From his unlikely start as a Jewish All-American and “three-letterman” in segregated Baltimore, Merle Debuskey was for fifty years – beginning just after World War II and ending in the mid-'90s – New York theater's top publicist, handling more Broadway shows thanany press agent in Broadway history. He was Joe Papp's right-hand man f or thirty years, and was the first mouthpiece for legendary nonprofits Circle in the Square and Lincoln Center Theater. He was the unseen playerwho, with Papp, fought Robert Moses, ensuring that Shakespeare in the P ark remained free; made sure How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying kept its title; saved Zero Mostel's life; housed redbaiterstarget John Henry Faulk, befriending the blacklisted; manhandled George C. Scott and Mort Saul; and romanced Kim Stanley, all the while puffing on his pipe, banging away at his old manual typewriter, and never seemi ng to break a sweat. He was Broadway's last gentleman press agent.
