Jewish Family Service When people come together, anything can happen. 2015 Fall Program Highlights Elaine May and Mike Nichols crack up during recording. LOOK MAGAZINE LOOK Fall Fix Up Over 500 volunteers helped seniors prepare their homes for the winter months. COURTESY OF JUMER PRODUCTIONS, INC. PRODUCTIONS, JUMER OF COURTESY COURTESY OF THE EVERETTTHE COLLECTION OF COURTESY On the set of Charlie Wilson’s War Dustin Hoffman (whom Nichols directed in The Graduate) and producer Julian Goldberg Thanksgiving Schlossberg Distribution performing on stage and television in the distribution and production of film, the- 1950s. After deciding to go on her own ater and television projects. Over 131 Thanksgiving meals were assembled as in 1961, May wrote a number of movies, “In the past, movies started out with including A New Leaf and Heaven Can runs at a limited number of theaters, and part of our Goldberg Thanksgiving Distribution. Wait, and has continued to direct and act. I played The Graduate at the Coronet “What Mike had that was so great was Theatre in New York City but didn’t know “Thanks to you, our family was able to celebrate brains and a heart,” says Schlossberg. “He Mike then,” Schlossberg recalls. “In the the holiday with a great meal.” was a really smart man with a lot of rach- 1970s, he made The Fortune with Jack -A thankful client mones [pity].” Nicholson and Warren Beatty and got Schlossberg filmed his interview with involved choosing the theaters that would Nichols at the release of Charlie Wilson’s play the film. I got a call from him [about War, a 2007 movie about a Congressman running it at the Coronet], and we met. I trying to influence fighting factions in saw the film, and we became friends.” Adopt a Family Afghanistan. Nichols directed Tom Hanks Schlossberg also became a fan. as the star. “I have a few favorite movies — The “This interview has never been shown Graduate [about materialism], Silkwood 758 individuals were “adopted” for holiday gifts before,” says Schlossberg, who is unrelated [about a whistleblower] and Carnal to Edwin Schlossberg, the husband of Knowledge [about sexuality],” Schlossberg during our Adopt a Family program. Caroline Kennedy. “I wanted to have it as says. “I’m still tipping my hat to the fact a record. that he could do Angels in America [about “I call you family because only family buys for family. “I had been on the radio in New York AIDS] as a television special that won 11 Thank you so much for all the gifts.” and syndicated throughout the United Emmys. -An appreciative recipient States — but sadly not in Detroit, where I “For theater, there were so many favor- used to visit an aunt and uncle [Bea and ites. The comedies — Barefoot in the Eddie Schaefer] at their home on Outer Park, The Odd Couple, Prisoner of Second Drive. I spent nine years [as host of Movie Avenue — were just terrific. He did a play Almost 600 donors have contributed to Talk] interviewing people in show busi- called Streamers [about the Vietnam War] ness, and I said to Mike we really should by David Rabe; at the end of the play, I our Friends of the Family campaign. sit down and talk. literally was unable to get out of my seat “Because he had done the radio show, because it was so powerful.” he knew I would not be asking him ‘got- The memories live on. cha’ questions. When he passed away “Mike was so well read that it was nice You don’t have to wait until next fall to in 2014 [at 83], I contacted people at to talk to him on any kind of a subject,” help. 2016 may just be starting, but the American Masters.” Schlossberg says of Nichols, who, between Schlossberg did all the interviews for the ages of 12 and 14, read every word needs of the community never end. the program, with the exception of com- that Eugene O’Neill ever wrote. ments from the late comedian Robin “What I may have newly discovered, To learn more about how you can help, Williams, whom Nichols directed in the he knew about. It was the pleasure of his Birdcage. The interview approach builds company that was so incredible.” * visit jfsdetroit.org or call 248.592.2339 on experience as an executive in movie 2040250 January 21 • 2016 35.