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{{Short description|American photojournalist}}

'''Jerome Zerbe''' (July 24, 1904 - Aug. 19, 1988) was one of the originators of a genre of [[photography]] that is now utterly common: celebrity [[paparazzi]]. Zerbe was pioneer in the 1930s of shooting photographs of the famous at play and on-the-town.

{{More citations needed|date= July 2010}}

'''Jerome Zerbe''' (July 24, 1904 -– Aug.August 19, 1988) was an American photographer. He was one of the originators of a genre of [[photography]] that is now utterly common: celebrity [[paparazzi]]. Zerbe was a pioneer in the 1930s of shooting photographs of the famous at play and on-the-town. According to the cocktail recipe book ''Bottoms Up'' (1951), he is also credited with inventing the vodka [[Martini (cocktail)|martini]].

Zerbe differed from the common paparazzo in a major way: he never hid in bushes or jumped out and surprised the rich and famous that he was photographing. Zerbe often traveled and vacationed with the film stars themselves. As one biographer stated, he never rode in a rented limousine and his coat pocket always had an engraved invitation to the high society events.

Zerbe differed from the common paparazzo in a major way: he never hid in bushes or jumped out and surprised the rich and famous that he was photographing. Rather, Zerbe often traveled and vacationed with the film stars themselves. As one biographer{{who|date=August 2017}} stated, heZerbe never rode in a rented limousine, and his coat pocket always had in it an engraved invitation to the high -society events.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

“Once I asked [[Katharine Hepburn]] to come up from her place at Fenwick, a few miles away, and pose for some fashion photos for me,” Zerbe recalled in his book ''Happy Times''. “She arrived with a picnic hamper full of food and wine for the two of us. I snapped her just as she came to the door.”

“Once"Once I asked [[Katharine Hepburn]] to come up from her place at Fenwick, a few miles away, and pose for some fashion photos for me,”" Zerbe recalled in his book ''Happy Times''. “She"She arrived with a picnic hamper full of food and wine for the two of us. I snapped her just as she came to the door.”"{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

In a career that spanned more than 40 years, Zerbe’s library held well over 50,000 photos.

SomeIn a career that spanned more than 50 years, Zerbe's library held well over 50,000 photos.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} Examples of his well-known images were ofincluded [[Greta Garbo]] at lunch, [[Cary Grant]] helping columnist [[Hedda Hopper]] move into her new home, [[Steve Reeves]] shaving, [[Moss Hart]] climbing a tree, [[Howard Hughes]] having lunch at “21”"[[21 Club|21]]" with [[Janet Gaynor]], [[Ginger Rogers]] flying first-class, plus legendary stars [[Charlie Chaplin]], [[Gary Cooper]], [[Salvador DaliDalí]], [[Jean Harlow]], [[Dorothy Parker]], [[Gene Tunney]], [[Thomas Wolfe]], and the [[Vanderbilts]].

Zerbe claimed to be the first – and only – society photographer.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} He was for years the official photographer of Manhattan’s[[Manhattan]]'s famed nightspot [[El Morocco]], the place to be and be seen, whether you were [[Humphrey Bogart]], [[EdJohn SullivanO'Hara]], or [[JohnEd O’HaraSullivan]]. Zerbe pioneered the business arrangement of getting paid by the [[nightclub]] to photograph its visitors, then turnturning around and givegiving the photos away to the gossip pages. Today, the practice is a common [[public relations]] stunt.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

==Early life and education==

The photographerZerbe was born in [[Euclid, Ohio]], on July 24, [[1904]]. His father, Jerome B. Zerbe, was the president of a coal company and a prominent citizen in nearby [[Cleveland]], where the family later resided. Young Jerry Zerbe was driven to public school in the family limousine, which got him beaten up by bullies. He managed to survive well enough to be sent East, to the prestigious [[Salisbury School]] in [[Salisbury, Connecticut]]. It was there thatThere he took an interest in art, drawing, art and photography.

