While in kindergarten, the family moved to White Plains, New York where he met childhood friend and future collaborator Bert Schneider.
After watching The Jolson Story (1946) on numerous occasions, Blauner developed a love for the entertainment business that he would soon pursue.
While Blauner was serving in the air force, he visited the Copacabana nightclub in New York City where Sammy Davis Jr. was performing.
During this time, Bert Schneider became vice president and treasurer of Screen Gems and after Darin had received his Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role in Captain Newman, M.D.
Blauner himself appeared in a few videotaped comedy "blackout" sketches for television comedian Ernie Kovacs during the early 1960s.