Entrepreneur. He is remembered as the founder of one of Manhattan's biggest advertising agencies, Biow Company, Incorporated. He is considered a pioneer in modern advertising. For decades, he worked seven days a week. Born into a humble Ashkenazi Jewish household, he had very little formal education, leaving after grammar school. During World War I in 1917, he founded the one-man advertising agency. For his first big account, he coined the phrase "Bulova Watch Time," which became the first of hundreds of catchy slogans. His company is credited as the first to develop a national advertising campaign that used short and catchy advertising slogans on radio and television to reach the audience. In 1934 he created the iconic radio and television commercial for Philip Morris cigarettes of having a hotel bellboy loudly proclaiming, "Call for Philip Mor-rees." In 1934 he was co-owner of a New York City radio station, which became one of the city's first 24-hour radio stations. By 1952, with an annual revenue of $50 million, his company ranked as the eighth-largest advertising agency in the United States. With the departure of long-time clients of Bulova Watch Company in 1954 and Pepsi-Cola and Philip Morris in 1955, the company with 300 employees was liquidated at the end of June of 1956. Besides being the founder of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, he was active in the United Jewish Appeal, the United Hospital Fund, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In 1964, he wrote his autobiography, "Butting In: An Adman Speaks." He was married, and the couple had a son and a daughter. Becoming a widower in 1943, he remarried after many years for a second time at the age of 75.
Entrepreneur. He is remembered as the founder of one of Manhattan's biggest advertising agencies, Biow Company, Incorporated. He is considered a pioneer in modern advertising. For decades, he worked seven days a week. Born into a humble Ashkenazi Jewish household, he had very little formal education, leaving after grammar school. During World War I in 1917, he founded the one-man advertising agency. For his first big account, he coined the phrase "Bulova Watch Time," which became the first of hundreds of catchy slogans. His company is credited as the first to develop a national advertising campaign that used short and catchy advertising slogans on radio and television to reach the audience. In 1934 he created the iconic radio and television commercial for Philip Morris cigarettes of having a hotel bellboy loudly proclaiming, "Call for Philip Mor-rees." In 1934 he was co-owner of a New York City radio station, which became one of the city's first 24-hour radio stations. By 1952, with an annual revenue of $50 million, his company ranked as the eighth-largest advertising agency in the United States. With the departure of long-time clients of Bulova Watch Company in 1954 and Pepsi-Cola and Philip Morris in 1955, the company with 300 employees was liquidated at the end of June of 1956. Besides being the founder of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, he was active in the United Jewish Appeal, the United Hospital Fund, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In 1964, he wrote his autobiography, "Butting In: An Adman Speaks." He was married, and the couple had a son and a daughter. Becoming a widower in 1943, he remarried after many years for a second time at the age of 75.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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