Arthur Silber Jr.

Arthur Silber, Jr. is an American businessman and author.
Silber is the son of Arthur Silber, Sr., a successful agent in the entertainment industry, as well as his mother, Monya Silber, who was a dancer and movie actress.
Arthur is best known for his involvement with Sammy Davis, Jr. He first met Sammy in 1946 while traveling with his father to Hawaii. Six years later,after graduating high school, Arthur was hired by Sammy Davis, Jr, serving as his production assistant as well as personal assistant, which officially launched the younger Silber's career in the entertainment industry.
In 1960, Silber and Davis founded a business, Samart Enterprises, a joint venture between the two originally meant to enable them to self-produce various media, including movies and TV shows.
SIlber spent a total of twenty five years altogether with Sammy Davis, Jr., developing not only not close business relationship but also a close personal friendship with the star.
As well as Sammy Davis, Jr, Silber's career has involved him with a number of other actors, including Debbie Reynolds, Bob Hope, Bill Cosby, and Danny Thomas, among others. Arthur was a renowned Lighting Director up until his retirement in 2008.
As well as his experience in the entertainment industry, Silber is an author, most known for his bibliographical memoir on Davis, entitled Sammy Davis, Jr: Me and My Shadow, published by Samart Enetrprises. Me and My Shadow won an Erwin Award by the Book Publicists of Southern California. Encouraged by the success of the original, SIlber has begun work on a second book about Davis,entitled Sammy: A Life In Pictures, From Vaudeville to the Rat Pack and Beyond, containing photos and stories, most of which have not been previously viewed by the public.
As well as his memoir, Silber currently travels extensively for interviews and talks about his experience with Sammy Davis, Jr. He has been noted as the most authoritative source of information about the entertainer living today.
Biography
Early life
Arthur Silber, Jr. was born to Monya Silber, a well known dancer and eventual movie actress, and to Arthur Silber, Sr., a highly respected talent agent and manager. The elder Silber was the President of the Theatrical Agents Association for twelve years, and had managed many entertainment stars, including William Boyd, Martha Raye, Ann Miller, Nat King Cole, and Mary Martin, amongst may others. Eventually, Silber, Sr. began managing the Will Mastin Trio, which was composed of Sammy Davis, Sr., Will Mastin, and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Relationship to Sammy Davis, Jr.
In May 1946 the senior Silber had been asked to organize an entertainment show for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, an all- Asian American unit that had fought in Europe in World War II, who were stationed in Hawaii at the time. For the younger Silber, who was in high school and on summer vacation, this was his first journey overseas. Silber met Sammy Davis, Jr. while on the airplane to Oahu. Eventually, Davis and SIlber, both movie buffs, started staging fights while acting out movie parts. One of them took place at a local restaurant, with both boys knocking over chairs and tables, until their fathers broke up the fight, an event that both boys found hysterical, much to their fathers' disapproval.
After Hawaii, Silber, Jr. And Davis stayed in touch, with the boys visiting each other every time Davis was in the Los Angeles area, with Silber visiting Davis at his hotel room in The Williams Hotel and Davis spending nights at Silber's home.
In 1951, after pursuing college for a year and a half and trade school for another year, Davis, Jr. asked Silber Jr. to travel with him as his personal and production assistant, which officially began the younger Silber's career in the entertainment industry.
Civil Rights
Because of his close proximity to Davis, Jr., Silber had a unique perspective on the entertainer's life, including his involvement with civil rights. In one memorable example in 1954, the WIll Mastin Trio was showing at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino, which, at the time, restricted African-American entertainers from entering the casino through the front door and instead had them enter through the back entrance. Davis proposed to Silber that they both go out to dinner in the casino, by way of the front entryway, "just to see what would happen."
Career
Ownerships
*President and Owner, Founder (with Sammy Davis Junior, SamArt Enterprises, 1956-Present.
*President and Owner, Story Time Enterprises, 1997-Present.
Production designer and manager, company manager, lighting designer/director
*Personal Assistant, Production Manager and Lighting Director, Sammy Davis, Jr. -1971.
*Company Manager, Production Manager and Lighting Director, The Lettermen, 1971-1982.
*Vikki Carr, 1978-2008.
*Mariachi Sol De Mexico & Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, 1991-2008.
*Production Manager and Lighting Director, Charo
*Production Manager and Lighting Director, Bob Hope
*Production Manager and Lighting Director, Bill Cosby
*Production Manager and Lighting Director,Nancy Wilson
*Production/Lighting Designer, Frank Sinatra
*Production/Lighting Designer, Dean Martin
*Production/Lighting Designer, Peter Lawford
*Production/Lighting Designer,Joey Bishop
*Lighting Designer, Vikki Carr Presidential shows for Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Regan
Televison
*Production Design and Lighting Director, A Very Special Evening with Vikki Carr, NBC, 1979 (IRIS Award Winner, 1979)
*Associate Producer, We Three (featuring the Will Mastin Trio), ABC, 1962
*Co-Producer, Sammy Meets the Girls, London (voted best show of the year, 1962)
Productions
*Producer, Sammy Davis, Jr. Tours in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
*Manager, An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. Prince of Wales Theatre, London, as well as subsequent England tour.
*Production Design, Sammy Davis, Jr., Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II, May 16, 1960, Victoria Palace Theatre, London.
*Production Design, Sammy Davis, Jr., Royal Command Performance for the Princess of Monaco, Red Cross Gala, 1960.
*Production Design, Sammy Davis, Jr., Royal Command Performance for the Queen Mother of England, February 2, 1961.
*Producer, American portion of Italia 61 (Italian Centennial Fair), Turin, Italy.
*Lighting Director, The Unicef Aid for Children Fund Show, Vienna, Austria.
Television and film writing
*Story Writer, film, Seven Saddles from Socorro.
*Story Writer, television, Legends of Superstition Mountain.
*Writer and Creator, film, The Fine Black Thread.
Lecturing and public speaking
As well as writing and producing, Silber also spends a good deal of time speaking about his experiences in the entertainment industry. Notable appearances include several lectures at UCLA, as well as high schools and small groups.
Books and writings
Periodicals
*Contributing author, Vanity Fair, "Colors of Love," 1999.
Publications
*Sammy Davis Jr.: Me and My Shadow, 2002
*Contributing Author,"Holly the Poo: A Difference in my Life." Chopped Liver for the Gentle Spirit. 2006.
*Contributing Author, "Sammy Davis, Jr: A Study in Beating the Odds." The spirit of David : a collection of inspiring stories from those who have overcome... winning against all odds
*Sammy: A Life in Pictures: From Vaudeville to the Rat Pack and Beyond, publication TBA
*The Little Christmas Story Book
*Grandma's Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Things

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