Favorite Pitchmen/women

[Unimatic1140]

You Can Be Sure

Betty Furness was the first pitchperson for Westinghouse appliances in TV commercials and print ads, from the late 40's all the way into the 60's. You can see her in any of the Westinghouse commercials in our cyber-video.

 

[frigilux]

My vote has to go to Bess Meyerson (Miss America 1945) who can be seen pitching the equally classy/gorgeous 1957 Frigidaire washers. I believe there is a video of one of those commericals elsewhere on this site.

Of course, in later years, socialite Bess proved could also be a bad girl (how hot is THAT?!) when she was caught shoplifting in the mid-60's, and when she was at the center of a political scandal in NY in the 80's.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Just remembered:

George Montgomery for Pledge "That's a dead ringer for a paste wax shine."

Woof!

 

[partscounterman]

Was it Rosemary Clooney?

or Debbie Reynolds that did a TV and print ad for GE potscrubber Dishwashers in the late '70's

The tag line was something like "Who could ask for anything more? (small showgirl style kick)"

 

[kenmore1978]

Julia Meade

In that Lincon promo where she's tooling around DC looking at the preparations for Eisenhower's inauguration, she was driving a standard 1957 Lincoln Premier convertible, not a Continental Mark III (and mentioning how cold it was)

 

[deeptub]

Debbie Reynolds did the Potscrubber ads. She kicks a--.

T.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Oooh Oooh

Remembered one more: Mary Tyler Moore as Happy Hotpoint.

"Every day's a holiday with Hotpoint!"

 

[maytagbear]

Mike Farrell

did a Maytag dishwasher tv spot in the 70s.

William Schallert (very good character actor) also did some Maytag spots, as well.

I wish there had been a Jesse White/Gordon Jump Ol' Lonely ad.

Among those mentioned above, it has to be Barbara Hale for the Amana Radarange! Microwave cooking pioneer Thelma Pressman did the food in the ads. Thelma Pressman was, at one time, the microwave columnist for Bon Appetit magazine.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[jdinstl]

Add my vote with

with MikeS's "You can be sure...if it was Betty Furness."

Second place would be a tie between Nancy Walker/Rosie and Madge the Manicurist.

John

 

[jdinstl]

then again....

...Hillary Brook does a pretty good job of me not to purchase another food keeper until I've seen the fabulous Food-A-Rama at my Kelvinator dealer's, at her urging...

John

 

[programcomputer]

About Julia Meade....

Hello,

The television spots that I have are for the 1956 and 1957 Lincoln's.

The 1956 Lincoln promo shows her and Ed Sullivan talking about the new styling with the design hawking off of modern architecture, with "glass wall visibility" and new powertrains with the 'ever smooth and silky Turbo-Drive Automatic". It goes on with both of them saying things about how you should get to your Lincoln dealers soon and place an advance order soon.

The 1957 Advert. I have is the one mentioned above. Where she was driving what appears to be a "white" Premier convertible, but being that it was of course filmed in Black and White, it very well could have been yellow for all we know. She did exhtoll the virtures of the new 1957 styling (talking up the canted rear blades, which IMHO ruined the flawless 1956 car); and did say how cold and snowy it was and that: "IT started to snow, so I put the top up on my long low Lincoln convertible, and finished the parade route to the reviewing stands on Pennsylvainia avenue where the President, Vice-President and their honored guest will reveiew the parade". And that sums up what I consider to be the best looking car on the road today. Lincoln...UNMISTAKABLY The FINEST in the FINE car FIELD!

She also did an advert for Mercury showing off the Turnpike Cruiser convertible for 57. She and Ed and the Mercury division chief Jack Reith talked about the new design and how it "emphasizes bigness and mass without bulk" Were they kidding or just that optimistic. Becasue the 1957, 58 and 59' Mercury's were some of the most ginormous cars ever made by FoMoCo,which BTW included the much lamented 1958-59 and 60' Edsel Division cars,(Which were Mercury and Ford bodies in Edsel drag); and the truly aircraft carrier inspired Lincolns for the same years stated as the Edsel.

Anyway,

That is my rant about Julia Meade

 

[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