fifty years his junior, in the hope of a heir. The union was unconsummated, and she took on a host of lovers instead. When he died of a stroke, there was great celebration in the streets. Succeeded by a cadet branch of his family. Inner: Saw himself as a great prince of peace, although had little effect on the larger political landscape of his time. Inflated ego lifetime of seeing that his true métier was in culture, not politics, which would dictate his subsequent go-rounds in this series.

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PATHWAY OF THE RULER AS MASTER OF WATERS BOTH GREAT & SMALL:
Storyline: The circumnavigating serial king knows how to realize his considerable ambitions, in whatever realm he chooses, be it commander, king, pulp fiction hero or eponymous entrepreneur.
Buster Crabbe (Clarence Linden Crabbe II) (1908-1983) - American athlete, entrepreneur, fitness expert and actor. Outer: Father managed a pineapple plantation, after earlier dabbling in real estate. One younger brother. Raised in Hawai’i, he learned to swim at 5, and became a champion natator in high school, while also winning 16 letters in football, basketball, and track as well as swimming. 6’1”, and well-built. Won a bronze medal for the 1500 meter freestyle in 1928 and four years later he gained the gold for the 400 meter freestyle. In the interim, he went to USC, where he was the school’s first All-American in the pool, before graduating in 1931 with a B.A. Continued his assault on various aquatic record books, and racking up championships, before marrying Adah Virginia Held, a fellow Trojan, in 1933. Two daughters and a son, Cullen, who became an actor, from the union, with the eldest, Sande, dying of anorexia in 1957. Decided to try a Hollywood career in lieu of going to law school, and found immediate success as an action serial star, after playing the jungle king, Tarzan, in a rival film to the Johnny Weissmuller series, although it would be an inferior product. Appeared in several Zane Grey (Joe Eszterhas) westerns as both a support and lead, but it would be the serial form that would propel him to stardom. From 1936 to 1940, he did five of them for Universal, beginning with spaceman Flash Gordon, the role with which he would be most associated. Did two sequels later in the decade, which would find their way to TV in the 1950s and 1960s. Also assayed Billy the Kid (Legs Diamond) and Buck Rogers, playing fantasy versions of both the past and future, in his pulp fiction portrayals and the innumerable westerns he made, with Al St. John (Jim Carrey) as his favorite sidekick. Turned to TV in the 1950s, assaying more action roles, and when his star began losing its luster, he became a stockbroker and businessman, with his own swimming pool company. Created an eponymous boys’ natatorial camp in the Adirondack Mountains in the early 1950s, which lasted until 1975, and also served as a sales vp for Cascade Industries, a package pool company which went international, combining his name with their product, doubly immortalizing him. Although his focus was on business for his last three decades, he also did low budget films for the rest of his life, as well as TV commercials, so that his name and face was before the public for half a century. Still an active athlete during this period, he broke the world record for over sixties in the 400 meter freestyle in 1971, and also authored several exercise books, while swimming two miles a day for most of his life. Actively involved in the planning for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, when he died of a heart attack at home. Inner: Down-to-Earth despite his space adventures, disciplined, ambitious and highly entrepreneurial. Resented his B status as an actor, and will probably return with a desire to display greater craft in that realm in his future lives. Well-toned lifetime of capitalizing on a handsome face and physique to become a B movie icon, while remaining very much in control of all aspects of his life, as an ongoing doer intent on doing his utmost to champion his various skills. Kalakaua I (David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Naloiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalakaua) (1836-1891) - Hawai’ian king. Outer: Father was a chief, and his mother was an adviser to the Hawai’ian king. Oldest of three siblings, including younger sister Liliuokalani (Queen Latifah). Per tradition he was adopted by a chiefess and taken to the king’s court on the island of Maui until he was four, at which point he returned to Oahu, and matriculated at the Royal School. Became fluent in both English and Hawai’ian, and began studying law at 16, although his various government positions prevented him from completing his degree. At 20, he was made a major on the king’s staff, and was also the leader of a political organization known as the Young Hawai’ians, who demanded the island nation recognize its own culture and heritage. Served in the Dept. of the Interior, and in 1863, was made postmaster general, in addition to his military duties. Married Esther Julia Kapi'olani Napelakapuokaka'e, the granddaughter of the Kauain king, no children from the union. In 1872, he lost by a large margin to Prince William Lunalilo as successor to the expired king. Following the death of Lunalilo two years later, he was elected Hawai’i’s 7th king by the island’s legislature over the widow of the earlier monarch. Her supporters, however, subsequently rioted, and he was forced to ask for American and British help in suppressing them. Immediately toured the islands to show his accessibility, then traveled to the U.S. to meet with its president, U.S. Grant (Omar Bradley), which led to an agreement allowing Hawai’ian exports to come into America tax-free, and that, in turn, occasioned an economic boom. In 1881, he became the first head of state to circumnavigate the globe, subconsciously finishing a trip he had begun centuries before, while also setting another precedent for that feat. Met with various rulers in Asia and Europe, as well as the pope, in part to get a sense of rule from them, while leaving his sister in charge. Took great pride in reviving Hawai’ian culture, particularly its myths and legends, as well as the hula, which had been suppressed by missionaries in the early part of the 19th century. Commissioned the design and planning of the Greek-revival ‘Iolani Palace for a third of a million dollars, and had electricity and phonelines installed there. In 1887, the Hawai’ian League took control of the government and forced him to sign the “Bayonet Constitution,” which severely restricted his powers, and in essence, ended the monarchy’s supremacy. Fell into ill health and died at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, with his last words, “Tell my people I tried.” Succeeded by his sister, Liliuokalani. Inner: Known as the “Merrie Monarch.” Loved festivals and galas, and patronized the arts, particularly music and dance. Also loved good food and drink. Highly ambitious, with an ability to enjoy himself as well as work towards larger ends. Thwarted lifetime of coming into rule when his throne was in its dying days, limiting his governmental goals, although allowing him to return his realm to its cultural roots. Ferdinand Magellan (Ferna de Maglhaes) (c1480-1521) - Portuguese navigator and soldier. Outer: Born into the lower Portuguese nobility, and lost his parents at the age of 10. One brother and one sister, as well. Became a page to the queen consort of the Portuguese king, which qualified him for the court school, where he learned cartography, astronomy and celestial navigation. In 1504, he volunteered for duty with the first Portuguese viceroy of India, and remained in the Far East for 8 years. Fought in numerous battles, showing distinction as a warrior, while being wounded in 1506, and again in 1509. Ultimately was rewarded for his efforts in 1510 by being made a captain. Distinguished himself once more in the conquest of Malacca, and then was sent on to explore the Spice Islands with a squadron, which he successfully did. Returned to Portugal in 1512, and the following year, he fought in Morocco, receiving a wound that left him lame for life. Also accused of trading with the Moors, and though the aspersion was never proved, it ended his service for the Portuguese crown. Having little choice, he renounced his nationality, and offered his services to the young Spanish king, Charles V (Napoleon Bonaparte). In 1517, he married Beatriz Barbosa, the daughter of Diogo Barbosa, also a naturalized Portuguese, who would later join him on his his/storic voyage. Two sons from the union, but both died young. With help from allies, he caught the king’s ear, and proposed to reach the Spice Islands by sailing west through a strait at the bottom of the South American continent, which would open a spice route for the country without abrogating the treaty it had earlier signed with Portugal to divide the world between them. Thinking the globe was much smaller than it was, he received both astronomical and financial support, from Ruy Faleiro and an Antwerp banking house respectively and cosigned an agreement along with Faleiro for a percentage of the profits and sovereignty over lands discovered for them and their heirs, while being made a commander. After some difficulties, in 1519, five vessels set out under his command from Seville, with the Trinidad the flagship, and some 270-280 on board, of mixed nationalities. Faleiro, however, did not go, since his horoscope said the voyage would be fatal to him. 3/4 of the costs were covered by the Spanish crown, with the rest by an Antwerp banker. The convoy was well-armed, and provisioned for two years. Reached the New World, and headed down the coast of South America, landing on what he would call Patagonia. Wintered off it, and had to crush a mutiny involving two of his captains who refused to be led further by a foreigner. Drew and quartered one and marooned the other, while executing the rest who were complicitous, before continuing on and discovering the 360 miles long strait that would bear his name at the continent’s cold tip. One of his vessels deserted, and questions once again arose whether or not to continue, which he steadfastly did. The expedition reached the ocean he would dub Pacific for its steady and gentle winds, in comparison with the cold, harsh climate he had just traversed to get there. Discovered only two islands during the next near 100 days, so that no provisions were available and the crews began suffering terribly from scurvy while eating rats, leather and sawdust. Finally reached Guam, where they could replenish before pushing on again, reaching the Philippines. Made a close alliance with the first sovereign he met, the king of Cebu, whom he had baptized, and on an expedition to the neighboring island of Mactan he was shot with a poisoned arrow, then speared and hacked to death. His body was never recovered. After burning one of the three remaining ships, the 115 survivors escaped to the Moluccas, and then finished their journey around the world, suffering scurvy, heavy seas and further starvation, as well as more altercations. In the end, 18 men landed in Seville on the flagship Trinidad, although the feat would give him the honor of being the first global circumnavigator, a deed as important from a European perspective, if not more so, than the discovery of the New World. Left no written records of his exploits, although he had a Venetian scholar, Antonio Pigafetta, who did, as one of the handful of survivors of the epic journey. Inner: Extremely tenacious and driven, with a certain tunnel vision towards his objectives. Reputedly bisexual, indulging himself with his own sex on his journeys. In command lifetime of entering his name in the geographer’s Hall of Fame through grit, determination and a willingness to achieve his goals at all costs, including his own life.

