Studebaker Spokespeople

[Studedude1961]

Celebrity endorsers are nothing new, and company Presidents appearing in print and media commercials for an automobile (ala Lee Iaccoca) is nothing new either. Who remembers these great Studebaker spokespeople: KNUTE ROCKNE. Any football historian remembers the great coach from Notre Dame who quit coaching to tour the country on behalf of Studebaker. He died in a plane crash and the company thought so much of him that they named a car after him in 1932. I am not familiar with any spokespersons after Mr. Rockne prior to about 1953. EVA GABOR appeared in a few Studebaker commercials for the all-new 1953 models. Her colorful sister ZSA ZSA GABOR appeared in several Lark commercials. My favorite dialogue in one of them has the announcer asking, "Miss Gabor, were you paid to say these things?" Zsa Zsa, standing by her new Lark, looks directly into the camera and smiles, "Are you crazy Dahling, of course YES!" GEORGE BURNS helped develop the Mr. Ed TV show and pitch it to Studebaker dealers. The stars of "Mr Ed," CONNIE HINES and ALLAN YOUNG, did many commercials for Studebaker. JOHN CAMERON SWAYZE did a few television commercials and a couple of dealer promos for Studebaker. SHERWOOD EGBERT appeared in print advertising for the Avanti.

Does anyone else remember any other celebrity spokespeople for Studebaker?

Studedude1961
--1963 Cruiser

[JBOYLE]

I believe Mr. Ed himself acted as a "spokeshorse".



63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)

Washington State

[JBOYLE]

I believe Mr. Ed himself acted as a "spokeshorse".



63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)

Washington State

[tstclr]

Speaking of Mr. Ed. How did they move his lips? String? Enquiring minds want to know
Todd


63 Lark 2dr Sedan
64 Daytona 4dr Sedan

[tstclr]

Speaking of Mr. Ed. How did they move his lips? String? Enquiring minds want to know
Todd


63 Lark 2dr Sedan
64 Daytona 4dr Sedan

[JBOYLE]

quote:Originally posted by tstclr

Speaking of Mr. Ed. How did they move his lips? String? Enquiring minds want to know
Todd


63 Lark 2dr Sedan
64 Daytona 4dr Sedan

The book "Mr. Ed and Me" by Alan Young never comes out and says it, but a seemingly knowledgeable website said there was a thread along his halter that they would pull and it would cause him to move his lips out of reflex. This seems to make sense beacuse you never see Mr Ed without his halter. Then again, you never saw Eva Gabor naked on "Green Acres" but I'm sure she took baths, so that doesn't really prove anything.

Young says later the horse was so smart, he'd just start "talking" when the horse saw/heard him quit.

63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)

Washington State

[JBOYLE]

quote:Originally posted by tstclr

Speaking of Mr. Ed. How did they move his lips? String? Enquiring minds want to know
Todd


63 Lark 2dr Sedan
64 Daytona 4dr Sedan

The book "Mr. Ed and Me" by Alan Young never comes out and says it, but a seemingly knowledgeable website said there was a thread along his halter that they would pull and it would cause him to move his lips out of reflex. This seems to make sense beacuse you never see Mr Ed without his halter. Then again, you never saw Eva Gabor naked on "Green Acres" but I'm sure she took baths, so that doesn't really prove anything.

Young says later the horse was so smart, he'd just start "talking" when the horse saw/heard him quit.

63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)

Washington State

[rockne10]

I heard they used peanut butter but could be wrong.

I'm too young to remember Studebaker spokepersons; heck, I can barely remember Dave Garroway!

Brad Johnson
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
33 Rockne 10
51 Commander Starlight
53 Commander Starlight

previously: 63 Cruiser, 62 Regal VI, 60 VI convertible, 50 LandCruiser

[rockne10]

I heard they used peanut butter but could be wrong.

I'm too young to remember Studebaker spokepersons; heck, I can barely remember Dave Garroway!

Brad Johnson
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
33 Rockne 10
51 Commander Starlight
53 Commander Starlight

previously: 63 Cruiser, 62 Regal VI, 60 VI convertible, 50 LandCruiser

[lstude]

quote:I'm too young to remember Studebaker spokepersons; heck, I can barely remember Dave Garroway!

Speaking of Dave Garroway, I was watching his show one morning and he had a "strong man" on there and he went out onto the street and lifted the rear of a parked 53 Studebaker off the ground. I wish there was a way I could find a tape of that episode, but even if they have the tapes, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/

[lstude]

quote:I'm too young to remember Studebaker spokepersons; heck, I can barely remember Dave Garroway!

Speaking of Dave Garroway, I was watching his show one morning and he had a "strong man" on there and he went out onto the street and lifted the rear of a parked 53 Studebaker off the ground. I wish there was a way I could find a tape of that episode, but even if they have the tapes, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/

[rockne10]

Don't look for it yourself. Ask NBC. No harm in trying. Everyone told me "you can't get the Clydesdales for a Studebaker Meet" but, unless a better venue requests that date, they'll be in Lancaster 2008.

Brad Johnson
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
33 Rockne 10
51 Commander Starlight
53 Commander Starlight

previously: 63 Cruiser, 62 Regal VI, 60 VI convertible, 50 LandCruiser

[rockne10]

Don't look for it yourself. Ask NBC. No harm in trying. Everyone told me "you can't get the Clydesdales for a Studebaker Meet" but, unless a better venue requests that date, they'll be in Lancaster 2008.

Brad Johnson
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
33 Rockne 10
51 Commander Starlight
53 Commander Starlight

previously: 63 Cruiser, 62 Regal VI, 60 VI convertible, 50 LandCruiser

[lstude]

I tried to contact NBC when Strom Thurmond died. NBC Nightly News ran a picture of a 47-48 Studebaker with a banner that said "Thurmond for President" on it when he was running for president in 1948, but I had no luck.

Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/

[lstude]

I tried to contact NBC when Strom Thurmond died. NBC Nightly News ran a picture of a 47-48 Studebaker with a banner that said "Thurmond for President" on it when he was running for president in 1948, but I had no luck.

Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/