The Memoirs of Morton Lehrer

<P>(Excerpt from 'Joe'): In 1940 the Great Depression was still on. Jobs were very scarce and unemployed people fought one another whenever an opportunity arose. When I placed an ad in the <I>Times </I> seeking a messenger and asking for a written reply including education experience and salary desired over a hundred people responded. From among the twenty I selected for a personal interview was one Brooklyn College student who offered to work without a salary. He was hoping to learn a new trade something other than his mother's candy store. His offer was too good to refuse and after a short interview he was hired and was thrilled with a generous package of six dollars per week. At that time a subway ride was a nickel. A modest but ample lunch was only a quarter. At any rate Joe Goldbaum became our first employee and stayed for over twenty-five years. Joe was not only a good employee who helped the company to grow and prosper Joe became my own my very own personal genie. </P>