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PATHWAY OF THE SINGER AS ROYALTY BOTH REAL AND IMAGINED:
Storyline: The regal lady learns to sing far more than the blues when she seizes control of her life, after earlier battling forces far larger than herself, thanks to solid parental support, and the ability to prove herself as a queenly talent capable of an imposing performance on anything she assays.
Queen Latifah (Dana Elaine Owens) (1970) - American singer and actress. Outer: Of African-American descent. Grew up in the projects and working-class districts. Mother was a high school art and his/story teacher. Extremely close to her older brother, happy childhood. Her father was a policeman, and taught her how to protect herself with karate and firearms. Her parents separated when she was 5 and divorced 3 years later, which devastated her. Her mother held 2 jobs to support her 2 children, while the house was always filled with music. Admired her mother’s strength, and felt like she was a sister. Good athlete, she was a power forward on 2 high school championship basketball teams. 5’10”, and self-described “real life size.” Chose the name ‘Latifah,’ which means delicate and sensitive in Arabic, and added Queen, wanting respect, as well as unconsciously reflecting on her royal past. Studied broadcasting briefly in a community college. Cut her first album, “All Hail the Queen,” in 1989, mixing rap, reggae and house music, through the auspices of high school friends who called themselves Flavor Unit. Her brother, who became a police officer, died in a motorcycle accident when she was 22, and it took her 5 years to get over it. Came to mass public attention via the TV sitcom “Living Single.” Made her film debut in Jungle Fever in 1991, then refused to take on stereotypical rapper roles, preferring that her cinematic career develop slowly. Founded the Flavor Unit management company in 1993, making her mother the president. Won a Grammy in 1994, and has had several brushes with the law, although maintains her royal following with her fans through a take-control attitude over her life and career. Played a sultry jazz singer in Living Out Loud, unconsciously touching back on her Billie Holiday roots, to reaffirm how far she has come from that life. Her acting career took off after the turn of the century, with well-received turns in Chicago and Bringing Down the House. Worked as executive producer on the latter, and brought her savvy to its marketing, as well as its content, and continues to be a star of the silver screen, employing mostly comedic vehicles, to best showcase her ebullient personality. Inner: Charismatic, forceful, and self-confident. Sincere, sassy, quick-witted and down-to-Earth. Self-respect an extremely important attribute, particularly after her downfall around lack of same in her earlier go-round as a singer. Royally resurrected lifetime of emphasizing the positive and bringing all her talents for self-expression to the fore. Billie Holiday (Eleanora Fagan) (1915-1959) - American singer. Outer: Of African-American descent. Born illegitimately to an illegitimate mother, and despite later claims, her teenaged parents never married, and simply separated. Her mother was a domestic, while her father was a talented musician who played guitar and banjo with the Fletcher Henderson (Kanye West) Orchestra for a time, as well as other leading groups, but was away from home so often, he couldn’t maintain his marriage. Grew up in poverty in a ghetto area of Baltimore. Ran errands for a local brothel keeper as a child, and was allowed to listen to recordings, which determined her career. Her mother was forced to leave her with relatives while she looked for work. Enterprising as a child, she scrubbed stoops and was involved in other money-making endeavors. At 10, a neighbor tried to rape her, and she was incarcerated in a Catholic reformatory as a result, where they once put her in a room with a dead child as punishment. Her mother got her out and she moved with her at the age of 13 to NYC, where the duo barely subsisted. 5’5”. Worked briefly as a prostitute, and was jailed again for several months. Finally found a job singing at a Harlem nightclub, after being turned down as a dancer and being near the point of starvation. Had no formal musical training, but had an instinct for musical structure as well as a difficult life to give her the emotional resonance to sing both jazz and the blues. Adopted her first name from the actress Billie Dove, and her last name from her father. Gradually built a reputation as a singer of unusual voice and note, and by 1933, she began recording with top level musicians, so that by the mid-1930s, she was viewed as the leading jazz singer of her time, reaching her peak in her early 20s, with a plaintive, distinctive, small voice of surprising flexibility that spoke of her pain and trials, which led her to drugs, bad relationships, and unhappiness in her private life, despite her overt success. Dubbed ‘Lady Day,’ by saxophonist Lester Young, after she objected to the coarse language of some of her fellow musicians. Toured with top names and by 1940 was appearing exclusively in cabaret and concert. Married Jimmy Monroe, a trumpet player in 1941, and her husband got her into heroin, which began her ineluctable draw towards self-destruction. In 1946, she made her only movie, New Orleans, where she had to play the demeaning role of a domestic. In 1947, she was arrested for possession of heroin and spent a year in a rehabilitation center, while losing her cabaret license in NYC. Packed Carnegie Hall 10 days after her release, and continued to perform outside of New York in concerts and clubs. Arrested again in 1949, she made several more tours, including 2 of Europe, a lifelong dream of hers, in 1954 and 1958, as she slid back into her alcohol and heroin dependencies, which coarsened her voice, and made her extremely unreliable. In 1956, she was arrested yet again, but sent to a sanitarium instead of a correctional institute. Divorced in 1957, she wed Louis McKay soon afterwards. Wrote her autobiography, “Lady Sings the Blues,” which was later made into a motion picture, starring Diana Ross. Best remembered for “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless the Child,” as well as the trademark orchid she would wear in her hair. Died of heart and liver disease as well as congestion of the lungs, and was still looking for heroin on her hospital deathbed, while under arrest for possession of narcotics, a little over a month before. Given a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987. Inner: Addictive personality, who ran the full gamut of humiliation and despondency, so that her fame and fans could not deter her from her inescapable draw towards self-destruction. Bi-sexual, with an ‘I don’t care’ attitude, that attracted an audience as fascinated with her problems as it was with her music. Perfectionist in her performances, never quite singing a song the same way twice. Victimized lifetime of exploring the darker shadows of her heart, both in life and in performance, forcing her to sing the blues from cradle to grave. Queen Liliuokalani (Lydia Mamakaeha) (1838-1917) - Hawai’ian queen. Outer: Born into the chief class. Her mother was an adviser to the Hawai’ian king, Kamehameha III. Middle of 3 children, and younger sister of Kalakalaua (Buster Crabbe). As was the custom, she was given to adoptive parents, who were kingly councilors, which raised her status even more. Her secondary parents had one daughter, and she was closer to her than her natural siblings. Received a missionary-style western education, gaining a fluency in English, and toured the western world. Wrote over 200 pieces of music and is best remembered for composing the song, “Aloha Oe.” Also an extremely skilled pianist, as well as an adept ukulele, guitar, zither and organ player. Married in 1862 to John Owen Dominis, the son of a retired British sea captain, then moved into her disapproving mother-in-law’s home, causing much tension. Although childless, she adopted a son when she discovered her husband had fathered a child with a half-Hawai’ian woman. Adopted a 2nd son and daughter afterwards. Inherited houses on Waikiki in 1868 and moved there. In 1874, her brother was made heir to the throne, and she became a princess, then next-in-line on the death of her younger brother in 1877. A decade later, she and her husband went to England for Queen Victoria’s (Mary Renault) golden jubilee, and were received there as royalty. Succeeded her older brother in 1891, to become the first and only reigning Hawai’ian queen. Felt the throne had lost considerable power under her brother, thanks to the “Bayonet Constitution,” which deliberately weakened the power of the monarchy. Acted the autocrat, standing up for Hawai’ian rights, with a new constitution, which made her anathema to American financial interests. Businessman Sanford Dole manipulated her abdication in 1893, and declared a provisional government as a step towards annexation by the U.S., which she bitterly opposed. Stepped down to avoid war, but petitioned the American president Grover Cleveland (Jerry Brown/Joseph Biden) to be reinstated. Despite a presidential order, Dole defied it, and then suppressed a royalist resurrection in 1895. Charged with treason, she was placed under house arrest, then abdicated in order to gain pardons for her jailed supporters. Hawai’i was annexed in 1898, through a joint resolution of Congress. Spent the rest of her life in retirement in Honolulu, receiving an annual pension from the Hawai’ian legislature. Also garnered income from various properties, including a 6,000 acre sugar plantation. Attended most state functions, and was able to publicly forgive her enemies, in a final show of good Hawai’ian grace. Before her death of a stroke, she set up a trust for destitute or orphaned island children. Wrote her autobiography, Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen. Inner: Domineering, regal and very much into control. Compassionate with an overriding need to make people happy, and keep her islands’ traditions alive in the wake of a superior colonial economic force. Deposed lifetime of being caught in the endtimes of a monarchy, but still managing to show both her strength and compassion in dealing with powers far greater than her own as prelude to entering the common realm with little control over her existence in order to see where it would take her.

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PATHWAY OF THE MOGUL AS MUSICAL KING:
Storyline: The poly-hatted producer pans for the gold in all his undertakings, employing his dual skills as entrepreneur and entertainer to make himself his own best-selling production, while evincing a dualistic character that is never quite satisfied with what he has, and is always looking for the next vein to mine.
Garth Brooks (Troyal Garth Brooks) (1962) - American singer and producer. Outer: Mother was an aspiring country star, who gave up her promising career when she married her 2nd husband, an oil company engineer, who had to work other jobs to make ends meet. Grew up in modest circumstances with 4 half-siblings and one natural sibling, all of whom excelled at something, including his half-sister Betsey, a gifted musician. 6’1”, muscular. A three-sport athlete in high school, he won a track scholarship to Oklahoma State Univ, where he majored in advertising and journalism. Played in a student bluegrass band in high school, and began performing locally when he graduated. Despite the lack of his parents’ blessing, he headed to Nashville to try to become a country/western star, although failed initially and had to go back home. Met his future wife, Sandy Mahl, while working as a bouncer, breaking up a tipsy fight she had been in with another woman, when she put her fist through a bathroom wall. Although she initially rejected him, they began dating and he married her in 1986, 3 daughters, later confessed he had been adulterous on the road early in his career. Later that year, he met fellow demo singer Trisha Yearwood, who was married at the time, and was instantly smitten with her. His own marriage floundered through his repeated roving eye, and the duo were ultimately divorced 14 years later, although continue to live in separate houses on his 2000 acre ranch. Scored a huge success on his 2nd try, moving back to Nashville with $1500, 2 years after leaving that city in disillusionment. Made his first album, "Garth Brooks," at 27, and became a giant of the entertainment industry during the next decade, ultimately growing larger than Nashville as an industrial phenomenon unto himself. Outed his sister, who plays bass in his back-up band with him, as a homophile in a TV interview, although it did not affect her career. Disliked in Nashville for his heavy-handed ways, despite a deliberate public image as a good ole black hatted All-American Boy. A multiple award winner, and powerful enough to turn them down as a show of pseudo/humility. Threw a free concert in NYC’s Central Park, which drew some 250,000. Exceedingly focused on his own marketing as a dual artistic/business force, making him a major player in the musical life of the country, and the best-selling recording artist of all time by his mid-30s. Tried out for the San Diego Padres baseball team in his late 30s, then created an alter ego, Chris Gaines, giving him a gaunt, dark character, to go along with the movie and albums he created under his secondary personality, perhaps in an attempt to come to terms with an unseen other side of himself, although it was his only album that did not sell well. Announced after the turn of the millennium that he was retiring from touring and recording, although changed his mind in 2007. In 2005, he publicly proposed to his longtime fantasy and fellow country music star, Trisha Yearwood, in front of 7000 people, and married her a few months later. The same year, he ended his 16 year relationship with Capitol Records to sell his music exclusively through Wal-Mart, which resulted in his first #1 single in 7 years. By the end of 2007, he had become the best-selling solo artist in the his/story of the music business, bypassing Elvis Presley. Subsequently retired and then unretired in 2009. Inner: Charming, amiable, unassuming on the surface, but a shark when it comes to business matters underneath. Extremely self-obsessed, often referring to himself in the third person. Gave the image of being a strong family man, taking his family with him whenever he went on tour, but in his ongoing dualities, also rejecting and ejecting of his wife for others. Middlebrow musician, hewing to safe, unchallenging music, going for quantity of sales rather than quality of product. Mega-wattage lifetime of humble beginnings to recreate himself as a public idol, combining his previous talents with a desire to do it all by himself, rather than in a group business endeavor, as in his life immediately past. Jesse Lasky (1880-1958) - American producer and musician. Outer: Of Jewish descent. Parents came out West for the California Gold Rush and wound up opening a flourishing shoe store. When his father’s health deteriorated, he dropped out of high school to help the family. At 16, he played the cornet professionally, then, at 19, after his sire died, he headed off towards the Alaskan gold rush, proving unsuccessful in his first search for fortune, although he learned how to turn adversity into advantage. Continued working as a cornet player, showing himself to be a proficient musician, and ultimately became a band/leader in Hawaii with the Royal Hawaiian Band, before touring the vaudeville circuit with his sister Beatrice (Betsey Brooks) in a duo cornet act. Became the business manager of a magician in his early 20s, and retired from the stage in 1909, to devote himself to the business end of music as an impresario and producer. Married Bessie Gainnes the same year, 3 children, one son became a screenwriter and another an assistant director. His wife was fragile and withdrawn, while he was known for his big lavish parties. Opened a cabaret in NYC in his early 30s along with a partner, but lost all his money. His sister married Samuel Goldfish, who later changed his name to Goldwyn, and he joined his brother-in-law and friend, Cecil B. DeMille, in his early 30s in forming the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Players Co., becoming president of the fledgling film outfit, and one of the founders of Hollywood. The company merged with Adolph Zukor’s Famous Players, and then re-merged again, ultimately becoming Paramount Pictures, for which he worked as production chief. His willingness to gamble on unknowns made the studio successful, and he supervised nearly 1000 films between 1916 and 1932. Lost $10 million in the stock market crash, then was ousted during the Depression. In the 1930s, he became an independent producer for the next 2 decades, working for a variety of studios. Lived lavishly, with the confidence of rebounding from his high and low fortunes. Also produced a radio talent show. At the end of his career, he was deeply in debt, and returned to Paramount to try to resurrect himself, but died before completing his project. Wrote his autobiography I Blow My Horn. Inner: Optimistic, pragmatic and energetic. Amiable, considerate, well-liked, albeit driven. Horn-blowing lifetime of following the vagaries of the entertainment industry, striking it rich early on, and then struggling later on to maintain his tenuous position as one of Hollywood’s founding fathers, after having mined all the other veins available to him. Ferdinand VI (1713-1759) - Spanish king. Outer: From the House of Bourbon. 4th son of Felipe V (Desi Arnaz), and the youngest by his first wife, the daughter of the Sardinian king, who died when he was 1. Given no affection by his stepmother, Elizabeth Farnese (Lucille Ball), and spent a very depressed childhood, feeling unwanted. Took absolutely no part in what was largely his mother’s and her ministers’ government, leaving him with little interest in real rule, and with virtually no confidence in his own abilities. In 1729, he married Maria Barbara, the daughter of the king of Portugal, no children from union. His wife’s profound homeliness shocked him at first sight, although the two grew to love one another deeply. Stepped up to the throne, on his father’s death in 1746, and oversaw a thirteen year stretch of relative tranquility, modest reform and modest gains. Preferred avoiding any untoward confrontations with the larger world, and it treated Spain accordingly, during his peaceful run. Although largely decision adverse, he was also capable of taking action when the situation warranted, dismissing a powerful minister and imprisoning him when his intrigues threatened the kingdom. Along with his wife, he was a noted music lover, particularly opera, as well as an enthusiastic supporter of the arts. Embraced famed castrato Carlo Farinelli (Michael Jackson), as his father had done, as his primary court singer. Became known as Ferdinand the Learned, more for his cultural pursuits than any great display of scholarship. Founded a prestigious fine arts academy, as well as an observatory. Inconsolable after the death of his beloved spouse, he slipped into deep melancholia, wandering around in a stupor, and followed her almost exactly a year later. Succeeded by his half-brother, Carlos III (Ashton Kutcher). Inner: Melancholy, shy, orderly and a creature of routine, despite a well-developed esthetic sense. Stunted lifetime of being made to feel unloved and inadequate via his upbringing, while using his wife, his esthetics and the thrill of the chase as his only real release from a largely corseted existence testing his own abilities at seeing himself through a deeply wounded heart.

