General Discussion

Xithras

(16,191 posts)

33. So did I!

Tue Sep 10, 2013, 03:31 PM

Sep 2013

My mom was buying a car at Worthington Chevrolet in Sac (a Monza...shudder) when the salesman mentioned that Worthington would be at the lot shooting a commercial the following day. She arranged to pick up the car the next day, and brought my sister and I along to "meet Cal" and pick up her new wheels.

I remember that I didn't recognize him without his hat and coat on, and that he seemed to be a nice guy, but being a kid I was far more interested in meeting Spot. I was hoping for an elephant or a tiger, but Spot turned out to be a chimpanzee that particular day.

Every time that commercial aired, my little sister (who was 5 at the time) would go tearing around the house screaming "OUR MONKEY IS ON TV! OUR MONKEY IS ON TV!" I have no idea how it became "our" monkey, but that's one of those childhood memories that I'll never forget.

I'm oddly saddened by the fact that modern children are growing up with no equivalent to Cal Worthington. Cultural touchstones are important.

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Damn! Cal Worthington died yesterday. RIP Cal. [View all] cherokeeprogressive Sep 2013 OP

What will spot do? RGinNJ Sep 2013 #1

Take off his Brock umbrella hat and bow his head? n/t sweetloukillbot Sep 2013 #5

I met the dude once, at the Sacramento area franchise. RIP Cal. NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #2

OMG I remember those commercials. I was in college when those were going on gopiscrap Sep 2013 #13

"A 1979 Chevy Chevette . . . hatrack Sep 2013 #27

Funny to watch and to see how few of those cars are still on the road. NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #34

So did I! Xithras Sep 2013 #33

Go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Cal! Duer 157099 Sep 2013 #3

I'll eat a bug! n/t cherokeeprogressive Sep 2013 #4

I'll stand on my head til my ears turn red! n/t Duer 157099 Sep 2013 #7

I remember him and his crazy commercials gopiscrap Sep 2013 #6

I believe he had dealerships all over the country. cherokeeprogressive Sep 2013 #9

wow he must have had a pretty hefty bank account gopiscrap Sep 2013 #11

RIP d_b Sep 2013 #8

pussycow pussycow pussycow frylock Sep 2013 #16

Pussy cow! eissa Sep 2013 #19

SO glad to know I wasn't the only one that heard it n/t LadyHawkAZ Sep 2013 #22

I thought d_b was calling me names... cherokeeprogressive Sep 2013 #24

LOL! LadyHawkAZ Sep 2013 #32

lol d_b Sep 2013 #35

That brings back memories NV Whino Sep 2013 #10

The 10 day trial exchange! PasadenaTrudy Sep 2013 #12

One day, Crazy Eddie will pass MannyGoldstein Sep 2013 #14

I thought that when Crazzy Eddie was up for tax evasion the nartural plea would have been KurtNYC Sep 2013 #30

go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Call AtomicKitten Sep 2013 #15

must have been 200 years old. he was on tv in the early 70's when i lived in l.a. spanone Sep 2013 #17

I lived in Long Beach '72-'73 deutsey Sep 2013 #25

Crenshaw and Ventura Blvd.? IDemo Sep 2013 #18

Oh my gosh 2naSalit Sep 2013 #20

Yep. Blue_In_AK Sep 2013 #21

Cal and his dog Spot! Cal's commercials were a monument to California car culture... Hekate Sep 2013 #23

That is so sad, I loved Cal Worthington yuiyoshida Sep 2013 #26

Sad news Bluenorthwest Sep 2013 #28

Here's My Dog, Spot. MineralMan Sep 2013 #29

Just read about his background on Wiki - what an amazingly interesting guy! bullwinkle428 Sep 2013 #31