Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Interview with Howard Caldwell, Sr.

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Dr. john Gorand interviews Howard Caldwell, Sr. about his employment history and philosophy with business and advertising, while getting his portrait painted;

Howard C. Caldwell, chairman of Board of Advertising Agency and Dean of Indiana Advertising;

Produced by Dr. John Gorand;

Directed by John Oven

Interview with Howard Caldwell Sr 

Video (52:05) 

Other identifier: IBHA.HCC.0076 

(Notes by Abby Haymond, J470 Broadcast Media Analysis, Spring 2022 )

00:03 – video starts, on Dr. John Gorand, narrator introduces Gorand who will be making a portrait of Howard Caldwell 

00:18 – theme music and graphic play 

00:40 – switches from intro graphic to Gorand and Caldwell and gorand introduces himself 

1:27 – Gorand asks Caldwell about his new position as chairman of the board 

3:05 – “This is a business of creativeness of individuals” 

Here caldwell says he believes that committees can't write advertisement 

It takes someone with the specific talent and creative abilities 

“He has to come up with a basic creative idea for an advertisement” 3:35 

4:52 – talks about what advertising is 

5:14 – public relations 

7:22 – caldwell talks about how he started in the newspaper business at Butler 

11:20 – “Advertising is the stimulating force” 

He goes on to talk about how advertising has helped mass production 

He says that advertising actually reduces costs 

13:40 – caldwell says he has build his own collection libraries from scratch 

13:49 – Gorand asks Caldwell if he thinks it necessary that those in his profession be involved in literary interests 

Caldwell thinks its a hobby for him but it is important for those in his profession to have a vast knowledge  

Especially copywriters he says should be reading a lot to keep themselves aware 

14:57 – “One of the smartest things a copywriter and do is read shakespeare”  

He takes a few simple words and puts them together 

Because in advertising you want to use simple words 

“The finest writing is in simple words” 16:01 

17:10 – caldwell says fine arts is a good background training for those in advertising 

Liberal arts is in some ways more appealing for these advertising jobs than journalism  

21:51 – gorand says that Caldwell is like the bridge between the consumer and the producer 

21:59 – the audience gets their first glimpse at Goronds drawing of Caldwell 

23:26 – discussing advertisements not in good taste 

24:13 – advertising means more to people than they are willing to admit 

There’s a lot of criticism but it’s still attention 

25:16 – advertising a bad product will kill it 

27:01 – the style of advertising is always changing  

33:09 – discuss the biggest changes in advertising 

33:36 – technological changes have simplified and improved advertising 

34:20 – “advertising, like people, is becoming more sophisticated” 

34:58 – people have become much more critical of advertising 

35:19 – gordon asks if there are any secrets as to how his advertising company is so successful 

He says no just hard work and persistence 

36:04 – an advertising agency is all about the people and their creative abilities 

36:27 – gordon finishes his drawing and shows it to caldwell 

A proud small town, hoosier 

42:31 – talking about some of Caldwells hobbies and his personal interests 

50:43 – Gordon initiates closings  

50:59 – closing graphic and music starts 

51:21 – narrators closing remarks 

51:42 – clip back to Gorond and Caldwell talking with ending music before it goes black