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PATHWAY OF THE PERFORMER AS DRAMATIC SELF-REFERENCER:
Storyline: The emotional empress impresses everyone with her talent and beauty in a succession of acclaimed public lives, but cannot get past the tragedies of her private dramas, as she tries once again to launch an overt career without succumbing to the self-swallowing that still lies at her heart of hearts.
Diane Kruger (Diane Heidkrueger) (1976) - German/French actress. Outer: Grew up in the German countryside. Her parents separated, and her mother supported the family, giving her a sense of independence. Little connection with her father. Her mother wanted her to be an accountant, but she wished to be a ballerina and studied for 11 years, winding up with the Royal Ballet in London, before a knee injury curtailed that ambition. 5’8”. Blonde with melancholy eyes, and more than a passing resemblance to actress Romy Schneider, her favorite star of the screen, and an earlier incarnation of herself. Fascinated also by her tragic end. Returned to Germany and became a top model, before moving to France when she was 16. Enrolled at France’s top acting school, Cours Florent, then met actor/director Guillaume Canet, and wound up in his first film, Mon Idole, after making her cinematic debut in 2002 in The Piano Player. The duo were wed in 2001. After a half dozen films, she won the plum role of Helen of Troy in Troy, in an acknowledgment of her crypto-royalty, and appears poised for another stellar career, with the hope of intermixing large and small films, as well as integrating her private life, so that all her heavy drama remains on the screen, and does not overwhelm her internally, as it has in the past. Inner: Strong identification with her previous go-around, using it as a spur to become an actress. Restless and highly ambitious, with a good facility for languages. Encore lifetime of using her tragic past as her own muse, to see if she can transcend the unhappiness that has undone her in the leadup lives in this series. Romy Schneider (Rosemarie Magdelena Albach-Retty) (1938-1982) - Austrian actress. Outer: Mother was popular stage & screen actress Magda Schneider. Father was stage & screen actor Wolf Albach-Retty. Spent most of her early life with her grandparents and in boarding schools. Her parents divorced, and her mother married a restaurant entrepreneur, who guided her career, while also lusting after her. Made her German film debut at 15 in When the White Lilac Blooms Again, appearing with her mother, and promptly left school to pursue her career fulltime. Became a star of German films in her teens in “Sissi,” a series of four sentimental dramas, based on the Austro-Hungarian royal family, in which she played the young empress consort Elizabeth, a former life of hers. It was later combined and released in the English speaking world as Forever My Love, and the role would forever stick to her in her native country. Starred in a remake of one of her mother’s vehicles, and then, to escape her control, moved to Paris with her co-star, Alain Delon, in 1959, and threw herself into the culture of her adopted country, while quickly becoming a favorite of an assortment of well-known international directors, garnering both praise and awards for her skills, despite never having taken a formal acting lesson. After her relationship with Delon ended in 1964, she unhappily married Berlin theater director Harry Mayen in 1966, son from union. The duo soon separated and finally divorced in 1972, and he committed suicide 7 years later. Played the mature Empress Elizabeth in 1972, in an Italian/German production, Ludwig, in yet another revisit to the troubled go-round at the base of this series. Married her private secretary Daniel Biasini in 1975, lookalike daughter from union. He became a screenwriter afterwards, but the couple later separated and divorced in 1981, after her son was impaled on a fence in front of their house. Despite her unabated success in her professional life, as an international star with her choice of both directors and roles, her private life remained tormented and she fell into an alcohol and drug spiral, totally undone by the death of her son. Died a year later of a heart attack, although also may have succumbed to an overdose of sleeping pills. Made 61 films all told. Inner: Personable, and highly talented. Felt she could do little in real life, only reel life. Victim lifetime of being under the control of not only others, but the very fates themselves, as she unconsciously acted out her past on screen and then in her actualities, before exiting prematurely to try to do it all over again from a more secure, self-confident base. Elizabeth (1837-1898) - Austrian empress. Outer: Mother was the sister of the reigning archduchess, father was a Bavarian duke, from the House of Wittelsbach, royal upbringing. Known as ‘Sisi.’ Tall and willowy, with cascades of dark brown hair, she was seen as the most beautiful princess in Europe. At 15, she met her cousin, Franz Joseph I (Edgar Bronfman, Sr.) , the Austrian emperor, when he was originally intended for her older sister, but could not keep his eyes off her. She became his empress consort 2 years later. Three daughters, and a son from union, crown Prince Rudolph. Her oldest daughter died at 2, and she never quite got over her loss, while her husband infected her with syphilis. Traveled to recover, and then never really readopted to her assigned roles afterwards. Had difficulties with her mother-in-law, the archduchess, and resolved them along with the innate tensions in her royal marriage, by being constantly on the move throughout Europe, thanks to a facility for languages. In 1867, she added the crown of Hungary to her diademmed collection, when the two countries became the linchpin of her husband’s Hapsburg empire. Despite her high position, and the general affection of her subjects, she was disliked at court, showing an impatience with its rigid protocols and a neurotic restlessness. Nevertheless, she was an instrument in effecting the compromise which brought Austria and Hungary together, and showed a clear preference for the latter, and its far more humane spirituality, rather than the coldness of her native land. Approved of her husband’s other liaisons, even arranging one, which freed her from her marriage constraints, and allowed her to remain continually on the move, while contracting ambiguous relationships with a variety of men. Never recovered from the shock of her son’s famous suicide in 1889, in Mayerling, in a death pact he made with his teenage lover, baronness Maria Vetsera. Later stabbed to death with a sharpened file by an Italian anarchist during a visit to Switzerland. Inner: Strong personality, but neurotically beset by an innate unhappiness, which was fed by the serial tragic loss of her children. Athletic, with a fierce bravado, and a strong sense of independence. Blessed and cursed lifetime of being born into beauty and power, only to have her world consumed by tragedy and ultimately taken away from her by the anarchic hand of fate.

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PATHWAY OF THE PRODUCER AS PRUSSIAN TASKMASTER:
Storyline: The teutonic tyrant experiences exile two go-rounds in a row, but finds the going far more satisfactory in the royal realm of make-believe, while retaining his kingly, controlling and unkindly personality as he bridges over into the nonpolitical arena, from the far more demanding realm of reactionary rule.
Otto Preminger (Otto Ludwig Preminger) (1906-1986) - Viennese/American director, producer and actor. Outer: From a prominent upper-class Jewish family. His father was a lawyer who was once attorney general of the Austro-Hungarian empire. His brother Ingo eventually became a Hollywood agent and producer. Studied law, and earned a degree, but had a far greater preference for the theater. 6’, 170 lbs, blue-eyed and bullet-headed most of his adult life. By the time of his graduation from the Univ. of Vienna, he had worked as an assistant to legendary director Max Reinhardt, and spent two years as an actor under him. Began producing and directing, while taking over Reinhardt’s Viennese theater, and also directed one German language film in 1931. In 1935, with Adolf Hitler in power in Germany, he emigrated to NYC to direct a courtroom drama on Broadway, “Libel,” that had been successful in Vienna, then came to Hollywood to work for 20th Century Fox, although an argument with producer Darryl Zanuck caused him to be fired, just as he was starting his third project for the studio. Returned to Broadway after finding himself persona non grata in Tinseltown, and had a hit with a Clare Booth Luce play in which he played a Nazi villain. Despite his Jewish background, he quickly became one of Hollywood’s favorite Nazis on screen, and with Zanuck in Europe in the Signal Corps, he was reinstated as a director. Married Hungarian actress Marion Mill in 1942, later divorced. When the latter returned, he was allowed to complete his most accomplished work, Laura, in 1944, which he also produced, and he was back in business again, after having become an American citizen the previous year. Remained at Fox the rest of the decade and in the early 1950s, he became an independent producer. Married in 1951, divorced at decade’s end. His strong and domineering personality won him the sobriquet of Otto the Terrible, as he browbeat his stars through towering purple-faced rages, reducing many to tears, but he also cast blacklisted talent. In 1953, he produced and directed The Moon is Blue, which challenged the Production Code by employing the forbidden words “virgin” and “pregnant,” and though it was released without the Code’s official seal of approval, it helped break down censorship barriers. The same year he also directed at the NYC Opera. In 1955, he again challenged subject matter mores with The Man with the Golden Arm, which dealt with drug addiction. Continued pushing envelopes with his all-black Carmen Jones and Porgy and Bess. During the former film, he became involved with Dorothy Dandridge (Halle Berry), who wanted him to leave his second wife for her, but he didn’t. Always cost conscious on all his productions, he never really established a unique style, but managed to maintain his career far longer than his other independent cohorts, producing and directing 37 films, of highly varying quality. Largely a dispassionate director, who minimized close-ups, and made largely emotionally distant fare, thanks in large part to his own attitude towards his craft. In 1971, after the death of writer and stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, he acknowledged he was father of their lookalike son, Erick Kirland, who changed his name and went to work for his sire’s company. The same year, he made his third and final marriage to costume designer Hope Bryce, twins from what would be his most satisfying union. Loved to be outrageous on talks shows on TV, playing the bullet-headed Prussian with great glee, despite being a liberal at heart, and a lifelong advocate for democracy and free speech. Had his autobiography ghostwritten in 1977, and died of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Inner: Highly temperamental, demanding, bullying, frugal and controlling, but also courtly and generous to those he liked. Never saw himself as an artiste, and totally ignored critical acclaim and disdain, although knew how to manipulate the press to his advantage. Otto the Terrible lifetime of transposing his monarchical will to the faux kingdom of Hollywood, as an exile once again, although this time, fully in control of his destiny, thanks to a royal sense of self, a contempt for everyone else within his serial imaginary realms and a talent to entertain, rather than rule. Ludwig I (1786-1868) - King of Bavaria. Outer: Of the House of Wittelsbach. Eldest son of Maximilian I Joseph, mother was a German princess. Well-educated, he was a fervent German nationalist as a youth. Reluctantly served at Napoleon’s headquarters, during his wars with Russia and Prussia, then headed the anti-French party upon returning. Married Therse of Saxe-Hildburghausen, a duke’s daughter in 1810, 9 children, including his successor, Maximilian II, as well as Otto I, who would become king of Greece, and serially share with him the libidinous company of Jane Digby (Pamela Harrison), an English adventuress extraordinaire. Although loyal to his dull wife, and a devoted father, he had a roving eye, as well as a fascination with all things Spanish. Played a factor in the liberal Bavarian constitution following the Napoleonic wars, although he was quite conservative in church affairs. Ascended the throne at the age of 39, but soon turned quite reactionary, particularly after the democratic revolutions of 1830. Sponsored a right-wing government which eroded the constitution and restored the church’s power. In contrast, he was an enthusiastic supporter of high culture, serving as a patron of the arts, and commissioning many public buildings in Munich, making that city the artistic center of Germany. A public liaison with dancer Lola Montez (Gypsy Rose Lee), in which he entitled her, added to his unpopularity. His entire cabinet resigned over her in 184, while she coyly resisted his advances, making her even more desirable to him. She became a figure of great controversy because of the liberal reforms she championed, while exercising full control over the otherwise highly conservative monarch. Considered such a dangerous radical by clerical forces, that rioting broke out in Munich in 1848, and the king was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, while she was banished. Realized later how much he had been used by her, he summarily ended all contact with her. Spent his last 20 years in exile, and outlived his successor. Inner: Leonine in looks as well as personality. Extremely parsimonious, and jealous of his royal prerogatives, but progressive in his love of art and architecture. Dualistic lifetime of reactive politics and creative patronage of culture, helping him opt for the latter sphere in his succeeding go-round, after being given a long time to think about his priorities during his exiled endlife.

