'Marketing the Moon' presentation planned with Captain James A. Lovell

"Marketing the Moon" is the title of a lecture highlighting NASA's efforts to nurture public support of the space program.

Richard Jurek, president of Inland Marketing & Communications Inc. in Oak Brook, will be join Captain James A. Lovell for the fundraising event at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at Lake Forest High School, Raymond Moore Auditorium in Lake Forest.

The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society is presenting the program that features Jurek's presentation. Lovell will join him in sharing his personal experiences as a NASA astronaut. Lovell piloted Gemini 7, commanded Gemini 12, orbited the moon on Apollo 8 and commanded Apollo 13.

Primed by science fiction, magazine articles and TV appearances, Americans were a receptive audience for NASA's pioneering "brand journalism." Jurek, an author, will tell the story of the sophisticated efforts by NASA to market the idea of space travel - through news releases, bylined articles, product placement (Tang!) and radio and television features. American astronauts, who signed exclusive agreements with Life magazine, became the heroic and patriotic faces of the program.

Tickets are $25 for members, $40 for nonmembers and students free with ID. Tickets are available at (847) 234-5253 or at www.lflbhistory.org. This event was underwritten by Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company.