LETTERS  PCR #349      (November 27--December 3, 2006)

  • Andy Lalino on Tom Stimus and HGL


    Letters to the EditorWe welcome your feedback.

    ANDY LALINO ON TOM STIMUS AND HGL

    Nole,
    I can’t tell you how exciting it was to hear from Jennifer R. – the granddaughter of the great Tampa Bay pitch man Tom Stimus! Please let her know that her father really meant the world to all of us late ‘70s/early ‘80s kids. I’d say out of the great pitch men, Stimus was probably the best, along with the “Unclaimed Freight” guy. Tom Stimus is the one I remember most, and there are many times when I think about him banging his fists against the hoods of conversion vans! Pitch men like Tom Stimus made growing up fun and wonderful. I’m amazed when I watch daytime TV nowadays and see ad after ad of dull lawyer commercials and run-of-the-mill, unimaginative car commercials. Not so back in the ‘70s and early ‘80s – Stimus and his imitators never failed to make the droning act of viewing commercial an unforgettable experience. Hell, forget “Hogan’s Heroes” – we kids wanted to see the next Tom Stimus commercial! I think the only survivors from that era have been the Bay City Plywood guys.

    Jennifer’s update begs to ask: is there any chance of a return of the master? Or how about a “Best of Tom Stimus” video collection? Wouldn’t it be great to see all those great TV ads again? I think it’s high time for a retro-Stimus DVD, or perhaps one that covers all the great Tampa Bay-based pitch men (Stimus, “Mad Max”, Unclaimed Freight, Allied Discount Tires, T-Buff, etc.). That would be truly incredible indeed. Thanks to Will Moriaty for the great piece on the Florida pitch men (from PCR #74).

    Also loved Ed’s encounter with Herschell Gordon Lewis. Great stuff!!!

    - Andy Lalino
    Graphic Designer, WUSF-TV

    Thank you, sir! -- Nolan



    To send an email to Letters to the Editor write to: Crazedfanboy1@aol.com.  Any emails sent to this address will be assumed intended for publication unless you specifically instruct me not to. I can and do respond privately, if that is your preference. Frequently, it's both ways.---Nolan

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