This inside look at the production of 20th century television commercials begins with a review of advertising’s beginnings in the late 19th century and describes its development through the 1960s and early 1970s. The author, a career
Mad man,
recounts his experiences on commercial productions - both live and film - in theaters and studios in New York City, on the White House Lawn, along Rome’s Appian Way, in Lady Astor’s dining room and on the Tryall Golf Course in Jamaica, among other places. The technical challenges and solutions involved in producing high-end commercials for America’s major corporations are detailed. The broadcast community’s single-minded targeting of advertising at specific audiences is highlighted.