9/19/2006

Chicago Car Salesmen Of Yore...


OK, this post is not going to make any sense to those of you who didn't either grow up around Chicago or watch a considerable amount of WGN on cable in the late 70s/early 80s. I don't know why I'm choosing to make this list, but just let me get it out of my system. I promise I'll soon be back to castigating politicians and teasing uppity famous people.

These are the ones I could remember:
  • Long Chevrolet - commercials had the Long's son as a newsboy who always got a pie in the face.
  • Celozzi-Ettleson Chevrolet - Nick & Maury holding bills saying "Where you always save more money!". At one time they had the #1 Chevy dealer in the country. Hard to find, tough to beat.
  • Al Piemonte Ford - Famous for the patented Al Piemonte "karate chop"-arm motion in his commercials.
  • Fencl-Tufo Chevy - Get a "Monster of a deal". Had moster puppets in their commercials.
  • Bob Rohrman - The "King of the Car Dealers" with a roaring lion in his commercials.
  • Harry Schmerler - Your "Singing Ford Dealer". Sang "Rock-a-bye your baby."
  • Dan O'Connor - O'Connor Can.
Who did I miss? By the way, here's a few more blasts from the past: Nelson Brothers furniture (Nelson Brothers loves me and they'll love you, too), Aronson Furniture (Home of the credit connection), Old Chicago Amusement Park, Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom, Magikist...

21 comments:

Valerie said...

What about the commercials with the Mom type figure who made lots of cookies? Howard Pontiac? Howard something....

Valerie said...

How could you forget Empire Carpet?!?!?!

Some Guy said...

Val-I did a post about Empire Carpet a while ago, so I didn't include it. I even have a link to their jingle. You are right about Howard Pontiac - nice work!

lulu said...

Weil (?) Olds in Libertyville, It's a beautiful place in the country!

vikkitikkitavi said...

What about Tom Raper RVs?

Worst dealership name ever!

Frank Sirmarco said...

I once saw Nick Celozzi in a pair of leopard-print bikini-briefs...it scarred me emotionally.

Moderator said...

What about that one car dealership in Elmhurst? They'd always show the owner's "Grandmother." And then at the end, she'd always chime in "On GRAND avenue..."

Some Guy said...

Lulu: I vaguely remember something like that.
Vikki: Yeah, rape is the last thing youwant on your mind when looking for an RV.
Frank: Was that when Maury was showing him how to anally accomodate a 24" hunk of Genoa Salami?
Grant: You are right! That's not the same one as the Howard Pontiac one mentioned above, is it?

Frank Sirmarco said...

Actually, it is the Howard Pontiac commericial that features Howard's mother saying, "On GRAND Avenue"

One time (not at band camp), my dad went to pick his company car up at Howard Pontiac, and they gave him a tin of cookies.

Mmmmmmmm, cookies (drool).

Frank Sirmarco said...

I was in a Kiddie Kingdom commercial when I was six. I waved at Santa.

Moderator said...

This has bothered me all day, but I just remembered it now.

Two commercials:

Victory Auto Wreckers: The guy opens his car door and the door falls off and her very dramatically throws his hands in the air.

Eagle Car Insurance: A person in an eagle costume sits on an egg of low insurance rates. A couple of babes stare at the eagle longingly and say "Wow. Look at those low rates."

lulu said...

tIf the women in the Eagle Insurance ads are babes Grant, I wonder how beautiful your wife really is?

Some Guy said...

Here's another one - The College Of Automation. Their phone# was 1-800-SUCCESS.

Frank Sirmarco said...

I'm through flipping burgers and frying fries,
I'm getting it together and I realize,
That to be a success takes detrmination,
So I'm enrolling in the College of Automation

The College of Automation
Just give 'em a call
Dial "success"
S-U-C-C-E-S-S success (fade out)

Bernard Sell said...

I'm a hip-hopper, something something, Blu-Blockers!

The vast variety of people wearing them in the commercial made me think of the Pod People, for some reason. It freaked me out.

louiskart said...

It really bothered me all day, but I just remembered it now. what a blog

Anonymous said...

I like the Chevy one. "Where you always save more money!". They're really tough to beat.

Anonymous said...

what about Danley's Garage World commercials?

Anonymous said...

If you had it with economic limitation, get on down to the college of automation.

Anonymous said...

What about HANDY ANDY


WITH HANDY ANDY. YOU GOT IT MADE

Sheri said...

Kids are KING!