​by Skip Cohen

It's Throwback Thursday, and in my hunt for old photographs, I found this classic of my grandparents, folks, and me. And with every old picture comes a series of backstories that simply make me smile. So, here's the inside scoop on a print from the mid-fifties.
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• My Uncle, during his tour with the Army, was based in Germany. This was after Korea and before Viet Nam. It was during peacetime, and upon his return to the US, he came back with a Triumph TR3 and lots of gifts for the family.
• He brought my Dad his first "real" camera, a rangefinder Agfa with split circle focusing and a manual self-timer built into the lens. It became the family camera for thousands of slides over the years to come.
• For me, it was a pair of lederhosen, and they were a little beyond comfortable to wear. The leather was anything but soft! Obviously, from the pained look on my face, you can tell that Skippy isn't happy!
• Those are my grandparents in the shot, and my grandmother loved the small fur my grandfather had bought her. Today she'd risk being hit by a can of spray paint from an animal rights activist!
• My mother has on a maternity top. She was pregnant with my sister.
• The last thing that hits me, while I know it was the style, if my Dad wore his pants any higher, he'd have hurt himself!

So, throwbacks become "waybacks" when they're really old, or they just bring back so many different memories, smiles, and memorable moments. Take the time today and go off on your own hunt for a time capsule that simply makes you smile!

​Happy Throwback Thursday!

​by Skip Cohen

For me, half the fun of Throwback Thursday is the hunt for old memories. When it comes to photographs and videos too, I've got files, prints, and albums all over the place. Yesterday, in search of something fun to share in today's throwback post, I ran across a folder from my last party with the industry's dream team - the staff of WPPI and Rangefinder Magazine.

While a few key people are missing, this was the team that took the company to record highs. The March 2009 issue of Rangefinder Magazine broke 350 pages. WPPI grew to be the largest professional photographic show in the industry, hitting an attendance of somewhere around 15,000 that year. That was also the year, with Nikon's help, we took over the MGM's Garden Arena for a live concert with Blues Traveler. 

It was twelve years ago today I gave the owner of the company sixty days notice that I was leaving to start my own company. The decision was later made to leave earlier, but I was a "lame duck for the next two weeks."  

Webster's Dictionary defines "lame duck" as one whose position or term of office will soon end. It was a strange time, but the party at my place, just a couple of days before moving, puts the biggest smile on my face. Watch the video and you should recognize a lot of the team from those days and the industry today!

​Three days later, I was on my way east with Molly the Wonder Dog. The movers had picked up everything, except they refused to take any bottles of liquor or wine, so Molly's bed in the front seat was on top of a couple of dozen bottles of liquor! 

We were in Ohio just a few days later. By May, my new company was established, and the adventure began. I chose Ohio because Sheila and I were moving in together, and she was in Ohio. Plus, starting a new business in California, my taxes alone would have been more than the income the first year. 

My best advice this Throwback Thursday is to go on your own hunt. Find some of those old images that simply make you smile and bring back those incredible memories. After being somewhat isolated over the last year, all those special memories out there are waiting for your energy. Best of all, as things get better in terms of the pandemic, more and more memory-making moments are going to come back!

​Happy Throwback Thursday!

Intro by Skip Cohen

​Here's what happens when you cross Throwback Thursday with a great friendship, and then, like a chef, add a little good advice for seasoning! My good buddy, Scott Bourne, shared the post below eight years ago, and I shared it again in 2017.

But here's where there's a twist - the pandemic has changed everything in business today. Right now, your most effective marketing tool is relationship building. Advertising, publicity, promotions, community involvement, a great skill set, etc., all play essential roles. However, everyone has been hunkered down for the past year, and as we slowly get back to a level of normalcy, your customer needs to hear from you - NOW! 

The fun of sharing a Marketing Monday kind of post on a Throwback Thursday is pulling old photographs from your stash. From the first Skip's Summer School in 2009 to the SCU blog and dozens of projects in between, Scott Bourne has been an incredible influence, sounding board, and truly good friend.

In 2013 at Skip's Summer School in Chicago, one of the classes focused on video skills, created a short film featuring Scott and me as battling competitors. It was a lot of fun to do, except for one component where the class missed a beat - using copyrighted music. So, while the video never saw the light of day to the public, this is one of my favorite still images from the project.  