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PATHWAY OF THE PRODUCER AS HIGHLY CONFLICTED SUCCESS:
Storyline: The discordant musical manager repeatedly rejects his family’s thriving concerns to pursue his own pathway, although once achieved, has great difficulty in accepting his good fortune.
Brian Epstein (1934-1967) - English music producer. Outer: Of Lithuanian Jewish descent. His grandparents had emigrated to England at the end of the 19th century, and founded a family-owned furniture business, I. Epstein and Sons, which eventually expanded into musical instruments and appliances. Mother was also from a family in the furniture business. Born at a private nursing home, he was the older of two brothers. Spent some time in North Wales during the WW II era, then went to several schools, showing little interest in them, before reluctantly entering the family business, a furniture concern, after his father refused to allow him to become a dress designer. At 18, he was conscripted for 2 years into the Royal Army Service Corps as a clerk, although 10 months later he received a medical discharge for being emotionally and mentally unfit for service, a euphemistic code for his homoerotic inclinations. His orientation, however, was never publicly revealed until long after his premature death. Studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and was arrested one night for soliciting, although it never became public record. Dropped out of school and returned to the family business, and was put in charge of the record section of his sire’s newly opened North End Music Store or NEMS. While there, he began selling and writing a column for a local newspaper called “Mersey Beat,” which promoted local bands. Discovered the Beatles through it, and after meeting them in 1961, he became their manager at year’s end. Immediately changed their scruffy image, insisting on suits and ties, while cleaning up their casual stage presentation as well. The group benefited immensely from the 9 record stores his family owned in Liverpool, and kept his sexual orientation a secret among themselves, while he did his cruising elsewhere. His singular relationship with a woman was with singer Alma Cogan, who died of ovarian cancer in 1966. After several rejections, he signed the Beatles up with EMI, and in the fall of 1962, their first hit single, “Love me do,” was released, while their personnel was slightly altered, with one subtraction, and the addition of drummer Ringo Starr. Had a number of other Liverpudlian acts, although the Beatles would remain his lynchpin, as they quickly became an international phenomenon by 1964. The same year he published his autobiography, “A Cellarful of Noise,” which was largely unrevealing. Began popping pills and using stimulants, with the excuse they helped him stay awake at night, although the more successful he became, the more his drug dependency escalated. Continually promoted the band, becoming a TV and radio personality himself, while even hosting “Hullabaloo,” on American telly. Moved to London to accommodate his expanding empire, although by 1967, he had largely lost interest in his various enterprises, and instead became ever more addicted to amphetamines, in what would prove to be a slow-motion suicide, due to his buildup in tolerance to them. Several weeks after his father had passed away, he was found dead in his digs from an overdose of Carbitol. Despite the pivotal role he played in the Beatles phenomena, he was never officially given the honors they were, and remains a footnote figure to their extraordinary legacy. Inner: Kind and caring to everyone he knew. Loved to gamble for high stakes, and was basically an addictive personality. Suffered from insomnia, and was somewhat suicidal after his success, unwilling or unable to truly handle it. More the innate promoter than businessman. 5th Beatle lifetime of adroitly captaining the lads to phenomenal heights, before summarily abandoning ship, through a curious inability on his part to handle the responsibilities of success. Nathaniel Anselm de Rothschild, Freiherr de Rothschild (1836-1905) - Austrian socialite, philanthropist and art collector. Outer: 5th child out of 8 children, and oldest son of Anselm de Rothschild, a third generation member of the famous Jewish banking family, and head of its Austrian branch. Mother was a cousin of his father, which was the family’s predilection, since it wanted to keep its fortune within its own blood confines. Studied at Brünn, although his extravagance and lack of both discipline and focus deeply disturbed his sire. Further compounded his black sheep status by showing no interest in going into the family banking business, preferring, instead, to allow his younger male siblings precedent over him in the Rothschild hierarchy, while he pursued a dilettante’s existence of socializing with the Vienna elite. Never married, nor was his sexual orientation ever common knowledge. At his progenitor’s death in 1874, he and one brother inherited the family’s art and real estate, while the third brother continued the family’s financial empire. Proved his own value through his social contacts, enhancing the family’s name, while adding to its art collection, and also erecting several spectacular abodes, including one of the Palais Rothschilds, which housed both his art and his priceless collection of antique musical instrument. A philanthropist and social butterfly, he was extremely generous with his family’s money, evincing a far greater adeptness at giving than receiving. Inner: Well-socialized, with a good sense of the theatrical. Black sheep lifetime of enhancing his family’s considerable name and reputation, through what he did best, developing his abilities as a connoisseur, social butterfly and tastemaker, before dipping into pop culture in his next go-round, to try to do the same, with far less surety of both himself and what he ultimately wanted.

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PATHWAY OF THE MOGUL AS COMMUNICATIONS CONDUIT:
Storyline: The driven maven continually searches for larger highways on which to propel his super-charged chassis, in his ongoing desire to be king of the road.
Barry Diller (1942) - American media executive. Outer: Father was a wealthy Beverly Hills real-estate developer. Dropped out of college, and got a job at the William Morris agency, unconsciously using his earlier life’s work as a springboard. Quickly established himself with his drive and intensity, and in 1968, became vice-president of programming for ABC television, where he created the ‘Movie of the Week’ and mini-series as TV staples. Overstayed his effectiveness, and in 1974 he left to become head of Paramount Pictures, making it the hottest in Hollywood with a series of hits, garnering himself the reputation of being a prime Lotusland player. A decade later, he abruptly quit to work for Twentieth-Century Fox, after a power struggle in which he was out-manipulated for studio control following the death of his mentor. Given the daunting task of turning Fox TV into the fourth network, after it was started by Rupert Murdoch, who had bought it. Had a strong record there, thanks to an abusive management style, and a reputation for being a control freak, although he did successfully launch the network, taking credit in some instances for the ideas of others. Quit abruptly in 1992 when he couldn’t get a share of the business, vowing never to work for anyone again, and took a year off to look at options, before buying into the Home Shopping Network, QVC, for $25 million as part of his design for merging interactive technology with market forces. Sold it at a handsome profit and in 1996, bought USA Networks, and began the process of building it into a company worth $20 billion, thanks to its electronic retailing assets, although he failed in his goal to acquire NBC. His longtime liaison with designer Diane von Furstenburg eventually culminated in marriage in his late 50s. In 2001, he completed a deal that put him in charge of Universal Studios entertainment operations, when Vivendi Universal Entertainment, a French conglomerate who owned it, created a synergistic partnership with him in exchange for the film and TV assets of USA networks, although 6 months later, he resigned his position, and focused on Internet operations that specialize in searching and selling through his company InterActiveCorp, as he looks to become yet another major player in the Web of integrated electronic business opportunities of the 21st century. Following being named America’s highest paid chief executive in 2005, he was forced to break up his conglommerate into 5 separate companies 2 years later, after its stock declined, then won a legal battle over his former partner, John Malone, to gain full control over the company. Stepped down as CEO from IAC in 2010, although stayed on as chairman. Inner: Intense, hardworking, as well as controlling and abusive, using the mantra “not good enough,” to continually drive his underlings. Opinionated, self-confident, extremely competitive and totally dominating. Hard-driving lifetime of continually searching for the right vehicles to keep him at the head of the pack in the race down the electronic freeways of the multimedia age. William Morris (Zelman Moses) (1873-1932) - Silesian/American theatrical agent. Outer: Father was a prosperous dry-goods merchant. 3rd of 4 children. Grew up in a pastoral setting. His uncle was a smuggler who was caught at his trade, and his sire posted bond for him, then had to forfeit his store and flee to America. The family lived selling rags, until he was 9, when his mother sold everything to book them on steerage to America. Rejoined his father and uncle on NY’s lower East Side, although the former soon abandoned the family a second time. Dropped out of school and clerked at a grocery store, while maintaining a fascination with the world of show business, although his mother wanted him to be a barber. Changed his name, without being aware of the eminent English artist who bore the same appellation. Lean, with black piercing eyes, pitch-black hair and extremely pale skin. Worked for a publisher and ultimately found his metier in sales, eventually making $10,000 a year selling ads, before he was 20, but his firm went belly up in the silver panic of 1893, just when he was about to marry a German Protestant, whom he later happily wed, 2 children from union, including a son of the same name who inherited his business. Hustled his way into a theatrical agency, before opening up his own offices as the William Morris Vaudeville Agency in 1898. Worked on commission, and had a roller-coaster career, largely because he hated the details of business, preferring instead, the company of his clientele. Once was lassoed to his chair by a young Will Rogers (Arlo Guthrie), who became one of his many big-name clients. At 30, he contracted TB, left his agency to his staff, and lived in upstate NY for his health, before returning, and dwelling in upper Manhattan, which was still relatively undeveloped. After disputes with his partners, he created his own vaudeville circuit, which ultimately collapsed, although not before he opened a London office. Continually scouting for new performers to sign, while battling with competitors, showing an ubercompetitive sense in all he did. Suffered a mild stroke in 1930 and retired afterwards, but foresaw TV and its possibilities, when that medium was in its pre-infancy. Died while playing pinochle, and as a coda, turned a losing hand into a winner, before slumping in his seat. Inner: Extremely persuasive, a super salesman, with a penchant for drama in his own life to match the theatrical world he so aggressively represented. Transition lifetime of learning the business end of show business as prelude to becoming a major player in his next go-round, where he would also master the details of business to become a far more integrated figure in his adopted world of commercial make-believe. Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836) - German/English banker. Outer: Of German Jewish descent. Third of five sons of Meyer Amschel Rothschild (Sumner Redstone), along with five daughters. Older brother of James (Simon Cowell). His sire had established the family money-lending business the decade before his birth, by trading in antique coins with princely houses. The family name, which originally had been Bauer, derived from the red (rot) shield on the homes of their ghettoized ancestors. After his progenitor was appointed court factor to a German landgrave, he soon became his main financial agent, realizing he would be best served by doing business with reigning houses. His father had impressed on his sons to always act jointly, and never to go for excess profits, and he wound up as one of the two financial adepts of the second generation. Originally educated for the rabbinate, before the family fortunes improved. Sent to England in 1797, he took advantage of the opening phase of the Industrial Revolution to sell its wares directly, establishing a good reputation in the textile trade, while being appointed court agent of a German landgrave who supported him as a loan contractor to European governments. In 1803, he married Hannah Barent-Cohen, the daughter of a Jewish financier, 4 sons and 3 daughters from the union. His wife also had an excellent business sense. The following year, he moved permanently to London, and began acting as an acceptance house for international bills of exchange, while also becoming a naturalized citizen. Excelled at transferring bullion quickly and safely, and became the conduit for the fortunes of nations during the era of the Napoleonic Wars, supplying subsidies to those fighting the French emperor. Relied on an extremely efficient information service, replete with couriers and carrier pigeons, understanding completely that knowledge was power. Ultimately headed one of the most powerful banking families in Europe, and controlled the economy of that continent, while making the stock market an international phenomenon. Felt England was extremely stable, and never doubted its ultimate success against Napoleon. Always saw money as a means rather than an end, appreciating the power of his position far more than profit, but also manipulated and exploited all events to his advantage, feeding into the cabalistic view of his family’s unhealthy and highly intrusive relationship with international affairs. Along with his brothers, he was made a baron of the Austrian empire in 1822, although, unlike them, he never assumed the title. Died of an infected abscess while attending the wedding of his eldest son to the daughter of his younger brother, a family practice wherein the fortune was kept within the confines of their own coffers. Following his death, that son, Lionel Nathan de Rothschild, became head of his house. Inner: Deliberately boorish, stone-faced, difficult, hard-nosed and sarcastic. Family matters lifetime of exploring and exploiting his considerable financial skills in the international sector and giving his multigenerational bloodline the ballast to make it a world player from the beginning of the 19th century onwards.

