Local TV ads..remember any of these?
Jamie
locations, "Dublin, Berkeley, San Lorenzo, Cupertino, San Jose." What
was the name of this camera chain?
---The Furniture USA spots with Ed Barbar(?). He opened with "Hi,
kids," and concluded with "Se habla español. Bye kids!"
--Some diamond store spot that ended "The store with a heart!" What
was this store called?
--That annoying Pete Ellis Dodge ad that went "Pete Ellis Dodge. 1095
West El Camino real, Sunnyvale."
--The car dealership ads with Cal Worthington.
--An ad for Los Gatos Honda with the slogan
"Come to Los Gatos Honda if you're really, really smart
The little Honda dealer with a big, big heart."
The Los Gatos Honda commercial is from the mid-90s; all the others
are from the 80s, possibly originating from the late 70s. Most of
them aired on KNTV when it was an ABC station, and many of them--
especially the Furniture USA one--aired on Saturdays during
cartoons.
Remember any of these? Any you remember that I missed?
Concrete Bob
> --Some diamond store spot that ended "The store with a heart!" What
> was this store called?
That was Gensler-Lee Diamonds.....The place to buy diamonds if you're
really smart !!!
> --That annoying Pete Ellis Dodge ad that went "Pete Ellis Dodge. 1095
> West El Camino real, Sunnyvale."
>
And that's the truth !!! When I lived in Southern California in the
late 1980s and early 1990s, Pete Ellis pasted the television ads with
similar audio irritation. Slogans with a chorus of kids singing:
"Long Beach Freeway, Firestone exit, South Gate !.............91
Freeway, Lakewood exit, Bellflower !" I think the Pete Ellis
dealerships went under in the early part of this decade. But, I'm not
certain.
> Remember any of these? Any you remember that I missed?
Not a commercial......But how about "TV POW" back in the late 1970s/
early 1980s ? We had it up here in Sacramento on Channel 40. I think
KTVU had it as well. That was more irritating than the Pete Ellis
ads.
Jamie
> early 1980s ? We had it up here in Sacramento on Channel 40. I think
> KTVU had it as well. That was more irritating than the Pete Ellis
> ads.
Yes, it was on KTVU along with those "Bits and Pieces" segments with
Humphrey Hambone and Charlie Horse, and the PSAs with people saying
"I'm proud to be a(n) (fill in the blank) American." Anyone remember
these? I son't know if they still carry these PSAs today, but I did
see one of the Charlie & Humphrey segments in 1991 during a "Haogan
Family rerun."
Back to ads--another I remember was the "Matthews, 6400 Mission
Street, Top of the Hill, Daly City." And their promos saying that if
you bought a particular product you'd get a bike. Someone would say
"Buy (something or other)" and the ad cut to a bunch of people saying
in unison "Get a bike!" They even had some saying it in Spanish,
"Recibe una bicicleta!"
spamtr...@gmail.com
> locations, "Dublin, Berkeley, San Lorenzo, Cupertino, San Jose." What
> was the name of this camera chain?
Was it Wolf Camera?
> ---The Furniture USA spots with Ed Barbar(?). He opened with "Hi,
> kids," and concluded with "Se habla español. Bye kids!"
>
> --Some diamond store spot that ended "The store with a heart!" What
> was this store called?
> --The car dealership ads with Cal Worthington.
>
> Remember any of these? Any you remember that I missed?
Worthington (Giant Cal Worthington with his dog Spot) opened a Chevy
dealership in Cupertino that I think is the Whole Foods today.
I remember the cheap junk furniture store chain that changed its name
every few years: The Brick, Furnishings 2000, etc.
Remember "Take a peek.. In the bedroom... Take a peek."?
And Top of the Hill, Daly City, with a mountain bike free with every
purchase.
I once got a free video from Captain Video from calling into M. Dung's
radio show. Does Captain Video still exist?
cph...@gmail.com
> Not a commercial......But how about "TV POW" back in the late 1970s/
> early 1980s ? We had it up here in Sacramento on Channel 40. I think
> KTVU had it as well. That was more irritating than the Pete Ellis
> ads.
We had it on KTTV-11 here in So. Cal....as I remember, kids sent in
their name. The producers drew a name at random, called the kid, and
the kid was able to play video games (Pong, and some sort of space
game) by yelling "POW" into the phone (firing a shot or whatever). The
player had a fixed amount of time (about a minute, if I recall
correctly) to rack up points (Pow Bucks) which then could be used to
buy toys and other merchandise displayed on the show.
John Higdon
<1f2f9ec1-aed8-4808...@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>,
Jamie <jan...@ihollister.net> wrote:
> --The camera store whose ads ended with the singing of the store
> locations, "Dublin, Berkeley, San Lorenzo, Cupertino, San Jose." What
> was the name of this camera chain?
DiNevi Camera.
--
John Higdon
+1 408 ANdrews 6-4400
gvk...@yahoo.com
> Any you remember that I missed?
Jay Brown of Spartan Dodge---"Home of the Price Slasher"
With the little "Price slasher" hacking and hewing at at the price.
"We're right on the price and right on the corner"
Jim Wessman for Gateway Chevorlet.......sponsoring wrestling on
KTVU......up on his ladder doing commercials, until
Kenji Shibuya or Mitzu Avocado came over once and busted up his ladder
and one of the cars.
And of course, All of those commercials with "Paul of the Diamond
Center"........pure class. What new couple wouldn't want to seal
their sacred wedding vows with a ring from Paul?
And forever..........
Ellis Brooks Chevrolet...........with the famous 5 Pounds of Hills
Brothers Coffee.
Jamie
of rap musicians singing "'Cause we don't sell fridges and no TVs,
just auto sound." Anyone remember that? KWSS aired this ad around
the end of 1987.
Cable Shill
All night movies hosted by a spokesman for MMM Carpets. A kind of talk
show format. Back then it was unusual for a station to be on all
night.
McMahans Furniture. "McMahans, McMahans, it's the store with so much
more!"
spamtr...@gmail.com wrote:
>Remember "Take a peek.. In the bedroom... Take a peek."?
Tom Campbell? Always yammering about water beds and stereos. Biggest
memory of the 70s for me.
--
"From spongecake to satellites, it's gotta be Krebstar"
George Grapman
> --The camera store whose ads ended with the singing of the store
> locations, "Dublin, Berkeley, San Lorenzo, Cupertino, San Jose." What
> was the name of this camera chain?
>
> ---The Furniture USA spots with Ed Barbar(?). He opened with "Hi,
> kids," and concluded with "Se habla español. Bye kids!"
I recall Ed fled the area under a legal cloud. I went there once and
two things surprised me, the store was not that big and most items
lacked price tags. I later learned that to avoid usury laws (most of his
business was credit and he carried the paper) they would put a package
together and nail the buyer with a very high price(remember if the
maximum interest rate is___percent and you take $500 worth of junk ,sell
it for $800 at the maximum interest you are legal).
>
> --Some diamond store spot that ended "The store with a heart!" What
> was this store called?
>
> --That annoying Pete Ellis Dodge ad that went "Pete Ellis Dodge. 1095
> West El Camino real, Sunnyvale."
>
> --The car dealership ads with Cal Worthington.
Cal was a smart advertiser. He paid low rates and took whatever spots
were open.
>
> --An ad for Los Gatos Honda with the slogan
> "Come to Los Gatos Honda if you're really, really smart
> The little Honda dealer with a big, big heart."
>
>
> The Los Gatos Honda commercial is from the mid-90s; all the others
> are from the 80s, possibly originating from the late 70s. Most of
> them aired on KNTV when it was an ABC station, and many of them--
> especially the Furniture USA one--aired on Saturdays during
> cartoons.
>
> Remember any of these? Any you remember that I missed?
