Public Radio For Eastern North Carolina 89.3 WTEB New Bern 88.5 WZNB New Bern 91.5 WBJD Atlantic Beach 90.3 WKNS Kinston 88.5 WHYC Swan Quarter 89.9 W210CF Greenville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
US

Remembering Car Salesman Cal Worthington

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And for today's Last Word In Business, let's take a moment to remember one of the nation's most colorful car salesmen. Cal Worthington built an empire from West Coast car dealerships, and became a TV fixture thanks to his ads, which began running in the 1970s.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV AD)

(MUSIC)

UNIDENTIFIED ANNOUNCER: Here's Cal Worthington and his dog, Spot.

UNIDENTIFIED SINGER: If you need a better car, go see Cal. For the best deal by far, go see Cal...

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Worthington always appeared in a Western suit and a white cowboy hat. But instead of a dog, the commercials featured some exotic animal, like a tiger or an elephant playing the dog, Spot. And then there was the jingle we're hearing now.

MONTAGNE: Cal Worthington died Sunday, at the age of 92. That people recall him now is the best possible tribute to the work of a commercial pitchman; people remembered his brief ads long after they went off the screen.

And that's the business news from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne.

INSKEEP: And I'm Steve Inskeep.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV AD)

UNIDENTIFIED SINGER: (Singing) For the lowest money down, go ... Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

US