GOING TO MARKET
William Baker Powell was born 0n February 1st 1889 in Cleveland, Ohio. His parents were Dr. Hunter Holmes and Emeline (Baker) Powell. (Shown below)
Unfortunately William's mother died when he was a year old. His father, a Senior Professor of Obstetrics and Pediatrics at Western Reserve University, was left to raise him and his sisters. Dr. Powell was very financially able to take care of all of his children's material needs. William grew up never wanting for anything.
William's best friend was Leonard Hanna Jr.. Leonard's dad was a wealthy Cleveland businessman. William and Leonard were not like their other friends. This became even more clear when William shocked his friends at a masquerade party just before leaving for college. William came dressed as a French Maid.
Leaving for college William and Leonard separated. But, they would not be too far apart. Both went to college in Massachusetts. William attended Amherst College and Leonard went to Yale. William wanted to go into advertising so he joined the Psi Upsilon Faternity for future connections.
William's best friend was Leonard Hanna Jr.. Leonard's dad was a wealthy Cleveland businessman. William and Leonard were not like their other friends. This became even more clear when William shocked his friends at a masquerade party just before leaving for college. William came dressed as a French Maid.
Leaving for college William and Leonard separated. But, they would not be too far apart. Both went to college in Massachusetts. William attended Amherst College and Leonard went to Yale. William wanted to go into advertising so he joined the Psi Upsilon Faternity for future connections.
During the summers William and Leonard took trips together and were soon joined by Leonard's new Yale close friend Cole Porter. Yes, that Cole Porter (Shown on the left), the famous American composer and songwriter and had who already written 300 songs in college. If you know anything about Cole then you already know that he was gay and bi-sexual. Which at this time in America was not something you wanted people to know about. But, his secret was safe with Leonard and William because they were also hiding their secret of being gay. They all remained friends their entire lives.
After college William got his advertising job with Sherwin-Williams Paint Company. He also had a chance to go on the road for the Detroit White Lead Works, a minor company owned by Sherwin-Williams, but he was concerned about the amount of travel and leaving his father alone. Dr. Powell was having health problems.
In 1914 William was now also writing for home decorating magazines. He had an article accepted by "Surburban Life" for twenty five dollars. He even had some articles published under the pen name "Jeannette Cort."
In 1914 William was now also writing for home decorating magazines. He had an article accepted by "Surburban Life" for twenty five dollars. He even had some articles published under the pen name "Jeannette Cort."
He job was to write sales campaigns waged by Sherwin-Williams. His first big one was called "Those Happy Campaign Days". It was performed by the Sherwin-Williams staff at company functions.
1915 brought good and bad news. Dr. Powell died from heart failure and William was promoted to Assistant Advertising Manager. He now gave motivational talks to the sales staff of Sherwin-Williams and traveled to other advertising groups to motivate them.
He now came up with a new game tied to his adverting skills. His patented invention was a game called, "Going To Market," similar to "Authors." William started by having meetings with Knox Gelatin, Beech-Nut, Eastman's Kodak, Walk-Over Shoe, Libbie Food Company, Proctor and Gamble, and Welch Grape Juice to obtain their cooperation with the game. The cards were be packaged in boxes with the company's name on it and distributed, or sold, by each of them.
1915 brought good and bad news. Dr. Powell died from heart failure and William was promoted to Assistant Advertising Manager. He now gave motivational talks to the sales staff of Sherwin-Williams and traveled to other advertising groups to motivate them.
He now came up with a new game tied to his adverting skills. His patented invention was a game called, "Going To Market," similar to "Authors." William started by having meetings with Knox Gelatin, Beech-Nut, Eastman's Kodak, Walk-Over Shoe, Libbie Food Company, Proctor and Gamble, and Welch Grape Juice to obtain their cooperation with the game. The cards were be packaged in boxes with the company's name on it and distributed, or sold, by each of them.
