Remembering copywriter and filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis...

[Dien Rice]

Sadly, a few days ago, copywriter and filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis passed away at the age of 87 or 90 (sources disagree)...

He's probably best known as a filmmaker, especially in the 1960s and 70s. He made low-budget "exploitation" movies... "Exploitation" movies just meant that they were targeted at a specific audience (rather than a general audience). He focused on horror movies, but also some other genres too...

However, he was also well known as a very successful direct response copywriter. He wrote plenty of books on this (just check Amazon!)...

At the link below, you can see one of his grand controls for a health newsletter... (A grand control means the direct response ad was continuously mailed for 3 years or more, which means it was very successful...)

5 Great Marketing 'Do's From Herschell Gordon Lewis
http://www.targetmarketingmag.com/po...-gordon-lewis/

Also, once upon a time Herschell Gordon Lewis did a deal with Colonel Sanders and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The deal was, Colonel Sanders could be in Lewis's movie, and help publicise Kentucky Fried Chicken, if the Colonel would supply all the cast and crew with free fried chicken! (Hey, we're talking low-budget movies here!)

A deal was struck - and the real Colonel Sanders appeared in his 1967 film, "Blast-Off Girls." Here you can find a clip with Colonel Sanders in "Blast-Off Girls"...


http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2008/09/post.html

Finally, a trailer for Herschell Gordon Lewis's (also 1967) film, "Something Weird"... about a man who gets ESP powers from a witch!



Best wishes!

Dien

[GordonJ]

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

Sadly, a few days ago, copywriter and filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis passed away at the age of 87 or 90 (sources disagree)...

He's probably best known as a filmmaker, especially in the 1960s and 70s. He made low-budget "exploitation" movies... "Exploitation" movies just meant that they were targeted at a specific audience (rather than a general audience). He focused on horror movies, but also some other genres too...

However, he was also well known as a very successful direct response copywriter. He wrote plenty of books on this (just check Amazon!)...

At the link below, you can see one of his grand controls for a health newsletter... (A grand control means the direct response ad was continuously mailed for 3 years or more, which means it was very successful...)

5 Great Marketing 'Do's From Herschell Gordon Lewis
http://www.targetmarketingmag.com/po...-gordon-lewis/

Also, once upon a time Herschell Gordon Lewis did a deal with Colonel Sanders and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The deal was, Colonel Sanders could be in Lewis's movie, and help publicize Kentucky Fried Chicken, if the Colonel would supply all the cast and crew with free fried chicken! (Hey, we're talking low-budget movies here!)

A deal was struck - and the real Colonel Sanders appeared in his 1967 film, "Blast-Off Girls." Here you can find a clip with Colonel Sanders in "Blast-Off Girls"...


http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2008/09/post.html

Finally, a trailer for Herschell Gordon Lewis's (also 1967) film, "Something Weird"... about a man who gets ESP powers from a witch!



Best wishes!

Dien

This is what he told us about today's horror movies, he was not a fan. He also said that writing a movie is like copywriting...and because of HGL, I've read everything out there on screen writing and it is very close to writing direct response copy. He was a very productive and prolific man, RIP HGL.

Thanks Dien,

GJA

[Ankesh]

Thats sad to hear!

I know when I was learning copywriting I had bought a book of control salesletters compiled by him. Fat book of over a 100 amazing salesletters from various industries.

Have never seen his movies however.

Originally Posted by Ankesh

Thats sad to hear!

I know when I was learning copywriting I had bought a book of control salesletters compiled by him. Fat book of over a 100 amazing salesletters from various industries.

Have never seen his movies however.

Hi Ankesh, I love your 2 Word Marketing Strategy. It's really help me with my Facebook Ad Strategy and I sell a big ticket service.... Turning $2.50 in ad spend into over $500.00 in profit! Your report is a real deal at just $5.00

Thanks

[Ankesh]

Hey thank you so much Steve for your kind words!

Its been a long time since I wrote that report but it still is the foundation of everything I do.