en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Worthington
His advertising agency, named Spot Advertising after the dog, had Worthington as the only client, and spent $15 million on commercials, the most of any auto dealer at the time. He acts much differently off the screen than the zany, grinning cowboy in the car commercials, being described as low-key and quiet.
B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 390th Bomber Group, flying 29 missions over Germany, and was discharged after the war as a captain. He was awarded the air medal five times as well as the distinguished flying cross for his service.
He has also been in recent articles in flying magazines as the man who trained some of America's astronauts while in the service. After leaving the Army, Worthington wanted to be a commercial pilot, but was stymied by the requirements at the time for a college degree. He sold his car for $500 to purchase a gas station, which proved a bust, but was able to sell it for the same amount he paid, an indication of future success in sales.
Post Office by making a folksy pitch when people got their mail. He moved to a dirt lot rented for $25, where he made a $500 profit one week by selling three cars, and decided this would be his career.
country music show on television every Saturday and Sunday. When television became more established, and sponsorship of entire programs was unfeasible, he went to doing commercials, saturating the overnight station break schedules of every local station in Los Angeles.
Save The Tiger in addition to numerous appearances on The Tonight Show. According to a spokesman for the Television Bureau of Advertising, Worthington "is probably the best known car dealer pitchman in television history."
palimony suit, charges that Worthington lived simultaneously with Barbara and Henning for seven years, and a demand that Worthington split up the ranch and his estimated $100 million net worth. He has two children with Barbara, Rod and Barbie, and two children with Henning, Calvin and Susie.
Worthington has been the target of various legal actions. In 1978, the California Attorney General charged him with deceptive advertising, which Worthington settled without admitting guilt for $50,000.
consent decree in 1986 and paid $60,000 due to charges of deceptive advertising. He claimed that the consent decree would hamper his style by increasing the size of fine print and forcing him to explain financing deals verbally instead of through on screen disclosures.
carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles for the California Motor Car Dealers Association. To counter the negative publicity, Worthington went on a publicity campaign to turn around any negative perception. Worthington annually holds a fundraiser at his ranch in Northern California to raise money for the local hospital. One such example is Long Beach, California where the city sign bears his name on the 405 freeway. Today, all of his dealerships have turned around their negative image for the most part and boast one of the highest ratings in customer satisfaction.
They were known as the "My Dog Spot" ads because each commercial would introduce "Cal Worthington and his dog Spot!" However, the "dog" was always some exotic animal being led around on a leash, such as a tiger or elephant.
If You're Happy and You Know It") went, "if you want a car or truck, Go see Cal, if you want to save a buck, Go see Cal," with the "Go see Cal" part repeated at least 15 times.
UHF, a commercial is shown with a used car dealer named Crazy Ernie who promises that if "no one comes down within the next 15 minutes and buys a car", he's going to "club a baby seal to make you a better deal". Yankovic, who grew up in Lynwood, California, more than likely was inspired by Worthington's commercials.
Loud Kiddington's Ancient History", Loud and his dog Fetch show up in a few sketches based off of the "My Dog Spot" ads. In these vignettes, Loud continually claims that Fetch will eat something disgusting if he fails to sell his products, and the Kid Chorus bookend his appearances by singing the same tune as in the ads.
Charles Nelson Reilly was asked for his answer, he responded, "Who's on TV more than anybody, Gene? When the audience proceeded to laugh hysterically, Rayburn explained the joke to those who didn't live on the west coast, and then remarked, "It's obvious that I won't be buying a car from him!"
Los Angeles Times June 3, 2002, "Spot's Co-Star" In the film Momento, starring Guy Pierce, A Cal Worthington Commercial can be seen on the tv set in his hotel room.
The "My Dog Spot" ads made available onlineIn the Cal Worthington article an error occurs. It was not Ralph Williams of Ralph Williams Ford in the Valley that had 'my dog Spot'. It was Chick Lambert of 'Brand Motors Ford City' on La Brea, who had his dog Storm - a German Shepherd - that would jump up on car hoods.
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