Kalman Phillips, 91; Advertising Executive

Kalman Phillips died on August 17 at his home in Pacific Palisades, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was 91. ”Kal Phillips was born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 18, 1913, the son of Samuel Phillips and Sofia Zachim, both Eastern European Jewish immigrants. He studied at Columbia University and continued to live in New York City until 1940, when he moved to California. ”Kal served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he published more than 100 short stories and wrote, produced, or directed various television shows, including the series ‘Veloz and Yolanda’ and ‘Men Into Space.’ Kal also served as editor of a series of yearbooks, annual photographic histories of the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s. ”In the early ’50s, Kal joined the international advertising firm of J. Walter Thompson, where he was employed for 13 years in San Francisco and Los Angeles, serving as group head, writer/producer, copy chief, and broadcast director. He created the famous ‘Don’t Be a Litterbug’ campaign for the City of Los Angeles and wrote and produced successful television and radio campaigns for other important accounts, including Douglas Aircraft and Hawaiian Punch. ”After leaving JWT, Kal worked as creative director and broadcast director at two other advertising agencies before striking out on his own, with his friend and colleague Adrian Brown, to form Phillips/ Brown Creative Services, which later became Kalman Phillips Creative Services. Kal’s most acclaimed work in advertising was a series of award-winning theatre, television, and radio commercials that he wrote, produced, and directed for the Los Angeles Times. ”He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betty Phillips; brother Milton, of Palm Springs; daughter Karen, of Petaluma; and sons Greg and Brad, both of Pacific Palisades; and by eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. ”Kal’s family suggests that memorial contributions can be made to the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease at UC San Francisco, P.O. Box 419100, San Francisco, CA 94141.