Jay_____from Spartan Dodge. He also had legal problems. Something
about phantom buyers getting financed. Jay got paid and the credit
people ate the loan.
I used to laugh at his ads until seeing he was one of the highest
volume Dodge dealers in the country.
M&M carpets with the two "old guys".
The car dealer whose ads were finally changed from "bring your wife
and your pink slip" to "bring your pink slip".
And, of course, Matthew's Top of the Hill,Daly City. another
advertiser with legal problems,
George Grapman
George Grapman
> Jamie <jan...@ihollister.net> wrote:
>> Remember any of these? Any you remember that I missed?
>
> All night movies hosted by a spokesman for MMM Carpets. A kind of talk
> show format. Back then it was unusual for a station to be on all
> night.
>
> McMahans Furniture. "McMahans, McMahans, it's the store with so much
> more!"
>
> spamtr...@gmail.com wrote:
>> Remember "Take a peek.. In the bedroom... Take a peek."?
>
> Tom Campbell? Always yammering about water beds and stereos. Biggest
> memory of the 70s for me.
type of ad.
John Higdon
George Grapman <sfge...@paccbell.net> wrote:
> Jay_____from Spartan Dodge.
J. (not "Jay") Brown.
> M&M carpets with the two "old guys".
The Old Sourdough and Wachikanoka.
> The car dealer whose ads were finally changed from "bring your wife
> and your pink slip" to "bring your pink slip".
Putnam Group.
> And, of course, Matthew's Top of the Hill,Daly City. another
> advertiser with legal problems,
That spread to his spokesperson, Tom Campbell.
John Higdon
Cable Shill <cable...@comcast.net> wrote:
> Tom Campbell? Always yammering about water beds and stereos. Biggest
> memory of the 70s for me.
I started working at KLOK while TC was still there. Bumped into him from
time to time setting up special promotional broadcasts.
Prided himself for having phone numbers that ended in "0000".
David Kaye
> --The camera store whose ads ended with the singing of the store
> locations, "Dublin, Berkeley, San Lorenzo, Cupertino, San Jose." What
> was the name of this camera chain?
Denevi Camera. First store was in the San Lorenzo Village shopping
center, which was also the place where two other chains began:
Mervyn's and a small clothing chain called Grutman's (now defunct).
Denevi sold his chain to the Ritz/Wolf camera chain. What's left of
his empire is now called Denevi Video Expressions. It's a video
format transfer service located in Hayward.
> ---The Furniture USA spots with Ed Barbar(?). He opened with "Hi,
> kids," and concluded with "Se habla español. Bye kids!"
Ed Barbara, as I recall.
> --Some diamond store spot that ended "The store with a heart!" What
> was this store called?
Gensler Lee Diamonds.
>
> Remember any of these? Any you remember that I missed?
In a slightly earlier era there were:
(1) Dr Ross Dog Food ("...is doggone good")
(2) Four Wheel Brake (jingle sung to the tune "Three Blind Mice")
(3) Mode O'Day (a women's clothing store that advertised a lot on the
"women's" homemaking programs on local radio and TV)
(4) Meader's Cleaners (the last one closed just a few years ago in
SF. There's also a self-supporting sign, the only remnant of a
Meader's in West Oakland -- the building itself was torn down decades
ago.
(5) Meter Plan -- a finance company that let you rent household
appliances. Rent a TV for $2 a week, etc.
(6) Mel's Drive-In ("Come on, come up to Mel's for a Mel of a Mel
burger, a Mel of a Mel of a Mel of a Mel of a Mel of a Mel burger. A
mighty spectacle on a bun, a fantasy of food and fun, a deal of a meal
for everyone, a Mel of a Mel burger.")
I'm afraid there are more...
David Kaye
> Jim Wessman for Gateway Chevorlet.......sponsoring wrestling on
> KTVU......up on his ladder doing commercials, until
> Kenji Shibuya or Mitzu Avocado came over once and busted up his ladder
> and one of the cars.
It was Kinji Shibuya chasing Pat Patterson around the studio that
night, in one of those fake fights. Jim Wessman used to do a lot of
his car spots sitting on the ladder. That night, when Kinji and Pat
were running around they accidentally hit the ladder and Wessman was
totally freaked. He was certain he was going to fall.
My dad delivered mail to Kinji Shibuya (aka Robert Shibuya). I
believe he had a degree from the University of Hawaii, but I forget
the field of study. Kinji spoke with an educated accent, not the
broken English he used on TV. He lived in Hayward. He and his family
were members of the Buddhist temple in Union City. It was a kick to
go to their fundraising fair and hear him call out bingo numbers and
stuff. I believe he wrestled until the mid-70s. He was in at least 2
dozen movies and made appearances on the Dean Martin Show, the Tonight
Show, etc. His face is synonymous with the "dirty wrestler" image of
that era. And to think he'd wrestle nearly every week in the KTVU
studios when he wasn't touring. Amazing.
Oh, and it's Mitsu Arakawa, by the way.
David Kaye
>
> What was the deal with the coffee?
Ellis Brooks used to say, "I'll give you 5 pounds of coffee if you can
beat our deal." A small token to be sure, but it stuck. ("See Ellis
Brooks today, for your Chevrolet, corner of Bush and Van Ness. He's
got a deal for you, what a deal for you, a Chevy deal that you will
like the best. [That's right everybody...]" -- sung to the tune of
Chevy's "See the USA" theme by a woman who sang like Dinah Shore.)
And then there was Uncle Saul Wiseman of Wiseman's Furniture....("This
is your uncle Saul, saying nothin' but thanks!")
David Kaye
> Jay_____from Spartan Dodge. He also had legal problems.
Jay Brown from Spartan Dodge, "home of the price slasher", with a
short animation keyed over the video of Jay talking. He recorded a 45
rpm record called "Swade" (which I guess was supposed to be Suede?)
and thought he could sell them and become a big recording star. Poor
guy couldn't sell them. Finally he gave one away with each visit to
Spartan Dodge (no obligation, just go in and get your copy).
> I used to laugh at his ads until seeing he was one of the highest
> volume Dodge dealers in the country.
Never underestimate the draw of the guy who looks hokey, hapless, and/
or sleazy. He's usually got the marketing thing worked out to a
science.
> And, of course, Matthew's Top of the Hill,Daly City. another
> advertiser with legal problems,
I once went in there for a recorder. A guy greeted me at the door and
insisted on being at my side for my entire visit. I saw what I wanted
but didn't buy it because the guy insisted on financing it. I walked
out.
George Grapman
George Grapman
wait on line. When I entered a sales person insisted on standing by me
even though I had no specific items in mind. He annoyed me and I left.
Later when i worked in a video store and people said "Just looking" I
welcomed them to do that, told them to let me know if they had questions
and then backed off.
SVU
Cue the deep voiced announcer: "At Camino Camper, you can get a new RV
for only Seventeen, Nine, Eleven!"
Brad Houser
Buck
He was a complete professional.
I was watching an AM movie hosted by him, when it was interrupted to report
a shooting in Dallas.
Buck
"Concrete Bob" <zee...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:7fe1f136-154a-458c...@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
Buck
The wrong POW!
Mine was of a local KTVU show (Once again, I THINK KTVU, that was in the
mold of Batman and "Sock It To Me".
Pop Art on the tube.
BUCK
"Buck" <Buck@buckaroovile@Cowtown.net> wrote in message
news:8re0k.2959$N87...@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
Buck
It WAS supposed to be Dinah Shore who did the jingle when she needed the
money.
It was "FAHV POUNDS OF HILLS BRUTHAHS COFFEE!"
BUCK
"David Kaye" <sfdavi...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f8889ceb-3da8-436c...@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
Buck
He was a federal fugitive.
Got into getting folks invested in Gold, pocketed a lot of money, got
indicted and bailed.