Zerbe graduated from [[Yale]] in 1928, where he was an editor of the campus humor magazine ''[[1928The Yale Record]]'' with writer [[Geoffrey T. Hellman]], writer and film critic [[Dwight Macdonald]], and Hollywood art director [[Jack Otterson]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Yale Banner and Pot Pourri|___location= New Haven|publisher= Yale University Press|date= 1927|page= 229}}</ref> While an undergrad, Zerbe had a knack for getting around the [[Prohibition]] laws, and alwayswas beingknown as the guy who knew where the booze and parties were. (It helped that there was a [[speakeasy]] in the basement of ''[[The Yale Record]]'' building.) This paid off, and he became a supreme social networker. He gained important social prominence in [[New Haven]], which would serve him well in [[New York City]], [[Paris]], and [[London]]. In [[1965]] he wrote ''The Art of Social Climbing'', and it became an instant classic.

==Early career==

After graduation he went out to [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] to try his hand at drawing portraits of the famous residents. He was befriended by a young [[Gary Cooper]]., Thiswhich led to Zerbe's quickly becoming friends with [[Hedda Hopper]], [[Cary Grant]], [[Errol Flynn]], [[Randolph Scott]], [[Marion Davies]], and [[Paulette Goddard]]. It did not take long for him to put down his paintbrush and pick up a camera, and he photographed numerous stars in Hollywood’s Golden Age.

It did not take long for Zerbe to put down his paintbrush and pick up a camera. He photographed numerous stars in Hollywood's Golden Age and some of the hopefuls, before they became known, posed for him wearing few if any clothes.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

During the [[Depression]], Zerbe landed his first major job, as art director of [[Parade magazine]], which was headquartered in his hometown, [[Cleveland]]. This was where he began his career of setting up portraits of the upper crust. He persuaded the wealthy local residents that it would help them to be photographed at their parties, which was simply not done at the time. He convinced them that it would assist the charity balls and fundraisers the leading society matrons were hosting. This paid off. He shot hundreds of debutantes, brides, newlyweds and formal dinners in North America and Europe.

==Breaking into photography==

Soon after, Harry Bull, the editor of [[Town & Country magazine]] in New York, saw some of Zerbe’s society photos from Cleveland. He made him an offer to photograph ritzy parties in the Midwest. This led to his photos getting a wide audience, and offers of work from the capital of glitz -- [[Manhattan]].

During the [[Great Depression|Depression]], Zerbe landed his first major job, as art director of ''[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]]'', which was headquartered in his hometown, [[Cleveland]]. This was where he began his career of setting up portraits of the upper crust. He persuaded the wealthy local residents that it would help them to be photographed at their parties, which was simply not done at the time. He convinced them that it would assist the charity balls and fundraisers the leading society matrons were hosting. This paid off. He shot hundreds of debutantes, brides, newlyweds, and formal dinners in North America and Europe.

Soon afterafterward, Harry Bull, the editor of ''[[Town & Country (magazine)|Town & Country]]'' in New York, saw some of Zerbe’sZerbe's society photos from Cleveland. Heand made him an offer to photograph ritzy parties in the Midwest. This ledgave to hisZerbe's photos getting' a wide audience, and garnered offers of work from the capital of glitz --, [[Manhattan]].{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

When Zerbe arrived in New York, he was in the right place at the right time. [[Prohibition]] had just ended and the nightlife was booming. The city had seven daily newspapers and three press associations. They all needed society photographs. Zerbe got himself hired by the [[Rainbow Room]] – on the 65th Floor of 30 [[Rockefeller Center]] – to set up fashionable dinner parties and photograph the guests. Zerbe was shocked that at the height of the [[Depression]], unemployed readers craved to look at photos of high society types dressed in evening clothes and drinking [[champagne]].

When Zerbe arrived in New York, he was in the right place at the right time. Prohibition had just ended, and nightlife was booming. The city had seven daily newspapers and three press associations. They all needed society photographs.

