Fred/Alan Greatest Hits: A Decade in Media History 1983-1992
Fred/Alan Greatest Hits: A Decade in Media History 1983-1992
Greatest Hits
A Decade in Media History
1983-1992
A
to take commercial work for the first time in never done that job before. But I wrote a new
their lives because we promised them they pilot and we went on to do five seasons and
n important thing to say about Fred could do whatever they wanted – we wouldn’t suddenly my career as a writer/producer was
is how he is the world’s greatest champion of change a line in their drawings. (R. Crumb, launched.
great ideas. A myth abounds that he only likes the legendary underground comic book artist,
his own stuff. Nothing could be further from did a full-page ad for MTV that was basically Our Fred/Alan people were wonderful. But
the truth. I have never seen anyone discard his about how much he hated MTV. It’s a brilliant let me say this about the work. The work was
own work faster in favor of someone else’s drawing.) frikken unbelievable. We did more work, and
when it was clear the other person had a better more great work, than seems possible to me
idea. It was a great lesson to me. There can be In today’s corporate world HR departments now. Part of that comes from the fact that
great satisfaction in recognizing the contribu- write job descriptions, then go looking for Fred and I love to work. A guy who was a
tions of others. people who fit those descriptions. It’s an im- big-deal consultant to MTV pointed this out
possible assignment, because no one will ever to me early in our agency’s life. He had sold
I think of all the things we did at Fred/Alan match your dream applicant. Our attitude was, his direct mail company to American Express
I am most pleased about the careers we let’s surround ourselves with smart people and didn’t have to do anything anymore. “I’ve
launched. Not the work. The work was great. we like being with, and we’ll figure out what never seen anything like you guys before,” he
Introduction
told me. “You really seem to still love doing
the work.”
O
offices, and with the then-unheard of “brand”
I
strategy, we helped the Nick employees un-
derstand that they were the leaders of a club ver time, things started to go a
t took a year to figure out what we were of millions of kids who were hungry for a little sideways. The stress of supporting 50
going to do. We found our office through the television channel that understood them. Our employees and their families melded into our
scrappy clients becoming responsible corpo- fear was constantly fueled by the excitement
rate executives, searching for financial growth of giving new talent a chance to leap up to
rather than creative escalation. To this day, I world class. We were sure that if we came to
don’t think Alan and I ever had a disagree- work to have some fun, make some money,
ment. That is, until our Fred/Alan underlings and be surrounded by people we liked, would
would start to argue and we both felt the need result in something special. And, sure enough,
to defend whomever we were responsible for. something special happened day after day,
After a while, it all got to be too much and month after month, year after year.
we each decided that maybe making money
couldn’t be what it was all about. Alan and Fred share a vision that has stayed
remarkable in sync for 50 years. The decade
Let’s be real, Alan and I had no idea what we we worked side by side was special. The de-
were doing. We were both DIY before DIY cades since have been deep. Deep friendship,
was a thing. Maybe Alan got a little guidance deep respect, deep love.
in the advertising department at CBS Records.
I’d read an advertising memoir (which, iron- Thanks buddy. You’ve made a life worthwhile.
ically, made me sure to stay away from ad
agencies) and got some basic training from
my mentor Dale Pon when we worked to-
gether in country music radio. But, of course,
our lack of training made sure our solutions
to problems were based on our personal ex-
periences with media rather than the tried,
true and cookie cutter. And, not for nothing,
it caused us to hire co-workers who had no
“experience” either, other than street smarts,
and occasionally, their skills.
MUSIC TELEVISION
Fred Seibert
Marcy Brafman
Marc Chusid
Jay Dorfman
Alan Goodman
Richard Schenkman
M
Before Fred/Alan 1980-1983
A
N
H
Pat Gorman
Frank Olinsky A
T
Patti Rogoff
MTV logo designers & illustrators
T
A
N
DESIGN
20 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
Early stabs at an MTV logo
DON’T WATCH
THAT!”
Newsreel footage
from the
United States
Library of Congress
TALKING HEADS:
“Once in a Lifetime”
FLEETWOOD MAC:
“The Chain”
MTV PLAYS
YOUR FAVORITE
MUSIC.
MTV:
MUSIC
TELEVISION
SHOES
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 29
“Too Late”
Designed & illustrated
by Frank Olinsky
Manhattan Design
Z
Marilyn
Kraemer
Candy
Kugel
David
C
Sameth
Designed by
Candy
Kugel
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 35
“Top of the Hour”
Stills by NASA
Logos by Candy Kugel
1984
S
A
L
PICTURES
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 39
40 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 41
42 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 43
B
R
O
A
Steve Oakes
D
C
Peter Rosenthal
A
S
T
ARTS
44 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
Winner of MTV’s first creative award CLIO 1983
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 45
46 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 47
Far Left:
JERRY
LIEBERMAN
PRODUCTIONS
Illustrations by Lou Brooks
Left:
Buzzco
Conceived by Manhattan Design
Illustrations by Frank Olinsky
Right:
ELI NOYES
Left:
ELI NOYES
Right:
SILVERCLOUD
MARIO KAMBERG
SHERRY McKENNA
ANDY ARKIN
LPG/PON
Dale Pon
Dick Gershon
George Lois
Bill Pitts
‘Call your “I
cable
company
want
and my
say...’ MTV!”