His wife surfaces about five years ago, and said he had died.
(He had!)
BYE KIDS!
Buck
"George Grapman" <sfge...@paccbell.net> wrote in message
news:3E50k.1373$89....@nlpi069.nbdc.sbc.com...
Buck
I think that was his exit from the Bay Area.
Buck
"David Kaye" <sfdavi...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:9965c996-6688-405c...@34g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
Buck
Good people.
Original Raider advertisers.
Frank Jr. sold out to Ritz or Wolf on retirement.
Buck
"John Higdon" <HisRoyalRa...@kome.com> wrote in message
news:HisRoyalRadioHigness-...@news.announcetech.com...
David Kaye
> News Flash, David!
>
> It WAS supposed to be Dinah Shore who did the jingle when she needed the
> money.
It was not Dinah Shore. First, she didn't "need the money"; she was a
fabulously successful recording artist and TV star whose rates were so
high Ellis Brooks couldn't have afforded her. Second, my mom worked
with the woman at KFRC and told me her name once but I forget it
now.
You lose, bozo. Thanks for playing.
John Higdon
<9965c996-6688-405c...@34g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>,
David Kaye <sfdavi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Jay Brown from Spartan Dodge, "home of the price slasher", with a
> short animation keyed over the video of Jay talking.
That's "J. Brown". He was adamant about that.
John Higdon
George Grapman <sfge...@paccbell.net> wrote:
> I had similar experience. I just wanted to look around but had to
> wait on line. When I entered a sales person insisted on standing by me
> even though I had no specific items in mind. He annoyed me and I left.
> Later when i worked in a video store and people said "Just looking" I
> welcomed them to do that, told them to let me know if they had questions
> and then backed off.
The late Dave Evans (of KALW) and I went there once and actually endured
the the waiting room, the wine, the salesperson who stuck like glue, and
everything else. The single purchase made between the two of us: the
loss-leader Sony clock radio for $19.95.
They were not happy campers!
John Higdon
George Grapman <sfge...@paccbell.net> wrote:
> What problems to Campbell have?
Tom had a bad habit of wanting to get pieces of the action of his
advertising clients. Even when they were not willing to have such an
arrangement, he would brag that he was involved as an owner or some such.
More than once when some of his shady advertisers would be investigated
by government agencies, they would come knocking on Tom's door as a
person of interest.
John Higdon
David Kaye <sfdavi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Never underestimate the draw of the guy who looks hokey, hapless, and/
>or sleazy. He's usually got the marketing thing worked out to a
>science.
Actually, J. Brown was impeccably dressed in a business suit on camera at
all times. When the account moved from KICU to KNTV, they spruced him up
even more. In fact, it became almost too plastic and spoiled the effect,
an observation which I passed on to Stu Parks at the time.
>I once went in there for a recorder. A guy greeted me at the door and
>insisted on being at my side for my entire visit. I saw what I wanted
>but didn't buy it because the guy insisted on financing it. I walked
>out.
I believe they even suggested that Dave Evans finance his clock radio, but
in his inimitable style, he dropped a Franklin on the salesman's desk.
Phil Keller
There was a huge spike in coffee prices sometime in the 1950's, much
like the gas price upturn we are experianceing right now. The offer of
free coffee for a test drive brought in the customers.
Phil
Phil Keller
>
> (1) Dr Ross Dog Food ("...is doggone good")
Sponsored afternoon movies on KRON. Lou Hurley and his dog Myrtle were
the hosts. Lou and his wife had a bitter contest over the ownership of
the dog when they divorced. She got custody, but he got the right to use
the dog on TV. Lou ended his career doing traffic for KGO from his
helicopter.
Phil
Buck
Thanks for playing.
Buck
"David Kaye" <sfdavi...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:dd5badd8-daf1-4dcc...@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
Cubit
I thought it was a reward for taking a test drive.
Cubit
"John Higdon" <HisRoyalRa...@kome.com> wrote in message
news:HisRoyalRadioHigness-...@news.announcetech.com...
0000 numbers were supposed to be used for central office emergency lines.
These lines were based in another central office and came in on trunk pairs.
Thus, if the CO were completely down, they would have dialtone from the
other CO.
In the early 1980s the Spacepark office in Santa Clara had a 2 hour CO
failure. When the test board tried to contact them via the emergency lines
connected to the Bellomy office, they found that the emergency lines were
dead. I got to do the repair of the emergency lines the next day.
Some of these 0000 numbers have since been assigned to customers. A few
years ago, I tried to get 408-360-0000, which is unassigned. They refused.
I suspect, if I had called on a different day, the answer would have been
different.
John Higdon
"Cubit" <n...@not.not> wrote:
> Some of these 0000 numbers have since been assigned to customers. A few
> years ago, I tried to get 408-360-0000, which is unassigned. They refused.
> I suspect, if I had called on a different day, the answer would have been
> different.
And then, you could perform the final thrust: port the number to a CLEC
and take was was formerly a universal CO test number (from the 00XX era)
out of AT&T's hands forever!
Nothing gave me more pleasure than to take both my own home number and
the radio station's numbers away from AT&T. And do they squawk in junk
mail...but only after the fact. Until you actually do it, they think
you're bluffing.
DonBeppino
> locations, "Dublin, Berkeley, San Lorenzo, Cupertino, San Jose." What
> was the name of this camera chain?
Danevi. Owned by Frank Danevi hisownself.
>
> Remember any of these?
Yes.
> Any you remember that I missed?
Casa Spinali, men's store. Spinali would say about his low low prices
at the end,
"The COMPETITION made me do it"!
Then he'd say, "Casa Spinali, Casa Spinali, Casa Spinali".
How about the Dodge Sheriff and his beautiful, blond, long legged
Dodge Girl in white hat, white hotpants, white patent leather "go-go
boots" and a white double six-gun rig.
She was a local gal named Barbara and I knew her...very well...;~)
DonBeppino
"Drive out to Mel's,
Come as you are,
Dine like a king
in the comfort of your car"
Owned by one Harold Dobbs, perennial candidate for Mayor.
Brin-Marie McLaughlin
(snip)
>
> Remember any of these? Any you remember that I missed?
He'll remember the guy's name as soon as I push send, but my husband
John says there was a car commercial for a Dodge dealership that had a
little girl in it who said "And remember -- Uncle Art has bushy
eyebrows!"
Somebody out there will recall this, I'm sure...
David Kaye
> There was a huge spike in coffee prices sometime in the 1950's, much
> like the gas price upturn we are experianceing right now. The offer of
> free coffee for a test drive brought in the customers.
It's funny, this memory thing. Or perhaps it's a change in script,
but I distinctly remember Ellis Books saying, "I'll give you five
pounds of coffee if you can beat our deal." I do know that it was
Hills Brothers, but the phrasing I remember didn't mention it. Also,
it always seems to have been tied to a deal, not a drive. My memory
for stuff like this is usually very accurate, so the only thing I can
say is that what I heard was a later version.
David Kaye
> 0000 numbers were supposed to be used for central office emergency lines.
> These lines were based in another central office and came in on trunk pairs.
> Thus, if the CO were completely down, they would have dialtone from the
> other CO.
In the late 60s and 70s, Tom Campbell had several numbers ending in
0000. One was his Los Gatos home, one was his mobile phone (as I
remember it was XY5-0000, but I may be wrong), and had had a SF number
ending in 0000 as well. I don't know if that number was an RCF,
hardwire, or just a line at an answering service.
I seem to remember that telco did not normally assign any numbers
below 0050 to customers.
Cubit
"John Higdon" <HisRoyalRa...@kome.com> wrote in message
news:HisRoyalRadioHigness-...@news.announcetech.com...
Yeah. I'm getting the junk mail, and I got a telemarketer call. I told
him, that since I no longer do business with AT&T, that calling me was a
violation of my do-not-call list registration. I expect to get more calls
from them.
