Creative Director, Boxoffice Pro, 2008-2019
Kenneth James Bacon, the creative director of Boxoffice Pro, passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness on December 20, 2019.
His passing came as a tremendous shock to all of us here at Boxoffice Pro. Ken had served as creative director of this publication since 2008, but that title doesn’t reflect the full role he played at the magazine. That Boxoffice Pro is still in publication owes a great deal to Ken Bacon, who, early in his tenure, shepherded the magazine through some of its leanest years. Ken was the soul of this publication throughout the 2010s, responsible for the design and look of our magazine.
Throughout the years of our work together, Ken would occasionally mention his intention of—and excitement about—staying through the publication’s centennial anniversary in 2020. He said he wouldn’t consider retiring before having a chance to design the first issue of our second hundred years.
Ken’s passing occurred on the very day we were scheduled to send our January 2020 issue, precisely the first of our centennial year, to the printer. We felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to complete the issue the way Ken had intended, honoring his desire to have a direct hand in the centennial. We were committed to not only release a January issue, but Ken’s January issue—his final one for the magazine. That issue will be reaching subscribers in the coming weeks.
Ken had a tradition after sending each issue to the printer. He would include all of us in an email that would contain just a single sentence. Having successfully published this issue using his final designs, it feels like the perfect way to sign off in his memory:
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.”
Kenneth James Bacon’s obituary was published in New Zealand’s The Nelson Mail. Donations supporting Ken’s daughter, Ally, can be made on GoFundMe.
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