Scott and I met years ago in my Hasselblad days, but not until 2009 did the friendship take off. We started working together on so many different projects, including writing "Going Pro," which is still one of the best books ever written about getting started in the photography business.  

To Scott's point about caring about your customers in his guest post below - you can't truly care about them if you don't know them! All the answers on how to build a successful business are out there - you just need to listen to your target audience and understand what's most important to them!

by Skip Cohen 

Once upon a time, there was a Fortune 500 company called Polaroid. They represent 17 1/2 years of my photography career and the foundation for so many things I believe in when it comes to business today. Well, a chapter from the past, going back to my Chicago days, bubbled to the surface a week ago.

Here's another fun aspect to social media, and especially Facebook. Lori Hawk is a photographer based out of Kentucky. She collects cameras and recently received a Polaroid SX-70 for her collection. In with the camera was the service card below. 

She recognized my name and sent me an IM on Saturday morning. A phone call later, we had determined the camera had been repaired twice, once in 1980 and again in 1985.

​Most people don't know that the first production run of the SX-70 camera was over 300% defective. Each camera came back repeatedly for service. If the Internet had been around then, Polaroid would have gone out of business! Instead, thanks to an amazing man, Jon Wolbarst, a  Polaroid VP, who had responsibility for Customer Service, Polaroid became a leader in consumer support. We were one of the most pro-active and recognized corporate service departments in the industry.

Jon felt Customer Service was the company's conscience and never eased up on manufacturing or the company executives to stay pro-active, always fighting for the customer. The response card above went out with every repaired camera. We needed to make sure our service was the very best!

They were so worried about a class-action suit that we made "roving rep" calls, heading out on personal visits to those consumers who screamed the loudest. We made house-calls to teach people how to use the camera.

I was based out of Chicago and got a call one night to fly to Detroit the next day to meet with a woman who couldn't take a decent picture. It was because she could barely see, and the camera had an incredibly sensitive follow-focus system. So, with flash, if she took a picture of me and focused on my ears, the front of my face would be completely blown out.

To help correct the problem initially, they added the distance scale on the front of the lens. Later on, the technology changed, so the problem eventually disappeared. 

A BIG thanks to Lori for helping to keep the world a tiny place. What a kick to be contacted with this snippet from my history. I was with Polaroid from 1970 to 1987 and based out of the service center outside Chicago from 1976 - 1981. 

There's nothing like a trip down Memory Lane to make you smile!​

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

The pandemic has turned photographs captured only a year ago into valuable "throwbacks," but today's post is truly a collection from the good old days. It was 2005 and the twenty-fifth-anniversary celebration of WPPI.

GraphiStudio had a great idea of producing a day-in-the-life of WPPI album. The albums were stunning, as four different photographers, working independent of each other, captured their story of the convention each year. They were given no guidelines except to capture memories.

I grabbed a few favorites for today's post, but it's not just about Throwback Thursday. Memories like this, while they're a fun look in the rearview mirror, they're an opportunity to look forward. None of us know what the first convention will be when we feel safe again, but there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm hearing stories of business starting to pick up in various parts of the country. We're also headed into the second biggest seasonality of the year with Mother's Day, graduation, and Father's Day. Now is the time to be blogging about the importance of family portraiture and capturing those special moments. Use Throwback Thursday as a marketing tool to help remind your audience of the need to grab new memories!

That means you need to be ready. I'm not suggesting it's easy, but too many of you have pulled away from your business and simply shut down. Now is the time to be boosting your skill set and keeping in contact with your customers and community. As I've written so many times over the last year:

by Skip Cohen

In 1997, one of the all-time best ad agencies, Kalmar Ad Marketing, had an idea for an inflatable Hasselblad that would join us at many of the photographic shows on the calendar each year. So, from the floor of WPPI to the "lobby" of Javits, Hasselblad University programs, and even a few dealer events, "Big Blad" made an appearance.

It was pretty remarkable. Built to scale, it was approximately 14 feet high and took only minutes to inflate and deflate. It had its own internal air compressor. It was a replica of a 503CW and was in storage for many years, including my garage. My Dad made a trip to visit us in Ohio in 2010; we took it out and blew it up in the driveway. That's our granddaughter, Belle and me.