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 55
Fred/Alan 1983-1992
Tell them,
“I want my MTV... Back!” A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 57
(Tony Bennett sings Cole Porter’s “I Concentrate on You”)
“Whenever skies look gray to me, and trouble begins to brew,
Whenever the winter winds become too strong...
I want my MTV.”
(Burning man) “Hi My name is Dave, I used to be a jerk, then I got MTV. I watched three times today and now I’m a wonderful person.
Just hit the switch and you’re at MTV!
(Smittie)
“I like to watch MTV while having breakfast. I catch the latest videos after work. But at night I tune in with a late night snack.”
“TV? or MTV! I want my MTV!” commercials starring Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper, John Mellencamp, Cher, Smittee and Dave the Burning Man, April 1988
Billboard Magazine
1987
(Opposite page)
Advertising Age/Adweek
1991
84 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 85
86 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
PLAYBOY
CHANNEL
1983
“Playboy’s Hot Rocks”
Series produced by
Fred/Alan
& Buzzco
Animation by Buzzco
Illustrations by Candy Kugel
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 87
SHOWTIME
1984 -1992
Plus a costume.
When we last left our network heroes they were fighting for truth, justice,
and the Nickelodeon way. Rollo had just discovered Baron Greenback plotting by turning
Mr. Wizard’s World into Mr. Lizard’s World but Powerhouse was closed.
Meanwhile, Mr. Wizard was working out a secret formula to keep Moose from saying “I don’t know” and getting slimed
was encountering difficulty.
Upon hearing the news Dave, Diz, and Lassie were off to the aid of their buddies when suddenly {EXPLOSION}!
Will Lassie recover in time for her show?! The answer to these and other burning questions, stay tuned to Nickelodeon EVERYDAY!
110 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
Advertising magazine
trade ads
1988-1992
MOSAIC
RECORDS
1984-1992
122 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 123
Nick-at-Nite logo designed by Tom Corey & Scott Nash Corey & Co., Boston
NITE
THE GREATEST HITS OF TELEVISION
at
and
TV Land
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 125
Fred/Alan creative director Noel Frankel
with the Nick-at-Nite advertising
concept he originated.
TV Guide advertising
1988-1989
Charlex/
Alex Weil
New York (opposite page)
Jingles produced by
JAM
Creative
Productions,
Dallas
1991
CHRISTMAS 1985
Starring
The Fat Boys
Top: Joey Ahlbum, New York
Middle: Charlex, New York
Bottom: Marv Newland,
International Rocketship, Vancouver
150 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
MYERS’S RUM VIDEO NETWORK
Produced in association with Steve Dessau
1986
Poster designed & illustrated by Joey Ahlbum, New York
Produced by
Albie Hecht
Executive producers;
Alan Goodman &
Fred Seibert
(Right) Photographs of
Albie Hecht
by
Elena Seibert
CHAUNCEY
STREET
PRODUCTIONS
1987-1992
Alan Goodman
Albie Hecht
Fred Seibert
Designed by
Tom Corey & Scott Nash
Corey & Co., Boston
"Oh human
"Does history love, thou
repeat itself in spirits given
heaven too?" on earth of
all we hope
in heaven."
164 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
“Old
TV shows
don't die,
they go
to heaven.”
TV HEAVEN
1988-1989
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 165
Illustration and animation by Fred Mogubgub Soundtrack sung by Dr. John
1990-
1991
TV COMEDY NETWORK
Animation produced
by Jerry Lieberman
Productions, NY
1986
190 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
1988
192 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
For some reason,
Art Director Tom Godici
thought it would be worth
his time to burn the edges
of all 500 holiday poster
invitations by hand.
1990
Illustrated by
Mike Oldroyd
202 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
Postcard package/
moving annoucement from
16 West 61st Street
to 708 Broadway
Manhattan, New York City
Illustrated by Illustrated by
John Res Donna J. Pallott
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 203
Illustrated by Illustrated by
Joey Ahlbum Mike Quon
Illustrated by
Illustrated by
David Burd
Drew Hodges
204 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
Illustrated by Illustrated by
Ray Domingo Leslie Cabarga
Illustrated by
Illustrated by
Paula Brinkman
Bob Fortier
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 205
206 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
Fred/Alan’s last office
708 Broadway
8th floor
Manhattan, New York
208 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 209
210 FRED/ALAN GREATEST HITS
A DECADE IN MEDIA HISTORY 1983-1992 211
Did Fred/Alan ever have
a Halloween party?
(L-R) Jill Gershon, Troy Ellen Dizon,
Jessica Wolf, Bill Burnett, Darth Vader
Fred/Alan, 16 W.61st Street, NYC circa 1991
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First edition, September 2022