Rick Saphire

Rick Saphire Biography - 2018 Rick Saphire was born into the entertainment business. His mother was receptionist and secretary to songwriter Irving Berlin from 1927 through 1941. His mom's sister Judy was a professional dancer, and, along with her husband Buddy Allen, they danced in the finest night spots in the USA and Europe. When Buddy and Judy Allen dissolved their marriage and their act, Buddy went on to be an influential NY agent, and Judy married Ernest D. Glucksman, executive producer and director of NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour. Ernie was put in charge of a new comedy team and was largely responsible for the skyrocketing fame of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. When Martin and Lewis broke up, Ernie remained with Jerry and also became his personal manager. Rick entered the picture in 1947. By the time he was five, he was singing and dancing on stage. By ten years old, Rick was a comedy magician, and at fifteen years old, he was the youngest professional comedian to appear on the NBC Tonight Show. Rick was Jerry Lewis' guest on the show. That was 1962. Rick was also a regular on about every talk show and kiddie program in the New York TV market. Back in the early days of Rick Saphire's career, he had two very effective representatives. One was the highly respected Buddy Allen who also managed the likes of comedian Rip Taylor. Rick's key representative and manager was Ernest D. Glucksman. Rick's uncle on his dad's side, Dr. Sheiiey Saphire was also influential in Rick's show business career. Dr. Saphire was the founder and first Dean of Yeshiva University in New York. During the 1930s Dr. Saphire befriended and hired a Physical Education professor, Dr. Abraham Hurwitz. Rick's Uncle Shelley arranged for Dr. Hurwitz to give Rick magic lessons at Yeshiva. You see, Dr. Hurwitz was also an accomplished professional magician, known as Peter Pan the Magic Man. He was the first and only Official Magician of New York City. Most interestingly, Dr. Hurwitz was the father of the legendary ventriloquist, magician, and mother of Lamb Chop, Shari Lewis. In 1963, Jerry Lewis secured a position for Rick on the social staff at Brown's Hotel in the Catskills. There he learned the resort business and quickly became a social director, comedy master of ceremonies, and entertainment director in several of the East Coast's finest hotels. Brown's, The Concord, The Pines, The Raleigh Hotel, and The Laurels are a few of the hotels where Rick entertained. During his years in the resort hotel business, Rick became friendly with many of the biggest stars in the entertainment business. About the same time, Rick began pursuing his dream of representing entertainers and actors and became personal manager to the legendary child star Spanky McFarland. For a decade, "An Evening of Nostalgia Starring Spanky Mcfarland" played major universities and theaters around the country. Rick has produced innumerable entertainment events including "Luncheon with the Stars," a series of banquets for senior citizens, he has hosted his own nostalgia-oriented radio programs in the USA and in the Philipines. Rick continues to perform stand-up comedy and appear as a guest speaker. As the CEO of Rick Saphire Celebrity Management, Rick has represented many of the nation's most famous and beloved performers. Over the past 46 years, rick has represented comedy icon Jerry Lewis, Gary Lewis of "Gary Lewis and the Playboys," Margot Kidder, Hayley Mills, Sir John Mills, Juliet Mills (8 Years on NBC's "Passions"), the late Charlie Callas, Rip Taylor, Mickey Rooney, among many others. Rick Saphire's successful ventures into the business world is not limited to entertainment. During the 1990s Rick Saphire Marketing serviced the insurance industry by securing quality leads for major insurers. By hiring and training top professional telemarketers, and writing compelling scripts, insurers and small business in the East Coast benefitted from Rick's services. As if he didn't have enough to do, Rick is a highly regarded portrait photographer. Rick has photographed Jerry Lewis and many of his other clients. In 1980 while expecting the birth of his daughter, Rick opened his first magic shop. He felt that having a local retail business would be a good alternative to the travel that performing necessitated. It worked out better than expected. 2018 marks the 38th anniversary of Rick Saphire's Magic Shop & Theater. His stores were regular fixtures in many of the most popular malls and shopping centers in South Jersey and Philadelphia. He currently owns a wonderful retail store and theater in Cherry Hill, NJ. His very entertaining shop also hosts birthday parties and various theatrical events. www.TheMagicShop.info. In 2018 Rick Saphire will publish a fascinating book titled, "I Thank My Lucky Stars." This coffee table style volume will contain scores of nostalgic pictures featuring Rick and his celebrity friends and clients. The pictures will be dated back from the 1950s up to the present. Each photo will contain interesting anecdotes relating to Rick's association with the pictured star. Other features of the book will be announced. Visit www.RickSaphire.com for updates.