*Photo courtesy of Zipper.
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Bill
Sanders
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I recently had the pleasure of being contacted by a surviving relative
of a very important person in Jem's creation. The following is an
account of his life, by his cousin, Hal Davis. (has been slightly edited
to remove comments to me personally and references to documents not included
here).
| "Bill Sanders was born in 1940 in Centralia, IL, and grew up in the
tiny nearby village of Walnut Hill. At an early age he exhibited outstanding
creative talent in art and music coupled with a brilliant mind and engaging
personality. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1964 with
a MA in advertising design, and joined North Advertising (later Grey-North)
in Chicago. He was married briefly in the late 60's (another story). From
the late 60's through the 70's Bill produced and directed major ad campaigns
in all media, but the bulk of his work was with television. His hands appeared
in many commercials for PaperMate and Flair pens, and he worked with the
Miss America Pageant and those crowned doing program covers, and commercials
for Tony beauty products and Gillette(10 years, or so). |
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His work won many awards, but his commercial for Gillette Foamy shave
cream with the cans firing as cannons to the 1812 Overture won a Clio (ad
business Emmy or Oscar), considered the pinnacle of recognition in the
ad game(early 80's). Throughout his ad career, Bill retained the right
to freelance through his Deedle Studio, and this led to the illustration
of several children's books, bringing him closer to the toy business. In
the early 80's the Jem idea came along, and Bill left advertising in late
'85 or early '86 when the deal with Hasbro was concluded. |
| The only names we remember as collaborators are Barbara Hyland who
designed some of the original fashions... ...and Christine Marx, who wrote
most of the TV episodes after Hasbro took control. The original concept,
storyline, characters, and initial TV came from Bill's incredible imagination. |
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(a photo including Bill and an unidentified woman wearing
a potential Jem costume (doesn't she look like Jem?)
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a
photo of some concept toys "Moo's" that didn't develop
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He was working on several new toy and book ideas when he was diagnosed
with AIDS in early 1988... |
| He was a gifted interior designer, and had just completed renovation
of a 1930's waterfront house on Starboard Lane, Siesta Key (Sarasota, FL).
Our last visit with him in Florida was in December '89 to photograph the
house for Bill (it was like working for Architectural Digest). He
put the house up for sale shortly thereafter, and returned to his Chicago
home to be near his physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where
he passed away on 13 March, 1990. In addition to the family services, there
were three other memorials hosted by his many friends extending into June. |
the rented Casey Key boathouse where some of the Jem
creative work took place in the mid 80's (great party house if you
don't fall overboard)
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| He was one of those most memorable people who no one could, or would
want to forget. We grew up as brothers, and remained close throughout his
life enjoying some wonderful, crazy, hilarious times. |
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His gravestone with the Jem logo and "Truly Outrageous"(describes Bill
to a "T") located at Little Grove Church, Walnut Hill, IL |
| invitation to the June '90 memorial fest |
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a photo that best describes his personality (constantly cooking for
friends) |
a very intimate note that captures what all of us that knew him
felt. I hope this gives you an idea about who and what Bill Sanders
was." |
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