Well, not quite everything. For that you'll have to wait for my next book to be published after The Ubiquitous Persuaders. This will be a true epic about an epic life... Adventures in Advertising. The reason for this post is to briefly answer some of the questions posed in comments on my George Lois post. "Moi" is correct, I have worked for everyone, therefore I am getting kickbacks from every agency that has ever existed, even if they no longer exist. As for scruples... What the fuck are they? "Founder" is also correct, I have been in every episode of Mad Men. "AC" No, I did not work on the original Ford campaign... But, I did work for two years on "Mr Whipple," and his little known buddy, "The Shy Salesman!" Apart from Lois, Gargano, Federico, Dick Lord and Arthur Einstein, I also had the great pleasure and honor to work with Mary Wells at Tinker. I've shot with most big name photographers and directors, including Mike Cimino of Deer Hunter, Heavens Gate fame... Who now lives in Paris and is called Barbara Cimino!!! Ha, fucking Ha! When I first came to the US as a student from London, I arrived on the Queen Mary... Yes, the one now moored in Longbeach, CA. I have made shitloads of money... I have blown shitloads of money. I've had a great time... And I haven't fucking finished yet. "Tom" I am 71 years old.
I also have a picture in the attic!
That's an idea. George, you should try for a cameo at Mad Men or offer to write a few episodes for the series.
Posted by: slowmo | October 27, 2008 at 06:20 PM
How long were you at my agency before the door hit you on the way out?
Posted by: Tom Messner | October 27, 2008 at 07:22 PM
Tom, does it matter?
Posted by: slowmo | October 27, 2008 at 10:36 PM
All that shit was too long to read. BUT, i like your blog GP. :D
P.S. Send some of "that work" my way.
Posted by: AgencyBS | October 28, 2008 at 01:49 AM
GP:
Is it true you have been around so long that you were responsible for the first ad effort to try and sell fire to the cavemen?
HA!
Posted by: ondownlow | October 28, 2008 at 05:00 AM
George Parker = Dorian Gray. Where do you keep the bodies?
Posted by: Auntie Christ | October 28, 2008 at 07:05 AM
I hope that I'm still as angry as you are by the time I get to 71
Posted by: one fucked off and total tosser | October 28, 2008 at 07:06 AM
George, you obviously know Tom Messner. Do you know Ron Berger?
(Let the fireworks begin...)
Posted by: Bob | October 28, 2008 at 07:06 AM
Tom
We were at Messner Vetere Berger Mcnamee Schmetterer for about 4 months freelancing about 10 years ago on MCI. It was a good gig with a good day rate @ 6-7 days a week. There were a lot of freelancers there back then. 2-3 per office. Of all the agencies I have worked at, MVBMS was one of the only ones you could tell was making money. Rumor was that MCI was paying 1 million/month fee whether one ad or 1000 ads were done. Nice.
It was always entertaining to listen to receptionists pronounce all 5 names when they answered the phone. Never abbreviated.
Posted by: GI Joe | October 28, 2008 at 07:42 AM
when I was at messner (that's how we all abbreviated it) there was a contest to see who could come up with the best slogan for the agency...my 2 favorites that I remember were: "Good Morning, Messner, Vetere, Berger, McNamee, Schmetterer, Euro RSCG, good afternoon!" and the more obvious "is that a business card in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"
Posted by: former | October 28, 2008 at 08:14 AM
George,
I wonder how many of the people that post on this blog will still be talking shit when they're in their 70s and my answer is, probably all of them.
Posted by: popgoestheweasel | October 28, 2008 at 09:10 AM
didn't you also work at de Garmo? or was it gilbert?
Posted by: veedub | October 28, 2008 at 09:12 AM
I THINK Joyce King Thomas or someone else posted that earlier question from me about George's departure. I don't recall asking it.
Re: freelancers. Half the agency's 20 partners in 1996 had started as a freelancer.
By 1998, I was no longer part of the management so I didn't hang out at the Ear very much.
We did know how to make money at least in one way: we may have overspent on freelancers, but we always took over other agencies' offices and pretty much kept their crappy furniture and decor.
In fact, the first agency whose space we took was Doyle Graf Raj Mabley. In 1989 or so. They had a large green sign in their reception area with their initials mixed around in some vaguely comprehensible interpretive way. It was hard to remove so we kept it there, and a couple of weeks later a reporter from a trade journal came up and remarked that the gigantic MVBCS sign in the reception area really looked great and whose idea was it? I said "Robin Raj, I think."
Posted by: Tom Messner | October 28, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Aaaah, the Ear. Lots of Writer Fluid consumed there.
Posted by: GI Joe | October 28, 2008 at 09:36 AM
was this you?
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/27/nyregion/thecity/27brid.html?ex=1290747600&en=d5b19f580f176c64&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Posted by: dl | October 28, 2008 at 07:24 PM
...and you're my hero!
Posted by: Wisey | October 28, 2008 at 09:42 PM