Favorite Pitchmen/women

[programcomputer]

BUT on the appliance front....

Honestly,

I'm biased. It's only Betty Furness. That lady still get's me worked up just salivating about anything Westinghouse. She just softsells everything so well. And the fact, (Which has been stated) that she was able to be the straightwoman so to speak agains Lucy Ricky and Fred and Ethel.

And that she was just so damned picturesque as she told the world why "You can be SURE...If It's Westinghouse". I have read that Betty Furness when the 1952 presidential elections were held, had more popularity than IKE did. She was on every darned commercial break...and it was Becasue of this she became the most popular pitchwoman of that decade.

One thing I WOULD like to know is, Why did she leave Westinghouse? DId she and the powers that be have a falling out? NO where that I have ever read has it stated the real reason that Betty and Westy parted company.

Anyone wanna fill me in on this?

Thanks

Chad

 

[MikeS]

Why Betty Furness Left Westinghouse

According to the "Museum of Broadcast Communications Encyclopedia", Furness left as Westinghouse spokeswoman in 1960 "by mutual agreement"--which happened to be the same year the "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse" left the airwaves, largely because of the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz divorce.
Furness did a radio show for CBS, but despite the fact she still wanted to work in broadcasting, she found it hard to get work in news or public affairs because of her commercial background. (Mike Wallace had the same problem; he was considered damaged goods because he had done commercials for, among other products, Parliament cigarettes. He offered to buy up the Parliament commercials still running; that offer convinced CBS to hire him--with suprisingly good results!)
In 1967, Furness was getting ready to marry husband number three, CBS News producer Les Midgley, when President Johnson offered her the post of White House Consumer Affairs advisor.
Furness took the job, despite critics (including Ralph Nader and "Consumer Reports") who questioned whether the former Westinghouse pitchwoman could be a credible voice for consumer issues. To their surprise, Furness did an excellent job; she later went on to head the consumer affairs offices in both New York City and New York State--and moved on to her second career as a consumer reporter for NBC.
She later called accepting Johnson's offer the best decision she ever made.

 

[retromom]

Betty Furness

MikeS

Great piece of pitchperson history. I remember Betty Furness on the Today Show. As a little girl, I liked hearing a woman (mom type) talk about consumer affairs. I figured she could relate.

 

[partycycle]

Day Time Sport Bouffant

Remember “Perry Mason’s” secretary that conquered all the inconsequential details? Della Street. Day time sport bouffant, ever tasteful boucle suit and proper stack healed pumps. No more than three times per episode the camera would cut to efficient Della. Just a couple lines. “I’m on it Perry.” “Consider it done Perry.” “This call I think you should take…”

Perry Mason show canceled.

Della Street appears as the oh so trusted spokes woman for AMANA.

“Only AMANA refrigerators give the choice of a freezer on the top, bottom or side…”

Sad but true hidden secret. Della had “issues” with pills and alcohol. Periodically she was committed to “Snickering Pines” the utmost lock down sanitarium for those who are really sick.

Della Street escaped!!!

Reappeared in an AMANA commercial. Looking ridden hard and put away wet! Della’s famous last line.

“It is not a RADAR RANGE unless it is an AMANA…”

Della was committed to “Our Lady of the Worthless Miracle” sanitarium.

 

[westytoploader]

I knew Partycycle was going to step in!!!

Can't stop laughing...and it's 11 PM...

 

[retromom]

Another one for the pitchperson books.....

and...how about Marlin Perkins for Mutual of Omaha? The guy could segue from a story about wild baboons to insurance coverage for your entire family without blinking an eye! He was smooth.

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Good Seasons

Many personal household items were left in the home I just
bought in mid-December. Early last week (the previous owners had lived here since 1961) I came across what has to be one of the original "Good Seasons" Italian Salad Dressing Cruets.
The first thing I thought; Oh, Anna Maria Alberghetti! where
are you girl!!!!

 

[jdinstl]

Smooth, you say?

" The guy could segue from a story about wild baboons to insurance coverage for your entire family without blinking an eye! He was smooth."

Ah, for smooth segues, how about Dana Brown relaxing with a cup of Safari Coffee after dropping and tagging a herd of rhino's....

Reading this thread, someone could tell our ages without even looking at the profiles....

John