Jane Trahey

Background

Jane Trahey was born on November 19, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

Education

In her early years, Jane attended Catholic schools. Then, she continued her education at Mundelein College, where, in 1943, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, Trahey attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied for two years. In 1975, she attained a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University.

Career

Trahey's first job was at the Chicago Tribune in the clippings library, known as the morgue. Then, for some time, she worked for the Chicago Daily News in the survey research department.

Jane's entry into advertising came at the Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. department store in Chicago as a copywriter after a period in the retail shop as a receptionist. In 1947, Jane began working as a copywriter for Neiman-Marcus in Dallas, where she was later made advertising director and sales promotion director. The work at Neiman-Marcus earned Trahey a reputation for her "innovative fashion copywriting". She even tested different colors with scented inks in retail ads.

In 1956, Jane left for New York City. The same year, she created an in-house agency - the 425 Advertising Associates - for Julius Kayser Inc., the lingerie and hosiery company. In 1958, Trahey founded her own agency, Jane Trahey Associates, specializing in cosmetics and fashion advertising. Later, in 1962, when Franchellie Cadwell became Jane's partner, her agency was renamed Trahey/Cadwell Associates. It was in June 1964, that their partnership ended and the agency worked under the new name Trahey Associates/Advertising until 1965, when the name changed again to Trahey Advertising. Between 1965 and 1966, the agency worked for well-known companies, including Charles of the Ritz, Rob Roy Shirts for Boys, Pauline Trigere, Elizabeth Arden and Union Carbide Corporation's textile department. In 1966, Jane formed a partnership with Henry Wolf, a photographer and art director, and her agency was renamed Trahey/Wolf Advertising. After Wolf left in the early 1970's to open his own production company, Trahey then took as a partner Peter Rogers, who had been working for her as an account executive and de facto office manager. The company changed its name again, this time to Trahey/Rogers Advertising. This partnership lasted until 1978, when Jane left the agency and began working as a consultant, dividing her time between Chicago and New York City.

During her career as an advertiser, namely in the 1960's and 1970's, Trahey acted as the chief for advertising campaigns, including Blackglama Furs' "What Becomes a Legend Most" ads, which featured notorious celebrities, draped in the company's fur coats. The celebrities were considered so glamorous, that they were never identified by name. The ads continued to be produced by Rogers after Trahey gave up the agency business in the 1970's.

It's also worth mentioning, that, working for various well-known companies, Trahey created catchy slogans for Dynel, Union Carbide's synthetic hair (''It's not fake anything. It's real Dynel.''), Danskin Inc. (''Danskins Are Not Just for Dancing.'') and Echo Scarves (''The Echo of an Interesting Woman.''). Among her other clients were Bill Blass, Olivetti typewriters, Hamilton watches and Ebony magazine, among others. She also created public service advertising for the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, for which she served as vice president and member of the board.

As for her career as an author, it's worth noting, that, beginning in 1955, Jane dedicated a fair amount of time to writing, which she considered her creative outlet. "The Taste of Texas" was published that year and following in 1957 was her "Compleat Martini Cookbook", which she wrote under the pseudonym Baba Erlanger with Daren Pierce. In later years, she focused some attention on creating works for young people, including "Thursdays 'til 9", published in 1980, and "Clovis Caper", which appeared in 1983 and was published in 1990. Walt Disney optioned both titles for film production. Her novel, titled "Life With Mother Superior", was the basis for the film "The Trouble with Angels", starring Hayley Mills and Rosalind Russell.

In addition, Trahey also wrote scores of magazine articles, humorous pamphlets, a play and a self-help book, called ''Jane Trahey on Women & Power: Who's Got It. How to Get It''. Her play, ''Ring Round the Bathtub'', which was produced on Broadway in 1972 and starred Elizabeth Ashley, was a sentimental look at an American family in Chicago, her hometown, during the Depression.

Moreover, Trahey also gave lectures to professional women's organizations.

In her later years, Jane settled down in Connecticut with Jacqueline Babbin, a friend for 40 years.

Achievements

• Jane Trahey gained prominence as an advertiser, innovative fashion copywriter, pioneer agency owner, author, playwright and the first woman to earn $1 million a year. She was one of the first women to own and manage a major advertising agency in the United States. Being one of the most prominent women advertisers of the 1960's, Jane was best known for Blackglama's ''What Becomes a Legend Most?'' campaign. Her other major campaigns were for Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Elizabeth Arden, Famolare footwear, Olivetti and Union Carbide's Dynel. Besides, Trahey innovated with retail ads' color and scented ink.
  
  Known as a brilliant copywriter, Ms. Trahey was also credited with catchy slogans for Dynel, Union Carbide's synthetic hair (''It's not fake anything. It's real Dynel.''), Danskin Inc. (''Danskins Are Not Just for Dancing.'') and Echo Scarves (''The Echo of an Interesting Woman.'').
  
  During her career, Jane authored a number of writings, including "The Taste of Texas", "Compleat Martini Cookbook", "Thursdays 'til 9", among other works. It's worth noting, that her novel "Life With Mother Superior" became the basis for the film "The Trouble with Angels", directed by Ida Lupino.
  
  Trahey received more than 200 awards over the course of her career, including the Good Housekeeping Award. In 1969, the American Advertising Federation named her Advertising Woman of the Year, awarding her with its award.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Clovis Caper

    (Martin is delighted by his Aunt Horty's wonderful gift, a...)

    1990
  • Thursdays 'til 9

    (Anyone who's worked in retail knows what a strange and si...)

    1980
  • A Taste of Texas 1955
  • Compleat Martini Cookbook 1957
  • Life With Mother Superior 1962
  • Jane Trahey on Women & Power: Who's Got It. How to Get It 1977
  • Pecked to Death by Goslings 1969
  • Son of the Martini Cookbook 1967

Membership

Apart from advertising, Jane also served in feminist movements. She was active in charitable and industry organizations and served as an advisor on women's work issues.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• "Ms. Trahey didn't like accounts. She liked projects. She liked to do something new. She'd be gung-ho for six months, then get bored." - recalled Rocky Piliero, who worked as production manager of Jane's agency, starting in 1969

Connections

Friend:

Jacqueline Babbin

Jacqueline Babbin was a television/theatre writer, producer and executive.