Bruce Barton
Bruce Barton (1886-1967) is considered by many to be one of the most influential advertising men of the 20th century. He was not your ordinary adman -- religious author, Congressman, founder of the advertising agency BBDO, creator of Betty Crocker. The interesting, yet complicated, life of this man illustrates the complexity of the creative mind. A mind that was not limited to one endeavor, but found a way to apply similar skills and abilities to a multitude of opportunities. Despite all of his other accomplishments, he is still remembered first and foremost as an adman. In a fictional novel based on BBDO, The Virgin Queene, the Bruce Barton character named Barnham Dunn tried to explain his success:
"I knew I'd never be more than a second-rate business man and a second-rate writer -- so I decided to add the two things together and be a first rate advertising man" (Fox, 1984, p.110)
and, just think, the real Bruce Barton didn't seem to be second-rate at anything...
INTRO EARLY LIFE NEW ADMAN BDO BBDO JESUS POLITICS BIBLIOGRAPHY