I took a number ending in 5555, and the prefix has a 5 in it.
norml
>"Drive out to Mel's,
>Come as you are,
>Dine like a king
>in the comfort of your car"
>
>Owned by one Harold Dobbs, perennial candidate for Mayor.
I don't think so. Dobbs owned the Red Roof chain.
Norm
Gerry
norml <norm...@pacbell.net> wrote:
From your friend Wikipedia:
Mel's Drive-In (not to be confused with Mel's Diner) is the name of a
restaurant chain founded in 1947 by Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs in San
Francisco, California.
In October 1963, the Mel's Drive in chain was picketed and subjected to
a sit-in by the Ad Hoc Committee to End Discrimination over the fact
that while the restaurant would serve food to African Americans and
hired them as cooks, Blacks were not allowed to work "up front" where
they could be seen by White customers. More than 100 protesters were
arrested. The picketing ended when Harold Dobbs, a San Francisco City
Supervisor who had run for Mayor and lost, settled with the protestors
and began to allow Black workers "up front." [1]
gvk...@yahoo.com
> gvk2...@yahoo.com wrote:
> > On May 30, 7:29 pm, Jamie <jann...@ihollister.net> wrote:
>
> >> Any you remember that I missed?
>
> > With the little "Price slasher" hacking and hewing at at the price.
> > "We're right on the price and right on the corner"
>
> > Jim Wessman for Gateway Chevorlet.......sponsoring wrestling on
> > KTVU......up on his ladder doing commercials, until
> > Kenji Shibuya or Mitzu Avocado came over once and busted up his ladder
> > and one of the cars.
>
> > And of course, All of those commercials with "Paul of the Diamond
> > Center"........pure class. What new couple wouldn't want to seal
> > their sacred wedding vows with a ring from Paul?
>
> > And forever..........
> > Ellis Brooks Chevrolet...........with the famous 5 Pounds of Hills
> > Brothers Coffee.
>
> What was the deal with the coffee?
Come in, take a test drive......and you get 5 pounds of Hills Brothers
Coffee. Or perhaps I may not remember, corrrectly. It could have
been you had to buy the car to get the coffee? But that sounds a bit
cheap.
BTW, seems as recently as 10 years ago his widow was back offering
the 5 pounds of coffee again.
One would hope it wasn't the same coffee from 40 years ago.
gvk...@yahoo.com
> On May 30, 9:55 pm, gvk2...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> > Jim Wessman for Gateway Chevorlet.......sponsoring wrestling on
> > KTVU......up on his ladder doing commercials, until
> > Kenji Shibuya or Mitzu Avocado came over once and busted up his ladder
> > and one of the cars.
>
> night, in one of those fake fights. Jim Wessman used to do a lot of
> his car spots sitting on the ladder. That night, when Kinji and Pat
> were running around they accidentally hit the ladder and Wessman was
> totally freaked. He was certain he was going to fall.
>
> My dad delivered mail to Kinji Shibuya (aka Robert Shibuya). I
> believe he had a degree from the University of Hawaii, but I forget
> the field of study. Kinji spoke with an educated accent, not the
> broken English he used on TV. He lived in Hayward. He and his family
> were members of the Buddhist temple in Union City. It was a kick to
> go to their fundraising fair and hear him call out bingo numbers and
> stuff. I believe he wrestled until the mid-70s. He was in at least 2
> dozen movies and made appearances on the Dean Martin Show, the Tonight
> Show, etc. His face is synonymous with the "dirty wrestler" image of
> that era. And to think he'd wrestle nearly every week in the KTVU
> studios when he wasn't touring. Amazing.
>
> Oh, and it's Mitsu Arakawa, by the way.
"Oh and it's Mitsu Arakawa by the way".............
Yes, I know that but I had a friend and when we were about 12, his
father used to refer to them as
Mitsu Avocado and his brother Fruit Salad.( Kinji Shibuya)
I have a friend in Los Angeles who got to know the daughter of one of
those men,,, but right now, I can't remember which of the two it
was. Anyway, daughter beautiful, nice, and Mitsu or Kinji (which
ever it was) was also very nice and totally unlike his on-air
persona.
Additionally, I once saw Haystack Calhoon in person walking down/up
the street somewhere in San Francisco.
Hard to miss him.
Also saw Ray Stevens at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.........but I
can't remember why he was there.
By current day (1980 to 2000) standards, those guys were
wimps.......probably due to lack of steroids.
Just normal looking guys.
George Grapman
Since you mentioned coffee I just read something about Chock Full Of
Nuts in NY during that period. Most places wanted to keep a cut a
5.cents so the watered down the coffee. They decided to bite the bullet,
charged a dime and it did not hurt them.
George Grapman
This has worked every time for me with telemarketers whose companies
have a presence in California.
Check the wen site of the Secretary of State for the name of their
agent for service. Contact the legal department even if they are out of
state and tell them the following:
You have the name of the agent for service (by law this person must
accept any legal documents sent to them).
You intend to sue in Small Claims Court (since the call was made to
your home you can sue in your county) for $500.
If they remit payment on $100 within 5 days you will agree not to
pursue the matter.
If you have file you will demand $250 plus court fees to settle
before the hearing.
If you go to court you will ask for the full $500 plus costs.
I have dome this 10 times. 8 sent the other took the second option.
Note: There is an exception to companies that you have done business
with but I think (a) it expires after a certain time frame and (b)
again, I think, you can demand to be placed on their internal do not
call list.
Disclaimer: I am not an attorney and none of the above should be
construed as legal advice.
John Higdon
<411bf79d-3b6e-442b...@2g2000hsn.googlegroups.com>,
David Kaye <sfdavi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> In the late 60s and 70s, Tom Campbell had several numbers ending in
> 0000. One was his Los Gatos home, one was his mobile phone (as I
> remember it was XY5-0000, but I may be wrong), and had had a SF number
> ending in 0000 as well.
Oakland number. It was a real phone.
John Higdon
David Kaye <sfdavi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>One was his Los Gatos home,
No, that was his mobile number (an IMTS number out of Los Gatos, which were
in the 408/354 prefix). If you wanted IMTS rather than MTS (automatic rather
than manual), you got on the waiting list for one of those prized, limited
availability numbers.
>I seem to remember that telco did not normally assign any numbers
>below 0050 to customers.
The entire 00XX was reserved.
David Kaye
> Anyway, daughter beautiful, nice, and Mitsu or Kinji (which
> ever it was) was also very nice and totally unlike his on-air
> persona.
It appears that Kinji Shibuya is still alive and well and living in
Hayward. He was interviewed for a book a few years ago and said that
he only began to make money in wrestling when he became a bad guy.
> Also saw Ray Stevens at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.........but I
> can't remember why he was there.
Ray Stevens was considered one of the best professional wrestlers in
America in the sense that he was an expert in real wrestling and could
do the moves while adding the theatrical flourishes needed in pro
wrestling.
I'm told by a correspondent that Kinji Shibuya was at one time a sumo
wrestler and also played football in college in Utah. I do seem to
remember him saying something about growing up in the West, so maybe
he went to college both in Utah and in Hawaii.
> By current day (1980 to 2000) standards, those guys were
> wimps.......probably due to lack of steroids.
> Just normal looking guys.
Yeah, watching wrestling a little (as I did a few days ago while
eating in a diner that had a TV on) there's no comparison to today's
"designer wrestlers". Some of today's wrestlers are actually
attractive, too, which doesn't hurt.
David Kaye
> Mel's Drive-In (not to be confused with Mel's Diner) is the name of a
> restaurant chain founded in 1947 by Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs in San
> Francisco, California.
Further, Harold Dobbs had a chain of airport restaurants called Dobbs
House. Today it is known as Host Marriott.
