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Articles by Bob Baker
Column: The Perfect Harbor — Gloucester
The recent sinking of the 72-foot fishing boat Lily Jean and deaths of all seven aboard calls to mind the tragic loss of the Andrea Gail also out of Gloucester in 1991. The storm which claimed the Andrea Gail was dubbed “the perfect storm” — multiple weather systems converge, creating an exceptionally rare hyper-intense “killer” storm. As chance would have it the presence of Gloucester in the news had a twin effect on me. Great sadness and sympathy for the loved ones of the Lily Jean on one hand.
Column: Gatsby North shares its wealth
Join me in a ramble through Gatsby worlds I’ve known throughout the years — experiencing Gatsby-caliber material wealth and/or a Gatsby-caliber appreciation of excellence. Imagine this kid (me) who digested “The Great Gatsby” in a gulp, all of a lucky sudden playing out his coming-of-age years in Gatsby Greenwich, the wealthiest per-capita town in the country, partying like it’s the Roaring Twenties ...
PLAYING THE GAME: Volkswagen was a ticket to ride
The ’60s was a Golden Age of Opportunity for Everyman and Everywoman, sparked by a homely little car shaped like a beetle. Thanks to its incredible performance and affordability as documented in Reader’s Digest and Popular Mechanics, the Volkswagen was beginning to make its presence known to the American car-buying public by the late 1950s.
PLAYING THE GAME: The discovery of Marblehead, 1965
Late spring, 1965. Wife Nancy and I decided to look into this “You’d love it!” town we’d heard about. The ride from Cambridge to Marblehead is not inspiring. The coast is flat, flat, flat. With the town of Swampscott, the crag begins. Feels good. Atlantic Avenue, leading into Marblehead. Pleasant, but nothing you’d write an anthem about. A commercial district of shops. Sign says “Real Estate.” Storefront office where we’re greeted by a woman in her 50s, a study in casual disarray.
PLAYING THE GAME: Human gems
When I was with the Harold Cabot ad agency in 1972, our client Boston Gas asked us to come up with “feel good” image commercials — federal regulators had forbidden hard-sell product sell. The theme I came up with: “We’d like to share with you one of the many wonderful kinds of warm in the world.” The setting for one of the commercials was a ballet class for young girls. The opening scene showed four girls practicing steps as an instructress keeps time tapping a staff on the floor.
PLAYING THE GAME: A reindeer nose tale
Why would anyone rent a cabin on a lake way the heck off in Vermont in June when their home in summer world Marblehead is a mere 52 steps from the Atlantic Ocean whose water is guaranteed just as wet… if not wetter? The reason is… it’s 1970, and the “anyone” is me. My kickass K&E Boston creative team won the Vermont tourism account in March — in competition with 43 other ad agencies, including a number of New York bigs. “Little Switzerland” Vermont is a portfolio-caliber account creatives lust for.
PLAYING THE GAME: The starbright thrill of truth
All kinds of truth: feel good, justice is done, where else would you be?, oh yeah, kickass, mistake corrected, real deal, heartbreaker, ’bout time, puzzle solved, joy to the world!, never could’ve guessed, one of a kind, what a hoot, rip-roaring, rollicking, wow … try some on: — Connor Cronin, waterboy for the Marblehead High football team in 2016.
Time-Sensitive Message (to clear up a misconception)
Join Hala Taha as she interviews some of the brightest minds in the world―turning their wisdom into actionable advice you can use in your life no matter your age, profession or industry. Our subject matter ranges from enhancing productivity, how to gain influence, the art of side hustles and more! If you’re smart and like to continually improve yourself, hit the subscribe button, because you’ll love it here at Young and Profiting Podcast. Part of the YAP Media Network. … continue reading
Magnetize Your Tribe: Attract Soul-Aligned Fans and Perfect Customers to Your Heart-Centered Business
Join Hala Taha as she interviews some of the brightest minds in the world―turning their wisdom into actionable advice you can use in your life no matter your age, profession or industry. Our subject matter ranges from enhancing productivity, how to gain influence, the art of side hustles and more! If you’re smart and like to continually improve yourself, hit the subscribe button, because you’ll love it here at Young and Profiting Podcast. Part of the YAP Media Network. … continue reading
How to Attract Your Perfect Soul-Aligned Clients - And the Winner Is ...
