Howard Dietz Howard Dietz Howard Dietz (September 8, 1896 – July 30, 1983) was an American publicist, lyricist, and librettist. Dietz was born in New York City. He attended Columbia College and then studied journalism at Columbia University. He also served as publicist/director of advertising for Goldwyn Pictures and later MGM and is often credited with creating Leo the Lion, its lion mascot, and choosing their slogan "Ars Gratia Artis". In 1942, he was made MGM's Vice President in Charge of Publicity. He held that position until his retirement in 1957. He began a long association with composer Arthur Schwartz when they
Artis the Spoonman Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival (2003 and 2004) and the Oregon Country Fair. He was a featured performer at the 2013 Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle. Artis has made television appearances on the BBC and "Late Night with David Letterman", among others. He plays an old man in the 1995 film "Toast with the Gods". Artis has stated he was a sailor in the United States Navy in the late 1960s, and worked for the United States Postal Service in the early 1970s. Artis suffered a heart attack in 2002, and a benefit was organized for him in Seattle. He was reported