Working in the Mad Men era #1

I just read something that said that since the TV show Mad Men people have been fascinated by anything having to do with the work and times that the show is set.  So even though this may be a reach forthis blog I worked in NYC in the (late) 60s in advertising.  I'm giving away my age but it was a low level position.  But it was advertising.  One of the companies that's occasionally mentioned on Mad Men and it was in the creative department.  Just like Don Draper.  I had some nice and not so nice bosses but I'm not sure any of them were as clever and smart with the campaigns as Don Draper.  I am sometimes in awe of what he comes up with.  Especially the ones for the Kodak Carousel and the Hilton hotels.  The company I worked for was more about research than clever advertising campaigns.

I worked in what was then called the PanAm building and it was a glamorous building to be in.  The lobby areas were designed as part of the building and the newspaper stands and the telephone booths (yes booths, and there were plenty of them) were all designed to be part of the building look.  Lots of metal and wood.    There were also a number of Restaurant Associates eating places in the building.  A Zum Zum, part of their chain of somewhat German-style food places and an Italian restaurant whose name I don't remember.

And yes plenty of drinking during the day in the offices and plenty of affairs going on.

More in later posts.