Growing up in this town there were lots of local personalities that produced (and many times, starred in) TV advertisements for their businesses. This is not a Tucson-only phenomenon, but, you have to admit, we have had our share of characters over the years.
“Call for Wally! Call for Wally! For an estimate Free, given cheerfully, call Wally immediately!” The Wally Sevits Organization was who you called for appliance repairs.
“That’s a ganga” was Austin Agron’s catchphrase for his Bargain Center Furniture store on 22nd Street near Swan. As I recall, he hosted a Saturday night movie (along with The Baron and one other character. They promised to “throw in 2 lamps for free” with the living room suite they sat on during the show. This prompted The Baron to actually toss (and smash) the lamps on the floor in front of them on live TV. My sister recently related that until he passed in the past year or so, Austin used to drop by her American Legion Post on 22nd Street to buy his weekly Lotto tickets.
“Have you ever seen a grey balloon?” So said Sid of Sid’s Appliance Center. He was one of the first to sell color TVs in town.
“Hi, I’m Jim Click of Jim Click Ford!” Jim Click, Jr., arrived from Altus, OK, in 1971. He took over the former Pueblo Ford at 22nd and Wilmot and the airwaves. Today is one of the alrgest auto retailers in Southern Arizona. I happened to see him at LeBuzz on Tanque Verde not long ago. Just missed meeting this former cyclist.
“For 15 cents, a nickel and a dime…” was the offer from Burger Chef. Bought by HArdee’s, it was gone by the early 1980s.
“Many savings can be found at the Browse Around General Store!” Cheap furniture and lots of other close-out stuff. the biggest store was a County Fair Shopping Cneter at 22nd and Craycroft.
How many do you remember? Sometimes a song just sticks with you.
Relentless
(*photos courtesy Hoosier State chronicles and Arizona Daily Star)
