"Jed Harris... became convinced he was losing his hearing. He went to a specialist who gave him a thorough checkup. The doctor pulled out a gold timepiece and asked, 'Can you hear this ticking?' 'Of course,' said Harris.

"The specialist walked to the door and held up the watch again. 'Now can you hear it?' Harris concentrated and said, 'Yes, I can hear it clearly.' The doctor walked out the door into the next room and said, 'Can you hear it now?' 'Yes.'

"'Mr. Harris,' the doctor said, 'there is nothing wrong with your hearing. You just don't listen.'"

[By the age of twenty-eight Harris had produced a record-breaking four consecutive Broadway hits in eighteen months.]