Barry first found music when he borrowed his sister's record collection when he was about eight and was hooked. When Caroline started it was a new beginning, and he listened to all the stations, but Caroline was his favourite by far. Later he became a singer in a band, then started doing discos when he was 18. He joined Caroline in 1977, touring the country with the Caroline Roadshow for 10 years, having great fun. Barry helped with tender trips and worked on the Ross Revenge in '84 and '85. ...
Column: Time to move up, Salem!
When I came to Marblehead in 1965, Salem was that comfortable neighboring community with a nice variety of retail outlets, some good restaurants, terrific medical facilities and easy access to other towns on Boston’s North Shore. Though I was aware of the infamous Salem Witch Trials, the only reminder was maybe a witch on a broomstick logo here and there.
PLAYING THE GAME: Love 101: Giving of Self
Bob Baker Bob Baker is a creative resource in Marblehead whose memoir-in-progress is “Outlucking Gatsby: From Greenwich to The Green Light.” The mission statement for Love 101 is Father Gerry Barry’s axiom, “We are all walking each other home.” The most powerful application of that is Abraham Lincoln’s, “No one stands taller than when they stoop to help a child.” The point being that the highest, most loving form of helping each other along life’s journey is giving of self, figuratively...
PLAYING THE GAME: Love 101: Giving of Self
Bob Baker Bob Baker is a creative resource in Marblehead whose memoir-in-progress is “Outlucking Gatsby: From Greenwich to The Green Light.” The mission statement for Love 101 is Father Gerry Barry’s axiom, “We are all walking each other home.” The most powerful application of that is Abraham Lincoln’s, “No one stands taller than when they stoop to help a child.” The point being that the highest, most loving form of helping each other along life’s journey is giving of self, figuratively...
PLAYING THE GAME: ‘78 was more than a year…
That expression for “a little bit of everything” — “everything but the kitchen sink.” The year 1978 was a little of everything for me… including four kitchen sinks. More about the sinks when I get into the significant events that made ’78 for me a little of dis, some of dat, a kick in the butt here, some ice cream there, divided by 3.141617.
PLAYING THE GAME: The discovery of ‘Marblehead Ocean’
Bob Baker Bob Baker is a creative resource in Marblehead whose memoir-in-progress is “Outlucking Gatsby: From Greenwich to The Green Light.” As an idea guy who’s lived in Marblehead for over 50 years and whose main gig is branding, it’s amazing I didn’t set about getting “Marblehead Ocean” on the map — literally — years ago. The lightning struck as I was rambling thoughts on Marblehead Light and trying to find an image that embodied the proud heritage of that iconic iron tower.
PLAYING THE GAME: The instincts of Lone Eagle
I had a number of imaginary worlds in my friendless grammar school years, but the Big Three were football, knighthood and Indians. In all my worlds, I’m the hero, of course. I mean, what’s the sense of creating a world-class world in the first place, if you’re just going to be a waterboy or armor polisher once the cameras start rolling? Might’s well lay on your back and count the cracks in the ceiling instead. In football, I’m Johnny Lujack, ace quarterback for Notre Dame back then.
PLAYING THE GAME: Inspired by Marblehead
I moved to Marblehead in 1965. In 1974, I finessed the self-delusional ephemera of “award-winning ad honcho” in corporate Boston in favor of … freedom. I set up my creative services shop here in Real Dealtown. In addition to coming up with branding and marketing ideas for fun clients, I’ve been able to p-l-a-y The Game of Life and indulge in some Marblehead-iconic doings along the way: — 1975: Marblehead Chamber of Commerce foot-with-holly Christmas Walk logo.
PLAYING THE GAME: Frost’s ingenious M.O.
Bob Baker Bob Baker is a creative resource in Marblehead whose memoir-in-progress is “Outlucking Gatsby: From Greenwich to The Green Light.” It’s one thing to have an idea; the trick is to package it in its most effective form. Arrival at that ideal place requires deciding which elements to discard, which to retain and refine, which to combine; which new elements to consider. It’s an often confusing journey of decisions-decisions-decisions.