Just before the original Mel's closed (the one on South Van Ness
Avenue near Mission, it was featured as the anchor of the movie
"American Graffiti". It may be set in Modesto, but the diner was in
SF. Also, that design (after demolition) was used in the diner mock-
up for the "Happy Days" TV show later.
The current Mel's Drive-In chain is not legally tied to the original
Mel's Drive-In chain. In 1985, 13 years after the Van Ness location
was demolished, Steven Weiss decided to restart the diner. Dad
actively discouraged this because he felt that its time had come and
gone. Son was successful and eventually opened 6 diners.
Dad got jealous and opened his own Mel's in Berkeley and Walnut Creek
(cities where he once operated the original chain). Son sued dad over
use of the Mel's name. (Odd that Mel Weiss could no longer use the
Mel's name.)
After a legal battle and a family rift over the name, dad changed the
name of his diners to "Original Mel's" and brought in investors to
expand the chain into the Central Valley. Finally he sold the group
in 1994.
Frankly, having eaten at both son's and dad's diners, I much prefer
the menu and the cooking style of dad's place. Hands down.
Jo Ann Malina
In Chicago in the 50's or early 60's an ad campaign began. At first
all you got was a guy saying "I will bring a mountain to Chicago!"
As a kid, I was pretty excited, because the area is totally flat.
Imagine my disappointment when I learned that the mountain Captain
Folger was going to bring to Chicago was -- a mountain of coffee.
Phooey.
One of my thrills when I moved out here in the 70's was that it is
ringed by mountains. I always got on 101 on my way from Mountain View
to my job at Stanford, which required getting on an overpass, so I
could look at the ring of mountains to start my day.
--
Jo Ann Malina, make spamthis best to find my address
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. -- John Muir
spamtr...@gmail.com
> Further, Harold Dobbs had a chain of airport restaurants called Dobbs
> House. Today it is known as Host Marriott.
>
I remember those.
> The current Mel's Drive-In chain is not legally tied to the original
> Mel's Drive-In chain. In 1985, 13 years after the Van Ness location
> was demolished, Steven Weiss decided to restart the diner. Dad
> actively discouraged this because he felt that its time had come and
> gone. Son was successful and eventually opened 6 diners.
>
> Dad got jealous and opened his own Mel's in Berkeley and Walnut Creek
> (cities where he once operated the original chain). Son sued dad over
> use of the Mel's name. (Odd that Mel Weiss could no longer use the
> Mel's name.)
The rule with trademarks is "use it or lose it." Thirteen years of non-
use suggests but does not prove the owner has abandoned the trademark.
This can result in no one being able to use the trademark, because of
legal action brought by the original dog-in-the-manger trademark
owner, as you point out. The primary goal of a trademark is to benefit
consumers, here by letting them know what type of food, decor, and
service they can expect. And, in your case, use of the name Mel's was
actually misleading, because you expected better food than you got.
Phil Keller
What was the deal with the coffee?
>>
>> There was a huge spike in coffee prices sometime in the 1950's, much
>> like the gas price upturn we are experianceing right now. The offer of
>> free coffee for a test drive brought in the customers.
>>
>> Phil
>
>
> Since you mentioned coffee I just read something about Chock Full Of
> Nuts in NY during that period. Most places wanted to keep a cut a
> 5.cents so the watered down the coffee. They decided to bite the bullet,
I was a boy when coffee went from 5 cents to a dime in San Francisco. It
was a major newspaper story. One chain held out for a while and put up
big signs. Many people were very angry.
Phil
Peter
> Just before the original Mel's closed (the one on South Van Ness
> Avenue near Mission, it was featured as the anchor of the movie
> "American Graffiti". It may be set in Modesto, but the diner was in
> SF.
Hell, the production company was out of S.F., and I believe the
negative was processed there, too [ * ] .
Made sense to use Mel's in S.F. for the diner location, and KRE in
Berkeley for the XERB location.
Actually, of all the dozen or so locations used in the entire film,
there were more in Petaluma than in any other town.
The second-listed film editor (Universal insisted that Hollywood
veteran Verna Fields be the first-listed editor) was none other than
Lucas' wife, Marcia. Marcia, it will be remembered, was the only Lucas
who received an Oscar for "Star Wars". Their marriage dissolved shortly
thereafter.
[ * ] Although the prints were made by Technicolor in L.A. as their
proprietary Techniscope® process was used and only they had the optical
printer and lens which could take the 2-perf negative and convert it to
a 4-perf intermediate or print, the negative and any "dailies" made
thereof could be processed anywhere.
--
"I will fight terror as if there was no problem with Bush, and I will
fight Bush as if there was no problem with terror" - John Rothmann
--
Peter
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
Cubit
I believe, at one time, all of the 9XXX numbers were reserved for coin
phones. I think the concept was a quick way for operators to know that the
a calling party, called party, or a third number being billed was a
coinphone.
John Higdon
"Cubit" <n...@not.not> wrote:
> I believe, at one time, all of the 9XXX numbers were reserved for coin
> phones. I think the concept was a quick way for operators to know that the
> a calling party, called party, or a third number being billed was a
> coinphone.
Indeed, yes. Of course, the need for any of that went out the window
with TSPS and the 3rd Number/Collect Call blocking database (which we
ordinary mortals could put ourselves on), the name of which escapes me
at the moment.
Cubit
I'm not sure, but the phrase "operator denial" comes to mind.
John Higdon
"Cubit" <n...@not.not> wrote:
> I'm not sure, but the phrase "operator denial" comes to mind.
I don't think so. As with many names for telco devices, procedures, and
services, the name would not have revealed anything about the nature of
the beast to the unwashed.
Eric C. Weaver
> On 2008-06-01 00:41:56 -0700, David Kaye <sfdavidka...@yahoo.com> said:
>
> > Just before the original Mel's closed (the one on South Van Ness
> > Avenue near Mission, it was featured as the anchor of the movie
> > "American Graffiti". It may be set in Modesto, but the diner was in
> > SF.
>
> Hell, the production company was out of S.F., and I believe the
> negative was processed there, too [ * ] .
American Zoetrope, wunnit?
Phil Kane
<HisRoyalRa...@kome.com> wrote:
>Prided himself for having phone numbers that ended in "0000".
How did he get that? The "00_ _ " series of numbers were Central
Office test lines. "0048" was the quiet line, and I forget what the
sliding tone line was. "0000" may have been the zero-dbm 1000 cycle
tone.
--
Phil Kane
Beaverton, OR
spamtr...@gmail.com
> How did he get that? The "00_ _ " series of numbers were Central
> Office test lines. "0048" was the quiet line, and I forget what the
> sliding tone line was. "0000" may have been the zero-dbm 1000 cycle
> tone.
"The tone at the time is.... One kiloHertz"
What was the ringback number, anyways? I remember that was somewhat
cool to use.
Lawrence Statton
>
> Indeed, yes. Of course, the need for any of that went out the window
> with TSPS and the 3rd Number/Collect Call blocking database (which we
> ordinary mortals could put ourselves on), the name of which escapes me
> at the moment.
>
LIDB.
--
Lawrence Statton - lawre...@abaluon.abaom s/aba/c/g
Computer software consists of only two components: ones and
zeros, in roughly equal proportions. All that is required is to
place them into the correct order.
George Grapman
gave me two long forgotten test numbers. One elicited a busy signal,the
other called the number you were calling from saving time from having
them call their office and asking to be called back.
More recently I had an ANI number which ,when called,read back your
phone number but it no longer works. ANI is similar to caller ID but *67
will not block it. It is shown anytime you call a toll free number. Came
in handy for telemarketers ("the person who makes decisions on that is
at work, please call them at--------").
