Author Archives: kihm
Chris Zenowich
There are two kinds of writers in advertising: writers who learn by accident they can make a living there, and advertising people who love the business but can’t draw. I was the former, a writer who discovered that as a copywriter I could pay the bills. One day at Silverman Mower in Syracuse, N.Y., where […]
The Evolution of Beer in North America
As a young beer drinker in the 1960’s, I could not understand why mainstream American beers were so pallid compared to their Canadian, English and German counterparts. In the U.S., brewers said, “the public demands it,” but that hardly explained the popularity of Canadian and imported beers, travelers’ enthusiastic reports on beers in Europe, and […]
My Mom
My mother, Jean Braun Winship, was born on January 2, 1916, and died on March 27, 2003. She had a long life with her share of difficulties, but she always tried, quietly, to rise above them. I have some stories from her, of her childhood, and I don’t want to lose them, so here they […]
Terry Johnson
There is no escape from Terry Johnson. The other day, I was leafing through a book of photos, and there was a young woman with a tattoo that read, “Just shoot me now… Don’t take me to Fort Smith” – a reference to the historic seat of judgment for outlaws in Arkansas. I instantly, helplessly, […]
Ralph’s Zabuton
Some years ago, at my brother-in-law’s wedding, I was informed that the father of the bride was a sumo fan, and so I sought out Ralph Tsuha at the reception and we had a wonderful conversation about the sport and our favorite rikishi. Ralph was a gentleman, and a gentle man; small in stature, he […]
Mrs. Field
October 16, 2005 Seeing a few minutes of a baseball playoff game this past week brought Mrs. Field back to mind. Her son George was in my Cub Scout pack; I first met her while learning the ancient art of soap carving in their basement on Belmont Avenue. Mr. Field taught us Cubs how to […]
Evelyn
January 2009 Evelyn was a giant, the first I ever met. She was my grandmother’s cleaning lady. Before I was old enough for school, I went with my mother to Grandma’s house every week, and we often went on cleaning day. Evelyn wore faded house dresses, and slippers that showed her bare heels. Her arms […]
Harry’s Three Vacations
August 13, 2006 This is a story about Harry Cross, who I worked with at a civilian agency when I was in the Air Force. Harry went to the dentist every six months, had perfect teeth. He would flash a toothy smile when returning from his check-up and say, “Perfect.” But he also prided himself […]
F.X. Matt
January 17, 2001 F.X. Matt II died yesterday. He was a brewer, a poet, a reader and a gentleman, and my life is richer for having known him. We met when I was writing advertising copy for an agency that had the F.X. Matt Brewing Company account. I was touted to him as someone who […]
Joy Barlow
It is difficult to imagine life without Joy Barlow. In The Big Sleep (1946) she played the cabbie who gave Philip Marlowe a lift, and the exchange between Barlow and Humphrey Bogart is the stuff that dreams are made of. (She said, “Listen, if you ever need a ride again…” “Day or night?” “Night. I […]
Faithful Readers 