Sadly Big Blad died of "respiratory failure" - the dampness and mold from storage for so many years did her in!

It's Throwback Thursday - take the time to find an old photograph and have friends join you on a trip down Memory Lane! It's a great way to keep in touch, especially during the pandemic.

by Skip Cohen

​Wandering through my archived grab shots, I sure didn't have to go very far to find a Throwback Thursday shot or two. It's IUSA in 2018 in Nashville, and Bobbi Lane was doing headshots over in the FujiFilm booth. That's Max Alewel from Marathon Press, who I talked into going over and being abused for his portrait. LOL

Bobbi and Max are two prime examples of one of the things I miss most through the pandemic - catching up to friends! And at every convention, these two are always at the top of my list to track down. 

​The best thing about throwback images is the memories they bring back. So, take the time, and whether you share them or not, find a few throwbacks. Nothing beats a great memory and a smile.
 
Wandering through the Internet, I found this explanation about smiling from EverydayPower.com. 

​"According to scientists, smiling causes an influx of positive emotions that help in relieving stress and lowering your blood pressure. Each time you smile, you benefit your health and happiness.

Not only can smiling lift your mood, but it can also elevate the mood of those around you.
When you smile at others, it gives them a boost of happiness, helps them to lead a healthier life, and influences how they perceive you."

Like all of you, we're looking forward to that first convention where everyone feels safe enough to be together. It's not going to happen right away, but it will happen, and what a celebration that's going to be!

PS Looking for a great online program coming up on portraiture. Bobbi and Lee Varis are teaching online on March 27 at 9:00 A.M. Here's the link for more information!

by Skip Cohen

​As the pandemic continues, the importance of Throwback Thursday just keeps growing. I find myself often wandering through my files, along with albums and shoeboxes, in a therapeutic way, looking for something that makes me smile and reminds me of life pre-Covid19.

Well, nothing captures a quicker smile these days than a scuba trip from the past. I'm not sure where we were, but this is around 2006. From location destinations to live-aboard trips, there was a group of us who headed off diving at least twice a year or more.

In terms of people you might recognize from the photo industry: me, Paul Fishkin now with the Mac Group, Bob Rose, now teaching at RIT, Kayce Baker (behind Bob) back in her FujiFilm Days, and Karen Hart, who you'll recognize from so many different companies she's represented, including Zeiss, Tamrac and Hasselblad.

Outside the industry, but often with us on every trip, Karen (blue blouse) and Bill Kuglar (yellow t-shirt) from Minneapolis, Tom Danielson from Chicago, and Mitch Rubinoff from NJ.

Tom Danielson and I started diving together in the early 90s. He was essential in helping develop the H38, Hasselblad's underwater housing back then as well. Somewhere during life's travels, we became the "Nitro-Boys." Between Tom and Bob Rose, we've been together on hundreds of dives over the years.

A few months ago, as a podcast guest, I was asked what I missed most - the answer was easy - people! Zoom, Facetime, and Skype are all wonderful for a temporary solution to physical distancing, but nothing replaces real-time with friends. And scuba is one of those sports that provides an incredible quality of time, and with each trip, the friendships, along with the stories, all grow.

So, as we hit the eleven-month mark of hunkering down, take my advice and use Throwback Thursday as an excuse to catch up to old friends and relive those special moments from the past. After what we're all feeling through the pandemic, you only have to go back a year ago to find the "good old days!"

by Skip Cohen

Downtime during the pandemic has definitely raised the bar on my "Throwback Thursday" game. Every week I spend at least half an hour wandering through old photographs, and while most people would say I'm not being very productive - I'll argue just the opposite.

The older the photographs, the more great memories come back. Along with those memories comes a reminder of the value of imaging. From pictures that only go back to before the pandemic to ones like above, of me at age four, each photograph has a backstory. Turning back the clock is like a giant vitamin boosting my emotional immune system, helping me stay focused on today as well as the future.

We all know how dog years are 7:1 to humans. Well, life during the pandemic at times has felt the same way. It's almost a year since we hunkered down, but it feels like seven! The smiles old photographs generate offsets so many of the issues with the pandemic...at least emotionally.