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PATHWAY OF THE PRODUCER AS AMATEUR HOUR MAESTRO:
Storyline: The corrosive impresario brings his acerb persona to bear on his well-honed sense of the material, to create a unique ongoing empire based on his tastemaker assessment of both the talented and the entertainingly talentless.
Simon Cowell (1959) - English producer and entrepreneur. Outer: Of Scottish and Jewish descent. Father was both a music industry and real estate executive. Mother was his second wife and a former ballet dancer and socialite. One older half-brother and a half-sister, June, who became a child star before giving up her career, as well as one younger brother. Very close to his mother his entire life. Bored as a youth, and decidedly antiauthoritarian, he was booted out of various public schools for bad behavior. Initially fared poorly in the workplace as well, before getting a job in the mailroom via his sire at music giant EMI. 5’9”. After working his way up to A&R representative, he launched his own company, Fanfare, with a partner, and proved he had an excellent ear for hits, making it into a highly successful indie operation. Its parent company fared less well, however, and in 1989, bankrupt and deeply in debt, he moved back in with his parents, where he felt he truly learned the value of money. Became an A&R consultant with BMG afterwards, and established his own record company, S Records, selling some 25 million albums over the next decade. In 2001, he joined “Pop Idol,” an audience-involvement show that chose future stars, as a snarky judge, and established himself as an acid-tongued TV personality. The following year “Pop Idol,” crossed the ocean as “American Idol,” a TV phenomenon that would launch a host of copies in a host of countries, following the same format of a panel of judges and a horde of contestants eager for their fifteen seconds of fame. Set up another production company, Syco, which launched “The X-Factor” on British TV in 2004, although he wound up being sued by his former mentor Simon Fuller, the creator of “Pop Idol,” for its similarities to his concoction, which would ultimately have an audience of some half a billion in 17 countries. Continued with a variety of talent hunt shows, all following a similar format, while also producing TV shows, and more groups and more albums, showing a sure instinct for pleasing mass tastes in all his endeavors. In 2003, he penned his memoir, “I Don’t Mean to Be Rude, But...” In 2006, he signed a contract worth $36 million for 5 more seasons on “American Idol,” while also making huge deals with his other enterprises, to establish himself as one of the richest entrepreneurs in the entertainment field. Despite his unforgiving professional nature, he is also known for his generosity and charity work, and remains unmarried, while living grandly as a lord of old. Asked for $144 million, for his 5 month’s work in 2009, as the central reason “American Idol,” is America’s #1 TV show, while earning the title of the richest man in American TV in 2009. Announced at the beginning of season 9 in 2010 it would be his last, and he would bringing “X-Factor” to American shores in 2011, a show he not only appears on, but also owns, unlike “Idol.” After a dismal first season, however, he fired his host and two judges, including Paula Abdul, to everyone’s surprise, since her ditzy enthusiasm did not mesh with the hands-on competitiveness demanded of the show. Inner: Kindhearted beneath his hypercritical veneer, with a genuine enthusiasm for real talent. Able to parody himself on both TV and in film, taking himself a good deal less seriously than many of the hopefuls he excoriates. Extremely detail-oriented, with a need to control all aspects of his presentations. Here-comes-the-judge lifetime of parlaying an excellent ear and a caustic mouth into a unique career directly linked to his last go-round in this series of turning amateurs into professionals, or sending them back home in tears. Edward ‘Major’ Bowes (1874-1946) - American entrepreneur and radio personality. Outer: Father was a public cargo weigher who was killed in an accident when his son was 6. Oldest of 3, mother also had 4 children by a previous marriage. Had a Roman Catholic upbringing. Left school at 13 and became an office boy with a San Francisco real estate firm. Took advantage of the city’s growth and by the early 1900s, had a flourishing real estate business. Also studied music for many years, to become a conductor, composer, arranger and pianist. Served on a grand jury investigating city corruption that proved highly effective in routing it. Lost his holdings in the SF earthquake of 1906, but immediately began rebuilding afterwards. In 1910, he married Margaret Illington, an actress, who had been the wife of a Broadway producer, and began managing her career. No children from the union, which ended when his wife died in 1934. Served in the Reserve Army Corps during WW I, as a major, a title he would continue to employ. Combined a love for the theater with his innate business acumen and moved East, buying into the Cort Theater, while also doing some conducting there. In his mid-40s, he became a partner in the Capitol Theater and then its managing director. In 1922, he was made vice-president of Goldwyn pictures and held that position when it merged and became MGM. Took over a radio program associated with the Capitol Theater in 1925 and named the show “Major Bowes’ Capitol Family,” while dispensing sentimentality and homespun wisdom. Became station manager of a radio station owned by MGM, and in the mid-1930s, inaugurated the show by which he would become known, “The Major Bowes’ Original Amateur Hour,” which proved to be an immediate success. Resigned from MGM to give full attention to his show, which appeared as an antidote to the Great Depression, offering the vicarious fantasies of fame and fortune for listener and participant alike in a variety of milieus, from singing to magic acts to comedians. Contestants flocked to NYC for auditions, many of them out-of-work professionals, while he announced, week after week, “The wheel of fortune goes round and round, and where she stops, nobody knows.” Also patented the suggestion, “All right, all right,” to move his show along. Controlled all the voting on the show, although listeners were given the illusion that they had a voice, as they phoned in their selections to his sponsors. Sympathetic to real talent, which allowed him to launch a number of well-received show business careers. Died of arteriosclerotic heart disease on his birthday one year after retiring. Inner: Very formal, never liked being addressed by his first name. Into the good life, dressed stylishly, collected books, wines and art, and owned a stable of racehorses. Had 4 chefs for his two homes. An active philanthropist, he was extremely generous and kindhearted. Host with the most lifetime of building himself up from scratch, watching himself get leveled and rising up again to ultimately claim his true identity as master of ceremonies for the masses, a role he would once again repeat, under a considerably more sophisticated personality, harkening back to his earlier Rothschild roots. James de Rothschild, Freiherr de Rothschild (Jacob Mayer de Rothschild) (1792-1868) - German/French banker and philanthropist. Outer: Father was Mayer Amschel Rothschild (Sumner Redstone). Youngest child and fifth son, and along with his brother Nathan (Barry Diller), one of the two dominant personalities of the second generation of highly influential Jewish bankers. Also had five sisters. Per his sire’s instructions, in 1811 he moved to Paris, to expand his family’s continent-wide banking reach. By 1817, he had created Rothschild Frères, and was soon France’s most influential banker, financing the country’s entry into the industrial world through its railroads and mining enterprises. Given the hereditary title of Freiherr or Baron, along with his brothers, in 1822. At the same time he was also appointed consul-general of the Austrian Empire, and the following year was given the French Legion d’Honneur. In 1824, he married his niece, Betty Salomon von Rothschild, in keeping with the incestuous family practice of maintaining their fortune within their own bloodline. One daughter and four sons from the union. A shrewd businessman, he enhanced his own considerable fortune with a tea importation business. Sponsored and patronized numerous writers, artists and musicians, and in 1830, at the ascent of the citizen-king, Lous-Philippe (Boris Yeltsin), he loaned the new government the wherewithal to establish itself. Along with his wife, he was a central figure in Parisian high society, although his Jewish background precluded him from some aristocratic homes. A discriminating collector, he began the family’s huge French collection of masterworks, while also proving extremely generous through his philanthropic largesse. In 1868, he bought Chateau Lafite, which produced a preeminent red wine, and would remain a familial possession of his descendants. Died three months later, and two of his sons took over his empire. Inner: Active his entire life in his various enterprises, with an astute sense of what things were worth, be they entrepreneurial, artistic or financial. Midas touch lifetime of coming into a powerful family, and greatly expanding its influence on all levels, while evincing the same tastemaker sensibilities that would allow him to rise again and again to great prominence, no matter his origin of birth.

