Anyone who's spent any time in Southern California since 1950 knows exactly who Cal Worthington is; the TV ads for his dealerships make all other fast-talking cornball car salemen look like small-timers, and they've been an integral part of SoCal's cultural fabric since Richard Nixon was a freshman congressman. There's Cal's goofy "My Dog Spot" theme (Spot is never a dog) and, of course, the song:
If you want a car or truck, go see Cal
If you want to save a buck, go see Cal
If your tailpipe is a-draggin' and your wife she's a-naggin'
Go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Cal!
Like whores and old buildings, old car salesmen gain respectability over time; thus, the New York Times has put together a nice piece about Cal and his empire. When you're done reading that, be sure to check out Cal's collection of archived ads at his site.
He Changed His Spots, but Cal's Still the Car-Sales King [New York Times]
Related:
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