return to a time when hollywood was young and the movie industry was just starting out in harold robbins second novel he captures a bygone era of entertainment pioneers turning cinematic dreams into reality the dream merchants is a story of powerful men and passionate women doing whatever they have to in order to succeed johnny edge is a former carny hustler filled with schemes and ambition peter kessler trades in a life of being stuck in the hardware business for the fortunes of moviemaking actress dulcie warren isnt afraid to use her sexuality to fulfill her ambitions and if she has to take someone down to get to the top thats show business their worlds collide on the studio back lots at magnum pictures in moments of intrigue and entanglement robbins own experiences at universal studios laid the foundation for the dream merchants the novel that would later be made into an allstar miniseries featuring mark harmon morgan fairchild eve arden robert culp jose ferrer robert goulet and fernando lamas