Arthur Meyerhoff
Encyclopedia
Arthur E. Meyerhoff was an advertising agency
executive and entrepreneur
. He was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Meyerhoff founded his own agency, Arthur Meyerhoff Associates, in 1932 after persuading the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
that he could arrange for newspapers to place advertisements for Wrigley chewing gum on their comic pages. He then got the newspapers to agree to the idea.
During World War II
, Philip K. Wrigley
was in charge both of the Wrigley Company and the Chicago Cubs
Major League Baseball
club. Wrigley decided to found the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
as a promotional sideline to maintain interest in baseball as the military draft was depleting Major League rosters of first-line players. He approached other Major League team owners, but the idea was not well received. Then, four non-Major League cities were selected that were in close proximity to the AAGPBL headquarters in Chicago and close to each other: Rockford
of Illinois
, South Bend
of Indiana
and Racine
and Kenosha
of Wisconsin
. Meyerhoff was given the responsibility of coordinating operations with city officials and civic leaders in the communities, as well as a projected budget was developed. In 1943 the league made an auspicious debut, but after the 1944 season Wrigley sold the AAGPBL to Meyerhoff.
It was under Meyerhoff management that expansion to six teams, as well as the publicity campaign of the AAGPBL reached its peak. He re-organized the league so that each franchise would be governed through a League Board of Directors with representatives from each franchise. Each club now had a voice in the adoption of rules and regulations and the direction of the sport. All assets were turned over to the new directors and Wrigley was no longer involved with the league. The AAGPBL excelled in attendance and performing during the 1948 season, when 10 teams attracted 910,000 paid fans.
Meyerhoff also organized several companies outside his advertising agency to develop new products. One company he owned developed PAM
, a substitute for fats or oils that can be sprayed on pots and pans. This food enabler
was born in the mid-'50s, when Meyerhoff was looking for a side business. He advertised for ideas, and heard from two chemists who had developed something like a cooking spray
. First, Meyerhoff had the formula perfected so it could be sprayed; then he campaigned for grocers to shelve PAM in the baking aisle with the flours, not the aerosol
section next to insecticide
s and hair spray
. The name PAM is an initialism for "Product of Arthur Meyerhoff."
In the 1960s Meyerhoff wrote his book The Strategy of Persuasion, which reflects his point of views that the United States Information Agency
should get out of the news business and into the business of selling democracy
abroad. He sold his agency in 1979.
Meyerhoff died on August 29, 1986 at his home in Rancho Santa Fe, California
, at the of 91.
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
executive and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
. He was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Meyerhoff founded his own agency, Arthur Meyerhoff Associates, in 1932 after persuading the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
The William Wrigley Jr. Company is a company headquartered in the Wrigley Building in Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded on April 1, 1891, originally selling products such as soap and baking powder. In 1892, William Wrigley, Jr., the company's founder, began packaging...
that he could arrange for newspapers to place advertisements for Wrigley chewing gum on their comic pages. He then got the newspapers to agree to the idea.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Philip K. Wrigley
Philip K. Wrigley
Philip Knight Wrigley , sometimes also called P.K. or Phil. Born in Chicago, he was an American chewing gum manufacturer and executive in Major League Baseball, inheriting both those roles as the quiet son of his much more flamboyant father, William Wrigley Jr. After his father died in 1932, Philip...
was in charge both of the Wrigley Company and the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
club. Wrigley decided to found the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
as a promotional sideline to maintain interest in baseball as the military draft was depleting Major League rosters of first-line players. He approached other Major League team owners, but the idea was not well received. Then, four non-Major League cities were selected that were in close proximity to the AAGPBL headquarters in Chicago and close to each other: Rockford
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and Racine
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
and Kenosha
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. Meyerhoff was given the responsibility of coordinating operations with city officials and civic leaders in the communities, as well as a projected budget was developed. In 1943 the league made an auspicious debut, but after the 1944 season Wrigley sold the AAGPBL to Meyerhoff.
It was under Meyerhoff management that expansion to six teams, as well as the publicity campaign of the AAGPBL reached its peak. He re-organized the league so that each franchise would be governed through a League Board of Directors with representatives from each franchise. Each club now had a voice in the adoption of rules and regulations and the direction of the sport. All assets were turned over to the new directors and Wrigley was no longer involved with the league. The AAGPBL excelled in attendance and performing during the 1948 season, when 10 teams attracted 910,000 paid fans.
Meyerhoff also organized several companies outside his advertising agency to develop new products. One company he owned developed PAM
PAM (cooking oil)
PAM is a cooking spray currently owned and distributed by ConAgra. Its main ingredient is canola oil, a fat.PAM was introduced in 1961 by Leon Rubin who, with Arthur Meyerhoff, started Gibraltar Industries to market the spray. The name PAM is an initialism for "Product of Arthur Meyerhoff"...
, a substitute for fats or oils that can be sprayed on pots and pans. This food enabler
Enabling
Enabling is a term with a double meaning.As a positive term, it references patterns of interaction which allow individuals to develop and grow...
was born in the mid-'50s, when Meyerhoff was looking for a side business. He advertised for ideas, and heard from two chemists who had developed something like a cooking spray
Cooking spray
Cooking spray is a spray form of an oil as a lubricant, lecithin as an emulsifier, and a propellant such as food-grade alcohol, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide or propane. Cooking spray is applied to frying pans and other cookware to prevent food from sticking. Traditionally, cooks used butter,...
. First, Meyerhoff had the formula perfected so it could be sprayed; then he campaigned for grocers to shelve PAM in the baking aisle with the flours, not the aerosol
Aerosol
Technically, an aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. Examples are clouds, and air pollution such as smog and smoke. In general conversation, aerosol usually refers to an aerosol spray can or the output of such a can...
section next to insecticide
Insecticide
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
s and hair spray
Hair spray
Hair spray is a common cosmetic product that is sprayed onto hair to keep it stiff or in a certain style...
. The name PAM is an initialism for "Product of Arthur Meyerhoff."
In the 1960s Meyerhoff wrote his book The Strategy of Persuasion, which reflects his point of views that the United States Information Agency
United States Information Agency
The United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
should get out of the news business and into the business of selling democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
abroad. He sold his agency in 1979.
Meyerhoff died on August 29, 1986 at his home in Rancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Santa Fe known locally as ″The Ranch″, is one of the most exclusive and affluent communities in Southern California. It is also a census-designated place in San Diego County, California and an unincorporated bedroom community of San Diego County...
, at the of 91.