Around [[1934]] Zerbe was in business in [[Manhattan]]. He was the staff photographer for both the [[Rainbow Room]] and a bustling nightclub, [[El Morocco]]. Zerbe said that from 1933 to 1938 he spent most nights from nine p.m. to four a.m. at El Morocco eating, drinking and taking pictures. El Morocco was the classiest nightclub in town, and looked down upon the tacky [[Stork Club]] regulars. El Morocco was the place to be seen – particularly if you just came from a [[Broadway show]]. There is one way to tell a Zerbe photo of El Morocco: the distinctive background. The club had imitation zebra skin fabric coverings on all banquettes and couches; the walls looked like a zebra-stripes jungle. With the striped black-and-white background, it was obvious to anyone looking at it -- without reading a caption -- that it was taken in El Morocco.

When Zerbe arrived in New York, he was in the right place at the right time. [[Prohibition]] had just ended and the nightlife was booming. The city had seven daily newspapers and three press associations. They all needed society photographs. Zerbe got himself hired by the [[Rainbow Room]] –, on the 65th Floor of 30 [[30 Rockefeller Center]] –, to set up fashionable dinner parties and photograph the guests. Zerbe was shocked that at the height of the [[Depression]], unemployed readers craved to looklooking at photos of high -society types dressed in evening clothes and drinking [[Champagne (wine)|champagne]].{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

[[World War II]] prompted Zerbe to enlist in the [[Navy]]. He was able to bring his camera, and became the official photographer for [[Admiral Nimitz]]. He found a way to travel with the stars that flew overseas to entertain the troops.

==The nightclub era==

After the war, Zerbe took up photographing [[Café Society]] with gusto. He was a charming man who was able to rub shoulders with dukes, duchesses, visiting dignitaries, as well as [[John Hay Whitney]], Mrs. [[Cornelius Vanderbilt]], and scores of others. He traveled to [[France]] to photograph estates and country homes – and the residents as well.

Around 1934, Zerbe was in business in Manhattan. He was the staff photographer for both the [[Rainbow Room]] and a bustling nightclub, [[El Morocco]]. Zerbe said that from 1933 to 1938, he spent most nights from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. at El Morocco eating, drinking, and taking pictures.

Many considered El Morocco the classiest nightclub in town and looked down upon the [[Stork Club]] regulars as "tacky". El Morocco was the place to be seen, particularly if one just came from a [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] show. Zerbe photos taken at El Morocco are readily identifiable due to the blue-and-white zebra-stripe fabric on all the banquettes and couches.

In the 1940s, Zerbe worked for the [[Hearst]] newspapers, and wrote a Sunday column for the Sunday Mirror for more than ten years. From 1949 to 1974 he was the society editor for [[Town & Country]]. He traveled around the globe photographing big celebrity events.

[[World War II]] prompted Zerbe to enlist in the [[United States Navy|Navy]]. He was able to bring his camera, and became the official photographer for [[Admiral Nimitz]]., Heand found a way to travel with the stars thatwho flew overseas to entertain the troops.

Zerbe had several “coffee table” photo books published. Among them was ''People on Parade'' (1934), ''El Morocco Family Album'' (1937), ''The Art of Social Climbing'' (1965), and with [[Brendan Gill]] of [[The New Yorker]], he published his greatest collection ''Happy Times'' in 1974.

After the war, Zerbe took up photographing [[Cafécafé Societysociety]] with gusto. He was a charming man who was able to rub shoulders with dukes, duchesses, visiting dignitaries, as well as [[John Hay Whitney]], Mrs. [[Cornelius Vanderbilt IV]], and scores of others. He traveled to [[France]] to photograph estates and country homes –, and also the residents as well.

He died Aug. 19, [[1988]], at his home in Manhattan’s [[Sutton Place]].

In the 1940s, Zerbe worked for the [[Hearst Corporation|Hearst]] newspapersnewspaper chain, and wrote a Sunday column for the ''Sunday Mirror'' for more than ten10 years. From 1949 to 1974, he was the society editor for ''[[Town & Country (magazine)|Town & Country]]''. He traveled around the globe photographing big celebrity events.

Today, little is known about his vast collection, which a biographer estimated had 50,000 images in 150 scrapbooks. Perhaps it was donated to a college, but at the moment, it is missing.

