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The Firehouse Salon
The Firehouse Salon brings together diverse minds – scientists, philosophers, artists, and innovators – to explore how communication shapes our world. Inspired by Howard Gossage's maverick spirit, each conversation delves into the intersection of ideas, creativity, and effective change-making. More than just discussing advertising, we investigate how different perspectives and approaches can solve real problems and create meaningful impact. Originally inspired by our BBC Radio 4 documentary 'The Socrates of San Francisco'.
The Firehouse Salon
Ep 12 - Dear Miss Afflerbach
"This is a story about an ad. It also says a good many implicit things about the ad-reading public...
You can take a look at the ad here
The ad is question sang the praises of a certain make of shirt, and it appeared in the New Yorker. In order to demonstrate the excellence of the shirtmaker's workmanship, a handkerchief-sized piece of shirting mysteriously equipped with buttonhole and pocket was offered free to readers who would write in and say what they thought the thing was for. Suddenly the "Shirtkerchief" was famous and Miss Afflerbach was deluged with mail. At last count, 11,342 people had written in - a record-breaking response in The New Yorker's experience..."
Howard Luck Gossage, 1960
This podcast episode documents that marvel.