If you grew up in advertising in this town, there are certain legends you just know. The CCAD grad who built a national branding agency out of an old auto dealership. The fuzzy-headed agency founder known for stepping out of his sedan surrounded by Cheech-and-Chong-style plumes of sweet smoke. The soon-to-be mom who, pregnant and restless, cheffed up an ecommerce index that would be covered on CNN every holiday season for years to come. The uniting and dividing of a huge conglomerate agency designed to rule them all. The three friends who rallied a wholly unlikely new business win in Indy into a pharma empire. Ok, and, of course, the public affairs veteran who was heckled off the stage at the Addys after proclaiming (more than a few times) "green is the next internet."
But, there's one name, one man who we all know: Artie Isaac. With his round glasses and signature bow-tie, he is known Columbus-wide as one of the first to hang his shingle downtown and perhaps the only person ever to presume to run an advertising agency without owning a TV.
He surprised us all last year when he retired and sold Young Isaac to People to My Site. Of course, retirement for Artie looks as unlikely as do any of his other (ad)ventures. He built a crowdsourced speaker search site, started teaching at CCAD and OSU, became a regular at Luck Bros., and even launched an acting and playwrighting career.
See him next weekend (December10 - 13) doing a special fundraising event for local-favorite: Available Light Theater.
Xmas is a brand new adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, retold with all the joy — and contemporary complexity — of the season. Shared in the way only a bow-tie clad, PowerPoint-wielding accountant could. Here's the story:
For 30 years, Winford Doke, CPA, has been the venerated host of ConAm’s Annual Xmas Spectacular (read: office holiday party!), featuring Winford’ glorious rendition of A Christmas Carol.
However, four hours ago Winford Doke was fired, leaving his assistant, Artie Isaac, to take over the holiday duties.
Taking the stage with no time to prepare, and only Doke’s stubborn stage hand, Jo Anne, to help him through it, Artie faces down the ultimate December Dilemma.
Please join us! Cheer on a Columbus advertising legend and get to know great (smart, funny) local theater. The recommended ticket price is $15 (or pay what you want). You can also buy limited edition (numbered, signed) prints of this delightful Artie painting by awesome local artist Ben Harben at the show.
WebsiteColumbus Dispatch Review
Artie and I met at a recent event in Dayton, SummitUp. He is the bomb. I can only imagine how good the show will be. He's a much-needed breath of fresh air to our industry.
Posted by: Kevin Dugan | December 16, 2009 at 06:47 AM