Starting A Geezer Yearbook Collection
This year, for many reasons, our usual October picnic as viewed (“Gatherings” in the list at the left) was discontinued. To keep a meeting going, I have reached out to our members by email and asked for contributions to this new “Photo Gathering”. I wasn’t able to give everyone enough time to find a photo and write a few words, but I am happy to show this collection which numbers the same amount as we had at the last picnic.
Note: It just shows you—I requested, of a creative group, a “Mug Shot” from the 1970s or 1980s — and what did I get? The first responses: a present day photo, two in front of a laundry?, two sketches, multiple photos! OK. I followed their lead, and I changed my “mug shot” to show myself at the drawing board. The couple of sentences requested also became better than I had imagined.
Ann
1‑Allen, Jack In 1966, San Francisco magazine published this picture of me in their September issue, Volume 8, No. 9 — crediting me for my cover photo showing a couple in the early morning hours on Hotaling Place.
2‑Barnes, Brian Trouble finding stuff that is sharp and presentable. Seventies material is almost all on 35mm slide. This was taken around 1987 at Walter Swarthout’s studio for a Gallo shoot when I was at Hal Riney. I had my left forearm propped on the shoulder of a fly fisherman male model who I cropped out for your purpose. Walt had us ‘horse around ‘afterward and he captured this. Good times.
3‑Broad, David In response to your request — this is from 1945, Frankfurt, Germany, the war had just ended and we became the Army of Occupation. After discharge I signed up as a civilian with a job as an artist. This was the Information and Education Unit — Jerome Snyder was the leading art director along with several artists who as civilians before the war were famous in New York. Needless to say it was a heady experience.
4‑Eckart, Chuck I’m still working, painting, and enjoying it. I have a large exhibition coming up at the Seager Gray Gallery during February 2020. The how will be opening on my 85th birthday. I’ll send you an announcement just before show time. Chuck
5‑Ericksen, Marc Freelancing in San Francisco was the best of the best, a dream come true, and resulted in a load of wonderful memories. The clients, the Niners, the creativity. the fun, and the wonderful Bay. We had it all!
6‑Escasany, Richard and Kenwood, Dale Richard Escasany and Dale Kenwood 1976 outside Wing Lees Electric Laundry.
7‑Fugazzotto, Joel Here’s my photo. On stage in Hollywood in the 1980s shooting a commercial with Vern Gillum and Friends.
Joel Fugazzotto
8‑Hardgrove, John Celebrating my 75th birthday in Alsace, France. Finally retired after a 50-year career in advertising and graphic design. TV production assistant 1965 – 68: Guild,Bascom,Bonfigli. Dancer Fitzgerald Sample. 1969 – 76 Creative Director Aviva Enterprises, Peanuts character merchandise. 1977 – 2015, Owner, Creative Director, The Design Bunch, print advertising, graphic design for corporate communications, posters and package design. Currently, I’m painting commissioned watercolor dog portraits, and golf courses at home.
9‑Heil, Ross Photo from this spring — 2019 — Walnut Creek. Vice President — McCann-Erickson, San Francisco — 1972 to 1984. Account Manager — Del Monte Corporation. (Sorry, no 1970s — 1980s image available — the photostats have faded)
10-Lessig, Paul 2019, Sparks, NV. As an ‘Alumni’ of the Wyman Co.‘s Art Dept (and who in the 50’s & 60’s wasn’t) tallied-forth thru Account Executive assignments with Hoefer, Dietrick & Brown & Campbell Ewald. In 1965 joined Fromm & Sichel, Worldwide Distributors and Marketers of the Christian Brothers Wines and Brandy as International/National Sales Promotion Director; then President & CEO of its Marketing/Sales Promotion Agency in 1972. Left the association and the Advertising Industry in 1977 to pursue other career interests.
11-McKee, Gale Here is a photo of me helping an intern at Artworks in the mid-seventies.
I worked there from 1974 to 1978 as a rep and graphic designer, ( double commission!)
and then married the boss.(Don McKee) Job security… LOL ! I have been painting and showing art at various venues in Santa Rosa and Marin since 2009. My last job was not in advertising
but was the perfect job for me: designer & illustrator for Pottery Barn kids. I was there 8 years and the ONLY one who never used a computer…everything by hand!
12-Miller, Todd Oh yeah…if you got the photo I sent…t was taken by Don Hadley in my office at Botsford Ketchum in 1977.? We were working on the Olympia Beer campaign at the time. I don’t remember how he took the photo (4 photos like that in a square). I think Jill Murray may have been there. I know, it was after a lunch at Hoffman’s Grill (Don and I always ordered Chicken Fried Steak with extra gravy at Hoffman’s Grill every Friday). It was the first time Don laughed so hard beer came out his nose.(we were talking about how “creativity” works and Don asked who could define “creativity” and I said “that’s a very large bird that flies in the Andes”. I guess Don had more than his usual one glass of beer (kidding). For some reason, Don found my response very funny. Today…I would call it senility.
13-Moore, Dick During an interim between my years of commercial illustration (as Dick Moore), I was living, painting & exhibiting throughout the Hawaiian Islands for 7 years (as Richard Moore). Lovely times. (Photo, 1981)
14-Nielsen, Larry Is this too off the wall? It was taken in Marrakesh, Morocco of me and our guide.
