/— /—' \Th /— rJ "Our first six subjects were selected because they apply mass production to at random just off the top of my the aesthetics of taste." head," recalls Robbins, who went on The success of paint-by-numbers to design cake decorating kits, toys and its acquisition by other firms and promotional materials for other caused Robbins and his family to move firms. "As we got more into the busi- out of Detroit. He and his wife, Estelle, ness, we got letters from lots of people along with their two sons, Larry and who were telling us exactly what they Michael, lived in Toledo for a long wanted to paint. All we really did was time. With family a priority, the artist give people what they wanted. and his wife often return to Michigan, "We had trends come and go. In the visiting relatives including his sister, early days, we couldn't do enough bal- Ilene Silverman, and brother, Harry. lerinas. Later on, religious subjects With paint-by-numbers available at became very popular. Although there's Toys R Us, Kmart and other chain still a basic core of people who like the traditional things — landscapes, seascapes, still lifes, animals — a lot of the business now is licensed characters, from Disney [standbys] to Spider Man." While practically every- one who worked on the development and early marketing of the Craft Master kits was Jewish, the religious paintings captured Christian tradi- tions. Jewish subjects, they determined, would not have a large enough mar- ket. Larry Bird, curator of the Division of Social History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., per- sonally collects the pat- tern-based paintings and is working toward an exhi- bition. He attributes the success of the craft to the financially comfortable time when the kits first came into stores and the Max Klein (19164993), owner of Palmer high quality of the fin- Paints and the driving:lb or behind Craft ished picture. Master paint-by-numbers- sets. "The post-war years were relatively prosperous, and people had disposable stores, Robbins is called upon to lec- income and leisure," says Bird, respon- ture about the book before different sible for paint-by-numbers memora- groups. bilia amassed by Max Klein and "We worked very hard but didn't donated to the Smithsonian by Klein's realize how successful we were until daughter, Jacquelyn Schiffman. "The many years later," says Robbins, who four big trends [in those times] were occasionally calls upon his watercolor television, Scrabble, aquariums and talents to do some realistic paintings paint-by-numbers. just for his personal pleasure. "There "The Smithsonian has a really nice are some people who like the book for paint-by-numbers collection that nostalgia and others who look at it as includes paintings in various stages of a marketing [study], an example of processing, scrapbooks, publicity creativity, perseverance, entrepreneur- material and company newsletters. I ship and risk taking — what it takes think the pictures were well executed to triumph." I 1 and attractive and have held up ARTISTS ralativreenciAmsli: H Mina A DOWNTOWN ART SHOW TRAVELING SATURDAY, 1 OAM - 6PM SUNDAY, 'I 1AM - 5PM WASHINGTON AVENUE DOWNTOWN ROYAL OAK INFORMATION: (248)547-4000 PRODUCED BY THE DOWNTOWN ROYAL OAK ASSOCIATION A CHAPTER OF THE ROYAL OAK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Please ask about our private room seating up to 30. Great for birthdays, showers, business meeting. Call ahead to book, ask for Zach, Rod or Cary. •Great Salmon, Whitefish and Rainbow Trout Daily •Friday's our Fish Fry $9.95 • Children's Menu WE LOVE KIDS! OFF I Two Dinner I Entrees I (Single Dinner Entree $230 Off & Sin gle Lunch Entree $1.50 Off) Chit 2 coupons per table. Not valid with other offers or on holidays. Expires 7/31/99 j 8115 Richardson (Between Haggerty & Union Lake) (248) 366-7979 Formerly of Oak Park New King Lim's Your Host Harold Horn Specializing in Authentic r 20% — I I CANTONESE • SZECHUEN I 1 OFF TOTAL BILL I MANDARIN FOOD 1 Not good with any other offer I OPEN 7 DAYS I L With coupon • Expires 7/31/99 Lunch and Dinner 30701 W. 12 Mile (Regency Plaza) East of Orchard Lake (248) 474-2781 Detroit Jewish News 6/11 1999 83