It’s a sad day here in Santa Barbara. One of the community’s most beloved persons, Johnathan Winters passed away on April 11, 2013, at his home here in Montecito. Everywhere you go today it’s the only thing people are talking about. Mr. Winters was a very generous person whose warmth and humor touched many people here. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr.Winters and his family.

In 1950 – 1955 my father, Stanley Lomas, worked for Arthur Godfrey and produced live television ads for his television program.  As the story goes Arthur Godfrey discovered Jonathan Winters while he was performing stand-up in a club in NYC. Mr. Godfrey was the first person to put Mr. Winters on TV. While growing up, whenever Jonathan Winters came on the TV my father made us watch him (he didn’t have to try very hard)…and, we all loved him.  My father has an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute for his contributions to early television advertising. Before retiring my father created the “Reach Out and Touch Someone” ad campaign for AT&T, and that doesn’t even begin to tell that story…

Jonathan Winters’s official website:  http://www.jonathanwinters.com/