Alan Barzman

Alan Barzman, known to friends as "Barz", was a advertising writer and comedian. He was born in Portland, Oregon on December 1, 1931, and later died there on October 21, 2020. He graduated from the University of Oregon and received his master's from Boston University. Where, in 1956 he wrote his thesis "Paper-backs: a literary trend in communications". He specialized in radio advertisements with humor. In the 1960's he teamed up with cowriter Bob Kline, together they researched and released various advertisements, as well as released a humorous joke book called "This is the Nice (and Naughty) Book". Through his radio work he also got involved in voice over work for animation, on such projects as "Harry Nilsson 's The Point" 1971 animated television special, playing the narrator, and father roles in the second televised version. As the father mouse in the 1977 film "The Mouse and His Child". Also in bit parts in other animated TV films such as the 1979 "Puff the Magic Dragon in the Land of the Living Lies" playing a rock, and the 1980 film "Carlton Your Doorman" playing a Dog Catcher. His biggest TV role would come as the voice of Herb, a penguin puppet, in the science children's show "Beakman's World", along with his business partner Bert Berdis playing the voice of Don another penguin. While working on advertisement commercials he began working with Pat McCormick, and they eventually began a series of radio spots called "From Studio B", creating a entire production company called The From Studio B Company around these comedy skits. They released 12 records in the first "Season" which featured Alan interviewing Pat, in adlibbed comedy skits. A second Season of 260 skits from "From Studio B" was advertised, and recorded, but this time additional performers were also interviewed by Alan. During this time he also founded the award-winning advertising company Barzman & Company with Jim Kirby which evolved into Bert, Barz & Kirby Comedy Radio Company when [a2068205] joined them as a partner in 1982. In 1984 he and Berdis were the featured guests on a educational film called "Radio Advertising Concepts", by the Australian Film, Television & Radio School. His book "Hearing Voices: Creating, Voicing & Producing Great Radio Commercials" was published in 2002, it was later republished in India as "Radio Advertising", by Unistar books in 2004. He is mostly known for being the voice on the television commercials with the Energizer Bunny, Alan says the famous phrase "He keeps going, and going, and going." He continued working in advertising at least until about 2003-2004, with his company "Barzman & Company".