Get The Game For Only 10 Cents In Stamps In This Ad
Powell had been active in the Y. M. C. A. since his college days. In 1917 he served on the National War Works Council in New York City. He started forming groups to entertain, socialize, lecture and hold religious services for the soldiers at Camp Lee. He also had to register for the draft. Curiously, on his draft registration he asks for an exemption for "being underweight" but scratches it out. He's only 5'-4'' and a lightweight.
While waiting to see if he is going to be drafted for the war or go to France with the Y. M. C. A. he and Leonard take a trip to Niagara Falls, and attend the Yale-Harvard game. He eventually sails to France for his work with the Y.M.C.A. in Paris and was not drafted.
While waiting to see if he is going to be drafted for the war or go to France with the Y. M. C. A. he and Leonard take a trip to Niagara Falls, and attend the Yale-Harvard game. He eventually sails to France for his work with the Y.M.C.A. in Paris and was not drafted.
The Y. M. C. A. in France
After the war ends in 1919 he obtained a position with Sherwin-Williams in their London office, called Fuller and Smith. Powell sailed to England on board "The Adriatic." During the trip he wrote to his godmother about becoming friends with Lady Duff Gordon who had a cabin next door. He also mentioned meeting Lord and Lady Londonderry (a British peer and politician), Nora Phipps (nee Langhorne) and Pauline Astor.
Lady Duff Gordon and Nora Langhorne
Lady Duff Gordon was the first British-based designer to achieve international acclaim, She was a widely acknowledged innovator in couture styles as well as in fashion industry public relations. In addition to originating the "mannequin parade", a precursor to the modern fashion show, and training the first professional models, she launched slit skirts and low necklines, popularized less restrictive corsets, and promoted alluring and pared-down lingerie.
Nora Langhorne was the daughter of a wealthy American railroad industrialist and known for her beauty.
Nora Langhorne was the daughter of a wealthy American railroad industrialist and known for her beauty.
Later that year he returned to the United States and worked for Vanity Fair Silk Mills in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he wrote advertising for them. The company was a worldwide apparel and footwear company.
In 1921 Powell was admitted into St. Luke's hospital in New York for pleurisy and then went to Lake Placid to recover. After recovering, he went to Europe for a five month business and pleasure trip. A year after returning Powell left Sherwin-Williams for the Tracy-Parry Advertising Company in New York City where he has been living.
After college Leonard Hanna Jr. was brought into his father's business. In 1914 he became a member of the Advisory Committee of the Cleveland Museum of Art and since 1920 he was on the board of trustees. Being a patron of the arts and fan of sports and theater, many visitors came to Leonard's estate in Cleveland. These included his friend Cole Porter, famed boxer Gene Tunney, and actresses Gloria Swanson, and Joan Crawford. William would meet Gene Tunney there and become close friends.
After college Leonard Hanna Jr. was brought into his father's business. In 1914 he became a member of the Advisory Committee of the Cleveland Museum of Art and since 1920 he was on the board of trustees. Being a patron of the arts and fan of sports and theater, many visitors came to Leonard's estate in Cleveland. These included his friend Cole Porter, famed boxer Gene Tunney, and actresses Gloria Swanson, and Joan Crawford. William would meet Gene Tunney there and become close friends.
In 1926, while Tunney was resting between fights in Moosehead Lake, Maine, William is there with him. While out for a walk, on the frozen lake, Tunney falls in. Luckily for the boxer William and two other men with them save the heavyweight champion of the world. Because of William's small stature some papers reported him as an unnamed Boy Scout.
After the dunking the champ and Powell decide Florida would be better and they head south.
William Powell, an unidentified boy, and Gene Tunney
William Powell, an unidentified boy, and Gene Tunney
Soon Tunney needs William's help again. Gene, who was about to be married, was being sued for breach of promise by Mrs. Katherine King Fogarty for $500,000. Fogarty claimed she met Tunney in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in October 1924. The next year, and later still, he "promised to marry her." Tunney said he only knew Mrs. Fogarty slightly, never intimately, and never asked her to marry him. "It must be a joke," said Tunney. He sent William to negotiate a deal. The lawsuit eventually turned very ugly and lasted a couple years. Fogarty would attempt suicide and eventually get nothing.
