International Advertisers

Advertising men and their women folks went to Denver, last week, for the 23rd annual convention of the International Advertising Association. A British delegation, led by President Lome C. Robson of Newcastle-upon-Thyne Advertising Club, appeared dressed as dervishes and dizzy from whirling in the train baggage-car to the noise of a portable phonograph.

Welcome. "Welcomed to Denver by whooping cowboys firing six-guns in salvos, by knife-wielding 'Injuns,' by rough and tumble cops, clanging police patrols and screaming fire wagons, not to mention dang sweet-looking cowgirls in fo' gallon hats and white riding breeches, the delegates to Denver's most important 1927 convention were all nerves at 9:30 o'clock at the Broadway Theatre, when C. K. Woodbridge, president of the whole shebang, brought his gavel down with a resounding wallop. And then, while startled lady delegates mumbled prayers and the more timid male admen thought about their life insurance, President

Woodbridge began to speak. . . ." Such was the Denver Post's description of the hearty welcome that Denver gave the advertising people. One Miss Ora Williams of Pine Bluff, Ark., tumbled off a fire truck; one Miss Betty Blunk had her body scorched by blank cartridge fire; bathing girls put on a "battle"; the American Legion Drum & Bugle Corps played "music"; hired Indians played as natives; a hotel thief took $400 from Tom Nokis, president of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, while he slept; a pickpocket took $210 from D. Edward Gibbs, program director of the International Advertising Association, while he was awake. "Howdy"* was the greeting, "Yippee" and "Yowee" were countersigns all the week.

Officers. Because C. King Woodbridge of Detroit, during two terms as president of the International Advertising Association, had corrected the organization's finances from a deficit of more than $30,000 to a cash balance of $10,354.71 and had spent only $94,627.94 last year, the association elected him president for a third term, over the strong contest that Charles C. Younggreen of Milwaukee pretended to give him. Detroit will be the association's next meeting place.

Re-elected with President Woodbridge were Secretary Rowe Stewart and Treasurer Francis Hinckley Sisson, both of Manhattan. Mr. Sisson, a onetime newspaperman, is potent as vice president of the Guaranty Trust Co. and director of the Guaranty Co. of Manhattan.

* Colloquial abbreviation for "How do you do?" Equivalent to Masonic-Grotto-men's "Hey, Prophet" (see p. 19).