1947

Only two items in this last column before fall, but they're dandies. Both tell of happy news about '47s, which is what we're always anxious to hear and report.

The first story comes from a New YorkTimes advertising column headed: Victors From West. It described a cocktail party in the 10th-floor suite of New York's Biltmore Hotel which could well have been a victory party for Eisaman, Johns & Laws, the Los Angeles agency that beat out some high-powered New York shops for the Ballentine's Scotch whiskey account last summer.

The agency's presentation leaned heavily on nostalgia, and when Paramount Pictures first observed the ads they saw a great natural tie-in with their film, "The Great Gatsby." Thus, one of the Ballentine ads was a Gatsby ad.

In town for the event, along with JoeEisaman, of course, was Jess Johns, one of the agency's founders. The $2 million Ballentine assignment was the largest single piece Eisaman, Johns & Laws has landed since it switched from research company to ad agency in the mid-fifties, according to the Times. The agency now has offices in Chicago, New York Philadelphia, and Denver.

Our classmate's relationship with Jess Johns goes back to 1934 in Pittsburgh when they lived across the street from one another. From a first client who spent $140 a week in newspapers,.the agency has grown to where it now bills about $26 million. And the article concludes: When and if they write the company history there'll be a section headed: "The day we won the Great Western Financial Corporation account by beating the J. Walter Thompson team headed by H. R. (Bob) Haldeman."

And we have another success story from someone who has changed his business and is doing just fine.

After 25 years as an insuranceman, FredSistare is "doing his own thing" and so far, at least, enjoying it immensely.

The Sistares spent the last four years in Texas "and then, a la Frank Weber, left Houston for Connecticut." Fred is area developer for The Frame Factory franchise in New England, a Houston-based operation that has grown to 45 shops in 3½ years. Fred is located in Vernon, Conn. The firm hopes to open shops in or around Boston, Providence, New Haven, Cape Cod, Springfield, etc.

The firm is a do-it-yourself picture framing operation. It provides moldings, mats, all necessary tools and supplies and shows the customer how to put it all together in a professional manner. Fred says business is good and invites everyone to drop in and see how they work. He adds: "Everything is fine with the family and we just think it is great to be back close to those green hills a few miles north of us!"

And now a most pleasant and relaxing summer to one and all. May each of you resolve to keep classmates posted on family or business happenings by dropping notes or postcards to ye olde class secretary come fall.

Secretary, 64 Sylvan Place Longmeadow, Mass. 01106

Class Agent. Sunnyridge Road Harrison, N.Y. 10528