Part Three: From Ted’s Typewriter to Today’s Tech – The Story Behind Prime Time
The first part of this series started with a beeper … a little plastic device that buzzed on your hip and meant you were expected to respond. The second part picked up with burned CDs and mixed tapes… hours spent curating the perfect mix to share with your best friend. Both stories were sparked by a Monday morning conversation with my son and his friends, who couldn’t believe how much effort went into “old school” connection compared to today’s instant everything.
Now, in Part Three, I want to bring it full circle. Because those stories of beepers and burned CDs aren’t just nostalgia, they’re reminders of how communication has always been about connection, responsiveness, and personalization. And they tie directly into the story of Prime Time.
Ted’s Typewriter
When I bought Prime Time six years ago, I stepped into an agency with deep roots in traditional media. One of my mentors, Ted Riemann, had built it that way. To this day, Ted doesn’t own a computer. He uses a typewriter. No email, no digital dashboards. And yet, he taught me some of the most important lessons I’ve ever learned about marketing.
Ted knew the value of traditional media: the impact of a strong TV buy, the reach of radio, the staying power of outdoor boards. He taught me that strategy isn’t about the tool, it’s about placing the right message in the right place at the right time. Those fundamentals never change.
Adding the New School
What I brought to the table was everything Ted didn’t touch, the digital side: SEO, social media strategy, Google Business Profiles, AI-ready websites, measurable data, analytics. Where Ted instilled the “why” behind traditional media, I’ve layered in the “how” of new technology.
It’s not about choosing one over the other. It’s about marrying them together. A billboard that sparks curiosity, paired with a digital campaign that captures the lead. A TV schedule that builds credibility, supported by social retargeting that closes the loop. That balance is where results happen.
The Prime Time Difference
That’s what makes Prime Time different. We’re built on the wisdom of the typewriter years and strengthened by the innovation of today’s tech. We don’t chase every new platform just because it’s new, and we don’t cling to tradition just because it’s comfortable. We use both … strategically, because that’s how you get proven results.
Back to the Breakfast Table
So when BC, Porter, and Dom were cracking up about how “ancient” beepers and burned CDs sound, I couldn’t help but smile. Yes, the tools change. The speed changes. But the fundamentals of connection remain the same.
And that’s the story of Prime Time: from Ted’s typewriter to today’s tech, we’ll always use the best mix of old and new to make sure our clients stand out.