Contributors

"No one envisioned this on V-E Day," contributing editor David Margolick says of the German influence on American publishing. This month, Margolick assesses the von Holtzbrinck publishing family, whose American interests include St. Martin's Press and Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Although questions have been raised about the von Holtzbrincks' connections to the Nazi Party during World War II, Margolick says the issue has been downplayed in the States. "There was a time when Jews wouldn't buy Volkswagens," he says. "But now things have changed."

"Everybody who studies economics learns about John Forbes Nash's theories their first week of grad school," says Sylvia Nasar. Her new book, A Beautiful Mind (excerpted on page 196), assesses the life of the brilliant mathematician, who battled schizophrenia for 30 years. "I couldn't believe Nash was still alive," says Nasar, a reporter for The New York Times. "I learned more about him and thought, What an amazing story."

Editor-at-large Matt Tyrnauer was inspired to write about Merv Griffin, whom he profiles on page 202, when he entered the Beverly Hilton lobby and saw "photographs of Merv with every celebrity known to man: Eastwood, Fonda, Sinatra." Tyrnauer became enamored of the TV host at an early age. "I watched seven billion hours of TV as a child," he says. "I have a home-school Ph.D. in the talk shows of the 70s."

CONTINUED ON PAGE 58

FOR DETAILS, SEE CREDITS PAGE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 56

Though Richard Merkin started attending cabaret when he was first allowed to drink, "and possibly a little before," it was his friendship with Bobby Short that drew him to New York's cabaret clubs. A writer and artist, Merkin is currently illustrating a book based on Short's experiences; he is also finishing a book of his own essays and illustrations entitled The Dear Departed Past. Meantime, a collection of his paintings is now on exhibit at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.

Like his subject this month, David Duchovny, contributing editor Michael Shnayerson attended Collegiate, the exclusive Manhattan prep school. Although they never knew each other, Shnayerson clearly remembers Duchovny's best friend, Jason Beghe— "a mop-haired boy with an untucked shirt." Duchovny and Beghe are still tight. "David has a nice capacity for friendship," says Shnayerson, "and that old Collegiate tie is completely unaffected by his commercial success."

Growing up in rural Washington State, Gary Hallgren worked as a signwriter's assistant. After graduating from college and forming a sign shop in Seattle, Hallgren moved to California, where he became an underground cartoonist. He spent summers in Provincetown doing caricatures on the street, and in 1979 moved to Manhattan to become a full-time illustrator. These days Hallgren prefers to draw "humorous subjects," such as the "Art Tree" he created on page 187.

"Shooting interiors happened by accident," says Todd Eberle. As a child in tiny Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, Eberle wanted to be a rock photographer; by the age of 19, he was shooting for Spin. But Eberle changed direction after a friend persuaded him to photograph the home of art dealer Robert Miller for American Home. This month Eberle, who recently photographed the new Getty Center, takes aim at homes decorated by the extravagant Gabhan O'Keeffe.

FOR DETAILS, SEE CREDITS PAGE