So, the backstory is I loved every cowboy series I could find. Between Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers, I had the guns, the outfit, and obviously the horse! Now think about how times have changed - if a kid pointed a gun like that at you today, the kid would be tossed out of pre-school, some fool would call Child Protective Services, and the parents would be arrested.

But that doesn't change the value of the trip down Memory Lane. At bedtime, my Dad would sit on the edge of the bed and be the bad guy, talking in a low voice about robbing the stagecoach. I'd sneak up behind him as Hopalong or Roy and wrestle him to the ground, stopping crime and scoring a point for the good guys.

Wishing everybody a great Throwback Thursday. Take the time to wander back to the good old days. And if you're an old westerns fan, you can find anything on YouTube, like the William Boyd tribute below.

Happy TBT!

by Skip Cohen
 
These days you don't have to go back very far to find a memory-making moment that's perfect for sharing on a Throwback Thursday. This is just two years ago at Photoshop World in Orlando. It's at the Hyatt, and it's four great friends about to grab breakfast. That's Robert Vanelli, Levi Sim, me, and Dave Moser.

But there's more to today's post. For years I've written about the best thing in this industry: the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Until the pandemic, while I wrote about it, like most of you, I never really appreciated all those "let's catch up" moments that happen at every convention. Plus, I've referred to myself as the industry's biggest lunch slut for years. Well, Moser's just an hour away, Vanelli two hours, and the last time I saw Levi was at WPPI last year. The pandemic has put a hold on all those moments...and I miss these knuckleheads along with dozens more of you.

The phone is excellent - Zoom is great - texting, email, Facebook are all great - but NOTHING BEATS THE REAL THING. A few months ago as a podcast guest, I was asked, "What do you miss most?" My answer, "Bumping into people, literally."

While there's light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine becoming more available, we still don't know when a level of normalcy will return. It's frustrating, but at the risk of sounding like the old fart that I am, we've got no choice but to keep our eye on the prize - all of us being able to be together again!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen
 
Sometimes the fun of a Throwback Thursday image isn't just the photograph's subject but everything else.

Heading off on my weekly search through old pictures, I found this one of me around age six. Here's the trip this one image took me on:
​

• The outfit I'm wearing leaves me wishing I could talk to my mother about how I was dressed at the time. What was she thinking? And the style, 2-inch cuffs and leather shoes with an Elmer Fudd hat!
• The location is Cleveland Hopkins Airport, which back then was a big deal. We lived at least two hours away, and Dad was working hard to build his business. There wasn't a lot of money to spend on vacations. So, a day trip or a weekend, the west side of Cleveland was a mini-vacation destination. We'd watch the planes from what was then called the observation deck. Whether it was just for the day or a night at a motel with a pool, it was a big deal.
• It's a black and white print, and back then, I don't remember what vintage Kodak Brownie Dad had for family photographs. The contrast is pretty flat, sharpness minimal, focus poor, but that doesn't change the fun of thinking back to those days.
• Last but not least, catch the scalloped edges on the print itself. It's the way all the photographs Dad had printed at the time were processed. He'd drop the film off at Gray Drug, and 1-2 weeks later, we'd pick up our prints. I remember the incredible anticipation at watching him open the envelope.

And there you have it - the pure fun of a look in the rearview mirror and a moment of connecting with the past. In all honesty, I miss the simplicity of it all.

​Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

Sometimes the fun of Throwback Thursday goes well beyond the photograph itself and includes a few backstories. Let's start with the portrait above.

Sometime around the mid-90s, Kodak launched their DreamMaker ad campaign featuring noted professional photographers staring in their own fantasy portrait. That's well-respected photographer Lisa Evans above. The campaign was for Kodak's VPH films, and the ads ran in just about every photographic magazine. In addition to Lisa's, one of my favorites was Al Gilbert's on the right.

Before sharing Lisa's fantasy portrait, I called her. What a kick it was to catch up on the back story. She sent me an email and wrote:

Thanks for taking me down memory lane.  Being invited by Kodak to be a part of their Dream Maker campaign was a real treat.  As I mentioned I got to choose the photographer I wanted to create my Dream portrait. After my first choice. Annie Lebovitz was unavailable, I chose Mario Casilli who did a wonderful job.  Known for his incredible portraits of the stars that dawned most of the TV Guide covers for so many years, and of course as head photographer at Playboy Magazine, he had the skills needed to help create a Mermaid. 