George Grapman
When I was very young a trick to impress a date was to call that
number(thanks for reminding of the term) when the other person was not
in the room. One could either ignores it ("I want to give you all my
attention") or answer and make up an emergency.
Now all you have to do is set the alarm on your cell to sound like a
ring.
John Higdon
Phil Kane <Phil...@nov.shmovz.ka.pop> wrote:
He knew people at the phone company. I know this because I knew the
people he knew.
David Kaye
> More recently I had an ANI number which ,when called,read back your
> phone number but it no longer works.
When I need to verify a phone number I just call my cell phone with
it. This worked very well the other day when I was in a basement call
center in someone's home (would you believe that some people still run
boiler rooms?) and out of the dozen or so lines present, it was easy
to find the one with the DSL on it.
John Higdon
<17a01bdc-7aaa-412f...@x35g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>,
David Kaye <sfdavi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> When I need to verify a phone number I just call my cell phone with
> it. This worked very well the other day when I was in a basement call
> center in someone's home (would you believe that some people still run
> boiler rooms?) and out of the dozen or so lines present, it was easy
> to find the one with the DSL on it.
That works as long as Caller ID isn't blocked as a class of service or
you have access to the *82 block-override code.
A call center using analog lines?? I haven't heard of such a thing in
years. Hell, I don't even have analog lines at home anymore.
George Grapman
charities and scams. They usually just have a number of single lines and
calls not even be transferred from one phone to another.
John Higdon
George Grapman <sfge...@paccbell.net> wrote:
> There are still boiler room operations out there for spurious
> charities and scams. They usually just have a number of single lines and
> calls not even be transferred from one phone to another.
Indeed. I had forgotten that the Cure-a-Thon uses analog lines (one line
to each phone you see on the floor). I was really surprised, and it was
made all the more strange by commentary I got from one of the installers
who was there putting the lines in. He told me of the grandiose plans
for U-verse, which is basically, when all is said and done, a scheme to
get rid of all the old copper pairs that AT&T currently has to make
available on a wholesale basis to potential competitors.
Seems the new Rincon tower went in with a twenty-five pair cable and a
fiber terminal. Want DSL? No problem...as long as it is from AT&T. Those
copper pairs are for emergency services, not Covad or other interlopers.
Move into that building and you get all communications services from
AT&T...period. No other choices available, now or ever if it has to come
in on physical means.
I see a bright future for wireless competitors.
For the most part, radio stations no longer use analog phone lines. Even
my family-owned stations have no POTS lines coming into any of its
studio or office facilities whatsoever. Not a one. I know some large
group stations have been going on drives to get rid of legacy POTS lines
en masse.
I would say that dial tone on a copper pair will be a thing of the past
before too long.
George Grapman
> In article <B9Y0k.6322$Ri....@flpi146.ffdc.sbc.com>,
> George Grapman <sfge...@paccbell.net> wrote:
>
>> There are still boiler room operations out there for spurious
>> charities and scams. They usually just have a number of single lines and
>> calls not even be transferred from one phone to another.
>
> Indeed. I had forgotten that the Cure-a-Thon uses analog lines (one line
> to each phone you see on the floor). I was really surprised, and it was
> made all the more strange by commentary I got from one of the installers
> who was there putting the lines in. He told me of the grandiose plans
> for U-verse, which is basically, when all is said and done, a scheme to
> get rid of all the old copper pairs that AT&T currently has to make
> available on a wholesale basis to potential competitors.
>
> Seems the new Rincon tower went in with a twenty-five pair cable and a
> fiber terminal. Want DSL? No problem...as long as it is from AT&T. Those
> copper pairs are for emergency services, not Covad or other interlopers.
> Move into that building and you get all communications services from
> AT&T...period. No other choices available, now or ever if it has to come
> in on physical means.
I have encountered that in my work. We provide voice mail and phone
systems and,in most cases, we can replace the hardware in an office. I
always ask if they want us to analyze their bill to see of we can save
on that part and several times have been told that the building has
locked them into AT&T.
John Higdon
George Grapman <sfge...@paccbell.net> wrote:
> I have encountered that in my work. We provide voice mail and phone
> systems and,in most cases, we can replace the hardware in an office. I
> always ask if they want us to analyze their bill to see of we can save
> on that part and several times have been told that the building has
> locked them into AT&T.
You're going to see a proliferation of short-haul digital microwave
supplying IP to AT&T "landlocked" buildings. This started twenty years
ago or more. There is a famous case of a large company and call center
building in GTE territory, across the river from the Bell company. After
nearly being put out of business by GTE's notoriously wretched service,
they put in a microwave to space they rented across the river, where
they had the Bell company install massive amounts of phone service.
I think the publicity over that case was one of the motivations for GTE
to clean up its act.
AT&T doesn't feel that it needs to be competitive until the customers
are out the door. I don't know how to communicate this to the phone
company: answering the phone with "how can I provide you with excellent
service today" cannot replace actually providing good service.
The only thing AT&T understands is loss of the customer. My stations and
I are happy to be ex-AT&T customers. Good riddance!
George Grapman
year later and MCI told me there would be a ten day to 2 week lag before
I would get service at my new place as the work was subbed to what was
then Pacific Bell. When I called Pacific Bell they said I could
eliminate the delay by switching back to them and making it seamless
move. After multiple calls to their executive offices and threats to
complain to the PUC I was finally told by Pacific Bell there there had
been a "miscommunication" and ,at most. I would lose service overnight
which is what happened. The installer who came to my house admitted that
their unwritten policy was to delay and inconvenience non Pacific Bell
customers as much as possible.
Eric C. Weaver
> Seems the new Rincon tower went in with a twenty-five pair cable and a
> fiber terminal. Want DSL? No problem...as long as it is from AT&T. Those
> copper pairs are for emergency services, not Covad or other interlopers.
That's not the only one, either... This place "SoMa Grand" next to
the new Federal Building is the same way. Ordering an ISDN line there
was pretty strange. They had to send someone out with a BRI card.
On the other hand, having seen the wiring closets, it doesn't look
that hard for a competitor to wire the building if they have the
capitalization and can make the deal.
FurtherObBroadcast: I wonder if it'd be worth the hassle to move the
8 studio analog lines onto the Primary Rate ISDN that has all the
office lines...
George Grapman
> On Jun 2, 1:12 pm, John Higdon <HisRoyalRadioHign...@kome.com> wrote:
>
>> Seems the new Rincon tower went in with a twenty-five pair cable and a
>> fiber terminal. Want DSL? No problem...as long as it is from AT&T. Those
>> copper pairs are for emergency services, not Covad or other interlopers.
>
> That's not the only one, either... This place "SoMa Grand" next to
> the new Federal Building is the same way. Ordering an ISDN line there
> was pretty strange. They had to send someone out with a BRI card.
>
> On the other hand, having seen the wiring closets, it doesn't look
> that hard for a competitor to wire the building if they have the
> capitalization and can make the deal.
I think the problem is that the property owners will not let them in
the building.
Cable companies with competitors do the same thing in apartment
buildings. Fortunately they can not keep you from getting a dish as long
as it is not in a common area,i.e. the roof.
Someone noted that this is akin to a building owner limiting access
to one pizza delivery place.
Phil Kane
<sfge...@paccbell.net> wrote:
>ANI is similar to caller ID but *67
>will not block it. It is shown anytime you call a toll free number. Came
>in handy for telemarketers ("the person who makes decisions on that is
>at work, please call them at--------").
In the days when one had to give the clerk/cashier a telephone number
to pay by check, I would always give them a valid prefix followed by
0048 - the "quiet line".
Phil Kane
<HisRoyalRa...@kome.com> wrote:
>The only thing AT&T understands is loss of the customer. My stations and
>I are happy to be ex-AT&T customers. Good riddance!
