Benjamin Sonnenberg
Benjamin Sonnenberg (July 12, 1901 – September 6, 1978) was a Russian Empire-born American public relations consultant who represented celebrities and major corporations. He was best known for the lavish entertaining he hosted for clients and other notables at his Manhattan townhouse located at 19 Gramercy Park South. Background Sonnenberg was born in Brest-Litovsk, Russian Empire. He began his life living in poverty in a small wooden hut. Because of this poverty, his family emigrated to the United States with his family in 1910 to Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City. Sonnenberg attended Public School No.62 and then DeWitt Clinton High School. He took part in drama and dance at Henry Street Settlement, where his mother was a cleaning lady. Miss Wald, the director, was very impressed with Ben. At the age of 16, she offered him a job as the leader of the boy's club, and in turn allowed him to continue his schooling and live at the settlement house. Two years later, Miss Wald helped him get a scholarship to study at Columbia College. He got a job covering Columbia University sports for the Brooklyn Eagle. This helped his writing skills to become a publicist. He married