Kodak gave me one of the most memorable experiences of my lifetime.   From working with the costume designer to fit my mermaid tail and hand made shell bra, the makeup artist and even getting hair extensions and hair styling.  A team of five people flew from NY from Kodak and the ad agency to watch the making of the mermaid in what used to be the old Pasadena Library, which Mario Casilli had converted into his incredible photography studio.  To top it all off after the shoot, Mario Casilli himself drove me to the airport in his Rolls Royce.   
​
The Mermaid image was on the back cover of The Professional Photography Magazine, Rangefinder Magazine and more.  

But that's only the first chapter of the backstory. 

Last fall, I wrote about the industry losing one of its biggest and best supporters, Kodak's Terry Deglau. At his memorial service in Pittsburgh, I caught up to Bill Burbank. Bill and his team were responsible for putting together so many of the Kodak ads and programs back in those days. 

A couple of weeks ago, he sent me a phone shot of Lisa's DreamMaker portrait with a comment, "Look what I found!" That led to me calling Lisa, her email back to me, and the two images above. And while they're her phone shots of the experience and won't win in print comp, they're perfect for capturing the fun of the story.

As I've written a few dozen times in the past, the best thing about this industry has little to do with photography but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft! And, as it turns out, Bill's brother lives just a few blocks away from us. Bill's no longer in the photography industry, but that doesn't take away from the fun of getting together whenever he hits Florida for a visit!

Happy Throwback Thursday and a BIG thanks to both Bill and Lisa - what a kick to turn back the clock.

by Skip Cohen

It's Throwback Thursday and like the old Monty Python series, "And now for something completely different."

My good buddy Glen Clark was packing up to move from California to the Carolinas. In the process of cleaning out his garage, one great piece of memorabilia after another appeared, which he collected and shipped to me. Well, I couldn't just write about these priceless artifacts...I went for the video below.

Besides the fun of the friendships we've all made in this industry, there are so many events and spoecial moments we've all shared - including all our business cards over the years. Glen's were priceless, but if you want to see the largest industry-wide collection, catch Tony Corbell's, which are all stored in one big binder!

I have a whole footlocker of items collected over the years. While you can never go back, the fun of Throwback Thursday is dedicating a little time to that look in the rearview mirror beyond photographs. From trade shows, conventions, new product launches, and promotions, all of us have our own stash of priceless memorabilia that just can't be thrown away.

So, Glen couldn't throw it away, but he could ship all this stuff to me, and now I'm trying to figure out where to put it! LOL
 
And to my buddy Glen - thanks, pal - I'm looking forward to the pandemic being over and getting time with you guys to laugh about everything that was in this shipment! And now that you're moved in - don't be surprised if I start sending you stuff from my stash.

Happy Throwback Thursday!​

by Skip Cohen

I know I shared this photo a few years back, but cleaning my office recently, I found the album it came from. Alan Karlin sent me two small books many years ago. They're his shots from WPPI 2004, and this one is a classic. I'm not sure I've ever seen a group shot jam-packed with more industry legends. Click on the image to view it a little larger in the SCU Lightbox!

And on that note, I can't think of a better way to wrap up 2020 than a sprint down Memory Lane. We're all tired of the pandemic, wearing masks, using words like "hunkering down" and "social distancing," but none of those things are in your rearview mirror! So, wrap up the year and look back to a time when life was simpler and extraordinary - we just didn't know how special it was at the time.

And one last time in 2020 sharing Jodi Picoult's quote about photographs - BECAUSE THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO DESCRIBE THE PICTURE ABOVE...

Welcome to the 2020 Circus
"Stay positive, Test Negative"
Ali, Bleu and Fisher

by Skip Cohen
 
It's Throwback Thursday, Christmas Eve, and a year we'd all like to forget is quickly coming to a close. So, I'm covering all bases with today's post, starting with my annual favorite holiday card for at least the last decade! Ali, Bleu, and Fisher Cotton do it up big every year.

I've shared so many of their past holiday extravaganzas! It wouldn't feel like the holidays without their creativity! 