My son is a 12-year veteran of Pac*Bell --> SBC -->ATT. He claims
that the culture is strictly that of SBC (Nee Southwestern Bell, the
San Antonia goons) and the only thing "ATT" about it is the name. No
relationship to The Mother we once knew.
John Higdon
<15789cc2-cf99-46c5...@f24g2000prh.googlegroups.com>,
"Eric C. Weaver" <we...@sigma.net> wrote:
> FurtherObBroadcast: I wonder if it'd be worth the hassle to move the
> 8 studio analog lines onto the Primary Rate ISDN that has all the
> office lines...
When KGO moved off their analog talk lines, the quality difference was
astounding.
John Higdon
Mark Roberts <markrob...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm not surprised ... having lived many years in an area where we
> referred to the local telco as "General Telephone and Storm Door
> Company" ... but I hadn't heard of this case study. Where was it?
I'll have to go back to the source. It was a long time ago. I think it
was in California somewhere.
Phil Kane
>What was the ringback number, anyways? I remember that was somewhat
>cool to use.
That was a closely guarded secret, changed every so often, and
differed from CO to CO. I remember 221 <pause> 6 and hang up in SoCal
PT&T territory in the late 50s.
At one time, there was a proposal that the FCC Rules Part 68
governing subscriber telephone equipment be amended to allow the
subscriber to reach ringback to verify the newly-allowed "do it
yourself" installations, and that was hotly opposed by the telcos and
died a rapid and silent death.
markc...@sbcglobal.net
> He wasn't under a "legal cloud".
>
> He was a federal fugitive.
>
> Got into getting folks invested in Gold, pocketed a lot of money, got
> indicted and bailed.
>
> His wife surfaces about five years ago, and said he had died.
>
> (He had!)
>
> BYE KIDS!
>
> Buck
>
> "George Grapman" <sfgeo...@paccbell.net> wrote in message
>
> news:3E50k.1373$89....@nlpi069.nbdc.sbc.com...
>
>
>
> > Jamie wrote:
> >> --The camera store whose ads ended with the singing of the store
> >> locations, "Dublin, Berkeley, San Lorenzo, Cupertino, San Jose." What
> >> was the name of this camera chain?
>
> >> ---The Furniture USA spots with Ed Barbar(?). He opened with "Hi,
> >> kids," and concluded with "Se habla español. Bye kids!"
>
> > I recall Ed fled the area under a legal cloud. I went there once and
> > two things surprised me, the store was not that big and most items lacked
> > price tags. I later learned that to avoid usury laws (most of his business
> > was credit and he carried the paper) they would put a package together and
> > nail the buyer with a very high price(remember if the maximum interest
> > rate is___percent and you take $500 worth of junk ,sell it for $800 at the
> > maximum interest you are legal).
>
> >> --Some diamond store spot that ended "The store with a heart!" What
> >> was this store called?
>
> >> --That annoying Pete Ellis Dodge ad that went "Pete Ellis Dodge. 1095
> >> West El Camino real, Sunnyvale."
>
> >> --The car dealership ads with Cal Worthington.
>
> > Cal was a smart advertiser. He paid low rates and took whatever spots
> > were open.
>
> >> --An ad for Los Gatos Honda with the slogan
> >> "Come to Los Gatos Honda if you're really, really smart
> >> The little Honda dealer with a big, big heart."
>
> >> The Los Gatos Honda commercial is from the mid-90s; all the others
> >> are from the 80s, possibly originating from the late 70s. Most of
> >> them aired on KNTV when it was an ABC station, and many of them--
> >> especially the Furniture USA one--aired on Saturdays during
> >> cartoons.
>
> >> Remember any of these? Any you remember that I missed?
>
> > Jay_____from Spartan Dodge. He also had legal problems. Something about
> > phantom buyers getting financed. Jay got paid and the credit people ate
> > the loan.
> > I used to laugh at his ads until seeing he was one of the highest volume
> > Dodge dealers in the country.
>
> > M&M carpets with the two "old guys".
>
> > The car dealer whose ads were finally changed from "bring your wife and
> > your pink slip" to "bring your pink slip".
How about the car dealer who uttered the immortal line: "...wanna
haggle over the price? Bring your wife down and we'll dicker..."
Ed Barbara - It wasn't gold. I believe he got nailed for selling
shares in a non-existant silver mine in New Mexico....
J. Brown - His famous line went: "Spartan Dodge, 45-90 Stevens Creek
Boulevard in San Jose, where we've got the price slasher 'hackin' &
hewin' at those high prices..." (little animated character moves from
left to right across the bottom of the screen, chasing a large dollar
sign with a pair of scissors.)
Remember "Downtown Datsun in Downtown San Jose - WE ARE THE DEALIN'
EST!!!" (John Taylor was the owner/pitchman of the dealership)
Another disreputable character was "Dave Campagna of Concord Dodge" "I
can save you money and I can save you time". Dave later did time for
rolling back the odometers on used cars and passing them off as new
Or remember the corpulant Larry Robinson of Empire Chevrolet in
Novato? One memborable spot had Robinson dressed as a short-order
cook in a diner kitchen, spatula in hand, flipping pancakes all the
while telling viewers how "..we're flipping over the great deals at
Empire Chevrolet..." (Ugh!)
I believe Empire Chevrolet was the dealership famous or infamous for
the weekly special - a used car for just $8. dollars! It was always
some pile of junk that looked like it had been rescued from the front
yard of a hillbilly shack in Prunedale.
I used to hate the guy from the Diamond Center with the shit-eating
grin (Paul) and howabout the idiot that rode his horse in all of his
commercials - "Marty from the Sawmill..."
Someone earlier in the thread mentioned local commercial jingles. One
of the memorable local spots (radio & tv) was for Babe's Muffler
Service - sung to the tune of "Yellow Rose of Texas". Somone told me
Don Cox and the Cowtown Band were responsible for this little ditty:
"If you're car is loud and noisy,
Be sure to go to Babes -
15 minute service and you'll be on your way
In Santa Clara County, wherever you may be
Babe's Muffler Service, the only one to see
(musical bridge for announcer copy)
reprise refrain:
Babe's Muffler Service - the only one to see
SEE BABE! (male voice shouts this over the decay of the last note)
And last, but not least.... If you were watching tv in the 70's in the
bay area, who can ever forget Carol Doda and her breathy editorials
for KGSC Channel 36 - "The Perfect 36".
No political correctness in those days. All of that stuff was hokey,
but it was certainly without pretense. In a way, it was a more
refreshing way to look at the world than the mind-numbing,
intelligence insulting, staged drivel that passes for local tv today.
George Grapman
Makes as ,despite what many think, SBC took over AT&T rather than the
other way around.
George Grapman
I wrote down a pay phone number once and use it for club cards.
George Grapman
> Phil Kane <Phil...@nov.shmovz.ka.pop> had written:
> |
> | My son is a 12-year veteran of Pac*Bell --> SBC -->ATT. He claims
> | that the culture is strictly that of SBC (Nee Southwestern Bell, the
> | San Antonia goons) and the only thing "ATT" about it is the name. No
> | relationship to The Mother we once knew.
>
> never verified, was that he somehow got himself ostracized from the
> St. Louis business and social establishment, so, when he got the
> top spot, he moved headquarters to San Antonio. The more believable
> story may be, though, that he was originally from Texas and wanted
> to go back there.
I forgot where I read this but several years ago a business
publication did a story on large companies that have moved their
headquarters over a period of time. A large number of the moves put the
offices closer to the home of the CEO. All of those interviewed gave
reasons for the move that had nothing to do with where they lived.
>
> The Southwestern Bell folks in Kansas City that I dealt with
> 15 years ago were extremely accommodating and customer-focused.
> Of course I have no idea what it's like now.
