Robert Stambler(1928-1979)

Robert (Bob) Stambler started work in the Paramount Mail Room, then rose through editing, associate producing, writer, producer, exec producer. When I was a kid my dad took my brother and I car-shopping at the Auto Stiegler Mercedes dealership (they are long gone), where the floors were so polished the only thing missing was the clicking of heel-plated-jack-boots. The salesmen looked like TV extras in Botany 500 menswear. My dad wore white converse sneakers, new Jeans, and a clean tucked-in-t-shirt with a fancy belt; this was his everyday work uniform. We looked at the show-room cars, but nobody helped him. After ten minutes of the silent treatment dad said, "Come on boys." On our way to the exit past the semi-circular desk a suited man said, "Hello. I'm the sales manager, can I help?" My dad responded tactfully, but with enough resonance to fill the room, "No thank you. I came to buy a car with cash but changed my mind." We walked out the exit to our car and heard the public-address broadcast, "Sales meeting in my office. Now please." My dad grinned, "Oh to be a fly on that wall." During the half-hour drive to Mercedes Benz of H......, my dad's life-lesson for his boys, "Never judge anyone by their appearance."