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PATHWAY OF THE DATAMASTER AS HIGHLY INNOVATIVE TECHNICIAN:
Storyline: The pioneer producer sees the future and runs towards it, combining a gift for technology and information-gathering with the ability to make things happen, allowing him to radically change the landscape of controlled reality television.
Roone Arledge, Jr. (1931-2002) - American producer. Outer: Father was a lawyer for a large insurance company, mother continually pushed her son to excel. Grew up in Merrick, L.I. in a household that treasured both facts and information. Educated at Columbia Univ., where he had impressive mentors. Launched his career in 1952 with the Dumont TV network, and when it failed, did a stint in the army, before beginning in earnest at NBC in 1955. 2 years earlier, he married Joan Heise, 4 children from the union. His wife eventually divorced him in 1971, after he left her alone on a vacation to produce a football game. In 1960, he moved to ABC as a producer for their sports department, and for the next 20 years, he showed a remarkable facility for technological innovation, attention to detail and entertaining program, while revolutionizing sports on TV, giving America, "Wide World of Sports," "Monday Night Football," and Howard Cosell, not necessarily in that order. Married Ann Fowler, a former Miss Alabama in 1976, only to divorce 8 years later. In 1977, he took control of ABC’s news division, and brought the same entertaining slant to it, spending lavishly, drawing in and creating marquee personalities and making it the news network of the 1990s. Proudest of “Nightline,” a late night focus on the important issues of the day. Relieved of his role at ABC sports in the mid-1980s after new management took over, which cut him deeply, although he remained committed to the news, seeing it as giving him his ultimate importance. His final marriage was to Gigi Shaw in 1994. Suffered from prostate cancer in the mid-1990s, and withdrew from day-to-day control, as his power gradually ebbed, and he ultimately became a consultant. Died from complications from cancer. Inner: Controlling, a born stage manager. Put off decisions to the last second as an understatement of who was always in charge, while always making himself inaccessible so that he could control phone calls. Shy and flamboyant, stickler for detail, wedded to his work. Tunnel vision lifetime of always looking beyond the horizon, as a way of never really seeing himself. Sam Warner (Sam Eichelbaum) (1887-1927) - American producer. Outer: Father was a Polish farmer who emigrated to America in search of religious freedom and became a butcher in Ohio. Five brothers, 4 of whom went into the movie business, Harry, Abe, and Jack, as well as himself. Mechanically minded, he got a projection machine, along with his brother Abe, and began exhibiting one of the first films made, The Great Train Robbery. Bought a nickelodeon in Newcastle Pennsylvania, where his brother Jack sang in the pit and his sister played the piano. After his older sibling Harry joined them as a business manager, the four Warner Bros. had their own distributing company in NYC, selling independent productions as well as a few of their own. Secured a studio and laboratory, had a huge success with My Four Years in Germany, which had been a popular novel, and by 1924, the quartet had incorporated as a company. The following year, he married actress Lina Basquette. Had the idea to make the first talking picture and figured out the potential technology and contacted the proper help in order to make it happen, although he did not live long enough to see its profound affect on the development of film. Died of pneumonia, before The Jazz Singer electrified audiences and transformed Warner Bros. into a multi-million dollar company, while sound turned the movie world on its ear. Inner: Ingenious, inventive. Probably saw what he was going to come about and exited in time to give full span to a life taking full advantage of the artificial world he helped wrought. Ahead of his time lifetime of working in close concert with his family, before exiting just in time to return as an equally innovative producer of even more accessible fare.

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PATHWAY OF THE PRODUCER AS PROSPEROUS PURVEYOR OF POP TASTES:
Storyline: The blockbuster maestro has an uncanny instinct for pleasing his vast audience, showing over-and-over again his mastery of undemanding public appetites, while allowing others to act out his hidden wild side.
Jerry Bruckheimer (1945) - American producer. Outer: Parents were both German-Jewish immigrants. Father was a clothing salesman. Grew up in a low-income neighborhood in relative poverty. His singular escape was a weekly matinee, where his parents would drop him off, feeding into a lifelong love of film. At the age of 8, he organized his own baseball team replete with uniforms and sponsors, and at 12, he followed suit with a hockey team. Took up photography, and showed he had an unerring eye for composition, winning several prizes. 5’8”. Graduated the Univ. of Arizona with a degree in psychology, and began a lucrative career in advertising, scoring with a takeoff ad on Bonnie & Clyde for Pontiac. Despite his success, he headed west in the 1970s for Tinseltown, at a huge salary cut, and became a producer, beginning with The Culpepper Cattle Company in 1972. Married and divorced soon after coming to California. Later married Linda Balahoutis, a magazine editor at Mirabella and a novelist. One stepdaughter from his second union. Scored his first big hit in 1975 with the detective drama, Farewell, My Lovely, and continued as a successful second tier producer, until he met wild man Don Simpson in the early 1980s, to become one/half of one of the storied production pairs in Hollywood his/story. Helped launch a host of careers with a host of hits, thanks to his practical skills and advertising flair and Simpson’s connections. His crowd-pleasing efforts always found large audiences, and his marketing skills were able to take virtually anything he created and turn it into a must-see product. Found his perfect director in Michael Bay, as well, although Simpson’s over-the-edge behavior, fueled by an insatiable appetite for cocaine and other opiates of obliteration, corroded their partnership, and by 1995, he was forced to terminate it, only to see Simpson die a month later from a heart attack because of his excesses. The loss of his partner only propelled him to greater heights, as his instincts and marketing skills continued to prove unerring. In 1997, he added television to his producing credits, showing the same adept ability at fashioning hits, so that by the late 1990s, his efforts were evenly divided between the small and large screens, with the forensic CSI series and its various spinoffs on the former, one of the mainstays of his TV empire. Consistently among Hollywood’s top money earners, by 2008, his films had garnered over $13 billion, while his ability to feed the maw of mass escapism continues unabated. Inner: Highly materialistic and acquisitive with several homes. Muted, low-keyed, understated, and a workaholic, allowing his oeuvre to do the talking for him, while claiming to be in the transportation business of transporting his audience into momentary escapist realms. Although a Democrat by inclination, he has also been one of Pres. George Bush’s staunchest supporters, running against the Hollywood political current. Midas touch lifetime of continuing to explore his skills at producing high gloss entertainment for the nondiscriminating masses, without ever tarnishing or revealing himself, to anyone other than his intimates. F. F. Proctor (Frederick Freeman Proctor) (1851-1929) - American producer and theater owner. Known as the “dean of vaudeville.” Outer: Father was a physician who died when his son was in his mid-teens. Dropped out of school and went to Boston, where he worked as an errand boy in a dry goods store. A good athlete, he impressed a circus man who convinced him his future lay in acrobatics. Subsequently entered show business as part of an acrobat act, touring the U.S. and then Europe as Fred Levantine. Used to juggle easy chairs and barrels with his feet, while lying on his back. Married, 2 daughters from the union. Frugal and a teetotaler, he eventually saved enough money by his mid-30s to buy into a small theater in Albany, NY. Unlike most other operations of the time, he geared his venue for family entertainment, with no beer served and clean, wholesome continuous acts the order of the day, in order to entice women and children into what had previously been a drunken rough-and-tumble men only preserve. Within 3 years, he had his first NYC theater, and by the following annum, along with a partner, he had a dozen cut rate vaudeville houses, all geared towards innocent fun for the family. Moved to NYC in 1890, after ending his partnership, and during the 1890s, focused exclusively on vaudeville, establishing its first circuit with Proctor Theatrical Enterprises, with theaters up and down the east coast to accommodate it. In 1906, he joined his main rival, B.F. Keith, and the two merged their theater empires under the name of United Booking Office, making him the co-proprietor of a first-class chain. Keith withdrew from the business side of the operation three years later, while he erected a large and impressive estate in Central Valley, NY on over a thousand acres, dubbing it “Proctoria.” A grandson, John William Merrow, ultimately served as an architect for some of his later entertainment palaces. To accomodate his talents, he began building ever more sumptuous theaters, with ever larger seating capacities in order to satisfy changing public tastes, as movies began to supersede vaudeville, and a demand arose for staggeringly spectacular theaters in which to showcase them. Died of lung congestion just prior to the stock market crash of 1929, and just after his chain was sold to the RKO Corporation. Eventually his estate was bought by the United States Military Academy at West Point, which used it for military and parachute maneuvers, a fitting coda and bridge twixt lives, since his next go-round in this series would be dedicated in some part to turning the U.S. military into spectacular entertainment. Inner: Excellent instinct for popular tastes, and along with B.F. Keith, one of the primary innovators of parlor vaudeville, as a bridge between oldtime variety showcases, and the legitimate theater. Back of the theater lifetime of correctly gauging public tastes and being richly rewarded for his efforts, and like any good act, showing the exquisite timing to exit just at the right moment, with the applause for his effort and instincts still ringing in his ears.

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PATHWAY OF THE PRODUCER AS SUPREME SELF-PROMOTER:
Storyline: The boorish billionaire opens himself up to the fortunes of fame, after earlier exhibiting a reserved, albeit extremely confident temperament geared towards accrual and development, but without the need to constantly blow his own trumpet for all to hear.
Donald Trump (1946) - American entrepreneur, TV producer and media personality. Outer: Of Swedish/Scottish descent. Father was a real estate developer who made his fortune with middle income apartments in the outlying boroughs of NYC. Mother was a Scottish immigrant. Fourth of five children, including two brothers and two sisters, one of whom became a judge. Never criticized as a child, leading to an inflated sense of self. Sent to NY Military Academy to channel his aggressiveness and proved to be a star athlete there in three sports, football, soccer and baseball, as well as a student leader. 6’2”, 190 lbs., sandy-haired and blue-eyed. Went to Fordham Univ. for two years then transferred to the Wharton School of Business at the Univ. of Pennsylvania, getting his degree in economics in 1968. Joined his father’s company, and rechristened it the Trump Organization after taking its helm in 1971, while making contacts with the well-to-do in Manhattan, which would become his real estate preserve. Focused on large building projects with high profitability rates, showing an excellent grasp of complex financial structuring. In 1977, he married Ivana Zelnickova, a Czechoslovakian athlete and once-married model, two sons and a daughter from the union, before his wife announced I vanna divorce in 1992, for his extramarital affairs. An astute dealmaker, in partnership with others, beginning with the Grand Hyatt in 1980, he opened Trump Tower, an apartment complex, two years later, and from then on would affix his name to many of buildings, which would become the ostentatious haven for the nouveau riche, who would become his primary rental clientele. Began buying up property, and evicting lower middle-class tenants in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to take advantage of the burgeoning gambling industry there, culminating with the Taj Mahal in 1990, the largest casino in the world at the time, , although it went bankrupt the following year because of questionable use of junk bonds for financing it. At the time, he had close to a billion in personal debts and his businesses were in arrears for $3.5 billion. In 1985, he bought Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, a 126 room estate formerly owned by Marjorie Merriwhether Post, at one time the wealthiest woman in America. Sometime afterwards, the real estate market went into freefall, causing a massive infusion of loans and restructuring to keep his empire from collapsing by those too heavily invested in it to allow it to fail, which helped him rebound from his difficulties by the late 1990s, thanks largely to using other people’s money for his endeavors. Married actress Marla Maples in 1993, one daughter from the union, which ended in divorce in 1999. On the death of his sire in 1999, he gave a funeral oration centered totally on himself, in a panegyric of colossal egotistical proportion. Continued suffering difficulties, while his ownership of his own companies fell from 56% to 27% by 2004. His continual public appearances, and hunger for publicity, however, would make him, as ‘the Donald,’ America’s best known developer, as he expanded his empire into a global company, including golf courses, resorts and the Miss Universe Organization, while marketing his name with a number of products. Drew his children into his business domain as executives, while also launching a popular TV reality-show series, dubbed “The Apprentice” in 2004, which featured his catch-phrase “You’re fired,” and ran for six seasons, before it morphed into “Celebrity Apprentice,” with B-listers competing for charity. Married Melania Knavs, a Slovenian model nearly a quarter century his junior in 2005, one son from the union. The same year, he began Trump Univ., a series of real estate seminars promising instant riches that would see some fork over up to $35,000 to get information available on the internet, leading to a number of lawsuits. His hair would grow ever more orange, in a flamboyant comb-over looking suspiciously like a toupee weave, leading to clown imagery on the part of his critics, in his insatiable self-promotion antics. After expressing a desire to run for president in years past, he made some serious noise in that direction in 2011 as a potential Republican candidate, jumping initially on the issue of where Pres. Barack Obama was born, despite the complete vetting the latter had received on first running. Struck a resonant chord with the right-wing over it, and continued full-bore with multimedia appearances as a neo-imperialist with the self-proclaimed credentials to save the republic from bankruptcy and reinstate America as an unapologetic world power, only to ultimately flame-out as a sideshow, and declare he wasn’t going to make a run after all, despite claiming he would have won, in one last blast of braggadocio. Had his show renewed, while inadvertently damaging his own brand through his reckless self-promotion. Subsequently saw all the leading GOP candidates make pilgrimage to him for his blessings and advice, despite his questionable status in the public mind. After offering to moderate a debate just prior to the Iowa caucuses, he was subsequently serially snubbed by most of the candidates, causing him to cancel and threaten an independent run, despite no desire on his part to show his tax returns and true net worth. After offering to moderate a debate just prior to the Iowa caucuses, he was serially snubbed by most of the candidates, causing him to cancel and threaten an independent run, despite no desire on his part to show his tax returns and true net worth. Later changed from Republican to unaffiiliated. Has co-written a number of bestsellers with business themes and self-promotion as their core messages. Inner: Brash, boastful, boorish and filled to the brim with himself. Loathsome to some, and a genuine Barnumesque character to others. Extraordinarily self-centered, and a germophobe, refusing to shake hands. Has never had an alcoholic drink or used any kind of drugs. Thin-skinned, unable to deal with criticism, revealing an insecure sense of self totally out-of-keeping with his professed grandiosity. Dough, re, mi, Me, ME, ME lifetime of forging his own unique empire, built on his father’s shoulders and his dealmaking acuity, along with a facility for rebounding from dire financial straits, while making sure he always remains stage center in an age that revels in celebrityhood, no matter the core of the individuals involved. Henry Flagler (Henry Morrison Flagler) (1830-1913) American oil and railroad magnate and developer. Outer: Father was a Presbyterian minister, mother was a widower. Had a puritanical upbringing and left home at 14 after an 8th grade education, to work in a cousin’s store in Ohio. Co-founded a salt mining company in Michigan, in 1852, and the following year, he married Mary Harkness, daughter of a businessman, and half-sister of his partner, as well as a sufferer of chronic bronchitis. Two daughters from the union, one dying at 3, and the other at 34, following child birth, as well as a son. Following the Civil War, he wound up crushed by debt when the market for salt fell. Returned to Ohio, and went into the grain business, where he met John D. Rockefeller (Ivan Boesky), a nearby neighbor. Borrowed money to invest in his oil refining business, and became a partner with the legendary capitalist, in what would become Standard Oil. Through his shrewd maneuverings around lower freight rates and rebates, they undersold everyone, leading to his acknowledgment as the brains behind the trust. The concern became the leader in the oil refining industry by the early 1870s, and in 1885, it moved to NYC, where his wife’s health further declined into tuberculosis. Because of his spouse’s deteriorating condition, he had earlier begun wintering in northern Florida. After her death in 1881, which devastated him, he wed Ida Alice Shourds, the daughter of an Episcopalian minister, and nurse to his first wife, two years later. His second spouse had a volatile temper, and was a shopaholic, which opened him up to life beyond his previous workaholic compulsions, and on a visit to St. Augustine, he saw opportunities for both hotels and transport in the Sunshine State, and turned his considerable financial acumen towards developing it as a resort for the wealthy, beginning with the Ponce de Leon Hotel, a 540 room affair, after which he purchased a railroad, which would become the foundation for the Florida East Coast Railway. Although he remained on the board of Standard Oil, he ceased day-to-day operations with the trust. Continued buying Florida properties, and erected a St. Augustine estate, Kirkside before moving further down the coast with his rail line. Extended it to West Palm Beach in 1894, while building hotels in the city, before laying track all the way down to Miami, a city he was instrumental in developing, although declined to have it named after him. In 1895, his wife was institutionalized for mental instability, much to his extreme dismay, although it gained him grounds for divorce, and in 1901, he wed for the third time, to Mary Lily Kenan, who was nearly four decades his junior. The couple moved into their Palm Beach estate, Whitehall, a 55 room winter retreat. Continued extending his railway down to the Florida keys, in order to take advantage of trade with Cuba and Latin America, because of the construction of the Panama Canal. Died of injuries when he fell down a flight of stairs in Whitehall and broke his hip. Never recovered from the fall and died from it. Buried in a Presbyterian Church he had built in 1890 to honor his daughter, who had passed away the year before. His third wife, who became the richest woman in America on his death, died under suspicious circumstances four years after him, following a second marriage, although the actual cause of death remains unsolved. Inner: Extremely astute businessman and brilliant tactician, learning from both his single failure and his many successes. Radiated confidence, as well as optimism in his public life, although was reserved in his private life, because of his upbringing. Devoted to all his wives, eschewing a social life in favor of domesticity. His marriage partnerships were all to women of weak constitutions, both physical and mental, indicating a similar lack of substance to the feminine within him. Visionary lifetime of recognizing potentials in a variety of industries, and, becoming, in the process, the developer emeritus of Florida, before returning in far more flamboyant fashion to explore his own undeveloped arenas of rampaging ego and compulsive self-promotion.