>
Phil Keller
In real life I own a small business which accepts checks. I agree to
accept your check if you provide me with a phone number. If you don't
wish to give me your number that is your right, use a credit card or
cash. lying to me by providing a fake number is wrong.
Phil
SoCal Tom
I think the problem is that the property owners will not let them in
> the building.
> Cable companies with competitors do the same thing in apartment
> buildings. Fortunately they can not keep you from getting a dish as long
> as it is not in a common area,i.e. the roof.
> Someone noted that this is akin to a building owner limiting access to
> one pizza delivery place.
Yup, that happened to me too. I had Adelphia cable service in the
housing tract where I live. When Adelphia sold out to Time-Warner,
service went to hell in a handbasket. I knew there was a second act in
town; however, my cable service was underground. I live next to the
street and can see the cables on the poles in the street. It would be an
easy drop. I went to the second act (Champion Broadband) with a proposal
and a drawing of how it could be done. Champion agreed, and now I'm
using their service, and it's hassle free. In fact, I have gone to other
people living in my tract that, if they switch to Champion, I get a
kickback. It ain't much; however, I have premium cable at "basic" rates.
Bruce Farley
Jamie wrote:
> --The camera store whose ads ended with the singing of the store
> locations, "Dublin, Berkeley, San Lorenzo, Cupertino, San Jose." What
> was the name of this camera chain?
>
The voice said "Hi, I'm Jody" and went into the song.
> ---The Furniture USA spots with Ed Barbar(?). He opened with "Hi,
> kids," and concluded with "Se habla español. Bye kids!"
>
> --Some diamond store spot that ended "The store with a heart!" What
> was this store called?
>
> --That annoying Pete Ellis Dodge ad that went "Pete Ellis Dodge. 1095
> West El Camino real, Sunnyvale."
>
> --The car dealership ads with Cal Worthington.
>
David Kaye
> In real life I own a small business which accepts checks. I agree to
> accept your check if you provide me with a phone number. If you don't
> wish to give me your number that is your right, use a credit card or
> cash. lying to me by providing a fake number is wrong.
When I was in the telephone call center business and again in the
restaurant and nightclub business I accepted checks using the
Telecheck guarantee system. We had a terminal where we either ran the
magstripe driver's license or manually entered the number. For a 3%
fee (same rate as credit cards) they'd guarantee checks that weren't
on their hot list. So it worked exactly the same way as taking credit
cards. In fact we used the same terminal for both.
Turned out that we were one of the very food/beverage businesses in
Portland that accepted checks, and we got a lot more business that
way. Plus, having the addresses, we were able to build a mailing list
from these folks as well.
Bill Z.
> > I wrote down a pay phone number once and use it for club cards.
>
> In real life I own a small business which accepts checks. I agree to
> accept your check if you provide me with a phone number. If you don't
> wish to give me your number that is your right, use a credit card or
> cash. lying to me by providing a fake number is wrong.
What's really wrong is coercing phone numbers or personal information
out of people and then using that for marketing without their
permission. If I give a phone number with a check (the legitimate
purpose is to be able to call the customer if there is a problem
completing the transaction), I don't want it used for any other
purpose.
That's why some people will use a fake number - to protect their
privacy in a country where privacy rights are inadequate.
BTW, once or twice I've ordered tickets and was specifically told
that my address would be used *only* to mail the tickets to me,
not for marketing purposes, and they sent me marketing material
anyway. If businesses want accurate information from the public,
they'll simply have to learn to respect our wishes and not pull
bait and switch tactics - from a practical standpoint, there is
simply no meaningful legal recourse when they do such things.
You can order a ticket on a one-time basis - just to see something
different - and the penalty can be years or maybe a lifetime of
junk mail.
--
My real name backwards: nemuaZ lliB
David Kaye
> That's why some people will use a fake number - to protect their
> privacy in a country where privacy rights are inadequate.
After being stalked by someone who used to camp out on my doorstep and
then followed me to my new home and harrassed me in person and via
phone, I began to take lots of precautions to protect my privacy.
It's not easy.
George Grapman
voice mail box for $8 a month. Whenever situations like the above happen
I give out that number. Since it has nothing to do with my actual
phones nothing rings here when people call. I check messages and hear
the first sign of a solicitation I delete the message. If it is a
legitimate call they will leave a message and I will call back.
On a related note didn't CA enact a law prohibiting merchants from
asking for a credit card when a customer writes a check ( think there
were exemptions for when you are getting cash)? I never understood the
supposed correlation between having a credit card in your possession and
your checking account having sufficient funds. My guess is they assumed
that the card meant you were credit worth and therefore responsible. Of
course the holder could have a card that was canceled because they never
made a payment.
Travis James
Google bought them and locked it down. It's handy for where you need to
give a phone number "just to get it done" and in case there really is a
need to contact. Also good for Craigslist type classified as postings.
It gives you a chance to save messages and get notified through email
without muddling up personal and work phone numbers, sort of like having
a few throwaway email addresses.
I think I can send invites, like in the old Google Mail Beta days. Shoot
me an email if you want an invite for a GC phone number.
Phil Keller
> Bill Z. wrote:
>> Phil Keller <p-ke...@pacbell.net> writes:
>>
>>>> I wrote down a pay phone number once and use it for club cards.
>>> In real life I own a small business which accepts checks. I agree to
>>> accept your check if you provide me with a phone number. If you don't
>>> wish to give me your number that is your right, use a credit card or
>>> cash. lying to me by providing a fake number is wrong.
>>
>> What's really wrong is coercing phone numbers or personal information
>> out of people and then using that for marketing without their
>> permission. If I give a phone number with a check (the legitimate
>> purpose is to be able to call the customer if there is a problem
>> completing the transaction), I don't want it used for any other
>> purpose.
me using false information.
>>
>> That's why some people will use a fake number - to protect their
>> privacy in a country where privacy rights are inadequate.
merchandise with fake information.
>>
>> BTW, once or twice I've ordered tickets and was specifically told
>> that my address would be used *only* to mail the tickets to me,
>> not for marketing purposes, and they sent me marketing material
>> anyway. If businesses want accurate information from the public,
>> they'll simply have to learn to respect our wishes and not pull
>> bait and switch tactics - from a practical standpoint, there is
>> simply no meaningful legal recourse when they do such things.
information given for a specific purpose.
>>
>> You can order a ticket on a one-time basis - just to see something
>> different - and the penalty can be years or maybe a lifetime of
>> junk mail.
>>
>>
> This will not work for everyone but for years I have had a rented
> voice mail box for $8 a month. Whenever situations like the above happen
> I give out that number. Since it has nothing to do with my actual
> phones nothing rings here when people call. I check messages and hear
> the first sign of a solicitation I delete the message. If it is a
> legitimate call they will leave a message and I will call back.
lengths to avoid abuse of your privacy.
>
> On a related note didn't CA enact a law prohibiting merchants from
> asking for a credit card when a customer writes a check ( think there
> were exemptions for when you are getting cash)? I never understood the
> supposed correlation between having a credit card in your possession and
> your checking account having sufficient funds. My guess is they assumed
> that the card meant you were credit worth and therefore responsible. Of
> course the holder could have a card that was canceled because they never
> made a payment.
Thats the law and we obey it.
Phil
chuck kennedy
> And then there was Uncle Saul Wiseman of Wiseman's Furniture....("This
> is your uncle Saul, saying nothin' but thanks!")
Reminds me of when I was a junior at Moreau and in charge of ad sales
for the yearbook. Wiseman's Furniture had advertised the year before,
so I went in to renew the space. I was there in "uncle" Sol's office,
and he had a very young, beautiful, and voluptuous secretary, not much
older than I was, on his lap. He was fully clothed, but very clearly
playing with himself through his trousers. Uncle Sol seemed to be well
into his 80s then. From then on, his "nothin but thanks" TV spots
always brought to mind a different image than sofas.