Retrictions on Access
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Preferred Citation
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Biographical/Historical note
Scope and Content
Organization and Arrangement
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Leo Pearlstein papers
Creator:
Pearlstein, Leo
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.2151
Physical Description:
8.8 Linear Feet
(14 document boxes and 1 shoebox)
Date (inclusive): 1939-2011
Abstract: Leo Pearlstein is an American public relations executive known as the "Culinary King of Public Relations" and one of the pioneers
of food consulting. The collection is comprised of recipes, photographs, press releases, magazine clippings, letters, memoranda,
emails, menus, leaflets, and brochures related to Pearlstein's public relations buisness with the food and beverage industry.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections
for paging information.
Retrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the reference desk for
paging information.
Cookbooks in this collection have been individually cataloged in the UCLA Library online catalog. Records for these items
may be found by searching this keyword string, "Leo Pearlstein papers."
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are
retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where UCLA Library Special Collections does not
hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Leo Pearlstein Papers (Collection 2151). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Leo Pearlstein, 2012.
Biographical/Historical note
Leo Pearlstein is a retired American public relations executive. He is known as the "Culinary King of Public Relations" and
is considered one of the pioneers of food consulting and an expert on the food industry. In 1950 he founded a full -service
public relations and advertising firm, Lee & Associates, Inc. that included a food and beverage division, Western Research
Kitchens.
Named one of the top agencies in the country specializing in food and beverage, Pearlstein's clients included Mrs. Cubbison's
Stuffing, an account he held for 62 years. He was on the team that invented the "Pop-Up" turkey timer and handled promotions
for the California Turkey Advisory Board for more than 25 years.
The company pioneered ways to promote food products for many of California's agricultural commodities that included advisory
boards, trade associations and co-ops for almonds, apples, artichokes, asparagus, peaches, chives, figs, prunes, tomatoes,
fish and shrimp industries and more. Pearlstein was a forerunner of product placement on radio, television and movies to
garner publicity for his clients' products. His used celebrities, top chefs, home economists to develop recipes and ideas
for the home cook to promote the food products of his clients.
Specifically his experience in the food industry and his knowledge of how to use the media for nutrition education resulted
in a 1969 invitation to participate in the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health.
Pearlstein received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing at the University of Southern California, where he was honored with
the Paul G. Hoffman Award, which is presented to the most outstanding marketing graduate. He has guest-lectured at UCLA and
California State University, Long Beach, among others, on public relations and marketing in the food industry.
He has penned four books:
Celebrity Stew,
Recipes of the Stars,
Mrs. Cubbison's Best Stuffing Cookbook, and
Adventures in PR.
Scope and Content
The collection is comprised of recipes, photographs, press releases, magazine clippings, letters, memoranda, emails, menus,
leaflets, and brochures related to Leo Pearlstein's public relations business with the food and beverage industry. A significant
portion of the collection relates to the Mrs. Cubbison's Foods account, focusing on stuffing recipes. Other materials relate
to food-specific industries including apples, artichokes, asparagus, chives, eggs, figs, papayas, peaches, pineapples, plums,
prunes, seafood, and turkeys. Also included is a collection of Pearlstein's cookbooks.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection has been arranged in the following series:
- Series 1: Recipe Binders, 1957-1995
- Series 2: Mrs. Cubbison's Recipes, 1953-2011
- Series 3: Leaflets and Brochures, 1960s-1980s
- Series 4: Recipe Cards, 1952-1972
- Series 5: Cookbooks, 1939-2006
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Recipes
Public relations -- United States
Food industry and trade -- Advertising
Advertising -- Food
Mrs. Cubbison's Foods