15-Nicholson, Norman 525 Pacific Ave Group, 1970’s
16-Novy, Norma Attached is my mug shot. Hey, this is nice since I’m all the way in Medford, OR. Hank and I will be home to Marin for 2 days this Xmas to see family and friends. I hope you all are doing well. Norma
17-Nusser, Kirsten Tirsbak Photo: Early 1980s, Kirsten T. Sinclair, 901 Battery Street, SF, as in-house freelancer for FCB Healthcare. 1966 – 1970: I moved from Esbjerg, Denmark, to California, first employed by Psychology Today Magazine’s graphics department in Del Mar, and then as a designer for Simonson and Shaw Design, in LA. 1972 to present: In San Francisco, I often was a CD or an AD. With years of many and various clients, that also included my ”hands-on” and full computer graphic skills, I am now happily retired, volunteering my design experience to help non-profits and others with requests that keep me busy.
18-Oka, Jane Teiko 1954: Scholarship to California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree.
Employed as graphic designer by Patterson & Hall in San Francisco.
Received a Fulbright scholarship in 1960 to study in Japan.
1962: Began freelance career in the city with major clients and also created calendars, gift items, package design, posters, storybook and schoolbook illustrations.
Steadily working by mail with east coast clients — to get out of the house — assisted Marin County’s WildCare, and later, The Marine Mammal Center (for nineteen years) as an “outside” interest. (1968 Photo by Tom King)
19-Pratt, John After a day’s shoot with Walter Swarthout in the Seventies, he wasn’t ready to quit. He insisted I sit for him with this result.
20-Pyle, Chuck Chuck Pyle, formerly young and hungry illustrator. Currently, Old and teacher/department Chair at Academy of Art University.
21-Riney, Lee I just sent you a photo of me when I was working at Foote, Cone and then Young & Rubicam. It was taken years and years ago by Hal Riney in my Telegraph Hill studio, which cost $75 per month. We were soon to be married, and needed passport photos for our honeymoon to Europe.
As you know, I was the first of Hal’s five wives. Lee Riney
22-Rustad, Steve This was shot a few years back, on location at the Geyserville Gun Club (really, just a hipster bar. No firearm). I was directing an episode of Fermentation Road, which was part of Season Two of the YouTube series: Spoiled to Perfection.
23-Schumaker, Ward Me at the Jack Fischer Gallery for a showing of my trump Papers, last November 2018.
24-Somers, Dick Kauai, Hawaii. My wife of almost 56 years and I spend much of February and March on Kauai, almost every year. It is a place where one can truly relax.
25-Robert G. Steele Here are three photos from USAF Art Program. Many local illustrators participated in this great program from the early sixties until about 2010, traveling and painting as guests of the USAF.
1. 1993 Air Force Art Presentation at Bolling Air Force Base, DC. Rt. to left: Marc Ericsson and me, Robert Steele (SF Society of Illustrators) and Matthew Holmes (Sacramento).
2. 2006 USAF Art presentation, Andrews AFB
3. 2008 USAF Art presentation. Wash/DC 2008.
26-Stewart. Bill The photo I sent was taken in my studio at home in San Rafael in mid 80s (I think).
I was working as an art director with Botsford Constine & McCarty on the ?Olympia Beer account at that time.
27-Stitt, Jim Photo: Blair Heagerty / SFGate. Born and raised in Seattle, served in two different wars and armed forces — the Navy in WWII and the Marines in the Korean War — attended two different art schools on the G.I. Bill (including the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena), worked as a technical illustrator for Boeing, and spent 30 years as an art director for an advertising agency in Los Angeles. I didn’t care for LA so I came to San Francisco, connecting with Hal Riney, and got a job at SF’s BBD&O as Art Director. I was offered the Spice Islands account at Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample.
I’ve illustrated 44 of the 45 labels for Anchor Christmas Ale, a beloved annual holiday offering from the 123-year-old brewery that features both a new recipe and unique hand drawn tree every year. Handmade beers require handmade labels.
From Jim’s daughter, Janis:
Jim was interviewed in December 2019 by CBS since Fritz Maytag and Anchor Steam Brewery is being honored into the Smithsonian as one of the first microbreweries.
As you can imagine we are all proud and excited, but Papa Jim is humbled as always.
28-Sweeny, Charlie, Art Director, Cunningham & Walsh, San Francisco
29-Thompson, Ann Photo: Early ‘70s, Wharfside Building, 680 Beach Street, SF. Freelancing from 1965 to 2001 – enjoyed every assignment (Job #1 to #3,445, Whew!) and met great talents in SF’s graphics community. Since then, creating my own projects. (Photo by Tom Moulin.)
Ann is the power behind the Geezers Gallery. She does all the hard work. ph
30-Tom, Jack Selfie taken in the Grand Canyon AZ, 2019?“Born in San Francisco, now live, work and teach in Connecticut.”?” I love being a graphic designer and love teaching what I love!”
31-Young, Ron Founder and CEO Shocase, Inc. Here are three photos which span ½ a century in the adv biz. 1968-Receiving Clio. Levi’s Radio Commercial featuring the JEFFERSON AIRPLANE. Advertising Hall of Fame in NYC. Advertising Hall of Fame at Wall Street Ciprioni, NYC