- John L. Wasserman
John L. Wasserman (Born
August 13 1938 ) was an entertainmentcritic for theSan Francisco Chronicle from 1964 until the time of his death in 1979. Known more for humor and originality than in-depth analysis, he's best known for his creative reviews of bad films, clever skewering of glitzy performers, and passionate advovacy for those in whose talents he believed.Never having graduated from college, Wasserman worked at many jobs before landing a position at the Chronicle at age 24. His first attempts to get a journalism job were rebuffed. Finally, an opening for an assistant critic came up in the paper's entertainment department. His audition review, A GATHERING OF EAGLES with Rock Hudson, landed him the job. The paper's executive editor, Bill German, recalled that John's review "was the only one that didn't bore me."
Wasserman's best writing years were 1970 to 1979, when he had his own column. His columns covered anything vaguely related to entertainment: film, theater, music, comedy, bodybuilding, and even live sex shows at the famous Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theater.
He counted
Woody Allen ,Joan Baez , poetMichael McClure ,Clint Eastwood ,Lily Tomlin , Bill Graham and numerous other celebrities among his friends. He could countJerry Lewis ,Russ Meyer , countless music promoters and crowds of Osmond fans among his enemies.He was a highly visible presence in San Francisco. He was the first person
Marty Balin asked to manageJefferson Airplane . He taught an annual "Media and the Arts" extension course forSan Francisco State . He served as a stand-in forGeorge C. Scott on the set of PETULIA andClint Eastwood on the set of THE ENFORCER. He also did a brief walk-on in the motorcycle film C.C. AND COMPANY.He died in a car accident on
February 25 1979 south ofSan Francisco in which two others in another car were also killed. Hisblood alcohol level was found to be .26, nearly three times the legal limit at the time. Decades later, his writing and perspectives on entertainment are still missed.A collection of more than 90 of his reviews and columns, and a narrative about his life based on interviews conducted after his death, by his sister,
Abby Wasserman , was published by Chronicle Books in 1993. The book is "Praise, Vilification & Sexual Innuendo, or How to Be a Critic: The Selected Writings of John L. Wasserman, 1964-1979".
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