One of the most famous of all of Jim Young's ads is the 1919 ad for Odorono. The advertisement created a stir among the refined ladies of society, 200 of which cancelled their subscriptions to Ladies' Home Journal, but increased sales 112 percent (Fox, 1984).
Here's an excerpt of the famous ad from Eugene Schwartz's "Breakthrough Advertising" (1966):
A frank disscussion of a subject too often avoided.
A woman's arm! Poets have sung its grace; artists have painted its beauty.
It should be the daintiest, sweetest thing in the world. And yet, unfortunately, it isn't, always.
There's an old offenderin this quest for perfect daintiness - an offender of which we ourselves may be ever so unconscious, but which is just as truly present.
Shall we discuss it frankly?
Many a woman who says, "No, I am never annoyed by perspiration," does not know the facts ...
Of course, we aren't to blame because nature has made us so that the perspiration glands under the arms are more active than anywhere else. Nor are we to blame because ... have made normal evaporation there impossible.
Would you be absolutely sure of your daintiness?
It s the chemicals of the body, not uncleanliness, that cause odor. And even though there is no active perspiration - no apparent moisture - there may be under the arms an odor ...
Fastidious women who want to be absolutely sure of their daintiness have found that they could not trust to their own consciousness; they have felt the need of a toilet water which would insure them against any of this kind of undearm unpleasantness, either moisture or odor.
To meet this need, a physician formulated Odorono - a perfectly harmless and delightful toilet water ...
Other ads Jim Young worked on include the American Red Cross, Maxwell House, Farm and Fireside, and Webb Young, Trader Hand Woven Ties. These ads may be seen by following the links or in the animation below. Also included in the animation are the announcement of Jim Young's induction into the AAF Hall of Fame, and a cover story in Editor & Publisher.
Click on the top center photo of JWY to see the introduction to this site.
The AAF Hall of Fame announcement shows how JWY influenced the industry and what his peers thought of him.
Neckties are just a few things sold by JWY; click to see some of the other work he produced.
Take a peek at the Diary that JWY kept and experience a bit of his wit and insight.
Visit JWY at his desk to find out how you too could become an Advertising Man.
Grab the latest issue of the Editor and Publisher to find out a bit about me, the editor and publisher, as well as the many places you can find more information on JWY.