Joey Carr, 74: So Florida pitchman
Garrett
JOEY CARR
Flashy pitchman on late-night TV
BY CARLI TEPROFF of the Miami Herald
Tue, Apr. 26, 2005
Throughout the 1970s and '80s, anyone flicking on the television at odd
hours would have seen Joey Carr, perhaps in a lime green leisure suit,
pitching everything from steaks to how to get legal help.
In 1981, Carr appeared on the cover of The Herald's TV magazine as
"South Florida's hottest pitchman," known for his crazy antics, flashy
gold jewelry and bright wardrobe. Over the years, he appeared in more
than 100 commercials -- many of them airing back-to-back.
On Saturday, the well-known pitchman died of cancer in Miami Beach at
age 74.
"Joey was just a character," said his brother and business partner
Steve Cohen. "Everyone knew Joey. He was just that type of guy."
Born Joseph Cohen in 1930 in New York, he entered the Navy after high
school. Two years later, he returned to New York and worked at various
odd-jobs.
In the early 1950s he moved with his family to Miami Beach with his
family.
It was 1959 and Cohen was working at a lounge. "The owner told him that
`Joseph Cohen didn't work.' He had to get a new name," his brother
said.
Cohen didn't know where "Carr" came from, but Joey settled on "Lloyd"
for a middle name by opening the phone book and randomly landing on it.
Throughout the 1960s, Joey Carr worked in a number of different jobs.
He was a road manager for a comedian, a dancer and a social director at
a Miami Beach hotel.
It wasn't until the early '70s that he began doing commercials, said
his brother. Carr was a good salesman and the owner asked him if he
wanted to do a commercial.
Soon after, Carr quit working at an appliance store and picked up many
local clients who wanted low-cost commercials. He began Joseph L. Carr
Advertising, and made spots for companies including Cohen and Cohen law
firm, American Dream Realty, Club Top Draw Restaurant and Eberhardt's
House of Steak.
For that one, he donned the lime green leisure suit with dark green
vinyl pads on the shoulders, giving him the appearance of a leprechaun
in Miami Beach. As owner Helen Eberhardt played her magic violin, Carr
announced Eberhardt's as the perfect place for "dining and dancing,"
his hands swaying at the phrase.
In the mid-1970s, Carr hosted his own television show on WKID called
Joey Carr's Western Theater. During that time he met one of his future
best friends: former Miami Dolphin Garo Yepremian.
"Joey asked me to be on his show and without thinking I said `yes,' not
knowing that it was about two hours from my house," recalled Yepremian.
"Joey was so thankful and nice and from that moment we became friends."
Yepremian said the one thing he remembers most about Carr was his sense
of humor.
He recalled a story where Carr went with him to an NFL convention to
Las Vegas. As soon as they got to the hotel, Carr excused himself to
use the restroom.
"The next thing I know, I hear his name being called over the
loudspeaker," Yepremian said.
"I got scared, I thought he was lost or something. But then I realized
that he purposely had himself paged, so people would know he was in a
Las Vegas casino."
In his free time, Carr loved to gamble -- whether it was horse racing,
cards or simply on what model car would be the next to drive by.
"He would bet on anything," Yepremian said. "Not for the money, just
for the excitement of winning."
In addition to his brother Steve Cohen, Carr is survived by his sister
Paula Carr and brother Michael Carr.
Services will be held at noon today at Riverside Gordon Memorial
Chapel, 1920 Alton Rd. in Miami Beach. Burial will follow at Mount
Sinai Memorial Park.
olde...@gmail.com
I'd love to know more or have my dad say more.
Joey i wish I met you I love you. My dad missed you 2 times a day talks about you. I saw you at my dads wedding on vhs. There's only 1 Joey Carr. What a great man I highly respect.