Martha Thomases: You Say You Want A Resolution…

Martha Thomases

Martha Thomases brought more comics to the attention of more people than anyone else in the industry. Her work promoting The Death of Superman made an entire nation share in the tragedy of one of our most iconic American heroes. As a freelance journalist, she has been published in the Village Voice, High Times, Spy, the National Lampoon, Metropolitan Home, and more. For Marvel comics she created the series Dakota North. Martha worked as a researcher and assistant for the author Norman Mailer on several of his books, including the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Executioner's Song, On Women and Their Elegance, Ancient Evenings, and Harlot's Ghost.

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16 Responses

  1. mike weber says:

    Jefferson Airplane did Levi’s ads back in the 60s (well, maybe the 70s)

    • Mike Gold says:

      The Who did a bunch of ’em. Coca-Cola, I think. There’s money in them thar hills; I don’t see the difference between doing commercials and recording for Sony or any of the others. One thing is clear for me — I’d much rather hear, say, George Thorogood on a Burger King commercial than some bubble-headed pitchperson.

      (That’s a song title, isn’t it? Bubble-Headed Pitchperson?)

      It’s the choice of the artist — particularly if they own their material. I respect Neil Young’s decision (and, even, snarkiness) as much as Patti Smith’s. But, you know, Patti Page didn’t sell doggies from puppy mills. Artists have to stand behind their endorsements.

      • mike weber says:

        What i meant is that the Airplane did radio Levi’s spots while they were still doing their “Revolution is Cool! Smash the State! Right ON!” routine.
        .
        Looks as if it was 1967.
        .
        Rather earlier than the others you mention. And they were originals, i think, not just slightly modified versions of existing material.
        .
        A quote from There’s a Riot Going On: Revolutionaries, Rock Stars, and the Rise and Fall of the ’60s:
        .

        Former SNCC activist Abbie Hoffman penned a typically moralistic letter to the Village Voice : ‘ It summarized for me all the doubts i have about the hippie philosophy. I realize they are just doing their “Thing”, but while the Jefferson airplane grooves with it’s thing, over 100 workers in the levi’s strauss plant on the Tennessee-Georgia border are doing their thing, which consists of being on strike to protest deplorable working conditions’ “

    • Martha Thomases says:

      I actually like the Patti Smith commercials a lot. They are brilliant. And I have no doubt that Patti personally endorses the product. Still, my dreams went further. And, as I said, I should get over myself.

      • Mike Gold says:

        Your editor responds to the latter statement: “Not if it affects your writing style.”

        I’m far, far more amazed that any commercial entity would endorse Patti than vice versa.

  2. George Haberberger says:

    Just got the first season of American Horror Story on DVD for Christmas. I presume this isn’t the “Asylum” season but nevertheless, it is genuinely scary.

    • Martha Thomases says:

      The first season is good, but the second one spins totally out of control. In a good, thoroughly excessive way.

  3. Duane B says:

    My resolution for this year is the same as for the previous years…..Not to make any.

    Never disappointed myself since I started that resolution.

    Just take each day as it comes. Learn from my mistakes. Apply what I learned from those mistakes to make me a better person.

  4. Jonathan (the other one) says:

    My New Year’s resolution? Same as last year, 1280 x 1024.

  5. JosephW says:

    Martha, regarding “AHS: Asylum,” how could you leave off the out-of-nowhere musical fantasy sequence? Jessica Lange and cast doing a musical number based on the old Shirley Ellis song, “The Name Game” and filmed in vibrant color? This past week’s episode has GOT to be the season’s highlight. (Well, okay, it’s right up there with the season opener with Evan Peters’ backside on full display.)

    • Martha Thomases says:

      Joseph, when I wrote my piece, that episode hadn’t aired yet. And, yes, that episode was so awesome that I had to watch it twice. In a row.

  6. Mindy Newell says:

    The biggest sellout to me was hearing songs by the Beatles in commercials.

    • Mike Gold says:

      That was Michael Jackson, who owned the publishing rights to much of the Lennon-McCartney catalog. Yoko later jumped on the bandwagon.

      And the Three Stooges didn’t endorse MasterCard — that was Bela Lagosi Jr. acting on behalf of “their” holding company.