Ralph Williams had several car dealerships on the west coast. Here, spokesman Chick Lambert has some fun at Williams’ expense in an outtake from a commercial for a California location of the car dealership…
(Los Angeles Times – 1989) A fixture of late-night television in Southern California and the Pacific Northwest for decades, Williams started as pitchman for his own dealership in the early 1960s.
As a car dealer, however, Williams ran afoul of the DMV. Williams had his dealers’ license revoked on two separate occasions.
Williams also ran afoul of regulators in the state of Washington, where he once owned a dealership. He still owes consumers in that state millions of dollars awarded in a 1972 consumer fraud judgment against him and his company. The charges against Williams, according to Washington Assistant Atty. Gen. Jay Uchida, included false and misleading advertising in television ads in which Williams was the star.
Mike Barer • July 29, 2024
Chick Lambert vid is now getting a lot of play on the internet.
Mike Barer • July 26, 2024
There were also crazy commercials from Jack Roberts and Ivar. Creative seems to have disappeared from local advertising. National too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KAOioN1ZMw&list=FLbnxqwsIKNy6ahdL4vdlP8g
Mike Barer • July 25, 2024
https://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/federal-way-flashback-the-fast-life-and-high-times-of-dick-balch/
Before my time in Seattle, there was this guy.
T.K. • July 25, 2024
Don’t forget Glen Grant: https://youtu.be/F40QJgMLCEU
and Russ Dun-mi-re, Russ Dun-mi-re! https://youtu.be/1XkoVNzMMQo
Jason Remington • July 25, 2024
Russ Dunmire was my favorite. Very old school car ads.
Mike Barer • July 24, 2024
Then came Cal Worthington and his dog, Spot.
louis • July 23, 2024
I again date myself by admitting remembering his commercials. 😉
Dick Ellingson • July 24, 2024
Wasn’t the phrase “I’m dating myself” once prohibited on the radio?
Jason Remington • July 24, 2024
I dunno. It gets lonely out there.
T.K. • July 22, 2024
Here’s Lambert doing the same schtick at the Aurora dealership: https://youtu.be/DK6BksCzTKs
Mike Barer • July 25, 2024
Dig the car prices. So 70s.
T.K. • July 25, 2024
Ralph Williams didn’t make it in Seattle past 1970. The dealership was shut down by the state for tax evasion.