Albert Lasker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Albert Lasker
Lasker in the 1920s
Born	Albert Davis Lasker May 1, 1880 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Died	May 30, 1952 (aged 72) New York City, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Advertising executive
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Flora Warner (until her death) Doris Kenyon (m. 1938; div. 1939) Mary Woodard Reinhardt (1940–52; his death)
Children	Mary Lasker Block Edward Lasker Frances Lasker Brody

Albert Davis Lasker (born May 1, 1880 – died May 30, 1952) was an important American businessman. He helped create modern advertising. He grew up in Galveston, Texas, where his father was a bank president. Later, he moved to Chicago and joined an advertising company called Lord & Thomas. Albert Lasker created many successful ad campaigns. He was one of the first to use radio for advertising. This changed how people bought things and even influenced popular culture. He was also a member of the Republican Party. He helped design new ways to advertise political campaigns, like the one for Warren G. Harding in 1920. Lasker also became known for his philanthropy, which means giving money to good causes.

Albert Lasker's Early Life and First Jobs

Albert Lasker was born on May 1, 1880, in Freiburg, Germany. His parents were Nettie Heidenheimer Davis and Morris Lasker. His family was Jewish. His father, Morris, had moved from Prussia in 1856. His mother was an American citizen. They lived in Galveston, Texas, but his mother went to Germany for medical care when she was pregnant. The family returned to Galveston when Albert was six months old. He spent his childhood in Texas.

As a teenager, Albert Lasker worked as a newspaper reporter. He helped with the successful political campaign of Robert B. Hawley in 1896. Hawley was a Republican. At that time, the Democratic Party usually won in Texas. But in this election, votes were split, and Hawley won.

In 1898, Albert's father did not like him working in journalism. He convinced Albert to move to Chicago to try a job in advertising at Lord & Thomas. Albert started as an office boy. After a year, he took over a salesman's area. This is when he created his first advertising campaign. He asked his friend, Eugene Katz, to write ads for the Wilson Ear Drum Company. The ads showed a man cupping his ear. The company used these ads, and their sales grew a lot.

Leading the Advertising World at Lord & Thomas

In 1903, Daniel Lord retired from the company. Albert Lasker bought his share and became a partner with Ambrose Thomas. By 1912, when he was 32, Lasker bought the entire firm.

Chicago was a major hub for advertising in the United States. Albert Lasker worked there from 1898 to 1942. He became known as the "father of modern advertising." As the leader of Lord & Thomas, Lasker developed new ways to write ads. These ads aimed to connect with what consumers were thinking and feeling.

For example, he helped convince Americans to drink orange juice for breakfast. This helped sell many oranges from Sunkist in the Midwest. He also created campaigns for products like Palmolive soap and Pepsodent toothpaste. His use of radio for advertising was groundbreaking. It changed the advertising industry and even popular culture.

Lasker also helped introduce educational classes in schools. These classes taught young girls about puberty. He is also known for helping create the "soap opera" style of radio and TV shows. These shows were often sponsored by advertisers.

"Salesmanship in Print": A New Idea

Albert Lasker always wondered how advertising really worked. In 1904, he met John E. Kennedy, who had a new idea. Lasker thought advertising was just like news. But Kennedy explained that advertising was "salesmanship in print." This meant that an ad should try to sell a product just like a salesperson would.

Lasker and Kennedy used this idea for the 1900 Washer Co. (which later became Whirlpool). Their ads were so good that the company's sales grew very quickly. Soon, their advertising firm became one of the biggest in the country.

In 1908, Lasker hired another talented person, Claude C. Hopkins. Hopkins worked on ads for companies like Van Camp's. Lasker also helped make orange juice very popular. When he was 28, his firm started working with Sunkist Growers, Incorporated. At that time, orange growers in California had too many oranges. Lasker's campaigns encouraged people to eat and drink more oranges. This helped the growers sell their fruit and saved their orange groves.

Other Business Ventures

Albert Lasker was also involved in sports. He became an early owner of the Chicago Cubs, a Major League Baseball team. He bought a share of the team in 1916 and soon owned most of it. He helped create the "Lasker Plan," which suggested changes to how baseball was run. This led to the creation of the Commissioner of Baseball office. Lasker and his partner, Charles Weeghman, helped move the Cubs to their current stadium, Wrigley Field. In 1925, he sold the team to William Wrigley Jr..

Lasker also owned a large part of the Pepsodent company. This company made toothpaste and was a client of his advertising firm since 1916. The company was later sold to Lever Brothers in 1944.

He also owned a large private estate called Mill Road Farm in Lake Forest, Illinois. He had a golf course built there. In 1939, a magazine called National Golf Review said it was one of the best golf courses in the world. After the Great Depression, Lasker gave the entire property to the University of Chicago.

Albert Lasker's Role in Politics

Albert Lasker (front center-left) with US President Warren G. Harding (front center-right) at Yankee Stadium in 1923

Albert Lasker remained active in the Republican Party. He taught them how to use modern advertising to help their candidates win elections. He was an important advisor for Warren G. Harding's presidential campaign in 1920. This campaign used newsreels, billboards, and newspaper ads. It also targeted women, who had recently gained the right to vote. Harding won by a very large margin.

On June 9, 1921, President Harding chose Lasker to lead the United States Shipping Board. The US Senate approved this choice. Lasker agreed to take the job for no more than two years. He was one of the few Jewish people at that time to hold such a high government position.

Lasker faced a big challenge. The Shipping Board had over 2,300 ships that were losing money. Many of these ships were old and no longer useful. He sold the outdated ships. Some people in Congress criticized him for selling them too cheaply.

Despite the challenges, Lasker achieved a lot. He helped fix up the SS Leviathan for passenger travel. He also started the first ship-to-shore telephone services. Lasker had no experience in shipping before this job. He kept his promise and finished his service on July 1, 1923.

Later Life and Giving Back

The mausoleum of Albert Lasker

After leading Lord & Thomas for 30 years, Albert Lasker sold the company. He sold it to three top executives: Emerson H. Foote, Fairfax Cone, and Don Belding. In 1942, the company changed its name to Foote, Cone & Belding.

Albert Lasker was married three times. In 1902, he married Flora Warner. They had three children: Mary, Edward, and Frances. Flora passed away in 1934. In 1938, he married actress Doris Kenyon, but they divorced a year later.

Lasker and his third wife, Mary Lasker, became famous for their philanthropy. They gave a lot of money to help others. They were very important in supporting and growing the National Institutes of Health. This organization helps fund medical research. They also created the Lasker Award. This award honors many important scientists and researchers.

Albert Lasker passed away in New York on May 30, 1952, when he was 72 years old. He was buried in a private mausoleum at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York.

Legacy and Honors

• Albert Lasker was recognized in the American National Business Hall of Fame.
• He used his great wealth to create and fund the Lasker Foundation. This foundation supports good causes, especially in medical research.
• Many winners of the Lasker Award have also received a Nobel Prize.

See also

• History of advertising