Larry Sloan facts for kids

Lloyd Lawrence "Larry" Sloan (1922 – October 14, 2012) was an American publisher. He helped create the popular word game Mad Libs. Larry Sloan also co-founded a publishing company called Price Stern Sloan in Los Angeles in the early 1960s.

Larry Sloan's Early Life and Career

Growing Up and War Service

Larry Sloan was born in New York City in 1922. His family later moved to Los Angeles. Larry first went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). However, he left college to join the United States Army when World War II began. After the war, he studied Chinese language at Stanford University.

Becoming a Hollywood Reporter

After the war, Larry Sloan returned to Los Angeles. He became a columnist for the Hollywood Citizen News. He also worked as a reporter for magazines. These magazines covered news about Hollywood's movies and famous people.

Working with Stars

Because of his connections, Larry Sloan became a press agent and publicist. This meant he helped famous people manage their public image. He worked with stars like Carol Channing, Mae West, and Elizabeth Taylor.

Founding Price Stern Sloan

The Start of Mad Libs

In 1958, writer Leonard B. Stern and comedian Roger Price created Mad Libs. This was a fun word game book series. They had first thought of the game in 1953. They named it "Mad Libs" after hearing a funny argument in a restaurant.

A New Publishing Company

In the 1960s, Larry Sloan joined his high school friends, Roger Price and Leonard Stern. Together, they started a publishing company. They called it Price Stern Sloan. The company was based in West Hollywood, California. Larry Sloan became the company's first CEO. Leonard Stern later said that Larry "eventually became the business man behind Mad Libs."

Success with Books and Games

Publishing Many Books

Under Larry Sloan's leadership, Price Stern Sloan grew very big. It became one of the largest publishing companies on the West Coast of the United States. By 1973, the company had released over 70 different Mad Libs books. They also published 150 other softcover books.

Creating Best-Sellers

Larry Sloan also edited many books himself. He even edited a series of joke books called World's Worst Jokes. He also created a successful book called "The VIP Desk Diary". He wondered what a rich person's daily planner would look like. Other popular books published by the company included How to Be a Jewish Mother and Droodles.

The Mad Libs Phenomenon

Mad Libs was the company's most successful product. By 2012, over 110 million copies of Mad Libs books had been sold!

The Wee Sing Series

In the late 1970s, Larry Sloan started the "Wee Sing" product line. He found a handmade children's book with that name. This led to a very popular series of books, videos, and audio recordings. These included Wee Sing Video Series and Wee Sing in Sillyville.

Later Years and Legacy

Selling the Company

Roger Price, one of the Mad Libs creators, passed away in 1990. In 1993, Larry Sloan and Leonard Stern sold Price Stern Sloan. It was bought by Putnam Berkley Group, which is now part of Penguin Group.

Starting Tallfellow Press

Later, Larry Sloan and Leonard Stern started another publishing company. It was called Tallfellow Press and was based in Beverly Hills. This company focused on business books. As of 2012, Larry's daughter, Claudia Sloan, continues to lead Tallfellow Press.

Larry Sloan's Passing

Larry Sloan passed away on October 14, 2012, at age 89. He died in Los Angeles after a short illness. He was the last living founder of Price Stern Sloan. Leonard Stern had passed away in 2011. Larry Sloan lived in Malibu, California for a long time. He is remembered by his wife, Eleanor, his five children, and six grandchildren.