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STEVE HANNAGAN

PRINCE OF THE PRESS AGENTS AND TITAN OF MODERN PUBLIC RELATIONS

A well-researched, entertaining story of one of history’s forgotten standouts.

Townsley’s debut biography tells the story of Steve Hannagan, who rose from humble Midwestern beginnings to pursue an illustrious career in public relations in Miami, eventually becoming known as the “prince of the press agents.”

Hannagan was born in 1899 in a rough section of Lafayette, Indiana. He grew up poor but fastidious, often wearing formal shirts and ties while managing to avoid typical boyhood scuffles. In high school, he talked his way into a reporting job at the local newspaper and quickly became sports editor. He parlayed this experience into a stint with the Indianapolis Star, and from there, he got into the advertising industry, where his savvy and assertiveness were a perfect fit. His campaign for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway made the struggling venue famous. He also ran successful publicity campaigns for the cities of Miami Beach; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Las Vegas as well as Republican presidential candidates between 1940 and 1952 and even Coca-Cola. The key to his success was his fealty to “the Hannagan Way,” a credo of best practices, good instincts, and life lessons that guided all of his business dealings. Townsley explores the details of Hannagan’s life and times, emphasizing his charm, creativity, work ethic, and devotion to truth. One of the best stories here involves Hannagan’s efforts to persuade Al Capone to move out of Miami Beach, as residents feared that the gangster’s presence would compromise their safety—and depress property values. Hannagan is shown to have treated everyone with respect, from a low-ranking clerk in his ad agency to such famous figures as Henry Ford, Jack Dempsey, and Walter Winchell. Throughout, Townsley makes it clear that Hannagan wasn’t simply a nice guy; the author also shows how his subject’s considerate treatment of others gave him a competitive edge. The author also evokes 1930s and ’40s America with particular precision and skill. This makes it surprising, however, that the book’s editing is occasionally uneven; some photos lack captions, and the bibliography’s excessively long website addresses can be daunting.

A well-researched, entertaining story of one of history’s forgotten standouts.

Pub Date: June 18, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-4575-6371-3

Page Count: 359

Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing

Review Posted Online: July 27, 2018

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THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Stricter than, say, Bergen Evans or W3 ("disinterested" means impartial — period), Strunk is in the last analysis...

Privately published by Strunk of Cornell in 1918 and revised by his student E. B. White in 1959, that "little book" is back again with more White updatings.

Stricter than, say, Bergen Evans or W3 ("disinterested" means impartial — period), Strunk is in the last analysis (whoops — "A bankrupt expression") a unique guide (which means "without like or equal").

Pub Date: May 15, 1972

ISBN: 0205632645

Page Count: 105

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: Oct. 28, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1972

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NUTCRACKER

This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)

Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996

ISBN: 0-15-100227-4

Page Count: 136

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996

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