Eaker grew up in New York City and attended public school before serving in the United States Army during World War II.
[1] He had worked at a number of different publications while he was attending college and was hired 1948 as the advertising manager of Show Business, a trade paper for the theatrical industry.
After a dozen years at Show Business, he left the paper together with co-worker Allen Zwerdling to establish Back Stage.
With the growth of the television industry in New York City during the 1960s, the publication's circulation grew, reaching 32,000 by the time of Eaker's death.
Eaker opened a Los Angeles office in 1975 and expanded coverage for Back Stage to Boston, Chicago and Florida.