Estelle Schrott Conde (January 7, 1904–April 30, 1973) was an American television writer, motion picture publicist and story supervisor, and novelist.
Early life and career Born Estelle Schrott in New York City on January 7, 1904,"New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1958", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24L6-CZM : Sat Apr 12 15:58:43 UTC 2025), Entry for Estelle Schrott, 1941. Conde was the eldest of two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schrott of Freehold, New Jersey."Freehold". The Freehold Transcript. March 15, 1940. p. 15. "Estelle Schrott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Schrott of Jackson Street, leaves today on the Grace liner Santa Rosa to spend some time in Venezuela. Miss Schrott, who is the Eastern press representative for Walter Wagner pictures, is writing a novel with a Venezuelan background, and during her stay in South America, plans on gathering authentic background material for it.""Freehold and Vicinity: News of Your Town and Your Neighbors". The Freehold Transcript. December 24, 1943. p. 10. "Mrs. Estelle Schrott Conde has arrived at the home of her, parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schroft, of Jackson street, after several weeks in Mexico City with her husband. Necessity of revising part of her first novel, 'Heaven Is For The Angels,' called her back to the states, as she had intended to spend the Winter in Mexico. Publication date of her book has been postponed from January to February""United States, Census, 1940", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQ1N-3BM : Thu Mar 07 08:31:24 UTC 2024), Entry for Estelle Schrott and Eugene Schrott, 1940.
During the 1930s, Schrott served as a publicist for Warner Brothers,"WB's Special Booklets". Variety. September 8, 1931. p. 4. "Warner is distributing to hotels and apartment houses in New York a specially prepared booklet on current Warner or First National attractions in Metropolitan theatres. Additionally the booklets include Hollywood gossip. Some of the hotels and apartment buildings are calling for the booklets regularly as a guide for their guests. Estelle Schrott is getting it out, twice monthly""(Heard in) Crosstown: Warners Monopolize the Bookings". The New York State Exhibitor. April 10, 1933. p. 4. "Estelle Schrott is the new executive secretary of the Warner Club." Gaumont-British,"Personals". The Billboard. June 1, 1935. p. 20. "ESTELLE SCHROTT has been named publicity director at the home office of Gaumont-British, New York. She succeeds Aarline de Haas, who resigned because of illness."Catlin, Elizabeth (July 1935). Acting Isn't the Only Movie Career. Movie Classic. pp. 32–33, 70. "Publicity work brings in weekly pay checks ranging from $50 to $100 per week. It is a grand job for a woman with an inventive mind and a good strong determination. The usual route into this work is via the newspaper or magazine field—if you consider the careers of Estelle Schrott of G-B’s New York office, Aileen Brenon at Paramount, Hortense Schorr at Columbia, Tess Michaels at United Artists, Jeanette Sauer at Fox, Laura Benham at Warner Brothers, Madeline Foss at Universal.""Coming and Going". The Film Daily. August 7, 1936. p. 2. "AL SELIG and ESTELLE SCHROTT of the GB publicity department left yesterday for Southampton to work out details on the Aug. 13 opening of 'Nine Days a Queen' at the society resort." and Walter Wanger.Daly, Phil (February 24, 1937). "Along the Rialto". The Film Daily. p. 3. "Estelle Schrott is getting in plenty of preliminary build-ups with dailies and mags for Walter Wanger's "Vogues of 1938" that will burst on the theaters in dazzling glory next fall."