PLAYING THE GAME: What the hell’s a … box?
Bob Baker Bob Baker is a creative resource in Marblehead whose memoir-in-progress is “Outlucking Gatsby: From Greenwich to The Green Light.” You know the expression, “Thinking outside the box.” The “box” referred to is straight-on yawn-yawn linear-assed conventional logic. Mathematically expressed, the box is — watch this — 1 + 1 = 2! Oh, wow. Whoopee do … thud.
COLUMN: The real deal … and not so
My favorite people and things are what I call “the real deal”: people and things true to their purpose and nature in life, without pretension, artifice, aloofness or self-aggrandizing agenda. Some examples — real deal and not so. September of 1970, the year of Bobby Orr’s legendary Stanley Cup-winning “winged victory” goal. I’m creative director of K&E ad agency, and we’ve signed Orr to do a TV commercial for B&M Beef Stew.
COLUMN: Heroes come in all flavors
You finish reading Patrick O’Donnell’s “The Indispensables,” his brilliantly presented account of the part Glover’s Regiment played in the American Revolution. Even if you just moved to Marblehead a month ago, the next time you cross the line to Swampscott or Salem, there will be a lilt to your kilt, a decided swagger of obnoxious pride about you. Gen.
Column: World-class maritime DNA equals 'quality dollars' tourism
A grammar school storybook hooked me on maritime Salem: “... merchant princes braving oceans wild of Araby and the Orient in tall-masted ships, returning to Salem laden with silks and spices, silver scimitars and treasures more untold.” Ah the gripping glory of it all. When I moved to Marblehead in 1965, before I even checked out maritime Salem I heard and saw references to “Witch City” — a Salem tagline to this day.
COLUMN: A sense of human
Among attributes inherited from my parents is a Bronx Irish sense of humor from dad and what I call a “sense of human” from my mother. A “sense of human” is simply compassion for our fellow Homo sapiens. I’ve made good use of dad’s gift of humor throughout my life, but need a wake-up call every now and often in the humanity department. *** UConn, 1957. It’s the Saturday night cocktail bash of our fraternity’s big spring weekend, and everybody’s too beautiful to be true.
Column: Surprisings
Surprises come in all flavors. Back in the ‘60s when bunches of bright-eyed kids with Magic Markers and breakthrough ideas leprechaun-ed advertising’s legendary Creative Revolution — before capital-R Research came to power, and numbers started writing the ads — one of the arguments for a perhaps shockingly provocative headline was The Mule Story. Goes like this: Feller sells another feller a mule.
Column: That winning smile
You know someone’s got the juice when a whole town flips over them. and you know a town’s pretty special when they honor one of their own the way Marblehead did high school football star/bright spirit James Galante whose life adazzle with promise was snuffed out in a car accident on the Causeway last month. The sheer numbers — record-setting numbers — only tell part of the story, but they are impressive.
Column: It's so easy to imagine Gatsby here
It all came together for me recently. The pieces fell into place. The inescapable affect of an earlier world still strong within today’s North Shore and its seductive powers of association. It’s so easy to imagine either the movie “The Great Gatsby” being filmed here on the North Shore and/or Jay Gatsby himself showing up for a summer jaunt ... a holiday ... a Gatsby getaway ... that all you’d have to do to envision it is ... ...
Column: The amazing power of fun
I was on a treadmill to nowhere in corporatedom in 1964 when Charles Steinmetz came to my rescue. In the blink of nine words in an article in Ideas magazine he gave me new life. The article said that Steinmetz, a GE electrical engineering wizard with more than 200 patents to his name back in the early 1900s, used to cruise the lab checking out work in progress. Every now and then he’d stop and look over someone’s shoulder. “Are you having any fun?” he’d ask. “No fun, no breakthroughs!” Wow.
K9 (TV Series 2009–2010) - IMDb
I have watched all the new Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Sarah Jane Adventures and enjoyed them all. I have watched this show because it's in the Doctor Who world but it was the worst television show I have ever watched. The stories are very poorly written and the acting is just as bad. Robyn Moore who plays Jorjie's mother June Turner is the only person in the whole cast that can be considered a "good actor".
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