Creative. The most important least important thing.

October 20, 2011 8:11 PM

AdWeek presents vintage photographs from advertising days past, from the MadMen era and earlier. See photos of copywriters, creative directors, secretaries and account directors from Grey, BBDO, McCann, and other agencies frequently name dropped in Mad Men (many of whom are still around today).
posted by sweetkid (17 comments total)

This is like Meta Pepsi Blue.
posted by twoleftfeet at 8:39 PM on October 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

THE GREYHOUND ON THE DESK.

That is all.
posted by unSane at 8:40 PM on October 20, 2011 [4 favorites]

TO ALL EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES:

A "Greyhound" is a mixed drink consisting of gin and grapefruit juice.

Thank You,
Management
posted by The Confessor at 8:46 PM on October 20, 2011 [7 favorites]

from the MadMen era

What, 2007-2010?
posted by ceribus peribus at 8:51 PM on October 20, 2011 [3 favorites]

Aside from the greyhound Kinda like a normal day at the office. And the typewriters, and the phones, and everyone wearing ties, and not having four people on a floor due to layoffs, and everything else really. So I guess it is pretty different.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:51 PM on October 20, 2011

They all look like photos taken to finish off the reel a minute after Bob Dylan's left the interview room.
posted by joannemullen at 9:42 PM on October 20, 2011

Great photos, but you know what I hate? Slideshows where you have to scroll back down every time you change slides, that's what I hate!
posted by ottereroticist at 9:43 PM on October 20, 2011 [7 favorites]

"Female employees at the Lois Holland Callaway agency in New York showing off their hot pants in 1971".

Posing on tables, and a lap.

But those aren't really true hotpants, are they? They're way too long.
posted by longsleeves at 10:17 PM on October 20, 2011

I'm not sure that's a lap - there's something non-Euclidean going on with the guy's leg.
posted by Dr Dracator at 11:09 PM on October 20, 2011

Yeah, not a lap but she seems to be hovering or maybe he's crushing his side of the stool.

Also, does that poster say "PROM PIG"?
posted by DU at 5:12 AM on October 21, 2011

If you want to see stuff like this in moving color, try this.

Also, love the shoes and glasses.
posted by underthehat at 5:14 AM on October 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

"A secretary at Young & Rubicam in 1956 admires a visitor's Royalite portable typewriter."

Technogadget envy is nothing new.
posted by kinnakeet at 5:28 AM on October 21, 2011 [2 favorites]

No one in these pictures looked anywhere close to as hot as Jon Hamm, not even Draper Daniels, on whom Don Draper is partly based.

I'm so disillusioned.
posted by orange swan at 6:28 AM on October 21, 2011

McCann's doesn't seem like that bad a place to work, based on the reception area...
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:32 AM on October 21, 2011

Hot Pants!
posted by slogger at 6:41 AM on October 21, 2011

Pharmaceutical advertising was never this hip.

Mini skirts yes
Alas, no hot pants.
posted by stormpooper at 9:09 AM on October 21, 2011

I work in advertising/creative, and we still have dogs on tables sometimes. We don't stand on tables in hotpants ( THANKFULLY).
posted by sweetkid at 1:19 PM on October 21, 2011