Episode OverviewThe start of the partnership between Dr. Seuss and publisher Random House. CEO  Bennett Cerf wooed little known children’s author Theodor “Ted” Geisel. Beginning with a lunch at the 21 Club in NYC, Cerf showed Ted unwavering publisher support despite early flops like The Seven Lady Godivas. Cerf’s long bet on Geisel illustrates the importance of recognizing creative talent and the economic value of a strong backlist.What You’ll Hear:Time  | Topic 00:00 | Cold‑open 01:05  | Intro 02:30 | Geisel’s first book And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, 1937 05:40 | Cerf promises to publish anything Geisel writes, including a book with “naked ladies” 07:15  | Early releases in 1939: The King’s Stilts & the spectacular flop The Seven Lady Godivas 10:05  | Long‑term contract and WWII 13:20  | Modest post‑war titles 15:05  | Breakthrough and backlist 19:30  | Random House buys Vanguard Press in 1989 because of Seuss  21:15   | Betting on talent 23:00 | Bibliography & sign‑off(Timestamps are approximate)People Discussed:Bennett Cerf | Publisher & co‑founder / long‑time CEO of Random House | 00:24Theodor “Ted” Geisel/Dr. Seuss | Children’s author and illustrator | 00:35Robert Bernstein | Publisher; CEO of Random House (1970‑1989) | 12:31Judith Morgan | Biographer, co‑author of Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel | 13:46Neil Morgan | Biographer, co‑author of Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel | 13:46Brian J. Jones | Biographer, author of Becoming Dr.Seuss | 14:00Some Takeaways:Commitment: Cerf’s “I’ll print anything you do” pledge shows how decisive belief in an author can change careers—and companies.Flops Aren’t Fatal: Even a disaster selling fewer than 50 copies didn’t shake Cerf’s confidence in Seuss.Backlist matters: Once Seuss became successful, every prior title turned into a perpetual revenue stream, for him and for Random House.It Can Take Time: Geisel’s real breakout books came 20 years after his debut.Recommended ReadingDr.Seuss & Mr.Geisel by Judith & Neil Morgan (Random House, 1995)Becoming Dr.Seuss by Brian Jay Jones (Dutton / Penguin Random House, 2019)Support the ShowFollow and Subscribe: Follow I’ll Probably Delete This on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite player.Rate & Review: A quick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ helps fellow book‑lovers find us.Spread the Word: Share the episode link with a friend who appreciates good stories and good books.CreditsHost, writer, & editor: Will Jauquet Cover art: Designed by Wili Joel Productions©2025 I’ll Probably Delete This. All rights reserved.

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