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PATHWAY OF THE MOGUL AS MASTER PACKAGER:
Storyline: The wily wheeler-dealer operates on the premise that perception is everything, while redefining the power structure of Hollywood, only to out-manipulate himself, into the difficult position of trying to reclaim his earlier preeminence.
Michael Ovitz (1946) - American talent agent. Outer: Father was a liquor wholesaler. Older of 2 brothers. Grew up in a tract house in a working-class neighborhood, and used to sneak onto the RKO lot to watch movies being made. 5’9”. President of the student body in high school. His parents wanted him to be a doctor, and he went to UCLA as a pre-med, and worked as a tour guide at Universal and 20th Century-Fox to help defray the expenses. Married Judy Reich in 1969, 3 children from the union. Went to work for the William Morris Agency in his early 20s, and then left after a year to go to law school, but dropped out and returned to William Morris, and proved himself an adept talent agent, through diligence and extremely hard and thorough work. Felt his higher ambitions stifled there after 7 years, and with 4 others decided to form a new agency. All were summarily fired for their presumption, but they were able to create Creative Artists Alliance in 1975, initially with clients solely from TV. Despite precarious beginnings, he built CAA into the most powerful agency in Hollywood within a decade as its chairman, representing the top money talent in the film industry, from stars to directors to writers. Became one of the primary players in Tinseltown, a super-broker and movie packager, able to put together the teams that would produce the top-grossing films, and eventually negotiated the transfer of studio heads, as well as consulting on studio takeovers. In the process, he redefined what an agent could be, while shifting the power from the studios to the stars. In actuality, he resented the details of agenting, much preferred being a wheeler-dealer. In 1991, he took on Coca Cola as an advertising client, expanding into that realm as well. Amassed a huge art collection, although he was far more interested in impressing others than displaying a genuine love of aesthetics. Ultimately grew tired of his limited, albeit extraordinarily successful, role as a seller rather than a buyer of talent, and joined Michael Eisner at Disney Studios in 1995 to become president of that vast entertainment complex. Left voluntarily a year and a half later over differences with a huge separation package, despite spending a relatively fruitless time there. Later got his day in court to vent his displeasure at the entire proceedings, while listening to his former friend call him a psychopath, in what could be his valedictory in show business. Switched his metier to production, and in the late 1990s, formed Artists Management Group, focusing on management, rather than being an agent, while raiding his previous agency for talent, much to the resentment of his former underlings, despite an earlier agreement to the contrary with them. Foundered badly after the millennium, and made his exit blaming Hollywood’s “gay mafia” for his ills, in an early retirement package of his own resentful making. Inner: Excellent negotiator, shrewd packager, supersalesman, with the skill to find the niche that would make him a pre-eminent power player in Los Angeles. Made many enemies, and has few friends in the industry, thanks to his obsessive need for control and disregard for the truth. Each summer planned his life in 1 year, 3 year and 5 year blocks. Great attention to detail, and boundless determination, as well as competitive zeal. As always displays an ‘O’ prominently in his name, ofttimes along with a ‘V’. Supersalesman lifetime of expanding on the skills he developed directly beforehand, although his boundless ambition ultimately pushed him into the realm of well-rewarded failure, in order to try to recreate himself anew as a mover and shaker of entertainment mountains. Marcus Loew (1879-1927) - American movie entrepreneur. Outer: Parents were Viennese immigrants. Had a poverty-stricken childhood, and dropped out of school at the age of 10. Had a rocky start in a variety of jobs and enterprises, looking for his niche, but was eventually successful in real estate, after learning the intricacies of the business world through failure before he discovered his innate gift for salesmanship and the product he could most profitably sell. Short, bulbous and comical-looking. Recognized the emerging film industry as a potentially lucrative business for himself, and went into penny arcades in NYC and Cincinnati in his mid-30s in partnership with Adolph Zukor (Ashton Kutcher). In his mid-20s he married Carrie Rosenheim, and had twin sons who both became involved in the motion picture business as an executive and a producer. Quickly owned about 40 arcades all over the country, then began acquiring theaters, so that by his early 40s he owned some 400 of them in his Loew’s Theatrical Enterprises. Bought Metro Pictures when he was 50 in order to supply product for his growing chain, and 4 years later he acquired controlling interest in two other companies and consolidated them into Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, with Loew’s, Inc. as its parent company. Eventually took over the William Morris Agency and created a joint booking office with it. One of the founding fathers of corporate Hollywood in the silent era, he died in his sleep of heart failure just before sound came in. Inner: Genial, supersalesman, with good taste and an extremely sure business sense, once he got the hang of American capitalism. Self-inventing lifetime of learning how to put financial packages together to best serve a foundling industry, before returning to continue his ongoing education in how to best exploit and manage the creative talents of others.

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PATHWAY OF THE PRODUCER AS SIBLING PARTNER:
Storyline: The instinctive aesthete employs his aggressive business sense with his innate good taste to bring high quality fare to the masses, while trying to integrate his external sense of beauty with his own terrible-tempered interior.
Harvey Weinstein (1952) - American producer. Outer: From a close Jewish family, father was a diamond district cutter and dealer, who taught his sons the importance of loyalty and sharing. Older brother of Bob Weinstein. Middle-class upbringing. Francois Truffaut’s 400 Blows turned both brothers into movie mavens. Went to State Univ. at Buffalo, but did not graduate. While there, he began promoting rock concerts, and then purchased a local movie theater in 1978, renovated it and brought in his brother as a partner. 6’, large and dominant, he would become the public face of their partnership. Did concerts and screenings, and the following year, formed Miramax, named after his mother Miriam and his late father Max. The first film they distributed was The Secret Policeman’s Ball, which he had spliced together with its sequel and redubbed, The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball, earning him the sobriquet of ‘Harvey Scissorhands.’ The duo opened an office in NYC and became the enfants terribles of the indies, living from film to film, and using the profits to finance the next one, relying totally on their instincts. Throughout their working lives, the brothers would consult on everything, and remain extremely close. In 1988, they won their first Oscar for best foreign film for Pelle the Conqueror, which allowed them to occasionally produce. In 1989, a British company invested $5 million in their company, and they were able to expand, releasing 10 films that year, including Stephen Soderbergh’s sex, lies and videotape, and suddenly they were major players on the indie circuit. In 1994, the Disney Co. bought a controlling interest in Miramax for $60 million, allowing them to put up money for larger productions, as he became a producer of wildly expensive fare, forsaking his indie roots. Denied being Disnified, and created a separate division, Shining Excalibur, to release films that fell beyond an ‘R’ rating. Expanded his interest into a failed magazine, “Talk,” and Talk Miramax books, while his brother stayed focused on films. Married Eve Chilton, who ran the company’s children’s division. Some ham-handed manipulations around the 2003 Oscars did little to endear him to Hollywood, and lost him the possibility of another best picture. His ongoing struggles with the parent Disney company, particular its chairman, Michael Eisner, eventually caused a formal breach between the two in 2005, forcing the brothers to lose their company’s name, but not their drive to remain major players on the Hollywood scene. Reformed as the Weinstein Co. After divorcing, he wed designer Georgina Chapman in 2007. Inner: Odd combination of terrible temper and refined sense of aesthetics, making for a sharp and aggressive businessman with the taste to recognize screen gems, as well as alienate underlings and performers. Able to charm, as well as bully, highly social and a world class shmoozer, who loves being the center of attention. Excuses his own excesses in his love of product, although has managed to incur the profound dislike of more than his share of fellow cineastes via his Abominable Showman displays. Large appetite lifetime of combining more directly with his longtime sibling in order to fuse the latter’s business skills with his innate taste and instinct for popular fare, and in doing so, giving the American audience a far more eclectic cinematic palette from which to choose, while trying to expand on the personal level so that business isn’t his singular mainstay. Charles Frohman (1860-1915) - American producer. Outer: Father was an itinerant peddler from Germany who had emigrated to Ohio in 1845, and joined the Little German Theatrical Co. in Sandusky. Youngest of 3 brothers, including Daniel (Bob Weinstein). At the age of 4, the family moved to NYC to rejoin Daniel, and friends got his father work in a cigar store near the theater district, where he would get free tickets for putting up theatrical posters. His sire’s lifelong fascination with dramatics would be directly passed onto his 3 sons. Left school at 14 to work alongside his brother Daniel in the business office of the NY Daily Graphic, and sold tickets at night for a Brooklyn theater, where his oldest brother Gustave worked, and he, in turn, introduced his 2 younger siblings directly into the theatrical world. 5’ tall and 5’ wide, never married, considering the theater his ongoing bride. Apprenticed as an advance man and road manager, and in 1883, produced his first play, “The Stranglers of Paris,” which had been adapted by David Belasco (Steve Bochco). Although he lost money on it, he opened his own production office and business office on Broadway the same year. Acted as an agent, and took on an associate to book tours, then later dissolved the partnership when he began exclusively producing. His first triumph was “Shenandoah,” in 1889. Assembled a stock company and many of its members would later go on to stardom on their own. Built the Empire Theater in 1893 to house his offices and production company, and with 5 cohorts, founded the Theatrical Syndicate, which would go on to control the country’s theaters, holding sway for almost 2 decades, until the rise of the Shuberts. Concerned himself with producing, rather than the business end, and also directed plays, grunting and gesturing rather than using words to get his points across, as if he were a walking silent film. Expanded his reach to England and the continent, and in the process, went down on the ship, the Lusitania, when it was sunk in the Atlantic. His last words were, “Why fear death? It is the most beautiful adventure in life.” Inner: Optimistic, enthusiastic, and well-liked for his fairness. His demise may have submerged him deeper into his emotions, so that on his return to the same milieu he would be a far angrier character, despite the same enthusiasm for art well-rendered. Behind the boards lifetime of total identification with his work followed by a highly dramatic exit at the precise moment when his particular world was going under as well.

