[1][2] Born to a Jewish family,[3][4] Altman served as an Army weapons instructor during World War II.
[1] Although he earned a Juris Doctor degree, he instead accepted a job as an account executive with the fashion house, Irving Serwer Advertising.
[1] He promoted the Russ Togs brand with a red neon sign that read RRRRRRRRRuss Toggs at the entrance to the Midtown Tunnel in Manhattan, elongating the name into a sexy purr.
[1] The firm then diversified out of fashion advertising winning accounts with the Spanish tourist board, Ezo denture adhesive, and Lanson champagne, and handled the introduction of Newsweek's Inside Sports magazine.
Altman, Stoller, Weiss was later purchased by Nadler & Larimer Advertising where it was maintained as a subsidiary before being fully absorbed and the name retired in 1983.