Bob Matsumoto

Roy enjoyed tennis. We traded many fun volleys at each other.

MY OFFICE WAS NEXT TO HIS.
Roy shouts out: ‘Bob, need your help! I can’t open one of my flat files!”
I walk in, he points to the file. I easily pull in open. It’s lined with 12-15 acrylic cube NY Art Director Gold Medal Awards. He lingers a long smile at me. “One day, you may get... one.”

CROWDED ELEVATOR
I step in, see Roy in the back. As I leave to get off on another floor, he shouts out:
“Hey Bob, don’t forget to deliver my shirts. Medium starch on hangers!”
The door begins to close. Roy is smirking. The crowd is howling. The next day I let him know my feelings. “Roy, that wasn’t funny. I’m Japanese, not Chinese”. Roy: “Bob, nobody knows the difference.”

A BIRTHDAY GREETING
He left a phone message. “ I’m calling to wish you a Happy Birthday. I’m sure you’re enjoying it like all the others...ALONE ”..........(Click)

BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL
Heard Roy was staying there for a TV shoot. Called the front desk to leave him a message. However, I insisted they NOT leave it in the usual box for delivery. NOT to leave it under his door but to HAND DELIVER my note! The person felt the importance. He guaranteed my request would be taken care of. “Sir, I feel the urgency. What is your message ?”

I slowly enunciated: “Mr. Grace, your toupee is ready. MATSUMOTO of Beverly Hills.”

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Bob and Roy in front of Roy’s wall of Volkswagen ads.

INVITATION TO ROY
The LA Creative Club invited Roy to speak at a meeting. When I requested he show his reel, he quickly said: “You want the short reel or the long reel? The short one is an hour long.”

The LA ad community packed Perino’s that evening. I emceed the program. After he showed his great reel, I announced we had collected 4x5 index cards for a Q and A. “Roy, How much do you make a year?” He looks over at me and replies: “More than you will ever make in 3 lifetimes.” The Q and A ended with his words of wisdom and experiences. Because we were a fledgling new club, we didn’t have a nice memento prepared in appreciation for his appearance and presentation.

Instead, behind a black drape, I unveiled the original storyboards of “Funeral”, his drawings and the original typed copy with a couple of penciled copy changes still cleanly tacked.

He was taken aback, shocked. Roy: “This was done 10 years ago! How is it YOU have it?” I smiled and said, “Roy, you’ll never know in 3 lifetimes.”

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One day, Roy wanted me to meet him at the Hills. He introduced me to Diane Rothchild. (I recalled her from DDB days.) Roy then announced they were opening an agency together. “You’re leaving DDB?”

He nodded the announcement with pride and explained their need to launch an ad in the NY Times with complete secrecy. We knew that could not be handled in NYC without it being leaked. Roy trusted me to take It on for him here in LA. I gave him my word it would get done.

Out of curiosity, I asked about the headline and visual. He quickly scribbled it down on a napkin.
I slowly looked it over, paused, and a quiet way said: “Roy, this the best you can do?”

Roy approved my hiring the photographer Carl Furuta, the casting, the final layout and mechanical. The ad was produced and ran without a hitch. I felt he appreciated my help. He would have done it for me.

One more thing worth noting about Roy is his loyalty. After Carl Furuta did the photo for the launch ad, Roy continued to give him work on Range Rover for over a decade. He was loyal to people who were talented and came through.

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Jerry Della Femina once said: “Advertising is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.” 

I’m so glad I experienced it with Roy. Miss him in so many ways.

—Bob Matsumoto
Senior Art Director
DDB NY 1963-1970 / DDB LA 1971-1974

Diane Rothschild

Evan Stark