LA QUINTA, Calif. (CelebrityAccess) Allan Bregman, 92, longtime talent agent across several platforms, died in La Quinta, Calf., Sept. 25, according to a recent Los Angeles Times obituary.
Bregman began his career in the ’40s, traveling with dance orchestras, playing clarinet and saxophone. He began his own theatrical booking agency in 1950 that was eventually acquired by Music Corporation of America. He worked out of their Cleveland office booking big bands nationwide, then was transferred to New York to head MCA’s one-nighter department.
Bregman was one of the early progenitors of getting live music onto the new medium of television, handling guest appearances for “The Perry Como Show,” “The Steve Allen Show” and NBC specials. He became the personal manager for Soupy Sales and negotiated Sales’ television deal that led to “The Soupy Sales Show,” with Bregman the executive producer.
Eventually, Bregman moved to the West Coast and became VP of Ashley Famous Agency, packaging variety television shows and repping acts like Little Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.
In 1975, Bregman became VP of the Nederlander Organization, booking Broadway productions across 32 theatres plus acts like Niel Diamond, Bette Midler, and The Police.
In 1983, Bregman took on the role of President/National Entertainment Director for Caesar’s World Productions where he booked all of the showrooms and expanded its “Concerts Under The Stars” series that included acts like Jerry Seinfeld, The Pointer Sisters, Julio Iglesias and George Burns.
Bregman was also credited with “discovering” Cirque du Soleil, recruiting it to Las Vegas. In 2003, after moving to La Quinta, Calif., with his wife, Bregman consulted and negotiated for magician Lance Burton who had his own showroom at the Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas.
He also became an honorary board member of the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.
A memorial event to celebrate Allan’s life will be held in 2019 with the location and date to be announced. The family requests any memorial donations in Allan’s name are made to the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation (the Motion Picture Home) or the Stroke Recovery Center of Palm Springs.