To get away from the publicity Tunney and his new bride headed to Europe. Leonard, William and Sherwin Coltingham go with them. Mr. Coltingham, the president of Sherwin-Williams, was also gay.
Returning, Powell finds out that Leonard has work to do in Hollywood. Going with him, he gets to have dinner with Claudette Colbert. (On the left) Powell then announced that he is now writing for the prestigious New Yorker magazine.
What he doesn't tell Leonard is that the Depression is hurting him too. He now has to share an apartment with three other gentlemen.
The 1930s turned out better for William. He was now having articles in Vogue, The New Yorker, Harper’s Bazaar, Art’s and Decorations and House Beautiful magazines. Between 1932 and 1938 Powell obtained a job rewriting the radio news each day and reporting it to the passengers on board the "S. S. Rex" of the Italian line. He also had an advertising account with them.
In 1935 he wrote an article about a World Tour he takes with Cole Porter, playwright Moss Hart (a closeted bisexual), American actor Monty Woolley (gay and friend of Cole) and Cole’s dearest life-long friend and lover socialite Howard Sturges. The trip lasted 144 days and covered 34,000 miles.
Cole would have undoubtedly taken everyone to Chez Bricktop in Paris. He had hosted many wild parties there and his lifestyle was accepted in Europe. The club was owned by Ada Smith, better known as "Bricktop" for her red hair. She was an African-American dancer, jazz singer, vaudevillian, and self-described saloon-keeper in Paris from 1924 to 1961. She eventually would have clubs in Mexico City and Rome. Cole had helped her get started when she lived in New York City. Her best friend was the famous Josephine Baker that had just finished filming "Princesse Tam Tam". If you never heard of Josephine you need to click on the link below.
In 1937 Helen Louise Welshimer, a reporter, freelance writer and poet did an article on William. Her articles were published in hundreds of newspapers for many years. Powell was called "Manhattan's man about town", world traveler and diner of women in more places than you can imagine. When he took a woman to dinner "he wants to relax and let the conversation, and silence, take its natural course." Helen warns the ladies to not try to rope him in.
Right after the Wilsheimer article William writes his godmother that, "he has never been poorer and needs jobs in the worst way." What is the source of his financial problem isn't revealed.
During the World's Fair in New York (1939) he was writing articles for the Polish Embassy. He was also now traveling for stories to Bermuda, the Bahamas, Denmark and Italy. And at Christmas he took a two week cruise with Cole Porter. Porter had suffered a serious horseback riding accident in 1937 and was left disabled and in constant pain. His music writing talent suffered greatly from this.
In 1940 his finances had recovered and he had his own apartment at 227 Park Avenue with a personal maid. He was also asked by the Olympic Games Press Committee to write for them in Helsinki.
During the World's Fair in New York (1939) he was writing articles for the Polish Embassy. He was also now traveling for stories to Bermuda, the Bahamas, Denmark and Italy. And at Christmas he took a two week cruise with Cole Porter. Porter had suffered a serious horseback riding accident in 1937 and was left disabled and in constant pain. His music writing talent suffered greatly from this.
In 1940 his finances had recovered and he had his own apartment at 227 Park Avenue with a personal maid. He was also asked by the Olympic Games Press Committee to write for them in Helsinki.
When World War II breaks out he goes to work for the United Services Organization (USO) and The National War Fund. Created in 1943, and described by president Franklin D. Roosevelt as "a philanthropic federation with three simple aims; first, to determine the nature and the extent of the war-related needs; second, to see that everybody has a chance to contribute to the funds required; and third, to channel the sums raised for its member agencies wherever American help is currently most needed—to raise enough and on time." Eighteen agencies were part of the Fund, the USO being the most important. During WWII they began the tradition of entertaining the troops abroad that continues today.
After the war William resumed his trips to Europe to write for various magazines. Powell was even commissioned by "House Beautiful" to do a series of articles on what to buy in Copenhagen, Brussels and Paris. During the 1950s he still contributed articles to numerous magazines.