In 1941, Schrott's completion of a new novel, entitled High Noon, dubbed "a story about Americans in South America", was reported by Boxoffice"Broadway". Boxoffice. March 1, 1941. p. 29. "Estelle Schrott, formerly eastern publicity representative for Walter Wanger, has finished a novel, 'High Noon,' which can be seen or heard about through her agents, Ruth and Maxwell Aley. It’s a story about Americans in South America. Meanwhile, Estelle is in Mexico City for a two months’ holiday." Given the preceding description, coupled with the fact that no Schrott work by that name was ever published, it seems likely that High Noon was simply the working title of what would ultimately emerge in February 1944 as Heaven Is For the Angels.Broaddus, Marian Howe (May 14, 1944). "Books". El Paso Times.D., M. H. (April 1, 1944). "The World of Books: A South American Picture". The Birmingham News. p. 4.H., M. L. (March 26, 1944). "D for Deportment". The Springfield Republican. In 1946, The Film Daily reported that Conde had been "notified that negotiations are now under way for the sale of her novel, 'Heaven is for the Angels,' to an independent Coast producer"."Schrott Places Articles; Sister Selling Novel". The Film Daily. August 9, 1946. p. 2. "At the same time, his sister, Estelle Schrott, formerly one of the leading women press agents in the industry, was notified that negotiations are now under way for the sale of her novel, 'Heaven is for the Angels,' to an independent Coast producer." The unnamed producer was never identified, and the screen adaptation evidently never materialized.
In December 1959, the Hollywood Citizen-News named nine writers signed to script upcoming episodes of the series, The Millioanaire, with the group's final two members dubbed "the team of Jan Winters and Estelle Conde"."Television Programs". The Hollywood Citizen-News. December 28, 1959. p. 12. "Writers assigned to prepare teleplays for 'The Millionaire' series are James Bloodworth, Stephen Kandel, Jack Laird, Sloan Nibley, Jack Marlowe, Muriel Roy Bolton, Betty Ulius and the team of Jan Winters and Estelle Conde." The following April, their episode aired, starring Whitney Blake as "Millionaire Nancy Cortez", a recipient whose peculiar dilemma is her fiance's seemingly unshakeable attachment to bullfighting. The episode co-stars Gustavo Rojo."Details, Previews of Tonight's TV". The Miami Herald. April 13, 1960. p. 9-D. "Whitney Blake, Gustavo Rojo ... money vs. the bull ring at 9, on Ch. 4." Next, Conde collaborated with veteran story analyst Giulio Anfuso on the 1960 season opener of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, starring Burl Ives as "The Ox", a newly released convict intent on clearing his name. Playing widely divergent roles in this scenario are costars Whit Bissell, Edward Platt, and Jacklyn O'Donnell."Burl Ives Stars in TV Western". The Daily Herald Weekly TV Guide. October 31, 1960. p. 1."Burl Ives Plays The Ox in 'Zane Grey Theater". The Daily Herald Weekly TV Guide. June 12, 1961. p. 1. "Burl Ives portrays an ex-convict who involves Jacklyn O'Donnell in his plot for revenge."
About one month prior to the Powell season opener, Conde participated in another opening of sorts, appearing as herself in a panel discussion on the topic of "American husbands' alongside Doctors Leonard Kurland and Paul Popenoe, airing on the newly all-talk radio station, KABC (AM).Palmer, Zuma (October 1, 1960). "'TV Workshop,' N.Y. Symphony Resume, College Courses Begin; Saturday Radiol". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 12. "American husbands will be discussed by Dr. Leonard Kurland, Estelle Conde and Dr. Paul Popenoe at 10 over KABC."
Personal life and death By December 1943, Schrott had become Mrs. Estelle Schrott Conde, although she did not adopt the name professionally until December 1959."Television Programs". The Hollywood Citizen-News. December 28, 1959. p. 12. "Writers assigned to prepare teleplays for "The Millionaire" series are James Blood- Laird, Sloan Nibley, Jack worth, Stephen Kandel, Marlowe, Muriel Roy Bolton, Betty Ulius and the team of Jan Winters and Estelle Conde.."