This is one part Throwback with a few of their past cards and another part, a marketing reminder. Doing your own holiday card is one of the best marketing tools you have. It doesn't matter if it's one of your images or a staged family portrait like the Cottons do every year! And if you missed this season, then think about something to send out to clients and friends in the first quarter - you'll stand out even more!

​Next on my "Borgasmord" of content is to wish all of you a terrific holiday season. Whatever you celebrate, be it Christmas tomorrow, Chanukah, which ended on the 17th, Kwanzaa on Saturday, or any other holiday, Sheila and I want to wish you the very best. It's been a tough year and an especially difficult holiday season as family and friends are more than six feet out of reach. But, the year is almost to a close, and there are certainly more positives than negatives in the air right now for 2021.

We couldn't get our act together to do a family card this year. It's the first time we've missed it in a whole lot of years. However, that doesn't change our appreciation for all of you, the fact that we feel blessed to be together, and how grateful we are for your support and friendship.

And last on the list because it really is Throwback Thursday, and there aren't enough of you who remember the Underwood commercial with Mason Reese from the '70s or my use of the word "Borgasmord."

On that note, and hopefully a smile on your face, I'm wrapping up today's post. Happy Holidays and thank you for all your support, feedback and encouragement over the toughest year any of us will hopefully ever face! It's really true - "I get by with a little help from my friends!"

by Skip Cohen
 
​Throwback Thursday, especially during the pandemic, has become one of my favorite days of the week for two primary reasons.

​First, I love the role photography has played in ALL of our lives, going back as far as you want to search. Second, I take time at least once a week to wander through life looking in my rearview mirror, and while this is my Dad's life I'm sharing today, it doesn't change the fun of it all.

I found these two class photographs from 1934 and 1936, 7th and 9th grade, looking through some old albums. Obviously, those were growth years for Dad going from twelve to fourteen. And his signature was a full head of hair, and great sweaters, right up until he passed away five years ago at 93.

Where is it written that you can't share a Throwback Thursday image on a Friday? I totally missed sharing this yesterday, and it's too good to leave it in the stash.

This photograph is bittersweet, but it's still a pretty special memory. It was taken at breakfast the day of Don Blair's funeral in Utah. And while there are no words to describe how much I miss "Big Daddy," nothing changes the power of the legacy of friendships he left behind.

Here's the backstory: We were all in Murray, UT, for Don's funeral. His favorite breakfast place every morning, along with his son Gary and a whole bunch of local buddies, was Amber's. They were regulars, and at some point, somebody had a sign made up honoring "The Breakfast Club." So, a bunch of us from the photo industry made it a point to grab breakfast together.

There's one more sad reminder that time never stands still. The industry has lost four talented people from this photograph over the last sixteen years - Ken Whitmire, Terry Deglau, Sam Pallia, and Roy Madearis. The pandemic has given us something we NEVER have enough of - TIME. Don't squander this downtime. Make it a point to stay in touch with people you care about, regardless of how long it's been since you caught up to each other.

Memory is the diary we all carry about with us.
Unknown Author

This is an amazing industry filled with incredible artists, managers and educators. And if my memories are my diary, I've got volumes of stories I've collected over the years and many of them are thanks to the people in that photograph above.

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend and time to fill that diary of yours with more great memories.

by Skip Cohen

​Everyone is familiar with the 7:1 ratio when comparing a dog's life to a human's. Well, I'm starting to think something similar applies to "pandemic months." So, while this group shot was from July 2015 and only 5 1/2 years ago, it feels like twenty! 

Here's the short backstory - for many years, Marathon did their MAP Getaway, a three-day program for members of the Marathon Advantage Program. It was one of the best workshops I've ever attended with a fundamental concept for its foundation - sharing new ideas in marketing, business, and even technical skills.  

It was a great program and one of those events where everyone left with new friends and ideas on attacking the challenges in running a stronger business. While the MAP Getaway is no longer an annual event, Marathon's support is still available.

"Along with discounted prices, you have the ability to get your marketing help when you need it. You can ask any of our knowledgeable staff basic marketing questions and if you need a little extra help, our experienced Marketing Advantage Program Director and Educator is available via email and appointment."

