John Simes
John Simes was a publicist who represented Debbie Reynolds, Lee Marvin, the People’s Choice Awards, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and the American Film Institute. He was the first publicist for the latter and was a member of the Publicists Guild for more than 45 years.
Simes got his start in Hollywood in 1961 as the vice president of advertising and publicity for Statewide Theaters. When the company was sold, he sought work as an agent. He worked for Jim Mahoney & Associates and headed up awards campaigns for Frank Sinatra and Marvin; the latter won the best actor Oscar for the 1965 release Cat Ballou.
Simes went on to work at the agencies Solters & Sabinson, Steinberg, Lipsman & Brokaw and Rogers & Cowan, among others. When he worked with Jay Bernstein and Rogers & Cowan he was the vice president of their television departments, serving major advertising agencies and clients such as Procter & Gamble, Dr. Pepper, Chevrolet and General Mills. He also represented the Miss America Pageant, the Harlem Globetrotters and the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Additionally, Simes was in charge of publicity for Bob Hope television specials, The Merv Griffin Show and The Muppet Show.
John Simes was a publicist who represented Debbie Reynolds, Lee Marvin, the People’s Choice Awards, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and the American Film Institute. He was the first publicist for the latter and was a member of the Publicists Guild for more than 45 years.
Simes got his start in Hollywood in 1961 as the vice president of advertising and publicity for Statewide Theaters. When the company was sold, he sought work as an agent. He worked for Jim Mahoney & Associates and headed up awards campaigns for Frank Sinatra and Marvin; the latter won the best actor Oscar for the 1965 release Cat Ballou.
Simes went on to work at the agencies Solters & Sabinson, Steinberg, Lipsman & Brokaw and Rogers & Cowan, among others. When he worked with Jay Bernstein and Rogers & Cowan he was the vice president of their television departments, serving major advertising agencies and clients such as Procter & Gamble, Dr. Pepper, Chevrolet and General Mills. He also represented the Miss America Pageant, the Harlem Globetrotters and the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Additionally, Simes was in charge of publicity for Bob Hope television specials, The Merv Griffin Show and The Muppet Show.
In 1975, with Don Garrett, he formed the publicity firm Garrett/Simes. He reflected on his Hollywood career in a memoir titled Jack of All Trades: 54 Jobs in 82 Years.
Simes died May 2, 2015, in North Hollywood, California. He was 86.
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