Unprized Prizewinner

When 59-year-old Artist Paul Burlin won first prize in Pepsi-Cola's "Portrait of America" contest (TIME, Nov. 19), he was happy to get the $2,500, said it "comes in handy." By last week he was less happy about it. Pepsi-Cola apparently did not agree with the artists' jury which had given top honors to Burlin's Soda Jerker. Burlin's heavily satirical picture, which was as cluttered as a cosmetics counter and as messy-looking as a spilled sundae, had been omitted from Pepsi-Cola's New Year calendar, which contained reproductions of twelve other prizewinners. Pepsi-Cola has a stake in the dignity of the American drugstore. Snapped Burlin, after getting off 300 hot words to the management: "The trouble with these big business firms is they are so bloody serious."

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