Throughout their lives, Conde and her brother appear to remained exceptionally close, both personally and professionally. For at least the five-year period—1935-1940—immediately preceding the South and Central American sojourns which ultimately produced both one published novel and one mentioned-in-passing marriage, the siblings resided together in Brooklyn (as documented by the 1940 U.S. Census form which lists her occupation as "motion picture publicist" and his as "motion picture clerk"). Moreover, press accounts eventually revealed that Eugene Schrott had, in large part, continued to mirror his sister's career path, becoming a press spokesperson for CBS and, in particular, Ed Sullivan.Associated Press (August 8, 1956). "Getting Better: Injured Sullivan Again Full of Fighting Irish". Oakland Tribune. p. 2. "Ed Sullivan, the television master of ceremonies injured Monday in an automobile accident, was reported today to 'full of the fighting Irish again.' That was the way a nurse described his condition to Eugene Schrott, a CBS press representative sent to Griffin Hospital here to handle inquiries about Sullivan."Canadian Press (October 28, 1958). "Explanation Given On TV Mine Joke". The Montreal Star. p. 10. "A CBS spokesman said yesterday a joke on Sunday's Ed Sullivan's television program about a trapped miner had nothing to do with the Springhill mine disaster. Eugene Schrott, publicity agent for the Sullivan show, said 'The joke was a very small portion of the show. I assure you it did not have anything to do with the Springhill mining disaster. [...] It was not meant to have anything to do with the disaster, which everyone here feels very badly about."
Conde died of cancer in Hollywood on April 30, 1973, at age 69, survived by her brother Eugene, and cousin, Edward Marks."Funeral Announcements". The Los Angeles Times. "CONDE, Estelle Schrott, Estelle Schrott Conde of Los Angeles, survived by her brother, Eugene Schrott of New York and devoted cousin, Edward Marks of Sylmar." Her remains are interred at Mount Sinai Hollywood Hills."Estelle Conde". Gravez.me. "ESTELLE S. CONDE; 1904 – 1973; BELOVED"
Scarcely one month after Conde's death, the trade publication Broadcasting reported the death—at age 61, cause undisclosed—of recently retired 23-year CBS press representative, Eugene Schrott, survived by his wife, daughter and son.
Selected filmography The Millionaire "Millionaire Nancy Cortez" (1960) – with Jan Winters; starring Whitney Blake and Gustavo RojoPinky Herman (April 7, 1960). "Around the TV Circuit". Motion Picture Daily. p. 4. "Former motion picture publicist Estelle Schrott Conde's original teleplay 'The Bullfighters' will be aired next Wednesday on "The Millionaire' CBS show, Gustavo Rojo, featured in 'They Came To Cordura,' will star in 'The Bullfighter.'""Details, Previews of Tonight's TV". The Miami Herald. Apr 13, 1960. p. 9-D. "Whitney Blake, Gustavo Rojo ... money vs. the bull ring at 9, on Ch. 4." Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre "The Ox" (1960) – with Guillio Anfuso; starring Burl Ives and Whit Bissell"Burl Ives Stars on Zane Grey". South Bend Tribune. November 3, 1960. p. 29. "Burl Ives plays a burly blacksmith with a black past, in 'The Ox,' a tense Western drama by Estelle Conde, on 'Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater' at 7 tonight over WSBT-TV, The Tribune's television station." Lassie Unknown episode (1961)
References
Further reading "The Social Side of Filmdom (In the East); Warner Waffler". Variety. October 8, 1930. p. 31. "Estelle Schrott, five-foot-two, full of sex appeal, and Joe Mender, ace, will go to it, which means $20 more from club funds." "Miss Schrott with GB". Motion Picture Herald. May 25, 1935. p. 66. "Estelle Schrott has been appointed publicity director for GB Pictures by A. P. Waxman, advertising counsel. Miss Schrott succeeds Arline De Haas, recently resigned." "Coming and Going". The Film Daily. July 27, 1936. p. 2. "A. P. WAXMAN, GB advertising counsel, gets back today from a vacation trip, as doe! ESTELLE SCHROTT of the GB publicity department."