Departures of note

Gene Schwam was a veteran Hollywood publicist who represented some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Elvis Presley, Blake Edwards, Julie Andrews, Barbara Eden and Lenny Bruce. In 1955 he co-founded Hanson & Schwam Public Relations with Adeline Hanson, building an independent publicity agency that endured for decades and became a fixture of the Hollywood publicity world. Over a long career he shaped the public images of film and television stars and was widely regarded as one of the industry's most respected press agents. He died in Los Angeles at the age of 96 after a brief illness.