Here's one of the most significant benefits: Most of you are small business owners. You don't have a big staff or a lot of depth in the support you need to keep growing your business. Even in the pandemic, there are so many things you can be doing to maintain a strong presence in your community. Marathon has the ability to expand your marketing presence. 

Need a little more information? Just click on the MAP thumbnail. 

And whether you decide to learn more about the program or not - it's Throwback Thursday! Take the time to find some of those old photographs from great times in the past. At the very least, they'll make you smile.

by Skip Cohen

Happiness is having a buddy call you and say, "I need your help - they screwed up the order for my guy at the market and sent him big lobsters rather than a bunch of small ones. They're big ones - you want to cook tonight?"

That's all it took - a couple of hours later, Bob Rose and Kayce Baker were at the house, and the water was boiling. They were six pounds each, and we also cooked a few smaller ones. But the real fun of Throwback Thursday is about great memories.

I hate always referring to the pandemic, but it has created time to look back and cherish a level of freedom we took for granted. In my friendship with Bob, it's been nothing but adventures. After finding the picture above, I needed to call him to confirm my facts - over the years; those six-pounders had doubled in size - just like stories fishermen tell.

Bob reminded me the claws were so thick we had to wrap them in towels and beat them with a sledgehammer. Kayce had found a recipe for cooking larger lobsters, resulting in an incredibly good dinner. We had anticipated the meat to be tough but prepared the right way; they were perfect.

Bob and I had known each other for years, but the friendship really launched when I needed a dive buddy for a trip to Bonaire. Somebody told me Bob liked to dive, and that was it *poof* a friendship that's gone on for over twenty-five years was launched.

After I hung up the phone, Sheila noticed a sort of disturbed/distant look on my face...it's what I'm calling the "Pandemic Blues." It's all about bittersweet memories. I know this will sound pretty sappy, but I miss time with Bob and Kayce. 

Here's my point - Throwback Thursday is the perfect way to stay focused on things that make you smile. And while at times it might send me into the "Pandemic Blues," missing friends and that exceptional freedom to be a knucklehead, nothing beats a look in the rearview mirror.

by Skip Cohen

Throwback Thursday's fun is in two parts - First, there are the memories old photographs bring back. Second is the never-ending reminder of the important role photography plays in our lives. It's been eight months since most of us hunkered down, and spending a little more time looking in the rearview mirror has become a welcome change from the Covid-19 reports and politics - or for that matter, just about anything in the news!

The year is 1985, and Polaroid was a sponsor of an IMG event that turned the rodeo into team sports for two years. While many of us aren't in strong rodeo markets, if I remember my numbers, the rodeo was right up there with NASCAR when it came to popularity and attendance. IMG's push to get Polaroid involved was based on the fact there was a huge segment of the market the company's advertising just didn't reach.

For two seasons, I was the manager of Polaroid's rodeo team. The cowboys on each team contributed to their sponsor's points, and at the same time, maintained their individual standing with the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.) leading up to the Nationals.

If you follow rodeo, some very special cowboys were on our team. Right next to me, I'm the knucklehead with his eyes closed, is a bull-riding champion, Tuff Hedeman. He won the world championships three times, not mention dozens of other accomplishments over the years. You might also know a little more about him if you saw the movie "8 Seconds."  It's the story of bull-riding champion Lane Frost, played by Luke Perry. One of Frost's best friends was Tuff, who in the movie was played by Stephen Baldwin.

Next to Tuff are Bud and Jimmie Monroe. They're both national champions; Bud as a saddle bronc rider and Jimmie as a barrel racer. And right behind Jimmie is Rod Lyman, who was also a national champion steer wrestler, and president of the PRCA for many years.

Every industry has its champions, not just because of their personal achievements but their support of their industry and local communities. I may not remember everybody's name in the group above, but I sure remember their attitude and love for the sport. I went into the assignment, not knowing anything about the rodeo, and came out totally impressed with the athletic ability and each member of the team's outlook on life - not to mention so many great memories. It was simply a great group of people, and always focused on giving back.

So, when you look back on your career, what are some of the more random and out-of-the-ordinary things you've done?

Meanwhile, one of the best lessons I learned is that when the cowboys start practicing backflips off the barstools, it's time to go home! 

​Happy Throwback Thursday! Take the time to wander down Memory Lane. These days you don't have to go back very far to find moments that will make you smile.