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PATHWAY OF THE PRODUCER AS SIBLING PARTNER:
Storyline: The second banana brother slowly develops his skills to get out of the shadow of his dominating fraternal confederate to create a professional room of his own to explore and exploit his unique business sensibilities, as well as his own roiling interior.
Bob Weinstein (1954) - American producer. Outer: From a close Jewish family, father was a diamond district cutter and dealer, who taught his sons the importance of loyalty and sharing. Younger brother of Harvey Weinstein, who bossed him around through childhood. Preferred more popular fare, such as sci-fi, thrillers and horror films, to his brother’s more artistic tastes. Like his sibling, he went to State Univ. at Buffalo, but did not graduate. Worked as a gofer for his brother, then bought into a partnership with Harvey after the latter purchased a local movie theater in 1978, where they did both concerts and screenings. In 1979, the duo formed Miramax, named after their mother Miriam and their late father Max. Opened an office in NYC with his sibling, and slowly built their business, complementing his brother’s unerring taste, with his sharply defined business skills. His singular foray into filmmaking was Playing for Keeps in 1986, which he produced, directed and wrote. In 1988, they won their first Oscar for best foreign film for Pelle the Conqueror, which allowed them to expand into production. In 1989, a British company invested $5 million in their concern, and they were able to expand, releasing 10 films that year, including Stephen Soderbergh’s sex, lies and videotape, and suddenly they were major players on the indie circuit. In 1994, the Disney Co. bought a controlling interest in Miramax for $60 million, and the brothers expanded into larger productions. Began moving out of his brother’s shadow, with his own business expertise, because of the greater competition in the indie arena. Ran Dimension, a subdivision which focused on genre films, including low cost teen horror films, including the Scream trilogy. His first success with Dimension was The Crow, which he sold as a romance, despite its violent content. Married in 2000 to Annie Clayton, an actress and production manager, 2 children, later divorced. In 2000, his Dimension label accounted for 3/4 of Miramax’s net profit. The brothers officially severed ties with Disney in 2005, losing their company’s name, while vowing to create another large multi-media company, the Weinstein Company, of their own. Inner: Quieter of the two, although equally involved in all decision-making, allowing his older sibling to be the more public face of Miramax. Workaholic, with a great attention to detail. Surly, nasty and rough on people, without feeling the need to win over anybody, although in private large-hearted and good-humored. Sibling revelry lifetime of switching age slots and working in closer partnership with longtime family member, in order to more directly combine his business skills with his brother’s drive and enthusiasm. Daniel Frohman (1851-1940) - American producer. Outer: Father was an itinerant peddler from Germany who had emigrated to Ohio in 1845, and joined the Little German Theatrical Co. in Sandusky. Middle of 3 brothers, including Charles (Harvey Weinstein). Sent to NYC at the age of 10 to further his education and live with friends of the family. The others joined him 3 years later, and their father found work at a cigar store near the theater district, where he would get free tickets for putting up posters. His sire would read dramas to his sons, acting out all the parts, imbuing the 3 of them with a fascination with theatrical life. At 13 he began working as chief errand boy for a correspondent for the NY Tribune, then did odd jobs on the paper, before laboring in the business offices of the NY Graphic, and then Standard. Followed his older brother Gustave into the theater world in 1874, and spent 4 years as an advance agent, traveling the country for a black minstrel group. All 3 brothers would serve the same kind of apprenticeship. Hired in 1879 as the business manager of Madison Square Theater near Broadway, he became a theater manager, taking over the Lyceum in 1887 as a producer-manager, until 1902. Developed his own stock company, and married actress Margaret Illington, no children, divorced after 6 years. Dissolved his company and became a theater landlord, instead, renting out stage space. In 1912, he contracted with Adolph Zukor (Ashton Kutcher) to produce silent films of successful stage plays, and remained as a director of the company, which ultimately became Paramount Pictures. Also managed European actors and actresses on their American tours. Never as successful as Charles, who would be the dominant member of the family. Felt his brother had made his accidental exit at just the right time, for the theater world and its business dynamics changed irrevocably after WW I. President of the Actor’s Fund of America from 1903 until his death, which helped those in the thespian profession who had fallen on hard times. Lost the Lyceum to a mortgage bank after the stock market crash in 1929 , but friends rallied and he was allowed to keep his apartment there for the rest of his life. Inner: Hard-working, highly competent businessman, although largely unoriginal. Basically married to his work, like his brother. Behind the boards lifetime of learning the new world’s theatrical ways and dedicating his working life to them.

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PATHWAY OF THE PRODUCER AS SON ALWAYS TRYING TO RISE:
Storyline: The confident crown prince is given capital and clout as a birthright, to see whether he can see past his own failings of vision in alien realms and finally make his fantasies and realities one and the same.
Edgar Bronfman, Jr. (1955) - Canadian entertainment executive. Outer: Of Jewish descent. Father was Edgar Bronfman, the head of Seagrams & Sons, a multi-generational Canadian bootlegging concern, that became a major North American liquor provider. Had no interest in the family business, however, and at 17, eschewed college to become a songwriter, before getting his father to bankroll two flop films, The Blockhouse and The Border, two loose unconscious references to his tragic earlier go-round in a similar position. Tall, and eventually bearded. After his father warned him their kids would be outcasts, he eloped with Sherri Brewer, a black actress in 1979, 3 children from union. Sire and son did not reconcile until 3 years later, while he and his wife were eventually divorced in 1991. Scored a couple of song hits, and gained the rep as a nightclubbing dilettante, but in 1982, his father shocked him by asking him to rejoin the family business, before going on to reveal United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim’s past, forcing his resignation. After taking over day-to-day operations in 1988 from his sire, he expanded overseas to make the family empire more global. In 1994, he became CEO, and went on a think-big buying spree, turning Seagrams Co. Ltd. into a media and record conglomerate. The same year he also remarried, 3 children from second union as well. Under his aegis, Seagram bought MCA/Universal Studios in 1995, and Polygram records in 1998. Although his instinct for films remained abysmal, his record company flourished. Took his lumps and losses from the former, and in 2000, sold Universal to a French conglomerate, Vivendi, to focus on the recording end of his dreams of a media empire, while leaving the Seagram’s empire in shambles. Called “the stupidest person in the media business,” by New York magazine, while Business Week named him on the the worst managers of 2002. In 2003, he expanded once again by leading an investment group in a $2.6 billion deal to purchase Time-Warner’s lucrative music holdings, allowing him to rebound once again. As Warner Music’s CEO, he weathered a tumultuous start to prove himself, at last, successful in the tenuous world of entertainment finance, in his subsequent stewardship, thanks to a universal rise in interest in indie groups. Inner: Ambitious and driven, with a steadfast vision of himself as a major player in the fantasy realm of popular culture. Clown prince lifetime of destroying his inherited empire, while trying to expand it, before righting himself in the eyes of the business world, after first playing the liberated libertine, to see if he can finally steer himself clear of the blindspots that keep him from seeing his limitations. Maximilian II (1832-1867) - Austrian emperor of Mexico. Outer: Father was an Austrian archduke, mother was the daughter of the Bavarian king. Younger brother of the Austrian/Hungarian emperor Franz Joseph (Edgar Bronfman, Sr.), and cousin to the Bavarian king, Ludwig I (Otto Preminger). Began his career in the Austrian navy, rising to the rank of rear admiral. Tall, regal and full-bearded. Married Carlota, the daughter of the Belgian king and a French princess, in 1857, and the duo lived for 2 years as the Austrian regents in Milan, until Austria lost control of Lombardy, at which point they retreated to his castle overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Son from union. In 1863, he accepted the throne of Mexico, under the delusion he had been voted into office by the populace, when, in actuality, he was a pawn of the conservatives who wished to overthrow the liberal government of Benito Juarez (Lazar Cardenas). He also fed into the imperialistic designs of the French emperor, Napoleon III (Darryl F. Zanuck), who had him ratify a treaty detailing the new French/Mexican détente, immediately tripling the latter’s foreign debt. He was then forced to renounce all claims to the Austrian throne, at his brother’s behest, before sailing for Mexico, with an occupying French army to be crowned emperor in 1864, with his wife as empress. Proved to be a moderate paternalistic liberal, with a great interest in reviving the cultural and scientific life of the country, and though he professed a great caring for the peasantry, he re-instituted black slavery, to take advantage of the waning of the American uncivil war. Managed to enrage all of the conservative factions, from the political, thanks to a death decree on all who opposed his government, to the religious, thanks to a dogged resistance to some of their rigid demands. Because of the threadbare treasury, he was forced to dig into his own pockets in order to keep his government afloat. His position, however, was completely untenable, and in 1866, Napoleon III announced he would be withdrawing his army in incremental stages in the face of revolutiionary resistance. Carlota, taking their son with her, rushed to Europe to beg for help, and when she failed, she sank into deep gloom and never returned to Mexico. Under supreme duress, the emperor refused to abdicate, in part because his mother insisted he continue his “duties as a Hapsburg.” Took command of the imperial army, instead, but was no match for the revolutionaries and was soon forced to surrender. Despite pleas from the crowned heads of Europe, he was court martialed and summarily executed by firing squad, while Carlota spent the rest of her life in morbid seclusion in her castles in Europe. Inner: A do-gooder at heart, but with little real sense of the position given him, thanks to his royal disconnection from ordinary experience. Cerebellum-in-the-clouds lifetime of finding himself way over his head in international intrigue, and suffering the ultimate indignity, the revocation of his life, for his continual failure to recognize it.

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