Zerbe had several "coffee table" photo books published. Among them were ''People on Parade'' (1934),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Zerbe |first1=Jerome |first2=Lucius |last2=Beebe |author2-link=Lucius Beebe |title=People on Parade |year=1934 |publisher=D. Kemp |___location=New York }}</ref> ''John Perona's El Morocco Family Album'' (1937),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Zerbe |first1=Jerome |first2=Lucius |last2=Beebe |author2-link=Lucius Beebe |title=John Perona's El Morocco Family Album |year= 1937 |publisher=privately published |___location=New York }}</ref> ''The Art of Social Climbing'' (1965), and with [[Brendan Gill]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Zerbe's greatest collection, ''Happy Times'' (1973).<ref>{{cite book |last=Zerbe |first=Jerome |author2=Gill, Brendan |title=Happy Times |year=1973 |publisher=Harcourt Brace Jovanovich |___location=New York }}</ref>

[[Category:1904 births|Zerbe, Jerome]]

[[Category:1988 deaths|Zerbe, Jerome]]

==Death ==

[[Category:American photographers|Zerbe, Jerome]]

Zerbe died on August 19, 1988, at his [[Sutton Place, Manhattan|Sutton Place]] apartment in Manhattan. He was 85.

[[Category:American authors|Zerbe, Jerome]]

[[Category:People from Ohio|Zerbe, Jerome]]

The Zerbe photographic archive was purchased by Frederick R. Koch, eldest son of industrialist [[Fred C. Koch]], and gifted in 2013 to the Beinecke Rare Book Library.<ref>{{cite archive |first= |last= |item= |type= |date= |series= |file= |box= |collection=Jerome Zerbe photographs and papers |repository=Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository |institution=Yale University |___location= |collection-url=https://hdl.handle.net/https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/beinecke.zerbe}}</ref>

[[Category:People from Cleveland|Zerbe, Jerome]]

[[de:Jerome Zerbe]]

==Relationships==

[[eo:Jerome Zerbe]]

[[sv:Jerome Zerbe]]

In the 1930s, Zerbe was the partner of the society columnist and writer [[Lucius Beebe]]. Beebe made so many flattering references to Zerbe in his newspaper column, ''This New York,'' that rival columnist [[Walter Winchell]] suggested that Beebe should change the name to "Jerome Never Looked Lovelier."<ref>{{cite book|author=Gill, Brendan|title=Here at The New Yorker|publisher=Berkley Medallion Edition|date= 1976|isbn=0-425-03043-1}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Jet set]]

==References==

* ''[[New York Times]]'' obituary, "Jerome Zerbe, 85, Photographer of Cafe Society and a Columnist", August 23, 1988, p. D19.

;Specific

{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==

*{{cite book |last1=Zerbe |first1=Jerome |first2=Lucius |last2=Beebe |author2-link=Lucius Beebe |title=People on Parade |year=1934 |publisher=D. Kemp |___location=New York }}

*{{cite book |last1=Zerbe |first1=Jerome |first2=Lucius |last2=Beebe |author2-link=Lucius Beebe |title=John Perona's El Morocco Family Album |year= 1937 |publisher=privately published |___location=New York }}

*{{cite book |last1=Zerbe |first1=Jerome |first2=Brendan |last2=Gill |title=Happy Times |year=1973 |publisher=Harcourt Brace Jovanovich |___location=New York }}

== External links ==

[[hdl:10079/fa/beinecke.zerbe|Jerome Zerbe Photographs and Papers]]. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zerbe, Jerome}}

[[Category:1904 births|Zerbe, Jerome]]

[[Category:1988 deaths|Zerbe, Jerome]]

[[Category:People from Ohio|ZerbeEuclid, JeromeOhio]]

[[Category:American authors|Zerbe, Jeromephotojournalists]]

[[Category:American photographers|Zerbe,LGBTQ Jeromephotographers]]

[[Category:Nightlife in New York City]]

[[Category:Yale University alumni]]

[[Category:LGBTQ people from Ohio]]

[[Category:Journalists from Ohio]]

[[Category:20th-century American journalists]]

[[Category:American male journalists]]

[[Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people]]