A lot of you didn’t get to know Sandy Vogel, so we’ll try to tell you something about who she was. From 1964 to 1999, she was a savvy and funny fixture on the production side of the business. It’s unlikely that a serious history will ever be written about commercial production, but if that should happen, Sandy would be a big part of a smallish chapter, The Good Guys. She was decent but didn’t moralize; she knew the industry inside out but wasn’t a gasbag.
In short, she was unique.
Growing up in Westchester, Sandy drove the nuns nuts until she was 17; it was then that she landed a job at a company with the unlikely name of Terrytoons.
From there, she more or less fell into commercials via EUE. (It’s hard to believe it now, but in the days before film schools and internships, jobs in commercial production just "happened" to people.)
Over time, Sandy owned or worked at seven production companies, serving as executive producer, assistant director, rep and soother of outsized egos.
She battled with some, made lots of money for others, and in the process had everybody—at least those with a sense of humor—laughing out loud.
She could do an inspired comic riff as spontaneously as she could work up a million dollar budget, and sometimes did both at once.
Sandy was ballsy and sensitive, hardnosed and softhearted. Self-taught, she knew everything about theater, art, the opera and saw just about every movie ever made.
She loved her family and friends with everything she had.
She had the biggest smile, which we’ll never forget.
So, we’re sorry if you never met Sandy. Those of us who were lucky enough to be close to her know we will have a piece of her big heart with us, always.
